“What if I don’t agree?”
“Then, you leave me no choice.”
“No choice?” This was it then.
“You’ll force me to take a vow of chastity.”
Her eyes widened. “You’d give up sex?”
He brushed the backs of his fingers against her lips. “I won’t have you serving me. I told you, I’m in this for the bigger prize. That means all of you, not just pieces of you.”
“But…”
“I don’t know anything about abuse or how to help you, but I’ll learn. We’ll learn together and find help if we need it because I’m in this with you, for better or for worse. We never exchanged vows, but I believe them in my heart.”
She reached out and traced the curve of his bicep. “About that, I wish we’d taken the time to get to know each other better.”
He tilted his head back and opened his mouth, letting water pour in. He spit across the opposite shower wall. “You would’ve run for the hills once you found out who I was.”
“Technically, I knew who you were before we got married.”
And he still didn’t have a clue as to who she was, both past and present.
“Well, you’re mine now, Skye Summers Dean. You belong to me.”
She belonged to him only until he learned the truth. After that, he wouldn’t be able to sign the annulment papers fast enough.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next morning,Skye slipped out of Ash’s bedroom suite and went to find Forest. The only clothes she had were the scrubs she’d worn from the day before—comfortable but dirty.
A cascade of bodies filled the main living area. Crew members and groupies in various stages of undress were draped over one another in their post-coital haze. Empty alcohol bottles lay strewed about the place, but there was no evidence of powder lines, bongs, or needles.
A quick search failed to reveal her brother. She nibbled at her lower lip, wondering how Forest had fared against the temptation of alcohol. Ash had promised he’d have someone watching out for him.But had Forest caved to the temptations of his demons?
Her need to find Forest overrode the social conventions of not peeking in private bedrooms. There were six in the penthouse suite—one for each of the band and one for their manager, Thomas Tuttle. She tiptoed among the sleeping guests and pushed open the doors.
Bash, Bent, Spike, and Noodles each slept soundly in their own beds with at least one naked girl in bed with them. Only Thomas Tuttle’sroom was empty although the bed had certainly seen action the night before. More importantly, Forest was nowhere to be found.Why was he not in the penthouse?Ash had mentioned Forest had to bunk with security.Where did they sleep?
She walked back to Ash’s room and fished her cell phone out of her backpack.
Where are you, Beanpole?
A quick search revealed her sneakers, and she slipped those on while waiting for his reply.
Downstairs.
She released her breath.
You with anyone?
My babysitter.
Another relieved breath escaped her lips.
Still sober, my summer Skye. Relax.
Can we talk?
