Chapter 1

Ronan

"Come back here." I snatch Skylar around the waist and pull her back into bed.

She falls straight into my arms, and I hold her tight, inhaling the intoxicating smell of her hair.

We've been together for almost four years now, and I still can't get enough of her.

"Where do you think you're going?" I whisper softly into her ear.

"Ronan, stop it." She giggles when my hands slowly wander up her back and to her neck.

We both know my end goal is her sensitive spot on her neck where she's the most ticklish.

"You know my online class starts in half an hour.

I want to take a quick shower and at least drink some coffee before it starts."

"Just skip it and stay with me." I give her my sad puppy eyes.

I know I'm not playing fair, but I still enjoy teasing her.

It never gets old.

She pulls out of my grasp and sits up on her knees.

"Please Ronan, you know how important this is for me.

My final exams are next week, and I just don't want to miss any of my classes right now.

I want to be as prepared as I can be.

I don't want to screw anything up so close to having my degree." She looks exhausted, and I know she's been stressing out over this.

"Hey.

Come here." I brush the hair out of her face and pull her closer to me again.

"You're going to do great, ok?

I don't think there's anything you can do to screw it up at this point.

Try and relax.

Your grades are top notch.

I'm really proud of you."

"Thanks, you're sweet." She gives me a quick kiss on the lips, but I keep her close to deepen the kiss.

Grudgingly I let her go after a few minutes.

I don't want anything more than to hide with her under the sheets for the next few hours, but I know she needs to go or she'll be late.

I push her away gently and mumble a pained "Go." She laughs at that, and my whole body fills with warmth at the sound.

"Poor baby.

We'll make up for it later, I promise.

Go back to sleep now.

You must be so tired.

You didn't come in from last night's concert until two in morning, and it's only six right now.

This time difference sucks."

We're at the end of my world tour with only two weeks left.

At the moment we're in Avalon.

Tomorrow we'll be traveling over to Grenthar for the next concert.

Then we'll have more in Lyria, Newhaven, and Orinoco.

Then we'll finally be done.

This tour has been beyond awesome.

Sharing and experiencing it all with Skylar has been amazing.

She just makes everything better.

I think we both can't wait to get back home though and relax for a change.

"Ow." Skylar shrieks when I swat her butt playfully as she leaves the bed.

I give her a big smile and watch her walk over to the bathroom of our hotel suite.

Before she closes the door she pokes her head out again.

"I love you."

A big smile forms on my face while my heart beats a few extra times.

"I love you, Skylar."

She gives me one of her beautiful smiles and closes the door behind her.

A moment later the shower turns on, and I can hear the shower door shut.

I grab my phone and dial a familiar number.

"Hey, how are you?

Yes, she's gone.

We can talk."

Skylar

I close my laptop and sigh in relief.

It's not even nine in the morning, and my head is already pounding like crazy.

Maybe I should go back to sleep, but there's just so much work that needs to be done.

I still have three final papers to finish, and two tests to study for.

As much as I just want to crawl back into bed with Ronan, I know I can't afford it right now.

Only one more week and it's all done.

I can do that.

Nothing will work without eating something first though, so I pick up the hotel phone to order some breakfast.

Thankfully they speak Quinlan, or this order would have probably gone terribly wrong.

My cell phone lights up, shaking the whole table with its vibration.

I pick it up before it can make any more noise.

The screen shows a picture of my best friend Zoey.

I smile and push the green button to accept the call.

"Hey, how are you?" I'm trying to keep my voice down, so I won't wake up Ronan.

"Who cares about me?" She squeals loudly in my ear, making me laugh.

"How are you?

You're the one jet-setting the globe, and you don't update me nearly often enough.

I thought we set up your Instagram account so I can vicariously live through you?

The last picture you posted was like two weeks ago of an ice cream cone in Italy.

Don't get me wrong, I love ice cream as much as the next person, but it's just really not that special, you know?" She has to take a breath at that point, and I use my chance to cut in.

"OK.

First of all, relax and calm down.

I'm sorry for not updating you more and exploiting my life more on my social media, but I've barely been out of the hotel rooms for the past few weeks.

My nose has been deep in my school books almost non-stop.

You know how stressed out I am about everything.

Ronan actually had to drag me half-way out of the hotel to get that ice cream you didn't appreciate seeing a picture of."

Zoey laughs.

"Good, I'm glad he did.

We all know you forget to actually live your life sometimes." She lets out a loud sigh and cuts me off before I can get another word in. "I know, I know.

Your school is important, and finals are coming up.

You're also flying around the world with that fine piece of a man.

Where is he by the way?

Come on, be generous and share a little something with your best friend.

I don't even remember the last time I went on a good date."

"I told you not to call him that." Despite my best efforts I end up laughing anyway.

"What can I say?

I mean, have you seen him?

He's absolutely beyond gorgeous and sexy as hell.

Half of the female population wouldn't wait for a second to switch places with you.

Literally."

I walk over to the door that connects the living room of the suite to the bedroom and open it quietly.

There he is.

The man of my dreams, fast asleep.

He's sprawled out on the big bed, my pillow tucked tightly against his side.

The blanket is pushed down to his hips, which means his upper body is exposed.

A small sigh escapes my lips, as I take in the sight of him and his muscular chest and abs.

Zoey is totally right of course.

This man - my boyfriend - is handsome as hell and as sexy as he could possibly be.

"Earth to Skylar," Zoey yells into my ear.

I have to hold the phone away for a moment, rubbing my ringing ear with my other hand.

I close the bedroom door as quietly as I can and walk over to the big wall of windows that's on the other side of the room.

The street below is buzzing with people and cars, and I can see the Seth Tower in the distance.

So beautiful.

"Sorry, I was just checking to make sure that Ronan is still sleeping.

He didn't get in until late last night.

Our schedules are a little mixed up at the moment.

I'm glad this will all be over next week.

I'm ready to spend some more time with him.

We haven't seen much of each other over the last few weeks." I'm trying not to think about it too much.

The last thing I need at the moment is another thing to worry about.

"Have you told him about the news already?" Zoey's voice has finally calmed down some.

"No, not yet.

I'm still not a hundred percent sure what to do." I put my hand on the window and lean my head against it.

"You know how I feel about it.

I don't think there's really anything to think about anyway.

Plus, he should have a say in this too, don't you think?

Doing this behind his back just doesn't seem right." Her voice has taken on a scolding tone.

As much as I don't like it at the moment, I'm happy to have a friend who's honest with me.

"I know, I know.

There just hasn't been a good moment yet to talk about it.

I just wanted to wait until my finals are done.

Then I can finally think straight again."

"I'm here if you need to talk, ok?

I'm sorry, but I have to go now.

My evening class is about to start.

Can't wait until we're in the same time zone again.

And stop stressing out about everything.

It will all work out just fine.

Ronan will stand behind you, I'm absolutely sure of it.

Now go hop back into bed.

At least one of us should get some action."

We both have to laugh.

"Thank you, Zoey.

You're the best.

I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Oh don't get all mushy now.

I have to sit in class now with twenty other people.

Can't start crying now.

I better go.

Love you, Skylar."

Before I can say anything back, I hear the dial tone.

"Love you, too."