Chapter 538

chapter538

Skylar poured out all her grievances in a single, shaky breath. The mere thought that she might have been a "replacement" for Annie made her feel a wave of Revulsion. She felt uncomfortable in her own skin, wondering if Joe’s passion had been directed at the wrong person.

Joe, meanwhile, was feeling a rare sense of profound relief. He hadn’t yet had the chance to reflect on why he was so glad it had been Skylar in his bed, but his satisfied body had put him in an uncharacteristically excellent mood.

“You’ve completely misunderstood me,” Joe explained with a patience that was foreign to his usual cold demeanor. “Annie was the one who drugged me. I managed to push her away while I was still semi-conscious. When you finally arrived, my mind was so clouded that I mistook you for her for a split second.”

After a night of frantic intensity, Joe felt fantastic. His explanations were gentle, almost indulgent, as he looked at the woman beside him.

Skylar didn’t entirely buy it yet. She narrowed her eyes and asked, “Just a misunderstanding? Then why did you tell me to get lost? And I’m certain I heard you calling her name.”

Every inch of her body felt sore and battered. She had barely slept before being roused again, and the physical toll was making her furious.

Joe’s gentle expression momentarily froze. The mention of the Silver family brought back a cold, predatory light to his eyes. He definitely had to teach them a lesson they would never forget.

“When I first woke up and saw a figure beside me, I assumed it was Annie,” Joe said softly, his voice dropping an octave. “In that moment, I felt nothing but disgust and fury. That’s why I told you to leave.”

Skylar was stunned. She repeated the word, her voice trailing off, “Disgusted?”

“Yes,” Joe affirmed.

Hearing that, Skylar’s anger began to dissipate. She didn’t want to let the misunderstanding fester any longer. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was being genuine. If he weren't, Paul never would have called her, and she wouldn’t have seen the humiliated Silvers slinking away in the parking lot earlier.

“Do you believe me now?” Joe asked, pulling her back into his arms. He always felt a sense of grounding comfort when holding her; it satisfied a deep, unspoken part of his soul.

Skylar suddenly grabbed Joe’s hand, which had begun to wander toward her chest. She complained, “I’m not like you—I actually know how to tell right from wrong.”

For some reason, no matter how serious the conversation, his hands always seemed to find their way back to her.

“Do you like it when I touch you here? Don’t worry,” Joe whispered into her ear, his hot breath fanning her skin and sending a shiver down her spine. “I’ll touch you regardless of whether you try to stop me.”

Skylar’s heart skipped a beat. Joe knew every sensitive spot on her body with terrifying precision. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive lure, “Do you want to go again?”

Skylar’s heart pounded, but she quickly protested, “No, I don't!”

She scrambled out of his embrace, hastily wrapping a blanket around herself before stepping out of bed. “I’m going to shower and get to work. If you’re still feeling the effects of whatever they gave you, you can deal with it yourself!”

She felt as though she had been put through a grueling ordeal all night. She couldn’t stand any more. Even a piece of metal would begin to bend after a night of such relentless "hammering."

As Skylar hurried toward the bathroom, she glanced back and realized there was only one blanket on the bed. Joe’s powerful, uncovered figure was splayed out, and he didn’t even make a move to reach for a pillow to hide himself. He just watched her with a smirk.

Skylar’s guess was right—he definitely wanted to go another round.

She inhaled deeply and ducked into the bathroom, slamming the door. Outside, she could hear Joe’s low, rumbling cackle.

“Don’t worry,” he called out. “I’ll give you a break... for today.”

“A man’s guarantee can never be trusted!” Skylar yelled back.

Standing before the mirror, Skylar finally saw the state of herself. She was marked from head to toe, and her cheeks were flushed a deep, permanent pink. When Joe truly "put his everything" into it, she simply couldn't withstand him. Her legs trembled as she stood there, and she realized with a sigh that work was out of the question. She would have to call in and take another day off.