Novel & Cerita Novel Hold My Hand

And they did. Thank you for reading TO HAVE AND TO HOLD. I hope you’ve enjoyed the Brutal Vows series. If you missed any of the individual stories, you could start with NOW AND FOREVER, Dario and Catalina’s story. Then, TILL DEATH DO US PART, Alejandro and Mia’s story. BOUND BY A PROMISE, Dante and Camila’s story. Next, QUEENS AND MONSTERS, Reinaldo and Jasmine’s story. The final book of the series is TO HAVE AND TO HOLD. ~ Aleatha

Dear Readers, Before you begin Matt and Holly’s story, please know that Hold Me Close was previously published under the title Adore Me Ardently. This second edition has been lightly edited and changed to better fit the overall feel of the rest of my catalogue. All my best, Iris

“Um, something’s wrong?” “No! nothing’s wrong. In fact, things just got better.” Aaron says, taking my hand in his. He is the only man I have held hands with and every time he holds my hand, it always feels likes the first time. The touch gives me butterflies and feeling his firm grip gives me the security I never knew I needed.

And then, because she had no idea what else to do — because her hands had to do something, anything, aside from shake — she reached for the shelf. Her fingers ran along the spine of a thin, worn-through book. She hesitated. It was one of her favorites — a still, painful story of finding hope again after loss. She drew it free slowly and held it out to him. Julian took it from her without looking at the cover, his fingers slowing to brush against hers. A jolt ran up Lena's arm. He leaned over her, his voice a low, menacing whisper. "I'll read anything you put in my hands."

The feeling is weird, we never held hands before, there was no need for me to hold my secretary’s hand. My throat is dry, and I can barely breathe. His hand, larger than mine, envelopes mine effortlessly, warm with a surprising strength, the kind that could steady you, hold you close. There’s no telling the number of times I’ve imagined holding his hand, and it’s finally happening. My heart feels like it’s going to drill it’s way out of my chest, eyes glued on both our hands. This is really happening. He’s really holding my hand. Asher is willingly holding my hand, I’m not dreaming.

Six months later, I stood on a cruise ship deck. Holden approached, draping a blanket over my shoulders. "How does it feel to have your first novel successfully published?" he asked. "Like I'm dreaming," I replied, turning to face him with a small smile. It had been months since I'd left the werewolf territories for the human world. Here, I'd rediscovered my long-abandoned dream of writing. Holden was heir to the Holden Group, a powerful corporation built by his werewolf family in the human world. He'd noticed me at a literary gala, completely absorbed in my writing. Our relationship had grown from his intervention when drunk patrons bothered me.

No… I can smell medicine and hear the machine beside me and I can clearly feel his hand holding mine. Why is he here? What does he want? Why is he looking like this? And holding my hand tight and not painful. He looks like he’s afraid to let it go. His hands were softly holding mine like he’s holding a fragile object. It’s like he’s holding something precious that he doesn’t want to let go.

She peeks up at me, immediately averting her gaze, causing me to scoff. “What do you want, munchkin?” She shudders, her intake of breath shaky, unstable and ridiculously long. “Uhm. . .” She murmurs, her teeth nibbling at her bottom lip. “Can I hold your hand as we walk?” Hold my hand? What does that even mean? That she’d touch me? Hold me? Make bodily contact with me? My heart begins beating fast and hard, hammering against my ribcage. The last time I hugged her. . . I felt too much. I felt too much.

Something else I didn’t know how to name. He slowly turned his hand over and held mine. Luca said something in the background. Warriors started rushing to clean up the body. But I didn’t look at them. I just looked at Killian. And held his hand. For once, I wasn’t afraid of being touched. For once, someone touched me without pain. And for the first time, I believed I might be able to live. I lowered my hand slowly, but he reached out and held it before I could pull away.

But we can't totally walk together, because he's a little ahead. It's really good that there are no people scattered around because it's late, I feel like it's early morning, because for sure if they see me holding hands today, they'll be surprised and I might even be the subject of gossip tomorrow morning hacienda Señorito will be embarrassed by that for sure! Of course, I saw him holding hands with his personal maid. Sigh. But to be honest, it feels good now that I'm holding Señorito's hand. I just don't know why. Another thing is that his hand is soft, unlike mine which is rough and calloused.