Page 34 of Keeping Skylar (Fractured Hearts #1)

Heath

I watch in silence as Skylar takes a bite of the steak fajita wrap I just made for her. Earlier, she tried to convince me that the shrimp pasta I brought home from the restaurant last night was still ‘perfectly fine’. I wasn’t having it. Only the freshest meals for this sexy little lady.

I’m still reeling from everything that just happened—listening to her sing, then devouring her sweet pussy right after.

God, what a treat that was. I was completely captivated the moment I heard her voice.

When she opened her mouth to sing, it was like my soul had left my body.

Absolutely spellbinding—unlike anything I’ve ever felt or experienced before.

The pain and rawness in her voice pierced straight through my chest. Every note, every lyric carried an emotion that felt deeply personal, as if she was telling her own truth—her own painful experience.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Skylar looked and sang like an angel—a beautiful, broken angel.

And I was the lucky bastard who got to witness it all.

The moment the song ended and she opened her eyes, something inside me snapped.

Every rule I’d set, every line I swore I wouldn’t cross, vanished in an instant.

The need to touch her, to taste her, to claim her, consumed me entirely.

I didn’t care about the risks, the what-ifs, or the repercussions.

All I knew in that moment was that I wanted her—needed her—and that, nothing else mattered.

So, I kissed her—consequences be damned!

But when Skylar kissed me back, everything changed.

Her body responded to mine with such openness and equal fervour, welcoming every touch, every kiss I offered.

There was no hesitation—only raw, electric need—a perfect storm of lust, desire and connection.

She wanted me just as badly as I wanted her, and deep down, we both knew—there was no undoing what had just begun. There was no turning back now.

We’re sitting on my bed, devouring our steak fajita wraps as if I hadn’t just savoured every inch of her moments ago. Skylar looks breathtaking, even with her wild hair and a mouth full of food. I can’t imagine her ever looking anything less than beautiful. It’s hard to turn my gaze away.

“How old are you?” I randomly ask.

She frowns at me, clearly surprised by my intrusive question. “Don’t you know it’s rude to ask a woman her age?”

“I’m just curious. I’ve known you for over month now, and I still don’t know how old you are.”

“I turn thirty-two on April the eighth,” she says before taking another bite of her wrap.

“That’s just over three weeks away. What are you planning to do for it?”

She shrugs and sets her empty plate on the bedside table. “To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it. It’ll be the first birthday I spend without my family and best friend, so I’m not in the mood to celebrate this year.”

“Well, you can always celebrate with Hannah, Nate and me. We can organise something nice. It’ll be my treat.” I wink at her.

She waves me off as if it’s the most absurd idea she’s ever heard. “Oh, no. That’s not necessary, Heath. I’m more than happy to just sit in front of the TV with a bottle of wine and maybe some cake.”

“Babe, no! I can’t think of anything more depressing. We’re celebrating, and that’s final.”

“Okay, fine! But only if I can help organise yours and Hannah’s birthday. When is it, by the way? You guys have never mentioned it, or your age, for that matter.” She shakes her head, the realisation only just hitting her. “I can’t believe I’ve never asked,” she chides, and I can’t help but laugh.

“We’re thirty-one on September twelfth.”

Her jaw drops, and she genuinely looks stunned by the revelation. “Wait, so you’re younger than me?”

I nod. “That seems to be the case, yes. Is that a bad thing, cradle snatcher?” I tease.

“I am not!” she exclaims, smacking my bicep playfully. “For your information, I’ve only ever dated older men. I suppose, I’ve always had a preference for them.” Her words hit me like a slap on the face.

“How come? Age ain’t nothing but a number.”

“That’s true, but I don’t know ...” She shrugs. “I guess I just clicked better with them on an intellectual and emotional level. Although, my ex-husband was two years older than me, and well, he was just plain immature and emotionally stunted. So, what do I know?”

“That just means it’s time to broaden your horizons a little. You never know what kind of amazing guy you might stumble across.” I flash her a playful grin, waggling my brows for good measure.

She shakes her head, giggling. “What are you implying, Heath?”

“I’m just saying, there’s a lot of options out there, maybe even better ones.” Like the person sitting right next to you.

She looks down at her fingers, absentmindedly toying with a loose thread on the blanket, letting my words settle in. She doesn’t respond to my comment; instead, she stretches her legs across the mattress before climbing out of the bed. I guess that’s the end of our conversation.

“I better shower and get ready for bed. It’s getting late,” she finally says, as she picks up both our plates to take back to the kitchen.

Not ready for the night to end, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “Stay with me tonight?”

She freezes, then slowly turns to face me. “I ... I don’t know, Heath.”

“We don’t have to do anything—just talk and sleep. I promise,” I reassure her, making a cross over my heart for emphasis.

She nibbles on the corner of her lip, lost in thought as she weighs her decision. After what feels like an eternity, she finally nods. “Only talk and sleep,” she repeats, and I give a small nod in return. “Okay, then. Give me fifteen minutes.”

A wide smile spreads across my face as she exits the room without another word.

I mentally fist-pump the air, thrilled by the thought of Skylar lying beside me all night.

A short time later, she returns to my room.

Her hair is damp from the shower, and she’s wearing a pale blue camisole with matching cotton shorts this time.

Her sexy golden legs are on full display, and I can see the outline of her pebbled nipples poking through the thin material of her top.

I make a silent pray to whoever is listening that my dick behaves itself tonight.

I lie on my side, facing her, lifting the covers for her to climb in. She hesitates for a moment, but then, just seconds later, she slides in beside me. She mirrors my position, lying on her side, facing me, with one hand tucked beneath her pillow and the other resting across her stomach.

I switch off the lamp, plunging the room into complete darkness. “Are you comfortable?” I ask.

“Mmhmm . . .” she hums softly.

“Thank you for sharing your beautiful voice with me tonight. You have an incredible gift, duchess. I hope you never stop singing.”

“You made it so easy for me to find my voice again. So, it’s me who should be thanking you.”

“That was all you, baby.” After a moment of silence, I reach over and gently touch her cheek. “Skylar?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I hold you?” I whisper.

Wordlessly, she turns to lie on her other side, presenting her back to me. Just when I think she’s shut me down, she reaches behind her, takes my hand, and pulls me closer, wrapping my arm around her waist.

Our fingers intertwine, and I hold her tightly against me, as though afraid she might slip away at any moment. I bury my face in her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of coconut and lime, and feeling a sense of calm wash over me.

That night, I slept better than I ever had in my thirty years of life. And it’s all thanks to this extraordinary woman tucked safely in my arms.

During my stroll to the restaurant, I decide to give Hannah a quick call to check on how Nate is doing and to discuss plans for Skylar’s upcoming birthday.

I woke up this morning to an empty side of the bed; Skylar had already left for work without waking me. When I texted to ask if she’d slept well, she replied with a winking emoji and a thumbs up. I smiled, taking it as a promising sign. I might just have to follow up on that later tonight.

Hannah picks up on the second ring, her voice groggy and laced with sleep. “Hello.”

“Hey, little sis. Up for a chat?”

“Yeah, okay. What’s up?” she replies with a long yawn.

“You sound tired. What’s wrong?”

She lets out an exhausted sigh. “Nothing. Just Nate keeping me up all night with his incessant whining. I swear, he turns into a toddler when he’s sick. I barely got an ounce of sleep last night.” She huffs.

“Ahh ... Playing nurse, I see.”

She yawns again, and I hear shuffling in the background. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. Anyway, what can I do for you, twin?”

“I wanted to ask if you wanted to help me organise something for Skylar’s birthday? It’s in three weeks.”

I hear more shuffling, followed by the sound of a car door closing. “Oh, I didn’t realise her birthday was coming up so soon. That’s sweet of you, Heath. What do you have in mind?”

I’m standing in front of my work, looking through the glass window when an idea quickly springs to mind. “Her birthday is on a Saturday, and as you know, I’ll be working that night. But if you and Nate bring her to the restaurant, I’ll happily whip up something special for everyone, on the house.”

“Oh, wow! That sounds like a fantastic idea!” Hannah exclaims. “That’s quite a lot to do for someone you’ve only known for a few weeks,” she says suspiciously.

“I’ve gotten to know her a little more each week and she’s quickly grown on me. Can’t I do something nice for a friend?”

Hannah is silent for a moment, then lets out a gasp. “Heath Mason Bedford! What did you do?”

“What do you mean, what did I do? I didn’t do anything,” I lie.

“Please, tell me you haven’t tried anything on her!”

I take a long pause, and she interprets my silence as my answer. “Oh my God! What have you done? And don’t you dare lie to me!” she snaps.

“Fine. I kissed her, okay! And I’m not fucking sorry!”

Hannah gasps. “Are you serious!” she shouts. “Have you not been listening to a word I’ve said? Why would you do that?!”

“Because I like her, Hannah. A lot. I tried to keep my distance, but I just can’t get her out of my mind,” I finally confess. “And before you go off your nut, she kissed me back.”

“She kissed you back? Like, she didn’t push you away or slap you across your smug face?” she asks sarcastically.

“She did neither, smartarse. We kissed for a while actually, and it wasn’t awkward afterwards.”

I won’t tell my sister about the body-trembling orgasm I gave Skylar or that we slept in the same bed last night. That’s not information she needs to know, now or ever. What I do want her to understand is that I genuinely feel something for Skylar, and I want to see where this could go.

“Look, I know you’re worried about her getting hurt. And I think that’s very admirable of you to want to look out for her. But I promise you, Hannah. I would never do anything to hurt her or betray her trust. You have my word,” I say earnestly.

Hannah lingers in silence, probably deciding whether to believe my words. But the truth is, the only person I need to prove myself to is Skylar, and I’m willing to spend every damn day showing her that I’m trustworthy and loyal.

I hear the start of a car engine on the other line, signalling the end of our argument.

“If you break her heart, Heath. I swear to you—”

“I won’t,” I quickly interrupt before she finishes her sentence. “I have no intention of ever breaking her heart. If I do, I’ll hand you the knife myself.”

“Well, in that case, I’m happy for you. But just remember to be patient with her. Don’t rush her into doing anything she’s not ready for,” she reminds me.

“Of course. Only tiny baby steps.” That earns me a chuckle from Hannah. We end the conversation on a positive note, fine-tuning the details for Skylar’s birthday.

After saying our goodbyes and hanging up, I walk into the restaurant with my head held high and my heart on my sleeve, envisioning a birthday feast worthy of a queen.