Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I locate a window near the classroom, gaze outside, and replay the events of the last twenty-four hours. Making love to Skylar last night, and then again this morning in the shower, is hard for me to grasp. I’ve wanted her for so long that it’s all surreal at this point. I’m not the man that good things happen to, and Skylar is everything good. Fuck, she’s all I’ve ever wanted. There’s a lot I need to work through—that we need to work through. The first thing to tackle is her family. I’m not sure how they will react to the two of us, but I know it will be okay. It has to because I’m not giving her up and I know Skylar will fight tooth and nail for what we have between us. The bigger problem is what happened last night. It was beautiful and although I wouldn’t change anything—even if I could—there’s a side of me that my woman needs to see up close and personal. I rub the back of my neck as I think about letting her see the real me. I want her to see and experience the extent of my desire to control everything for her well-being and care. I am worried that it might be overwhelming for her. She may try to run. I can’t let her get away. I’ll do whatever I have to, to make sure she stays right by my side.
My thoughts are interrupted when my phone rings. I pull it out to see it’s Raze. I was wondering what was going on. I wasn’t able to call them at all after I knew Skylar was safe. I figured the cell towers in Kentucky were affected by the flood. I got the same response with the landlines today.
“Yo,” I answer.
“Where you at, asshole? You were supposed to have Skylar at the compound by now.”
“I’m still in Cincy. We’re heading out after my woman finishes her test.”
“Your woman?” he asks, making me grin.
“Yeah. In fact, she has my cut on her back right now.”
He lets out a long whistle and I shake my head. Fuck, I’m still smiling, though. “After three years, you finally manned-up.”
“Don’t try to piss me off, brother. I’m in too good of a mood today.”
“You? In a good mood? Is that even possible?”
“Making love to your woman all night and again this morning will do that to you. Is there a reason for this call? I have a woman to concentrate on here.”
“And another one bites the dust,” he mumbles, and I have to bite back my laugh.
“Mock me if you want. Your time is coming.”
“Doubtful. I don’t think that kind of life is for me. I threw away my chance with Thea for the only woman who has ever even made me think about claiming her. She promised she was all in this time and now she’s in Oregon, dating some football player,” he scoffs. “Still, I’m happy for you.”
“We tried to warn you that bitch wasn’t worth your time,” I remind him before I can stop myself.
“I know. I was stupid and let myself be led around by my dick. Let’s not bring her up again. Does Skylar understand what you like from your women?”
“No. Well, not completely. She may have a small idea, but not the entire picture. I haven’t really had the chance to discuss it with her like I need to.”
“Joker, dude, that’s playing with fire—especially with a girl like Skylar and who her family is to you.”
“I know,” I mutter.
“You need to explain more. You should have done it before you claimed her. Hell, now I’m feeling sorry for her when she finds out. The girl has been kind of sheltered. That means the whole thing is not going to go over well.”
“You aren’t telling me anything that I don’t know, Raze. I’m going to try to go about this gently. I have to handle her carefully. Last night shouldn’t have happened, really. At least, I didn’t mean for it to.” I add. “I wouldn’t trade last night for anything, but I would have rather been completely honest about who I am before I claimed her. I should have let her know what I wanted from her.”
“Joke—”
“I know. I just have to be careful,” he begins. “I don’t want to hurt her any more than I already have. She lashed out about the pain that I’ve caused her yesterday. The anguish on her face, Raze, man, it was bad. I felt horrible because I’ve hurt her so much in the past—even more than I knew. I’m so fucking ashamed and guilty. I just wanted to give her one night that was exactly how she imagined it.”
“Did you explain any of it to her this morning?” he pushes.
I scrub my hand through my hair. “I should have, I know. I’ve fucked up so much, my conscience is about to eat me alive. That’s the real reason last night went down the way it did. I wanted to give her a good memory to hold on to instead of the bad,” I try to explain. I’m not lying either. I wanted her to have everything she wanted before I threw another bucket of shit her way. My lifestyle is not what some women are built for, but Skylar is. I just need to prove it to her.