Slow Release (Ebony and Ivory Book 1) by Suzanne Steele, Stormy Dawn Weathers Page A

worry about him being alone if I’m not around.”
    “Ms. Stratton, I can’t promise you anything because I don’t know what this is yet. I can tell you that I would never purposely hurt Damon. It just isn’t in my nature to toy with people or to be cruel.”
    “You two will do wonderfully together, dear; I just know it. Oh, and one other thing… don’t let these hussies from his past deter you from finding true love.”
    “Quite the player, wasn’t he?” I muttered under my breath.
    “It doesn’t matter what he was or did before you came into his life. What matters is what kind of man he is now that you’re with him.”



Chapter Fourteen
    Damon
    “Shut the door,” I directed my bodyguard and best friend as he made his way into my office.
    He sat his large frame across the desk from me and eyed me warily, “What’s up?”
    “This,” I hissed through clenched teeth and tossed the ominous letter in his direction.
    I see you have a new flavor of the month. How long will this one last? I’m certain you’ve promised to make all her dreams come true while you bed her.
    The only thing about dreams is… they die!
    “Sounds like a jealous lover or a pissed off agent to me,” Jerome speculated.
    “Sounds like they’re fucking with the wrong guy to me. I’m taking this shit very seriously. Threatening me is one thing, but threatening my woman is crossing the line. I don’t want her out of your sight when she isn’t with me.”
    “As of yet, she hasn’t been out of your sight,” he teased.
    “You know what I’m saying.” Not in the mood, I cut my eyes at him.
    “Damon, one phone call and this scum bag is wiped from the face of the earth.”
    “I have to find out who it is first.”
    “That’s where I come in. Your woman is safe in my hands, brother. I’ll do some research and call in some help from the geek squad, aka Marcus, if I need to. We’ll get to the bottom of it, and then we’ll deal with it just like we do everything else—swiftly and efficiently.”
    “You’ve been a good friend, Jerome. You’re like a brother to me.”
    “Yeah, I know. You got the whole bromance thing goin’ on for me.” He shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re my brother from another mother too, and it will be over my dead body that anyone hurts you or your woman.”
    “Well, don’t be surprised if I take you up on making that call when I find out who this is. I’ll be damned if I let anyone get near my Skye.”
    “I’ve never seen you like this before.”
    “And you never will again because this girl is the one and only.”
     



Chapter Fifteen
    Skye
    I was able to take my time getting ready because Damon waited until later before he called to let me know he wanted me at the studio.
    “You’ll be there, right?”
    “You’ll only be without me during the drive over with Jerome.”
    “I’m not a needy person, Damon,” I said in my defense. “It’s just awkward here because everything is new. For some reason, I feel safe with you.”
    “You make my day when you say things like that. I don’t perceive you as being weak. Culture shock is to be expected. You don’t know your way around the city, and you have no family here. Besides, if you’re going to be needy, as you word it, then I’m cool with that as long as it’s me you lean on for support. I will forewarn you, though, I won’t be so understanding if you choose someone else. You belong to me, Skye.”
    “You’re so funny,” I replied, chuckling.
    “Let’s see how funny you think it is if somebody gets near you and ends up with their jaw wired shut. Now, go get ready for me, beautiful.”
    The phone clicked, signifying he’d hung up, and I was left wondering, once again, why this man was so obsessed with me. I hurried through my shower and threw on a pair of designer jeans and a floral top with blue highlights that made my eyes pop. The fact that this man had been able to buy a complete wardrobe to my liking amazed