Page 37 of Filthy Rich Single Daddies

"This isn't your problem," I remind myself harshly. "She's nothing to you. Nothing."

Lies. Lies. Lies. The jealousy coursing through me is all too real, and I'm powerless to stop it.

I turn away from the window, my jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth. As I stalk through the house, searching for a better vantage point, my eyes land on a neatly folded pile of clothes in one of the downstairs bedrooms. Skylar's clothes. The sight of her delicate lace bra peeking out from beneath a silky blouse sends a jolt of heat through me.

"Fuck," I mutter, running a hand through my hair. I know I should walk away, but my feet remain rooted to the spot. The urge to touch, to inhale her scent, is overwhelming.

A noise in the hallway snaps me back to reality. I pivot, striding out of the room just as Skylar rounds the corner. She's wrapped in a towel, water still beading on her bronzed skin. Her eyes widen as she sees me, a small gasp escaping her lips.

"Austin," she breathes, clutching the towel tighter. "What are you doing down here?"

I drink in the sight of her, my body thrumming with barely contained desire. "I live here, remember?" I reply, my voice low and rough. "Unlike some people who seem to think they can just waltz in and make themselves at home."

Skylar's eyes narrow, that familiar defiance flashing in their hazel depths. "If you have a problem with me being here, maybedon’t have me nanny your children. Weren’t you the one that invited me tolivehere too? Or, am I imagining that?"

I say nothing.

“Besides, Theo and the kids want me here.”

The mention of Theo's name sends a fresh wave of anger through me. I take a step closer, crowding her against the wall. "Oh, I'm well aware of how...welcoming Theo's been."

I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to close the remaining distance between us. "You're a distraction, Skylar. A complication we don't need right now."

Her lips curl into a sardonic smile. "A distraction?" She tilts her chin up, defiant. "Seems like a personal problem, Austin. Maybe you should work on your focus."

God, she infuriates me. And yet, I can't look away from the curve of her neck, the soft swell of her breasts barely concealed by the towel. I want to taste her, to feel her skin against mine. The thought alone makes my body tighten with need.

"My focus is just fine," I growl, leaning in closer. Her scent—a mix of chlorine and something uniquely her—fills my senses. "It's you who needs to remember your place here."

Skylar's eyes flash dangerously. "My place? And where exactly is that, Austin? Under your thumb? I don't think so."

She moves to push past me, her shoulder brushing against my chest. My arm snaps out, blocking her path.

“Where are you going?” I can't let her walk away, not like this. The tension between us is a live wire, crackling with electricity.

"The guest room," she snaps, jerking away from my touch. "I need to change."

I crowd her against the wall, our chests mere inches apart. Her breath hitches, and I feel the warmth radiating off her skin.

"You're trouble," I growl, my voice low and intense. "I can't have you bringing chaos into my life, into my home."

Skylar tilts her chin up defiantly, her eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and a desire she can’t even begin to hide. "It's not my fault you can't stop thinking about me naked, Austin," she retorts, her words sharp enough to cut.

She tries to push past me, but my hand moves of its own accord, gripping her hip. My thigh wedges between her legs, and I can feel the wet heat of her core even through my suit pants. The sensation sends a jolt of electricity through my body, and I have to stifle a groan.

"What are you doing?" she gasps, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

I lean in closer, my lips barely grazing her ear. "Proving a point," I murmur, my voice husky with need. "You're not as immune to this as you pretend to be."

Her body trembles against mine, and I can feel her pulse racing. God, I want her. The need to taste her, to claim her, is overwhelming. But I can't. I won't. I've worked too hard to build this life, to create order out of chaos. I can't let her destroy everything I've built.

"Let me go, Austin," she whispers, but there's a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

I pull back slightly, meeting her gaze. "Is that really what you want?"

Skylar's hazel eyes flash with defiance, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "What I want?" she purrs, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "I think this is more about what you want. A more private show. Isn't that what you're after?"

Before I can react, she drops the towel, leaving her clad only in that sinfully small bikini. My erection strains against my zipper, the metal teeth digging into my flesh. I grit my teeth, fighting for control.

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