She doesn't look convinced but nods anyway."Goodnight, Gage."
"Goodnight, Skye."
As I watch the elevator doors close, something in my chest tightens as she disappears from view.Turning, I find Mase still there, his expression unreadable.
"Problem?"I ask, walking back toward him.
"Not yet."He falls into step beside me."But my guys have spotted surveillance around the perimeter.More frequent than usual."
"Hunter mentioned it," I acknowledge."Any leads?"
"Working on it."His voice is measured, careful."In the meantime, you might want to be more cautious about who you're seen with."
I stop, turning to face him."Meaning?"
"Meaning your new friend is a civilian.If someone's watching the club, they're watching who comes and goes.Who associates with whom."His eyes hold mine."She could become a target by association."
The thought sends a chill through me."I'll take care of it."
"See that you do."He claps a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm."We protect our own here, but she's not one of us.Is she?"
I know what he's asking, if I've made a claim to her.If I call her mine, then she is offered that protection, but Mase knows me.Knows I don't do that, and if I were to say she was, it would be a huge deal.Still saying she isn't one of us, and therefore isn't worth the extra protection, doesn't feel right either.
"No, she isn't," I say against my better judgment.
As he walks away, his words echo in my mind.Not one of us.It's true, in a sense.Skye isn't part of our inner circle, and doesn't know about the complex web of connections and obligations that bind us together.I don't want anyone to know about my real life outside these walls.
And that's exactly how it needs to stay.
Before heading home, I pour myself a drink while I’m cleaning up my room.I try to focus on my trip planning, booking hotels, arranging meetings, and preparing questions for the program administrators.But all I can think about is Skye, her smile, her taste, the way she surrenders to me so completely yet never loses that spark of defiance.
My phone buzzes with a text.
Skye:Home safe.Still feeling you inside me.
Heat floods through me at her words.I finish my drink in one swallow before replying.
Me:Good girl.Sleep well.Dream of me.
Chapter 8
Skye
Thesunkissesmyshoulders as I sink into the lounge chair on Summer's patio, the smell of chlorine and sunscreen thick in the air.I stretch my legs out and sip from the tall glass of lemonade she handed me the moment I arrived.Wedding magazines are spread out on the table next to us, a half-hearted nod to our purpose here today.
Summer lounges in the chair beside me, oversized sunglasses perched on her nose and a relaxed smile on her face.Gemma is in the pool, cooling off, being careful not to get her hair wet.
"So, Gemma wants something simple, but elegant.That means no mason jars, no hay bales, and definitely no DIY flower arrangements."Summer says it like she was given that exact speech before I got there.
I laugh."Good.If I have to glue one more flower to anything, I'm going to start charging by the petal."
She chuckles, flipping a page."I thought you'd be more excited about this.You're usually the one pushing for color palettes and signature cocktails."
I nod and force a smile, my gaze drifting to the blue sky overhead."Yeah, I am.It's just...life's been a little busy lately."
Summer lifts her sunglasses to look at me."Busy?Or distracted?"
I give her a pointed look, hoping to steer her away."Can we not talk about him today?I'm here to wedding plan, not give updates on my sex life."