Page 97 of Ethan's Sky

Shit.

“Agree to disagree.” He says, “For now.”

22

ETHAN

“Agree to disagree,” I say, “For now.”

Crowding her space, I grip her waist with one hand, using the pocket of my hoodie to tug her in close. My hands come up cradling her face and crash my lips down on hers. I swallow down her gasp of surprise, before sweeping my tongue into her mouth. My hand grips the back of her neck holding her to me.

Her body is stiff with shock, but I don’t stop my onslaught. I need to feel her melt for me. For her to trust me and let down her guard.

“Stop fighting this, baby. Don’t think Sky, just feel.”

It’s all the coaxing she needs. Her hands grip the back of my hair, pulling me toward her, like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets me go.

Not a chance.

She lets out a whimper and begins pulling away.

“Why won’t you talk to me? You used to tell me everything.” My hand caresses her cheek. “So much has happened. It’s starting to make sense, but I need you to fill in the blanks for me, baby. I’ve been left to figure out who really fucked me over on my own. Was it my club or my girl. Right now, I really don’t know and I’m struggling to keep it together, Sunshine.” I lean my forehead into hers. Her eyes close as tears slip down her cheek. “Help me understand. Please. Talk to me.”

Neither of us says anything. We stay like this, our eyes closed heads together for a long minute breathing each other in. Her scent surrounding me, calming, and arousing me at the same time. My thumbs rubbing circles on her hips.

Why can’t we stay right here like this?

Her mind is warring with her heart. I know she should be furious with me for so many things. With all the trouble we may be caught up in with the Devils here in Oak Ridge, the shit from our past we need to sort out, all I want to focus on his us. Getting us back to the place where we move on, together.

Deciding the best way to do that is to rip the shit off like a band-aid, I tell her the truth.

“I spend half the time feeling like you’re only here to mess with my head. Bringing up old shit and bad memories. Reminding me of how the bastard who took Emily got away because you weren’t here to put his ass in jail. The rest of the time…I spend wanting to fuck you senseless and remind us both youbelong to me.”

She shakes her head not wanting to believe my words, to allow them to penetrate her heart. She steps back, out of my hold, turning her back to me, looking over her shoulder. Her next words shock the shit out of me.

“You can’t have me and your redheaded fantasy girl too. I know all about how you pine after the dancer at the Pearl. Don’t get it twisted. You don’t want me, Ethan. You want what I know.”

My eyes narrow. Things are starting to click into place.

The wig. The private dance she avoided for so long. The mask she wouldn’t remove. The familiarity I felt with Scarlet. The way we connected the night we fucked.

Skyler dancing on the stage at the clubhouse.

Holy Shit! She’s Scarlet. How did I miss it?

For the first time, I take in what’s been right in front of me this whole goddamn time. Thinking about all the times I’ve watched her on the stage, hungered for her. Studying her skin, her body, the way she moves. How beautiful she is when she loses herself in the music and lets herself go.

Damn! She went through a lot to keep her identity a secret. The wig, the mask, but even more, she covered every one of her tattoos. How the hell did she do that? The only thing she didn’t hide was her diamond belly ring, the one I’ve imagined licking for far too long now.

“Things are different, you’re right, Ethan.” Her voice pulls me out of my memories. “I don’t have to worry about anyone else, but myself now. Last time shit went sideways, I was thinking about everyone else. Daddy, the club, Emily, you…the baby,” She whispers the last word, her bottom lip trembling. My heart seizes in my chest, my body stiffens.

“Baby?”My voice sounds foreign even to me. I’m not sure how to feel. Confused, angry, but there’s something else. Remorse.

Maybe she didn’t want to have my baby.

She takes a step away from me, but I’m quick to spin her around, cradling her against my chest. With two fingers, I lift Skyler’s chin, my eyes sweeping hers. I tighten my hold.Her violet eyes piercing mine, searching, seeing right through to the heart of me. She nods, unable to speak. I scoop Skyler up and drops on my ass, still holding her close as we sit on the ground with her in cradled in my lap. I need her close.

I need to know, even if it makes me an asshole.

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