Chapter 298
Chapter 298:
He pulled her into his arms. It wasn’t a demanding embrace. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. Skye felt the tension leave his body, and in response, hers melted.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his dark hair. It was so soft, contrary to his hard exterior.
“I’m tired of being strong,” she admitted, her voice muffled against his shirt.
“Then don’t be,” Alistair whispered against her skin.
He pulled back just enough to look at her. His eyes were dark, swirling with an intensity that made her knees weak. He lowered his head slowly, giving her every chance to pull away.
She didn’t. She leaned up.
The kiss was slow. It tasted of rain and longing. It wasn’t the desperate, frantic kissing of their earlier encounters. This was a conversation. It was a promise. Alistair kissed her like he had all the time in the world, like he was memorizing the shape of her mouth.
When he lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom, Skye didn’t feel fear. She didn’t feel the shame Liam had instilled in her. She felt cherished.
The bedroom was dark, lit only by city lights filtering through the rain-streaked windows. They moved together with a natural rhythm, shedding clothes and armor in equal measure. Skin against skin. Heat against cold.
For the first time in two lifetimes, Skye Sterling fell asleep feeling completely safe.
Morning light filtered through the gray curtains, harsh and bright. Skye woke slowly, disoriented. The bed was huge, the sheets smelling of sandalwood. She turned her head.
Alistair was still asleep. His arm was thrown over his eyes, his chest rising and falling in a deep, steady rhythm. In sleep, the harsh lines of his face were smoothed out. He looked younger.
Skye reached out and traced the line of his jaw with her fingertip.
He stirred, his hand instinctively catching hers before he even opened his eyes. He brought her palm to his lips and kissed the center of it.
“Morning,” he rasped, his voice rough with sleep.
“Morning,” Skye smiled.
She glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. 10:00 AM.
Panic surged through her. She sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. “Oh my god. The variety show. The recording—I’m late. I’m incredibly late p>
She scrambled for her phone. It was dead.
ѕ𝗵a𝘳е 𝘺o𝘂𝗿 𝘧𝖺𝘃о𝗿𝘪𝗍𝗲𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝗼𝗆 𝖻𝖾𝘭𝗻о𝘃𝖾𝘭ѕ.с𝗼𝘮
Alistair sat up, leaning back against the headboard, unbothered. “Relax p>
“I can’t relax!” Skye said, hunting for her clothes on the floor. “This is my first major appearance since the ‘Rebirth’ campaign. If I no-show, the media will crucify me. Dominic will say I’m unprofessional p>
Alistair caught her wrist as she reached for her bra. “Think, Skye. What happens if you don’t show up p>
Skye paused. “They panic. The producer calls Liam because he’s a sponsor. Dominic gets suspicious p>
“Exactly,” Alistair smirked. “Let them panic. Let Liam wonder where you are. Let Dominic think you’ve cracked. Silence is a weapon. Use it p>
Skye slowly lowered her hand. She looked at him, her mind shifting gears from employee to strategist. “If I show up late… looking slightly disheveled… looking like I don’t care p>
“Then you control the narrative,” Alistair finished. “You’re not a trainee begging for screen time. You’re the star they can’t start without p>
Skye smiled slowly. She dropped the bra back onto the floor.
“I need a shirt,” she said.
Alistair got up, completely naked and unashamed, and walked to the closet. He tossed her a crisp white button-down. “Wear this. It’ll look better on you anyway p>
Skye put it on. It hung to her mid-thighs, the cuffs swallowing her hands. She rolled them up. She looked in the mirror. She looked messy, sexy, and utterly unbothered.