Page 107 of Ethan's Sky

We both get up from the floor. I help her onto the bed. She scurries to the other side getting as far away from me as she can.

A vindictive smile tugs at her lips.

She’s plotting her next strike.

Images of a naked Skyler tied to my bed, completely at my mercy flash through my mind.

Game on, baby.

Unfortunately, I don’t get to see what her next move will be as we’re interrupted by a loud knock at the door followed by Blake’s voice.

“Pres wants you in the basement!”

“All right. I’ll be right there.” I answer, my eyes never leaving hers. Grabbing the sleeve of the hoodie, I tug, pulling her to come to me. Skyler doesn’t budge. Her arms sliding into the sleeves and against her chest.

Stubborn little shit.

I shrug my shoulder. Using the hoodie’s pocket, I pull her close, grabbing her hand from under the shirt, pushing it to my crotch, pinning it easily as I straddle her hips. She struggles, pushing with her free hand to move me off her. If she wanted to, she would strike me and maneuver her way out of this. We both know she can. I’ve seen her grapple in the cage.

She’s not really fightingme.She’s fighting the thought of what this could be. If it can be anything. She’s not sure we can recover from everything we’ve both gone through. She doesn’t believe me yet, but she will. I’ll make sure of it.

Leaning my weight forward, I trap both her hands between us. I lean down rubbing my nose along hers. She turns her head, and I chuckle at her mulishness.

“Fight me all you want, but you know this is going to happen. You and me, we’re going to get our shit settled, and when we do, I’m going to fuck you like I own you. Because we both know I do.”

Her breathing is ragged, a soft, whispered whimper caresses my ear. “Why?”

“Because we were meant to be. You’re mine, Sunshine. It’s going to take time to heal the past, but it won’t change our future.”

She doesn’t say anything else, but I see her side-eyeing me. I let loose of her wrist and turn her chin to face me. Her watery eyes, so full of uncertainty staring back at me. I can’t wait anymore. I melt my lips with hers, my tongue caressing her sweet, supple mouth. Another soft whimper escapes, and I seize the opportunity and lavish her mouth with my tongue. It’s slow, sensual, filled with pain staking need, and my heartfelt apology. I don’t let up until she’s kissing me back, melting into the mattress, relaxing into my touch. Only then do I pull back, placing my forehead to hers. Her tears track down her cheek, but she doesn’t try to stop them.

“This isn’t over, Sunshine. You and me, we aren’t over. Wait here for me. I’m going to go talk to Gabe. Don’t leave this room until I come get you.”

I crawl over her, coming to a stand. She’s still not saying anything. Her eyes are heavy, exhaustion written all over her face.

I rub the back of my hand down her cheek, lean down and kiss her forehead. Her eyes close at the feel of my mouth on her skin.

“Rest, baby. I’ll be right back.” She still doesn’t give me words, but turns onto her side facing away from me, her eyes still closed, as she grips the pillow. She takes a deep breath, releasing it on a long stuttering sigh.

I kiss her temple one last time. “Sleep, baby. I’ll be right back.”

Satisfied she’ll sleep, I make my way down to find Gabe.

25

SKYLER

“Look at me, Skyler. Sweetheart, listen to me. You have to leave. It’s the only way to guarantee you’ll be safe. To keep anyone from finding out the truth.” Daddy takes another deep breath, scrubbing a hand down his face. “If you don’t go, you’ll be starting a war between the clubs. There’s already bad blood between them. It would be nothing to them to go to war again. The Devil’s Order has been rebuilding and waiting for a reason to strike. To get even for things no one outside the club truly understands. But this, what you’ve done, will give them their reason,” he growls. He’s struggling.

“I didn’t know he was part of the other club! I wasn’t thinking about any of that! I was trying to survive!”

“Shhh. I know, Sweetheart. I know. But none of it matters now, because he did belong to the Devil’s Order, and now they’ll want their revenge.” He takes a deep breath and lets it out on a long sigh. “This isn’t just about you, saving yourself. You must see the bigger picture. This about your uncle Ghost, Gabe and all those men who helped me raise you when your mother died. Good men. The Kings will go to war without thinking twice to keep you safe, and the reality is some of them could die. Do you want that weight on your shoulders? Can you bear the responsibility of all those men’s lives and the destruction a war would bring not only to their families but to the town? Because it won’t end there. The Devils won’t just come after the Kings, they’ll come after the people of this town. Bikers aren’t all about parties, women, and their club. It’s about their loyalty to protect their brothers, their family, and their territory. So, you see. You’ve got to do this, Sweetheart. You must leave. No one can ever know what happened here tonight. What you did. What your uncle is doing for you. You understand?”

“It was a fucking accident!” I shout. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. If Emily had fucking listened to me. If she would’ve came home with me instead of going to the party, none of this would’ve happened. I never would’ve been there.” Sharp pain pierces my body causing me to drop to my knees. Daddy drops down beside me cradling me tightly against his chest, shushing me.

“We need to have Doc take a look at you.”

“No,” I shout. “I’m fine. It’s just bruises. When I hit the ground, I think I may have hurt my rib. That’s all. It’s nothing, really.”

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