Darkly (Follow Me 4)

“Stop apologizing, Skye. You’re not sorry you barged in here, and we both know it.”

Her lips curve into a smile that lights up her warm eyes. She kisses me on the cheek. “Bye, Braden.”

After she leaves, my hand wanders to the cheek she kissed.

Odd. It was sweet and chaste. I’m not getting hard from it.

Yet in a way, it means more to me than the fuck we just shared.

…

I spend most of the afternoon in meetings with Ben. Since I returned from New York early, he asked me to sit in, and I was glad to do so. It put my focus back where it should be—on work.

Instead of Skye Manning.

By five, I’m back in my own office. I breathe in. The scent of lust and sex is still thick in the air. Could be my imagination, but whatever it is conjures up images of Skye, her back against my window while I’m frantically pumping into her.

Absently, I pick up my phone and pull up Instagram.

Front and center is a new post from Skye. She looks beautiful and vivacious. She’s laughing about something, and her lips have never looked sexier. In a photo, that is. They’re much sexier in person.

Love my Susanne Cherry Russet lip stain. It’s my go-to for every occasion. Perfect for a casual afternoon! @susannecosmetics #sponsored #lips #lipgloss #kissproof #youknowyouwantsome @beantheredonethat

She works quickly. Clearly she signed the contract electronically and has already begun posting. Pride wells in me. Sure, Instagramming is far from her true calling, but it will get her noticed as someone other than Addie’s assistant.

And if I have it my way, she’ll be able to quit her current job. The farther away she is from Addison Ames, the better.

Already, she has a ton of comments.

Gorgeous on you! #orderingnow Love the color!

You look so happy!

Totally getting this for my wife.

I scroll through several more until one catches my eye.

@realaddisonames #fuckyou

Angry prickles crawl up my spine.

In an instant, another comment blares at me, pulsing along with my heartbeat.

@realaddisonames #youllneverbeme

I scoff aloud. She got that right. Skye Manning is already eons above Addison Ames in dignity, intelligence, and honesty.

Addison Ames should hope to be Skye Manning.

Of course, she’s too narcissistic to ever see the irony.

I’m tempted to intervene, but when I refresh my feed, the offending comments have disappeared. Skye obviously saw them and deleted them without responding. The woman has class.

And so do I.

I won’t intervene. I never do.

Except that one time when I was in a pissy mood and that damned coffee post got to me.