Hold Still: A Slow Burn, Black Romance Novella

He took a vow of celibacy. She's barely holding herself together.

Clementine is a rising star in Atlanta’s elite art scene, yearning to escape the mounting pressure that’s quietly suffocating her creativity. When anxiety threatens to dismantle everything she’s built, she hires a massage therapist in a last-ditch attempt to soothe the noise inside her. But Malachi isn’t what she expects. He’s gentle. Grounded. Devout. And newly committed to celibacy.

Malachi doesn’t believe in crossing lines. Not anymore. But from the moment he lays hands on Clementine, something deeper than desire stirs—a spiritual ache, a tether he can’t ignore. He knows she’s unraveling. He just doesn’t expect her to bring him undone too.

As sacred trust becomes slow-burning attraction, Clementine and Malachi must navigate the fine line between healing and longing. But when one unforgettable night threatens to dismantle everything he’s vowed to protect, they’ll both have to was this just a moment… or a covenant?

Set against the backdrop of Atlanta’s creative class, Hold Still is a deeply emotional, soul-stirring Black romance novel about spiritual intimacy, restraint, and choosing each other even when the fire burns too hot.

Perfect for fans of emotionally rich, faith-infused love stories with tension you can feel in your chest.

Readers who Before I Let Go by Kennedy RyanLet Me Love You by Alexandria HouseSeven Days in June by Tia WilliamsThe Brown Sisters series by Talia HibbertStill by Kennedy Ryan

…will fall hard for this intimate, breathtaking journey into love, longing, and the holiness of desire.

(This is a 11,000 word Romance Short Read)
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Simone Monet writes soft, soulful Black love stories that are slow-burning, spiritually grounded, and rich with emotional truth—for women who know that love, when it's real, feels like coming home.