Page 138 of His Boys to Protect

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SKYLAR

SKYLAR INWARDLY cursed.

Ward and Charlie looked so good together. So natural and right. He saw it more and more every time Charlie came down to stay.

Skylar swallowed hard as a wave of sadness and envy threatened to overwhelm him.

He clenched his hands in his lap as he watched Ward and Charlie come together. Even not being able to feel it, Skylar saw it happen. He knew their faces so well. The way Charlie's eyebrows went up while his lips formed anO, and how Ward's brow furrowed, almost as though he were in pain. Except Skylar knew better. He could almost feel the pulse of the man's cock inside him, just by looking at his face.

Fucking hells. He was dying to feel that for real again. But would he? When he'd reached for Charlie's cock, wanting to be part of their intimacy in some small way, Ward's gentle, warning tone had felt like a dismissal. Like he wasn't wanted. Deep down, Skylar knew that wasn't Ward's intention, but the feeling stuck.

They didn't need him.

Skylar sat quietly as Ward and Charlie got up, tidied the bed, and went to take a shower. He listened to the water running. Listened to the gentle murmur of Ward's voice, though he couldn't make out the words. Skylar pictured the man washing Charlie all over, being thorough and gentle. He imagined Charlie burrowing against the bigger man, seeking every bit of comfort Ward had to offer.

While Skylar sat there, all alone.

He blinked and looked away. It wasn't like he could join them. He knew that. Doctor's orders. But it also felt like a glimpse of the future, of a time when he was off on his own, leaving Ward and Charlie behind.

They'd be alright. They'd have one another.

Skylar failed to wrestle his emotions under control before the pair got out of the shower.

“Hey,” Ward murmured as a frown took over his face. He padded into the room with a towel around his waist and reached out to gently grab Skylar's chin. “Baby? What's wrong?”

Skylar sniffed and shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Are you in pain? Is it time for your meds yet?”

“No, it's–” Skylar scrubbed at his eyes. “I think I'm just tired.”

Charlie raced over with a sheet of paper in his hands. It looked like the post-op instructions. He pointed insistently at it, and Ward bent down to read whatever Charlie was showing him.

“Ah. Right. Emotional side-effects from your body adjusting.” Ward frowned again. “But if it's something else–”

Skylar shook his head again. “It must be that,” he said, latching onto the suggestion. “Maybe I just need a nap, too.”

“Okay,” Ward slowly replied, though his expression was dubious. He and Charlie quickly got dressed, then Ward bent over Skylar and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Get some sleep.”

Skylar managed a smile, but it fell right off his face the moment Ward and Charlie left the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

The next thing he knew, Skylar woke to the sound of raised voices. He groaned and rubbed his eyes, then checked the time. Over an hour had gone by, completely unnoticed.Jeebus.Maybe he really had simply been tired.

One of the voices grew in volume, sounding almost hysterical, then cut off abruptly, interrupted by Ward's firm but gentle tones. Skylar couldn't make out the words. He waited, listening, and was about to get up and go investigate when he heard footsteps just outside the bedroom door, followed by a soft knock.

“Sky?” Ward opened the door and peeked into the room. “Hey. We didn't wake you, did we?”

Skylar shook his head. “What's going on?”

“Adam's here to see you. I told him this wasn't a good time, but he's insisting.” Ward paused. “If you're not up for company–”

Skylar pushed his hair back and scrubbed his hands over his face. “No, it's fine. I'll just–”

“Don't get up,” Ward insisted, pressing him back against the pillows. “You rest. I'll have him come in.”

Skylar settled back with a sigh and waited. He heard a few more harshly spoken whispers, followed by rapid footsteps.

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