CHAPTER SEVEN

Skylar

Stars spun over Skylar’s head after the sixth orgasm that night.

Six! Holy shit!

She’d never known that was possible.

Her sheets had never felt more wrinkled, or comfortable.

Riggs handed her a glass of water.

She downed it.

Then Skylar registered the ridiculously proud look on his face.

“Do you believe me now?” he asked.

“Is there some secret club you belong to, or a book you read to be that good?”

“You’ve been setting your expectations too low, darlin’.”

She climbed out of bed—where they’d moved after her second climax—to head to the bathroom and wash up.

Riggs gave her ass a gentle slap on the way there.

Skylar pinched him back.

When she finished in the bathroom, she crawled back under the covers and cozied up to him. Her body was tired, spent, and so comfortably numb. She'd just found a new addiction. “I’m going to make a confession.”

“No confessions in bed,” Riggs replied, his eyes already closed. “Compels people to reveal too much.”

“Not that kind of confession. I Googled you.”

He didn’t skip a beat. “What did you find?”

“Nothing. Literally.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“Confused. Not even one social media account?”

“Wouldn’t you be disappointed if I popped up as your Average Joe?”

She rubbed his chest over his heart. “I think you’ve proven yourself well above the Average Joe.”

“Shame on those other men, who couldn’t truly satisfy you.”

She swallowed her reply.

Other men? Just the one. If I could call him that.

“As a nurse, you probably know all kinds of ways to make a man holler.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. Not in good ways. “Which reminds me, what do you do for a living?”

“What do you mean?”

“To earn money? Or are you just living off your GI check?”

The room stilled, or at least Riggs’ body stopped underneath her. He shifted slightly. “What makes you say that?”

“The tattoo on your shoulder. I’ve seen enough vets to recognize a Marine.”

She could feel his grin against her head. When he kissed her scalp and tightened his hold on her shoulder, she let his warmth relax her mind.

“Now, there’s an awesome picture of you.” He grabbed a photo off her nightstand.

She lifted her head just enough to see the frame.

“Wren looks exactly the same,” he continued. “But your hair’s longer here.”

Skylar registered the picture of her sisters, each holding a margarita. From three years ago. Her heart squeezed in on itself.

“Who’s the one in the middle?” he asked.

She sat up, and swallowed as she took the photo. Didn’t need to look at the picture. It’d sat on her nightstand every night since… “My other sister…Phoebe.” Just saying her name made her heart ache. She set the picture back on the nightstand. “We were celebrating my acceptance into nursing school.”

“Looks like a fun night.” From the tone in his voice, he clearly noticed her mood change. “Does she live in Chicago with Wren?”

Skylar tucked her body back in the covers, and refused to look at the picture. Or in his face. “No. She died two years ago.”

The pause between them felt longer than it actually was, but it wasn’t long enough for her to take a decent breath.

“I’m sorry,” Riggs muttered. “Can I ask how she died?”

She shook her head. “Not tonight.” Her voice shook. I’m sorry never worked. The words had just made her angrier over time.

His arms tightened around her. “That’s okay. We don’t have to talk about it.”

In the silence that spanned the next few minutes, memories of her sister filled her mind like a tsunami. Sitting at the kitchen table studying while Phoebe had pointed her through charts, and brought her more coffee. Trying on some of her scrubs, to see which brand she preferred. Watching their favorite rom-com movies until three in the morning.

The look on her beloved sister’s face when they’d pulled her body from the lake…

Just stop thinking. The ache will pass if I stop thinking.

“I’ve had such an awesome time with you the last few days.” Riggs caressed her arm. “When can I see you again?”

Skylar thanked God for the change in subject. “What did you have in mind?”