Page 83 of Rescue Us

These feelings I had for Ainsley weren’t superficial. They went deeper than that. And she was going to hear me tell her how I felt. Whether she liked it or not.

***

(Ainsley)

Ishouldn’t have canceledthe date, but truth was, I was scared. Scared of my feelings for Cyrus. Scared that he didn’t feel the same way. Scared that this would end before it even began. I knew that if it did in fact end, it would probably fall on me. Cyrus had taken this seriously since the beginning. I did as well but for whatever reason, I couldn’t open up completely to him.

When he texted that he was coming over later, I responded instantly, telling him that he didn’t have to. But even though I had texted him that, I still couldn’t help the happiness rushing through me. A jittery feeling settled in my stomach as I spent the evening cleaning and trying to distract myself from thoughts of the man who had barreled his way into my life.

It was pushing midnight and there was still no sign of Cyrus. Maybe he changed his mind about coming over. Or he moved on to someone better and less broken than I was. I scowled, ashamed at myself for thinking such things. Cyrus would never do something like that, and he was a gentleman. Until you got him into bed anyway.

My body still burned with memories of the few times we slept together. I could feel him all over me, throughout every inch of me. In the deepest parts of my soul.

With a glass of wine in hand, I decided to play one of my games when a hard bang sounded on the door. I jumped, almost spilling my wine.

Placing the glass on the end table, I went to the door and checked the peep hole. My eyes widened.

Unlocking the door, I opened it and found a disheveled and bloody Cyrus standing there.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” he mumbled, pushing his way into my apartment. He closed the door and clicked the lock into place.

What happened to you?I typed in the security code while I waited for his answer.

He wobbled on his feet, pinching the bridge of his nose. Was he drunk?

“I think I got hit too hard.” He dropped his arm, his dark eyes landing on me. “I missed you.”

My stomach tumbled, taking him in. A dark bruise sat on his cheek, his lip was split and there was blood on his white t-shirt that was under his zip-up hoodie.

I took his hand, leading him to the dining room table.

“I went to The Ring tonight and wasn’t focused.” He pulled me against him as he sat. “I don’t like how we left things the last time.”

My body heated at being this close to him again. Brushing my fingers through his hair, I kissed his forehead. Sliding from his lap, I went to the kitchen and grabbed the First Aid kit that I kept under the sink.

Pulling up a chair in front of him, I started rummaging through the items in the kit.

---