Free Skylar’s Devotion by Marisa Chenery

Braelyn changed into a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a tan short-sleeved silk blouse. She pulled on the new ankle boots she’d bought the day before. She’d just finished putting on a bit of makeup when she heard her mom call up the stairs to her.
    Giving herself one last look in the dresser mirror, and satisfied she didn’t look white as a ghost, Braelyn snatched up her purse and walked out of her room. Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, she ran her gaze over the man who waited for her just inside the front door. Skylar’s gaze found hers, and he smiled.
    The mere sight of him caused her body to react. For the rest of last night and then all this morning, he hadn’t been very far from her thoughts. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say she had become obsessed with him, something she’d never done over a man before. It was also during the small hours of the morning—not able to sleep because he dominated her thoughts so much—she had come up with the plan of how she wanted her day with Skylar to go.
    “All set?” he asked when she’d walked over to him.
    “Yes.”
    With a shouted goodbye to her mom, Braelyn let Skylar guide her out of the house with his hand on the small of her back. Being near him, the last of the unease she felt because of the letter drained away. When she was with him, she felt as if she were safe, protected. Maybe it had something to do with Skylar’s large size. All Braelyn knew was she felt more comfortable with him at her side.
    Once they were inside Skylar’s Infiniti, he put the key in the ignition and said, “So have you had a chance to think about where you want to go out to eat?”
    She put on her seatbelt and turned her head to look at him. “Actually, I did better than that. I already have a reservation at the Roots restaurant at the Orchard Garden Hotel. It’s for twelve-thirty, so we have plenty of time to get there.”
    Skylar smiled. “It would seem you were more on the ball this morning than I was.”
    “I figured it would save some time if I went ahead and made the reservations.”
    “Sounds good. And since you said we don’t have to hurry,” he said as he leaned toward her, “I can take the time to do this.”
    He kissed her, taking her lips in a gentle exploration. When she returned it, moaning into his mouth, Skylar became more demanding. In a matter of seconds, the passion between them raged into a conflagration. The rest of the world seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them in it. They were more than good together. The desire Skylar’s touch caused inside her just reaffirmed she’d made the right choice with the plans she’d made for them after lunch.
    Then in the middle of the heated kiss, Braelyn remembered what the letter had said about public displays. She stiffened and put her hand on Skylar’s chest to push him away. Once he broke contact with her mouth, she scooted away as far as her seatbelt would allow.
    Skylar gave her a confused look. “Is everything all right, Braelyn? I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?”
    She shook her head. “I’m fine, and no, you didn’t do anything wrong.” She put on what she hoped was a sexy smile. “If we don’t stop now, I doubt I’ll be able to get through lunch without mentally undressing you.”
    His eyes took on a heavy-lidded appearance. “We’ll have to see about continuing this after we eat then.”
    “I’m game for that.”
    When they arrived and parked in the hotel’s parking lot, Braelyn got out of the car and met Skylar at the front of it. They walked into the hotel and headed for the restaurant situated off the lobby. Since she’d been here earlier to make the reservation in person, the host smiled brightly when he saw them.
    Before she could say her name, he said, “Right this way, Miss Whitmore. Your table is ready.”
    After they were seated with menus in front of them, Skylar said, “I guess I’m going to have to get used to strange men recognizing my