35. Skyler
35
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A rhythmic beeping has us both stilling. Ethan jumps up, grabbing his sweatpants off the floor and throwing them on.
“Stay here. I’ll handle it.”
“Handle what? Ethan?” He’s halfway down the hall and I’m rushing to throw on his t-shirt from the bag he left by the bed.
“What the hell are you doing here? I thought we agreed you’d take a step back?” I hear Ethan grunt at whoever’s here.
“I did take a step back.” I immediately relax when I realize who it is. “I gave you enough time to fuck some sense into her. Then I figured I’d show up this morning in case you and your dick weren’t convincing enough to seal the deal. Being her bestie and all, I figured I’d check on her and you know, help a brother out.” Cash says, not sounding the least bit concerned for his life. Although, if he knew Ethan, he would be. That vein pulsing in his forehead is a sure sign he’s about to lose his shit.
Stepping out of the hallway, I walk to Cash and shove him back a few steps, out of Ethan’s reach.
“Admit it. You were dropped as a child, weren’t you?” Cash smiles at me. It’s his I’m-gonna-stir-shit-grin. I shake my head, hoping he’ll heed my silent warning.
I get my answer when he leans in kissing my forehead and pulling me into a tight hug.
Ethan growls from behind me. Pushing off his chest, I step back out of Cash’s arms and Ethan swiftly entwines his fingers with mine pulling my back to his front. Our joined hands rest on my stomach, a sign of possession.
“Do you want to pee on my leg too?” Ethan spins me, scowling, and slaps my ass. The same ass that isn’t wearing any panties under his t-shirt.
“Mmmm.” The sound comes from Cash catches Ethan’s glare.
This idiot has a death wish.
I lean into Ethan’s ear and whisper, “I’m naked under this shirt and I’m pretty sure your caveman display just flashed my ass at Cash.”
Ethan groans, releasing me he growls at me, “Go put some fucking clothes on. Now.”
“Hey! It’s not my fault he came over and interrupted our morning. I was coming to see who was here. You’re the one who left me naked on the bed.”
Cash laughs. “She has a point. You didn’t have to come out here. I would’ve waited for you to finish whatever you two were doing.”
I spin and face Cash. The t-shirt spinning with me. “No, you wouldn’t, you lying ass. You would’ve walked in on us just to piss Ethan off even more.”
“I would’ve shot his ass if he had.” Ethan grumbles.
Spinning back to Ethan. “There will be no shooting of my friends!” I emphasize my exhaustion by throwing my hands up, because seriously, what is wrong with these men in my life?
Cash clears his throat, but the smile breaking on his face makes me leery.
“As for you,” I say, jabbing my finger into Cash’s chest, “Stop riling him up. He doesn’t need you to soften me up for him, and I don’t need you to come in here trying to protect me from his bullish behavior. I’m a grown ass woman. I can handle myself. If I didn’t want him to fuck me senseless, I wouldn’t let him! You know damn well if I thought he deserved it, I’d beat the breaks off him and call you to clean up the mess!”
“Skyler!”Ethan shouts. That vein in his head really does look like it could pop. “Clothes. Now.”
“Maybe pound your chest next time so we get the full effect.” I respond, making my irritation clear.
“Smartass.” Ethan lunges, about to grab me. I yelp and I take off down the hall, Cash’s laughter fading behind me.
“Don’t come back out here until you’ve covered every inch of that body!”
Yeah, not happening.
It’s my turn to laugh.
Reaching into my closet, I find an old lavender sundress. The sundress. The one I wore the night Ethan took my virginity and made me his. Searching my dresser drawer, I find a lavender lace thong I’m looking for.
I head into the bathroom and get a quick shower, not trusting those two not to destroy the house or try to kill each other. I make quick work of brushing my teeth and pulling my hair up into a high ponytail.
I drag the dress over my head and smile when I find it still fits. It’s a little tighter in some areas, but that means I’ll have Ethan’s full attention.
As I make my way back into the living room, I find Cash and Ethan in a heated debate.
“Have you told her yet? She’s not going to like being told to leave this place.”
“No. But I’m sure she’ll be fine with it. She’ll have to be.”
Cash looks at Ethan like he’s an idiot. I lean against the open doorway, anger simmering below the surface.
Leave? What the hell?
“If you think demanding Skyler do anything is going to go over, you’ve taken more hits to the head than I thought.” Cash shakes his head. “That’s what started all this shit you two are trying to fix between you, isn’t it?”
Having heard enough, I make my presence known.
“I’m not leaving.”
Ethan stiffens. Cash asks if we have any popcorn feeling suddenly hungry and ready for the entertainment.
Ethan scrubs his hand through his hair. The same hair I was dragging my hands through, grasping, and pulling while his tongue did all those wicked things, he reminded me he could do to me.
Now’s not the time.
Shame. If Cash hadn’t shown up, I bet we could’ve…
Damn that man and his wicked talents.
“Baby, hear me out.”
“No. There’s nothing to hear. I’m not leaving my home again. I left Oak Ridge once, and look what it did to you, to me. Is that why you…” I point down the hall, unable to bring myself to say the words.
“What? Fuck no!” Ethan is on me in two strides. His hand gripping the nape of my neck, the other on my hip. He bends slightly, putting us eye to eye. “What happened in there has nothing to do with what we’re talking about here. Mostly.”
I pull back, pushing against his check trying to break free of his hold. My chest constricting with the realization Ethan tricked me. “You son of a bitch!”
His grip tightens holding me in place.
“Hear me out before you go losing your shit woman.” Ethan ground out. “I meant every word I’ve said to you, and nothing is going to change any of it. You aren’t leaving Oak Ridge. But we do need to get you out of this house and into some place you’ll be safe.”
Keeping my scowl trained on him, I let his words sink in. Then another thought I didn’t like crossed my mind.
“I’m not staying at the clubhouse.” Not while Candi was there scheming to get her claws into him. Eli may not have thrown my ass out for putting their best blowjob professional out of business, but I can’t guarantee Gabe will be as forgiving. But I’ll be damned if I let anyone touch Ethan now that I finally have him back.
Holy shit.
The realization hits me hard enough, I physically jump a little while still in Ethan’s hold. My eyes are wide, my mind catching up to my heart and the fact I just admitted to myself that I’ve accepted Ethan’s declaration.
We’re real. What we have is real.
Ethan’s ever watchful eyes are studying me, suspicion, and concern both staring back at me.
“You’re right. You’re not staying at the clubhouse. You’ll be staying with me in my apartment above the gym. It will be harder to get to you with so many people constantly moving about, and you’ll still be in accordance with Gabe’s rules about always having a brother with you.” Smiling in amusement, Ethan leans in closer, his thumb now caressing my cheek. “You’ll have me by your side twenty-four seven.”
I swallow hard. The promise in his eyes and that devilish smile speak of all the deliciously dirty things he plans to do to me while having me within his grasp at all times.
Heat pools at my center.
Probably shouldn’t have worn the thong. It’s not doing a damn thing to catch the wetness between my thighs.
I say nothing, not sure what I should say. Do I tell him I’ve accepted us as reality or make him think I’m still pissed? I have zero objections to staying with Ethan at the gym. Truthfully, it would do me a world of good to be able to work out whenever I want and not have to worry about whether a prospect can keep up with me in the woods. Plus, I already know Kieran and Anna will train me and keep my skills shape while giving some place to focus my energy. If I stayed here, I would probably spend most of my time plotting and worrying about, well, everything.
Ethan begins to worry about my lack of response. Cash, the asshat tells him, “You broke her dickhead.”
Stifling a smile, I tell them, “I’m not broken. I’m processing.”
“What’s to process? You’re moving in with me. It’s not rocket science, babe. We pack your shit and move you into my apartment. You were going to end up there anyway.”
His confidence should be a comfort since it means he’s serious about our relationship and what he wants from it. But the devious part of me that thinks fucking with him wouldn’t be such a bad idea though.
He was an asshole.
“Why couldn’t I stay here with Cash? He’s a brother. He could watch me until you get done with work or whatever. You don’t need me to be with you all the time.”
Cash covers his laugh with a cough, letting me know he’s on to my little plan and knowing him, he approves.
Ethan’s eyes narrow, he’s clenching his jaw. It’s hard to hold back the laughter as I watch him try to maintain his cool.
“Like I told you last night, we all agree it’s my place to protect you, not Cash’s. And you should know, baby, I’ll beat a brother’s ass before I let him stand in my place.” Casting his eyes at Cash.
“Threatening the bestie won’t serve to gain you any points, man.” Cash chuckles. “We have a special bond, Skyler and me.”
“You’re about to have a busted lip and my foot up your ass if you don’t shut the hell up.”
Deciding I should probably easy his frustration, I feign exasperation and tell Ethan, “Fine! I’ll go with you to the fucking gym. But you need to stop threatening Cash. He’s right.” I tap Ethan’s cheek lightly with my hand emphasizing my words. “A girl needs her bestie. Be nice to mine or it’ll be you finding yourself with a foreign object up your ass.”
Ethan’s nips my lip punishingly and whispers, “If you keep teasing me, Sunshine, I’m going to tie your ass up again and do all sorts of foreign things with this perfect, pert little ass.” He squeezes said ass. “Let’s go pack our things. We won’t be coming back here for a while, and I want you to have everything you need.”
Grabbing my hand, he turns us toward the hallway, calling over to Cash who’s sitting comfortably at the dining table playing on his phone.
“Grab all the pumpkin creamer shit for her, will you?”
Cash smiles wide and goes to do Ethan’s bidding.
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