Page 101 of Rescue Us (Next Generation 7)

“You were dreaming,” he said gently, pushing my hair off my forehead.

My eyes welled, the remnants of the nightmare settling on my skin. “I’m...I’m...”

“Shhh...” He pulled me into his arms, hugging me against his chest as a sob broke free. He lifted me off the bed, holding me tight.

I was vaguely aware of us leaving my bedroom, but I couldn’t focus. I didn’t know what time it was. I didn’t even remember falling asleep.

When I was placed on something hard, I looked around me. We were in the kitchen, and I was sitting on the counter. Roughly wiping under my eyes, I took a deep breath and then another, calming the racing of my heart.

Cyrus moved around the kitchen like he belonged. In fact, he did. He always belonged. From the first time he spent the night at my place to now, he wedged his way into my life without even realizing that either of us needed it.

He pulled milk from the fridge, grabbed honey from the cupboard and mixed the two together in a glass. He added a shot of rum from the bottle I had purchased weeks ago for whenever he was over. He put it in the microwave and waited the minute it took to heat before coming back toward me. “I usually put more rum in this.” He stepped between my knees, handing me the glass.

I took the drink from him and sipped at it. The sweet taste hitting my tongue, easing some of the anxiety rushing through me.

Cyrus wrapped his arms around me, kissing the side of my head.

“Thank you,” I whispered, finishing the drink and placing the glass on the counter beside me.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently, cupping my nape and running his fingers through my hair.

“I was reading and must have fallen asleep. I didn’t know it was you in bed with me. I thought...” I looked down at my hands on my lap. “I was having a nightmare, but I don’t remember what it was about. You scared me and I’m sorry.”

“Hey.” He pushed his thumb beneath my chin and tilted my head back. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I was about to join you when I heard you whimpering. I assumed you were having a nightmare and was trying to gently wake you up. That’s my fault. I should have turned on the light or spoken to you. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“Don’t be sorry. I guess my mind still isn’t used to having someone in bed with me.”

“We probably should have eased you into this.” Cyrus ran both hands through my hair, pulling my head back gently. “I love you, pet, but if you need me to sleep on the couch, I will.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve felt out of sorts since earlier this afternoon when Jaron and Piper dropped me off.”

“What do you mean?”

“I felt like someone was watching me and then when they left, someone knocked on my door but when I looked through the peephole, there was no one on the other side of it,” I explained. “It creeped me out and I think my mind was just playing tricks on me.”

“Have you noticed anything else off? I mean, since that man followed you to the deli. I know you said when I asked you last time, that everything was fine but...” Cyrus’s grip on my head tightened. “I don’t like this fear rolling off of you.”

I swallowed hard. “I know. I don’t like it either. But no, nothing else has happened. Not since today or...” I glanced at the clock on the microwave, seeing that it was now into the morning. “Yesterday, I should say.”

Cyrus released me and began pacing. “I know you gave me a key to your place but if you need out of here, we can rent a hotel or go to the clubhouse. It’s safe there. Greyson is constantly updating the security. Did you want to go there?”

I thought a moment. “Are you really moving out of your apartment with your brother?”

Cyrus stopped pacing. “Yeah.”

“Where are you going to move to?” I asked softly.

He smirked. “Anywhere with you hopefully.”

My heart jumped. “Your brother is okay with this?”

“Sammy and I talked and then we went to The Ring, and he fought off some frustration.”

“But you didn’t?” I asked, noticing that he didn’t have any new bruises or cuts.

“Nope. I’m not frustrated anymore. Now that Sammy and I talked, and I have you, I’m good.” He came back toward me, pushing his way between my knees.

A sigh left me, that submissive part of me liking how he touched me and took care of me before I could even register that I needed it.

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