Page 57 of Reckless Skye

Chapter 16

Skye woke up late the next morning, sprawled over TJ’s chest as his hands traced light patterns over her naked back. His heart thumped against her ear as consistently as a metronome, lulling her enough that she sighed and snuggled in, murmured, ‘That feels so good.’

TJ dropped his hands to her butt and squeezed. ‘Good morning.’

Skye yawned and slowly levered up to look at his face. TJ in the morning was a whole other animal, his smile soft, his green eyes happy but quieter somehow.

Waking up with him was something she didn’t think she’d ever get used to. It felt like one of those half-awake dreams where you knew you were dreaming, lost to another world, but chose not to pull yourself out of it.

The house around them was quiet. TJ’s bedroom, furnished with dark wood and navy blues, was dark and cool. A ray of bright sunlight lasered through the gap in the drapes, slicing the King bed in two and illuminating a collection of rodeo buckles neatly displayed on the far wall.

Skye squinted at the window. ‘What time is it?’

He stretched out one arm to tap his phone screen. ‘Close to nine.’

‘Nine?’ Skye scrambled into a seated position. She scanned the room for her clothes – or really, anything she could put on to make a quick dash to her own room.

But before she could move to dress, TJ reared up, wrapped both arms around her, and pulled her back down. ‘Relax.’

‘I have to feed Smokey!’

‘I took care of it already,’ he replied.

‘No. She’s got a sensitive stomach. She’s on—’

‘Gut X and ImmuBiome. I know. I gave her both.’

‘You did?’

‘Yup. You were sleeping like the dead.’ He rolled onto his side, pulling her into little spoon. ‘I didn’t want to wake you up.’ He kissed his way up her neck.

She couldn’t concentrate when he did that, but managed to say, ‘I would have taken care of it.’

‘I wanted to end up back here,’ he said easily, ‘and I wasn’t sure you’d get back into bed once you were up.’ He playfully pressed his hips into her from behind, making her laugh.

Skye rolled over, so that they were nose to nose. ‘I’m usually up and on the road by six if it’s a driving day. Even if it’s not, the sunrise rides are the best.’

He frowned at that.

‘What?’

‘I don’t like the idea of you driving alone.’

Warning bells sounded in her head. She froze. But when she spoke, she very clearly said, ‘I’ll do whatever I want, TJ.’

He pulled back slightly to better see her eyes, searched her face, his own mapped with confusion. ‘What’s happening right now?’

‘I don’t like when men do that – make suggestions that are really orders. Holden—’

‘Don’t do that. Do not compare me to that fucker.’

The bite of temper in his tone didn’t help her current frame of mind. It put her back up. ‘That’s what he does. He issues demands as sweet suggestions. Don’t you think you’d feel better if you put some effort into your appearance? Don’t you think your friend Stephanie is a little inappropriate? Don’t you think—’

‘I’m not going to apologize for caring about you,’ TJ shot back. He climbed out of the bed, ran both hands frantically over his head, his bull skull tattoo shifting dangerously as his back flexed. He spun around to face her, his lean body gloriously naked. ‘Jesus, I can be concerned without being controlling. I can worry about you without enforcing my will on you. Skye, if we’re going to date, I’m going to be honest with you. And I expect that you’ll be honest with me in return. You need to think long and hard about that. Because sometimes it won’t be easy to hear.’ He exhaled a big breath, shook his head. ‘Fuck.’

She’d hurt his feelings. It was humbling to know that she could have that kind of power over a man. And, still, it was imperative he understand that she would never acquiesce to somebody else’s whims again. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to compare you. TJ.’ She waited for him to look at her. ‘You are nothing – nothing – like my father. The fact that I’d even get angry at you or talk back is …’ She blew out a puff of air as she searched for the right words. But when nothing came to adequately describe the relief, she settled on a tepid, ‘It’s really nice.’ She remembered what he’d said about her watching his ride, and added, ‘It’s new for me. I’ve never known a man well enough to be honest with him and certainly not to fight with him. But’ – she regulated her tone – ‘I will always make my own decisions.’

He deflated. ‘I won’t ever hurt you.’ He let his head fall back. ‘Maybe that’s not true, because two people in any type of relationship are bound to hurt one another eventually. But I’ll never be like him. I’ll never trap you or hold you back. But I will worry, Skye. Because I care. And because you’re a five-two woman on the road alone.’