Chapter 28 Ocean
OCEAN
It was just after midnight, and the club was still alive. Bass thumped through the walls of my office, low enough to vibrate the floor under my feet. The crowd was doing what they always did...drinking, dancing, and pretending they had no problems.
I’d just finished running through some paperwork when my phone lit up on the desk.
It was Skye.
I leaned back in the chair, a slow smirk tugging at my mouth. “What’s up, baby?”
“Hey, I didn’t mean to bother you. I know you’re probably busy.”
I heard it in her tone. She wasn’t calling just to check in. She needed me.
I pushed the paperwork to the side and kicked my feet up on the desk. “If I was too busy for you, I wouldn’t have picked up.”
“Still, I know you’ve got a club to run...”
“Skye,” I said, lowering my voice. “Stop. You call, I answer. Simple as that.”
There was a pause. I could hear her breathing, the faint hum of the TV in the background.
Then she sighed. “I just couldn’t sleep.”
“Why not? You good?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just...missing you.”
That hit different.
I sat forward, eyes drifting to the office door. “You sure that’s all?”
“Mmhmm. I promise. I just really, really miss you.”
I stood, grabbed my keys off the desk, stepped into the hallway, then slipped back inside and locked the door behind me.
Dropping onto the couch, I exhaled. “Alright. Talk to me.”
She laughed softly. “You act like this is a therapy session.”
“Could be,” I said, smiling to myself. “You sound restless, so either you need to vent or you need something else.”
She laughed a little harder. “Why do you always have to make it sound like that?”
“Because it usually is like that.” I leaned back, rubbing the back of my neck. “Is this still about Melina?”
“Hell no! Fuck that bitch!”
I laughed. “Okay, then what’s up?”
“I don’t know. Well, yes I do. I’m kind of anxious about the dinner at my sister’s house. I just don’t want anything to turn into an argument.”
“It won’t.”
“Ocean—”
“Look, I need you to stay positive. Just walk in there with your head up, and I’ll be right beside you. I’m not going to let things get crazy.”
She went quiet.
I could picture her chewing on her bottom lip, fighting a smile.
“You always make it sound so easy.”
“That’s because I don’t waste my thoughts on bullshit, and neither should you. Especially not with me around. I got you.”
“I know you do,” she whispered.
“Good.”
Silence settled between us.
“I really fucking miss you,” she said softly.
I blew out a slow breath, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “You know how dangerous it is for you to keep saying that to me right now?”
“Why?”
“Because you’re sounding real soft. Real needy. And I’m supposed to be focused on business.”
She laughed quietly. “Sorry.”
“Nah. Don’t apologize. It just means you miss me as much as I miss you.”
Her voice dipped lower. “You really miss me?”
“Skye, you don’t even know.”
I heard the sheets rustle as she shifted.
That sound alone tightened something in my chest.
“What are you doing right now?” I asked.
“Laying down.”
“What you got on?”
She hesitated, then laughed. “Just a T-shirt. One of yours.”
That made me grin. “Which one?”
“A black one with a faded logo. It smells like you.”
I closed my eyes, groaning softly. “You really trying to test me, huh?”
“Maybe a little.”
Her voice was sleepy and sultry, slipping straight past my defenses.
“Are you touching yourself?”
A sharp inhale. “No...”
“You’re thinking about it though.”
Silence.
Then a guilty little laugh. “Maybe.”
“Do it.”
“Ocean...”
“I said do it.” My voice dropped. “I want to hear you.”
Movement sounded through the line, fabric brushing skin.
My pulse picked up.
“Are you listening to me?” I asked.
“Mmhmm.”
“Start slow.” I leaned forward. “Take your time. Feel it like I’m right there.”
Her breathing turned shaky. “I do.”
“Good.”
Her quiet moan hit my ear, and I cursed under my breath.
“You have no idea what that’s doing to me right now.”
“Then hurry up and come home,” she whined.
“Say less. Tomorrow, I’ll be right there and you better be ready.”
“For what?”
“For everything I’m thinking about doing to you right now.”
“Ocean,” she whimpered.
“Yeah, baby.”
“Don’t stop talking.”
I smiled. “Now come on. Let go for me.”
Her breath broke into a soft cry.
“That’s it,” I whispered. “That’s it.”
We stayed quiet after, just breathing.
“I can’t wait until you’re back here,” she said sleepily.
“One more day.”