Page 87 of When We Break

“Skyla. Can you walk?”

“Yes. I can walk.”

He nods, seemingly satisfied, and takes my hand so firmly in his, I don’t think anything could tear him away from me.

And that’s exactly what I want. To be with him, right next to him, from now on. I wonder if he’d let me just milk the cows with him all day, every day?

That makes me want to laugh again, so I press my lips together and nod at people as we make our way through the crowded ballroom toward a back exit.

Miller leads us to a waiting black SUV and opens the back door for us.

“I’m sorry, miss,” he says, and I stop to look into his eyes.

He’s so …angry.

“It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it fucking is,” Miller growls by my ear. “It won’t happen again.”

Beck helps me get into the back seat. Since this dress is so tight, I can’t lift my leg high enough to boost myself into the vehicle. Then he’s right next to me, and we’re riding to the hotel. I’m shaking so hard, my teeth chatter, and Beckett slides over so he can hold on to me.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers as I shake.

We’re quiet as a security guard I don’t know drives us, giving status updates into his radio.

“Pulling into the hotel,” he says, but he doesn’t stop at the front entrance.

He takes us into a parking garage and escorts us to a private elevator that leads us to the suite level where we’re staying.

“I’ll be right outside this door,” he says with a nod as Beckett gets us inside.

“My dog.” I turn back to the security guard. “Riley’s with Sally at the end of the hall. Can you get him for me?”

“Give us about thirty,” Beckett adds.

Security nods and closes the door, and Beckett pulls me against him, wrapping his arms so tightly around me, but I wiggle away, making him scowl.

“Not yet. I need a shower.” I’m shaking my head as I stomp for the bathroom, trying to will my body to stop the bloody shaking. “My skin is crawling. He touched me. Hetouched me.”

I feel Beck right behind me, and I’m trying to reach behind me to unfasten the buttons of my dress, but it’s a lost cause.

There’s no way.

“Get this off me.”

“Do you want me to be gentle, or can I tear it off?”

“Get this off me.”

He grips the fabric on either side of my spine, and with one yank, buttons go flying, and I’m able to wiggle out of it. I need help with my shoe straps because my hands won’t stop shaking, then Beck’s turning on the water in the shower.

He sheds his jacket and shoes but doesn’t bother taking anything else off before he gets us both under the hot spray. I’m seriously losing my shite now that the adrenaline is wearing off.

It’s so good to see you, my beautiful, tiny dancer.

“Tell me what to do,” Beck says, pain in his words, and I cover my mouth with my hands, panicked because I’m going to throw up.

He springs into action, leaving the shower to grab the garbage can, and I throw up into it, my stomach heaving as I remember how it felt to havehishand on me,hislips on my ear.

---