Ken’s talking now. Something about taxes and transfers.
And Skye. And Skye’s lips. And Skye’s—
Damn. My head isn’t where it needs to be. “Excuse me for a moment, please,” I say into the phone.
“Of course,” Ken says.
“Sure,” Penelope says at the same time.
I hit the mute button and give Skye what I hope is a serious look. From my vantage, it’s more than serious. It’s pissed off.
“Skye, I’ll be with you in a few minutes. This is important.”
She glares at me. “Are you going to dump me if I won’t do what you want?”
Where the hell did that come from?
I stop my jaw from dropping. Now is not the time to react to her outburst. I have two people on the line who could potentially fuck up a major deal that my company needs.
“This is important,” I say again.
I shift my gaze to her restless hands. She’s dropped her arms from across her chest, and now she’s wringing them and pulling on her fingers.
Clearly, she’s upset, but why? What makes her think I’m going to end our relationship? We had an amazing weekend, and I’ve got an incredible night planned. We parted on perfect terms this morning.
Something happened during the last several hours to change her tune.
Damn.
I’m not going to be any good on this phone call when I know she’s bothered. That in itself perturbs me to no end. And I sure as hell don’t appreciate being accused of something I’d never do.
I draw in a breath. I know what I must do. I don’t like it, but it’s clear as day.
Skye comes first. I have to deal with what’s disturbing her. I won’t be any good as a negotiator until I do.
Fuck. This isn’t me.
I unmute the phone. “Hey, Ken, I’m going to have to put these negotiations on hold. Something has come up that requires my immediate attention.”
“Oh? Of course. We understand. Right, Pen?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll call your assistant to reschedule.”
“Perfect, and thank you.” I end the call and stand.
I love this woman. I’ve put an important deal on hold for her.
But I’m also angry. Filled with rage that she barged in here in the middle of a phone conference, but even more so that she somehow thinks I’m going to end things with her. Why would I do that? Have I not made it clear that everything—this whole relationship deal—is for her? Because of the feelings I have for her? Otherwise, I would not be in a relationship. I’ve never been in one—not until now.
We’re going to have this out, and it’s not going to be pretty.
I force myself not to yell. “Have you really just accused me of being so shallow that I’d break things off with you if you don’t do what I want in the bedroom?”
Her jaw drops. “Of course not.”
“You just said it.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Enlighten me, then.”
“I…”
Her lips tremble. God, those lips. What they do to me. I could advance on her right now. Grab her. Kiss her into submission. Rip those fucking clothes off her and fuck her until she’s limp in my arms.
I inhale once more in an attempt to calm myself. It doesn’t work.
“Talk, then, Skye. Apparently you have a lot to say to me.”
“This isn’t my fault.” She sets her hands on her hips, visibly shaking. “You won’t tell me what happened between you and Addison. What choice did I have other than to try to find out myself?”
So we’re back to this? Back to Addison Ames? Sometimes I wish I’d never laid eyes on Addison Ames. But if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t know Skye. And I wouldn’t…
No. Those are things I don’t ever think about.
Okay, I do think about them. I just wish I didn’t.
Earlier in the day I told myself to tread carefully with Skye in the bedroom. Not to rush her.
I remind myself of those words now, only in reference to this conversation. If I let my anger take over, I’ll end up saying things I have no business saying.
“You have one very important choice, Skye.” I walk out from behind my desk with deliberate stalking movements.
My past haunts me in this moment. My past…with Addie.
I shake my head to clear it. Addie has nothing to do with Skye and me. I was a stupid kid when Addie and I were together—if you could even call it together. I’m a man now, and I know what I want and what I don’t want.
I want Skye’s trust. I want Skye’s safety.
I want Skye’s love.
I inhale. “Your choice is to trust me. Have I ever, in all our times together, made you feel unsafe in my presence?”
“Physically or emotionally?”
“Either,” I say, my voice low.
“No,” she gulps out.
“Have I ever made you feel that I’d end our relationship if you refused anything I asked?”
“No, but—”
“Then what’s this about?”
“You. And Addie. How your relationship ended.”