Page 15 of Choosing Skyler

He smirks down at me with fire in his eyes. “I may as well. I’m going to taste it on your lips when I kiss you goodnight anyways.”

Then, he looks back at Devon and states firmly, “I know we need to talk about allthis.” He spins his hand indicating all of us. “But remember, Skyler worked a ten-hour shift, had a panic attack, and still went out tonight. She’s beat. So, let’s make it quick. There’s always tomorrow.”

Devon laughs like he didn’t just get properly scolded. “Ooohhh, Bulldog Brady’s back, huh? Sky had a nap, and she looks pretty alert to me. She’ll let us know if it’s too much for her. Won’t ya, Sky?”

“Huh?” I ask, still reeling over Brady’s possessive, protective toneafterhis promise of a goodnight kiss. “Yeah, I’m good,” I tell Devon before looking back up at Brady. “I promise.”

“Great!” Devon says, slapping his hand down on the counter, making us jump. “Let me start by saying that I take ALL the credit for this,” he says pointing between Brady and me again. “I’ve known foryearsthat you two would be perfect for each other. I love you both with all my heart and you have my full support in wherever you want this to go. But only IF it doesn’t affect any of our friendships,” he says, much more seriously than he usually is. “Sky, I’ve already talked to Brady, and he knows aboutus… What little there is to know outside of friendship, and he knows that if you two are together, I’ll keep my hands to myself... within reason.” He throws his hands up at Brady’s growl. “Hugs are happening, man. Deal with it. I hug you too.”

Brady relaxes. “Yeah, I wouldn’t take your bear hugs away from Skyler. They're too good.” He laughs a little. “Seriously,” he says, glancing back and forth between Devon and me. “I don’t want you two to change your lives for me. I just want to be part of it. You’re family to me, Devon and I know Skyler feels the same way about you. I’ll never get in the way of that.” Then, he looks down at me. “As far as whereverthisgoes.” He waves his hand between us. “That’s up to you, Beautiful.”

Then, he takes a sip of his drink and screws his face up. Devon and I both laugh.

“She told you it was sweet, man. Here,” Devon says, sliding the vodka bottle across the counter. “Add a splash of that to it. It’ll cut the sweetness some.”

Brady tops his glass off with the vodka and takes a tentative sip. “Mmmm,” he hums in approval, and the sound travels all the way to my stomach.

I raise my own glass to try and hide my red face. It’s no use, though. Since my hair is still up, my whole damn face is exposed.You wanted to be seen, Skyler… Congratulations.

While Brady is not looking at me, Devon is. He gives me a knowing grin and nods his head.

“Alright, I think we can leave the rest for another day. I’m going to shower and hit the sack,” Devon says. “I’ll leave you two to get better, um, acquainted. Brady, until we get your room sorted, you’re welcome to crash with me, or on the couch, or—wherever.” He smirks at us, then heads towards the hallway. “Night, guys,” he says over his shoulder, leaving me alone with Brady.

“Wait! Let me pee before you hog the bathroom,” I yell, chasing him down the hallway.

Once I catch up to him, he turns and looks at my face.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, confused when he sees my panicked expression. Then, he seems to realize where it’s coming from. “You and Brady need to get to know each other without me as a buffer, Sky. He’ll never hurt you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I trust Brady. It’s not that at all, surprisingly. I’m just scared because I’ve never…” I let my voice trail off, not wanting to state my virgin status out loud. “I’ve never wanted to, before. But Ifeelthings with him that I’ve never felt before.”

He wraps me in a hug and leans down to whisper in my ear. “Then, gofeelit, Sky. You deserve it and so does Brady. I’m so fuckin’ happy for you two.” He kisses my forehead before heading to his room to grab his clothes.

I run into the bathroom, do my business, and give myself a pep talk while I’m washing my hands.It’s okay to feel what I’m feeling. Brady won’t push me if I’m not ready. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do.

But Idowant to. I want to do it ALL: the kissing, the handholding, thesex, the beinghis girland that scares me. Even though I feel like I know Brady through all of Devon’s stories, we just met yesterday, and he doesn’t know me at all. Hell, he thought Skyler was a guy until yesterday.What if I’m not what he wants?

A knock at the bathroom door makes me jump. I turn and open the door to find Devon waiting.

“Stop!” he says, pointing at me. Then, he pushes past me into the bathroom and closes the door. “You’re in your head,again. Tell that little bitch in your brain to shut up... No. You know what? I’ve got a better idea,” he says, opening the bathroom door. “Brady!” he yells down the hall. “Come getyourgirl, so I can shower!”

A confused Brady appears in the bathroom door a few seconds later. Devon pushes me to him, making me stumble. Brady catches me before I fall.

“What the hell, man?” Brady glares at Devon.

Devon just shrugs. “She’s all up in her head. Insecure and all that shit. Remember me telling you how I met Sky?” He grins when Brady’s jaw clenches. “Well, now it’s on you. If she’syourgirl, I can’t kiss her demons away anymore,” he raises a challenging brow at Brady and whatever he sees on his face makes him smirk. “Thought so. Night, guys,” he says again, closing the bathroom door.

Brady pulls me back to the kitchen and hands me another drink. He seems to be gearing up for a speech of his own as he makes himself another drink.Guess he likes the sweet, after all.I sip my drink, waiting for him to say what’s on his mind. I’m afraid I may have blown it with insecurity.Damn it. What the hell is wrong with me? I just want to be normal.

He takes a long sip of his drink and makes that same satisfied sound, “mmm...” but he’s looking me right in the eyes and his are onfire. My skin flames and that seems to be all he was waiting for. He sets his drink down and grabs me around the waist, taking my drink and setting it next to his. His hand comes up to grip the back of my neck. When I push back into his hand instead of pulling away his eyes flash like lightning and his mouth crashes down on mine.

When he kisses me this time it’s not slow and sweet like it was earlier. It’s hot andpassionateand I can feel it all the way to my toes. My entire body heats and I moan as his other arm wraps around my waist, pulling me into the hardness growing behind the zipper of his jeans. I drape my arms over his shoulders and run my fingers into his hair, scratching the back of his head lightly. He hums his approval into my mouth and his grip on me tightens.

I’m stuck, lost in the most explosive kiss I’ve ever had. I raise onto my toes to get closer to him and he lifts me by the waist like I’m light as a feather. He sets me on the counter and steps between my knees, breaking the kiss. He glances into my eyes briefly before his lips travel along my cheek until he reaches my ear where he nips at my earlobe. I moan and wrap my legs around his waist pulling him closer to where my body aches. Heat pools in my belly, wetness pools in my underwear and I feel like I’m losing my damn mind. He kisses down my neck as he grinds against me.

The feeling of his jeans and the hardness behind them rubbing against my cotton boy shorts has tingles starting at my toes and traveling straight to my core. I moan again, louder than before. He returns his mouth to mine, swallowing my ongoing moan as I writhe against him. The tingles get stronger like every nerve ending in my body is on fire. The muscles in my belly tighten like they are being wound tight. I continue to roll my hips against his and moan into his mouth. I feel like I’m flying higher and higher—like I may float away.

I grip him tighter, and everything stops like I’m suspended outside of my body for a few seconds. Then, I’m falling… Stars flash behind my eyes and I’m shaking and burning as I explode. Brady groans and his hold on me tightens like he’s as afraid as I am that I’ll fly away.

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