Page 23 of Choosing Skyler

I must have shocked Brady last night. Hell, I shocked myself. When he came all over my hand it felt like pure power. Like,I did that to him. Then, I remembered him tasting me from his fingers and the taste of myself on his lips when he kissed me. I wanted to taste him too. I don’t know where that urge came from, but he looked at me like I was his world, and I couldn’t get enough. Now that I had a taste, I wanted more,so much more. I pulled on his t-shirt and pulled him to the bathroom with me to clean up. When I reached for the waistband of his shorts, he stopped me.

“Whoa, Beautiful. You don’t have to…” he started, but I cut him off.

“We both need to clean up, Brady. Shower with me?” I asked him, a little embarrassed, but not enough to back down.

“Are you sure? I can shower alone. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or rushed into anything,” he said, cupping my face.

“Seriously?” I said, rolling my eyes. “Do I look uncomfortable to you?” I asked, pulling his shirt back over my head and dropping my panties to the floor.

I trembled a little, realizing that was the first time a man had seen me naked. Before I could second guess myself, I reached for his shorts again. This time, he let me pull his shorts and underwear down and stepped out of them. That gorgeous cock was eye level. I didn’t realize you could refer to a cock as gorgeous, but his was. When he looked down to see me still on my knees he reached down and pulled me up. He kissed me as he pulled our naked bodies closer together, and I kissed him back as we stepped into the shower.

When I turned the water on, we both squealed at the freezing cold water. We laughed as we shivered, waiting for the water to heat up. Then, we took turns washing each other from head to toe—which seemed to be even more intimate than coming all over each other's hands. That had been lust and fire. But standing in the shower, exploring each other's bodies was more like affection and steam. It was more,so much more.

Now, I lay here in my bed, snuggled up to my perfect man and trying to decide whether or not to call out of work today. Brady told me not to, but I don’t want him to face whatever his mom’s estate lawyer has to tell him alone. Bad news is always bad, but I know better than most what being alone feels like. Even surrounded by people, I always felt alone until I came to Thorngrove.

I sit up and look at my alarm clock to see that it’s a quarter to six. Chelsea will be at the shop, but it doesn’t open until six thirty. I need to decide before then if I want her to have a chance to call someone in to cover my shift. I don’t know why I’m even still lying here. I know I’m going to call in and stay with Brady. This will be the first time I’ve called in for anything other than my own health, but Brady is worth the missed hours. Just as I start to slide out of bed, strong arms wrap around me and pull me back.

“Sneaking out on me again?” Brady asks, his voice husky from sleep.

“I’m not sneaking. I just didn’t want to wake you up this early,” I reply.

He looks over my shoulder at the clock and groans. “Why are you getting up so early? I thought you didn’t have to be at work until ten,” he whines, and I giggle.

“I don’t, but I should call Chelsea before the shop opens if I’m going to miss my shift.” I shrug.

“Why would you miss your shift?” he asks, looking at me in the dim light from the alarm clock. Then, he furrows his brows. He knows why I’m calling out of work. He’s going to argue in three, two… “I told you; you don’t need to do that for me. I’ll be fine handling the call on my own…”

“I know you will,” I cut him off. “But I want to be here for you. Ichoose youtoo and that means you don’thaveto handle it on your own.”

“I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I?” He raises a brow at me.

“Nope. I’m going to call Chelsea and tell her I have a family emergency and she’ll call someone else in.Ifshe can’t get someone to cover my whole shift, I’ll go in until someone else can relieve me, but that’s unlikely. Everyone loves Chelsea and would do just about anything she asks because she would do the same for them. So, you’re stuck with me today. Sorry, not sorry. End of discussion,” I tell him with a huff.

He throws his hands up in surrender at my vehemence. “Okay, Beautiful. You’re the boss, apparently. Make your call and get back here to snuggle with me.”

Since he’s already awake, I don’t get out of bed to make my call. I grab my phone and dial Chelsea’s cell. She answers on the second ring.

“Skyler? Are you okay? What’s wrong?” she asks worriedly.

I giggle. “I’m okay, Chelsea. Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack.”

“Well, you’re calling me hours before your shift. ItisWednesday, right?” she asks.

“Yes, but that’s why I’m calling so early. I wanted to catch you before you open the shop. Do you think you can get someone to cover me today? I have a family emergency and I didn’t want to call at the last minute and leave you shorthanded,” I rush out.

“Familyemergency? Is Devon okay?” she asks, knowing he’s the only family I consider.

“Yes, Devon is fine. It’s not him. It’s kind of a long story, but itisimportant. If you can’t get someone else in at ten, let me know and I’ll come in until someone can relieve me. You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important, right?” I ask.

“Of course, I knowthat! You never ask for time off or call out if it isn’t urgent. I’ll call Jenny and see if she can come in. She’s been asking for more hours, so I’m sure she’ll be happy to. You take care of your emergency and let me know if you need more time. I love you, hun,” she says in hermomtone.

“Thank you so much, Chelsea! I’ll call you this afternoon if I won’t be in tomorrow, I promise. I love you too,” I say, truly grateful to have such a great boss.

“Okay, hun. Talk to you later,” she says before hanging up.

I put my phone back on the nightstand and turn to snuggle back into Brady. “All taken care of. I’m all yours today,” I tell him.

“You always tell your boss you love her?” He chuckles as he tightens his arms around me, pulling me closer.

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