Free Holding Out For Skye by S.R. McKade Page A

addict, her preference being romantic comedies and paranormal romances, which was just another snippet of information he’d dug on her. Cian’d obtained that delightful tidbit of info the usual way he found out things about her— by snooping, of course , he thought with a wry grin.
    Skye understood immediately what he was trying to say. She shrugged. “Reading is different, you know. It’s not the same thing as experiencing it.” She blushed, glad he was looking ahead and not at her face. “Stories in books and movies are more like dreams and fantasies. Real life’s a different thing altogether.” She shrugged, uncomfortable. “I know not every relationship is the same. Um, I have an idea about relationships between couples but that’s all like theories.”
    So, she was absolutely clueless. Hmmm, how could he use that? Cian thought. He wasn’t above fighting dirty. “Okay. First, we have concluded we like each other.”
    “I think I’m having second thoughts about that. Besides, I never said that,” Skye denied.
    “Too late, that ship’s sailed,” he told her cheerfully. “Secondly, we go out on dates—movies, dinners, places we want to go, and not just accepting what the other person wants, accompany each other on family things, parties etcetera. We have fun.”
    “Family things?”
    “Yep. Why?”
    Family . Skye’s heart gave a twist. What did someone like her know about family? “I don’t do family things well.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” he said casually. Inwardly, Cian’s heart turned over in his chest at her solemn tone. He decided then and there she was going to meet his family. She would fit right in with them, he just knew it. Not to mention his mom would be relieved that he was finally serious about someone.
    “Okay. What else?”
    Cian could just picture Nick rolling on the floor laughing his ass off over him teaching Skye about dating. “It’s important to be honest.”
    “Check. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble being honest.”
    “I have no doubt about that,” he noted wryly. She had never had a problem telling him what she really thought of him.
    “What’s next?” Skye looked at him questioningly as they continued walking hand in hand. This dating thing was mindboggling.
    “You should have some rules for me, I guess.”
    She looked a bit disconcerted at that. “I should?”
    He only smiled. She was so adorable. And she’d probably punch him if he said that out loud.
    “I guess I should, then.” Skye thought about what the most important thing in a relationship was to her. “No fooling around behind each other’s back. We stay faithful to each other and if either of us decides to get out of the relationship, we tell the other up front.”
    Cian stopped and turned to her, trying not to be insulted that she’d made that requirement a rule. He told himself he deserved it since she’d only ever seen him play the field and not really be serious about anyone. Still, it rankled.
    “Do you think I’d do that to you? Cheat on you?” He waited for her answer, his heart in his throat. If she couldn’t trust him…
    Skye angled her head, watching him intently. Did she trust him? She knew she wasn’t much to look at and Cian could probably have any woman he wanted in a heartbeat. She didn’t understand why he wanted to go out with her . The being-in-love act in front of Alastor and Vanessa was probably to blame for that. But she also knew that when he made a commitment, he didn’t break out of it. “No, I don’t think you’d do that. But if you did, no one would ever find your body.”
    He laughed, relieved and delighted with her. “I would expect nothing less, darling.”
    Darling? Uh, uh, no way was he calling her darling .She scowled at him. “No pet names for each other.”
    Cian grinned. There was no way he was letting her win that one. Unless he gained something else in its place, of course.
    “Aw, c’mon, wouldn’t you love it for me to call you