Page 92 of Firestorm
And fuck if that didn’t upset me further. Why was she so adverse to others touching her?
“What happened?” I demanded.
“Ohmygod, Aiden, you’re so annoying. Go away.” Willow snapped. “Skye is done with men for today.”
I tightened my grip slightly and Skye melted into my arms.
Hell yeah.
Aiden, 1. Sweatshirt man, 0.
“So it was a man.” I stated, pulling Skye back far enough to take another look at her with a narrowed gaze.
More tears were welling in her eyes, and I prepared for her to blast me away from her with some of her air affinity. Instead, she threw her arms around my middle and pressed her face into my chest.
I froze.
Skye breathed in deeply, relaxing slightly, like somehow my scent was enough to calm her.
I could have fucking purred.
Also,thank GodI’d showered before coming over here.
Skye shook silently as she cried into my chest, and I wanted to crow from the rooftops that she was letting me comfort her.
Aiden, 2. Sweatshirt man, still 0.
“Skye,” Mia said softly, reaching out to comfort her friend, but dropping her hand when I glared at it.
It wasmyturn to comfort Skye.
“Sorry,” Skye mumbled. “We were going to get some dinner. I just needed some time with the girls, but–”
“Oh, that’s fine.” I said slowly, my heart dropping. “I understand. I can go.”
“Well, I don’t want you to, I mean…” Skye trailed off and eyed Willow and Mia, who both raised their eyebrows in surprise.
Willow gasped dramatically. “Aiden can come with us if you want, Skye! I was just trying to defend you! I thought–” She dropped into a conspiratorial whisper. “–I thought we were done with men for today.”
Skye giggled, actuallygiggled, and I swear my heart soared.
“Consider me defended,” she said softly. “Aiden’s fine, though. He’s different.”
Mia, Willow,and meall blinked at Skye.
He’s different. What a statement that was.
“Can I come with you?” I whispered in her ear, my lips so close that they brushed against her cool skin. A jolt of electricity pulsed through me from the bare touch, surprising me. How was she resisting me so easily? Did she not feel this?
“Fine,” she answered with a sigh, but then grinned when I saw her face. I returned her grin, and she took my hand and pulled me after her. I loved this game. I loved when she acted like I was annoying her, but then she’d smile anyway.
My heart pounded painfully in my chest as the girls chatted ahead of me, Willow and Mia dutifully ignoring me. I held Skye’s hand like it was an anchor, keeping me from drifting off into the open ocean.
I’d been with my fair share of women, but never had I felt this untethered and off-balance. I feared if Skye let go of my hand, I’d fall to my knees.
We made it to the dining hall, and the girls split to grab their food. I still wouldn’t let go of Skye’s hand, and she weaved through other people as she made her way over to the line for steaks. She turned back, raising her eyebrows at me expectantly, and I smiled like she was the sun just come out after a storm.
Skye snorted before turning back to the ordering line. She finally let go of my hand, shoving two identical trays at me, and I quickly took them from her. She grabbed a couple sodas, and then we made our way over to her usual table by the window.
