Page 86 of His Boys to Protect

“Yeah. Fine.” Skylar got up. “I missed my safety check-in. I need to go.”

“Hey–” Ward reached for him, but Skylar pulled away. If the man touched him, Skylar would crawl right back into that bed and never be able to make himself leave.

“Everything's fine,” he insisted, stuffing his phone into his pocket. “Go back to sleep.”

“Sky–”

“I've gotta go.” He found his shoes in the dark and yanked them on. “I–”

Skylar broke off just in time, realizing what he'd been about to say.Oh fuck. He couldn't say that. Not those three little words. Not if there were any chance of making himself ultimately walk away.

He flashed Ward a smile, forcing it on. “Sayhito Charlie for me.”

Then he flew out the door before Ward could stop him.

Skylar ran for the elevator, half-expecting the man to follow. On the ground floor, he raced outside and jumped into his car, firing it up and throwing it into gear. He flew through town, unable to stop. If he slowed down for even a second, he'd turn right back around and beg Ward to–

What?Skylar shook his head. He didn't even know.

No, he did know. He just couldn't make himself admit it.

Before he knew it, he was standing at Uncle Zeke's door with no clear memory of how he'd gotten there. He'd been operating as though possessed by some outside force. Like something else was guiding his body, completely beyond his control.

Uncle Zeke answered the door and heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank god. You seriously had me worried tonight, kid.”

Even with the genuine concern in Uncle Zeke's voice, Skylar had to force on a smile.

“Come on in.” Uncle Zeke stepped back. “Why don't you go get undressed, and then we can talk about it afterwards, okay?”

Skylar hesitated.

“Hey,” Uncle Zeke said with a frown. “You sure you're okay?”

“Yeah. Fine.”

Uncle Zeke studied his face, then shrugged. “If you're sure. Come inside.” He reached for Skylar's arm.

Skylar jumped back with a hiss as his stomach began to lurch.Oh fuck. He slapped a hand over his mouth. The thought of Uncle Zeke touching him—of anybody but Ward or Charlie touching him, even in the most innocent way—was enough to make him want to vomit. He still felt so renewed and whole after being in Ward's arms. Skylar wasn't ready to feel dirty again so soon.

He wasn't going to last three more months. Hell, he wasn't going to last three more minutes.

Skylar took a step back as tears clouded his vision.

“Skylar?”

“I can't,” he began, choking out the words as he shook his head. “I have to–”Fuck. “I can't–”

“Hey, it's okay.” Uncle Zeke reached for him again, his fingertips barely brushing Skylar's sleeve.

Skylar ran.

Chapter 32

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WARD

WARD STARED at the door after Skylar left, still trying to catch up with what happened.

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