Rescue us, p.28
Rescue Us, page 28
“Do you know what it is?”
“I was going to say a necklace, but it looks too short to be one.”
“It’s a collar. This...” He pinched the heart pendant between his fingers and lifted it. “Is a lock and this key is the only one that can open it.”
“It’s your key. A key to my heart?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“Yes, pet,” he said softly. “I love you and I know you weren’t introduced to the BDSM lifestyle the right way, but I live it and I want to have you living it with me.”
“I started reading romance books and the BDSM scenes I’ve read in them are nothing like I experienced, but I trust you.” I cupped his face. “You saved me, Cyrus. You saved me from falling completely within myself. You helped me get my voice back.”
“No.” He covered my hand that was cupping his cheek. “You saved yourself. I was just there cheering you on.”
“I love you, Cyrus, and yes, I promise. I promise that you have my heart and I promise that I want to spend my life with you. I can’t have kids, but I want to do whatever we can to have a family of our own. Even if it’s by adopting animals.” I pulled the collar from its clasp and handed it to him. “Will you put it on me?”
“Really? Right now?” he asked, his voice thick.
I reached up and cupped his nape, pulling him down to my mouth. “I want your collar around my throat, Sir.”
“Fuck.” A shiver trembled through him. “I never thought those words would sound so damn hot.”
I laughed, turned around, and moved my hair off the back of my neck. “Please.”
His dark eyes met mine, a slow grin spreading on his face. He put the key in the hole at the base of the heart and unlocked it. When he had it around my throat, he kissed the spot behind my ear. “This is my promise to you that I will love and cherish you, protect you and help you whenever you need it. I will stand by when you don’t need my help and cheer you on. Your voice is mine, and my voice is yours. I will love you until my last breath and beyond that.”
My eyes welled at his sweet words. Words that I never thought I would ever hear from anyone.
Once the heart sat at the base of my throat, I turned around.
Cyrus took the small key and locked it, his eyes snapping to mine once the click sounded around us. “You okay?”
I nodded quickly, wiping the tears from my cheeks.
He put the key in his wallet. When he put it away, I was on him.
***
(Cyrus)
I wasn’t expecting her to jump into my arms. With the surgery, two of them in fact, she was still weak and needed to take it easy, but that fierce little sex kitten in her, ignored it all. Her mouth slammed down hard on mine. Her fingers ran through the back of my hair, deepening the kiss, sucking a groan from somewhere deep within my soul. My dick twitched, lengthening the longer we went without being inside her.
“Pet,” I murmured against her lips, running my hands down her back.
She ignored me, slipping her tongue into my mouth.
A growl escaped me but as much as I wanted to continue this, this wouldn’t be happening in a car and she needed time to heal.
“Hey.” I broke the kiss, fisting her hair and holding her head in place when she tried pushing out of my grip. “Baby, as much as I love having your mouth on mine, you need to take it easy.”
“I need you,” she whispered, licking her swollen mouth.
“Let me take you home and put you in my bed then.” I helped her back onto her seat.
She pouted.
I chuckled, running my thumb along her bottom lip. “I’m happy to see this little kitten again.”
Her smile widened. “Me too.” She kissed the pad of my thumb. “Take me home, my love.”
Every cell in my body tingled at the new term of endearment coming from her. Blowing out a slow breath, I sat back, put the SUV into gear, and drove the final distance to the clubhouse.
“It looks so quiet.” Ainsley sat forward. “Do you think anyone is home?”
“There should be people home.” I pulled the SUV into the large driveway.
Once I had the vehicle parked and the engine off, I turned to Ainsley.
She was looking out the window at the large house sitting in front of us and rubbing the heart-shaped lock between her fingers.
“Hey.” I squeezed her inner thigh. “You good?”
She looked at me then, her eyes welling. “I am. I’m very good.”
“Why the tears, pet?”
She laughed, wiping under her eyes. “I never thought I’d find happiness. I never thought I’d find someone like you, Cyrus.” She turned her body toward me, giving me her full attention. “You are the most patient man I’ve ever met. I know you lost your parents at a young age, but they did something right with raising you. And then your other family, they raised you well too.”
My tongue became thick at the sudden emotion coursing through me. “I remember when I was a kid how my dad would do whatever he could to make my mom smile. Even when she was pissed at him. They constantly flirted, touched, kissed, and so on. They acted like they were dating even though they had been married for years already at that point.” I rubbed my chest, trying to ease away the ache of them no longer being here. “I miss them. More and more every day. And I know my mom would have loved you. She would fawn over you and tell you how beautiful you are. My dad would love you too, but he wasn’t a man of many words. Not when it came to anyone else but my mom.”
“He was the strong, silent type,” Ainsley added. “Like you.”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “Like me.”
A bike took that moment to pull into the driveway. I recognized it instantly as Sammy’s beautiful machine.
“Let’s go,” I told Ainsley. “We can get you settled, and I’ll get the guys to go to your apartment later and grab the rest of your things before they move in.”
She nodded, opening the passenger door.
I went around to her side of the vehicle and slid my hand down her arm.
She shivered, smiling up at me. There was a hint of something behind her eyes. Something intense. Something that wanted more. I would give it to her. Whatever she wanted. She wouldn’t have to worry ever again.
“How are you feeling?” Sammy asked, coming up from behind us.
“Sore but getting there.” Ainsley stepped into my side, wrapping her arm around my lower back. “I just want to sleep for days.”
Sammy nodded, pulling his smokes from the inside of his leather cut. “I feel that.”
Ainsley fingered her collar, a notable shiver trembling through her.
Sammy caught the movement, his eyes flicking back to mine. He raised an eyebrow.
I winked.
He chuckled. “It’s about damn time.”
I grunted. “Could say the same for you, brother.”
He scoffed.
I cupped his nape, pulling him against me. “It’ll happen.”
“Don’t worry about me, Cyrus.” He returned the embrace, giving me a quick hug before pulling away. He stuck his smoke between his lips and headed toward the house.
“Greyson will kick your ass if you smoke inside,” I reminded him.
“Probably,” he yelled back but headed into the house anyway.
“Is everything okay?” Ainsley asked softly, pulling me back to her.
“Yeah, pet.” I cupped her face, kissing her hard. “You’re safe. You’re wearing my collar. You promised to spend the rest of your life with me. And I’m about to put you in my bed. So yeah, things are definitely okay.”
***
“You sure no more shit will be brought to my doorstep?” Greyson was pacing back and forth in the room where most meetings were held. Anything having to do with MC business had been few and far between over the past few weeks while Jaron and Piper were getting ready for their new little one. I could have held the meetings myself, but we all needed a break, so Jaron never instructed me to do so.
“Yes.” I kept Ainsley’s hand firmly in mine. “That bastard is dead, and the authorities are keeping an eye out on if they hear anything new or are given any additional information.”
Greyson grunted. “You know they can’t be trusted.”
I glanced at Ainsley before looking back at the man who had raised both my brother and I. “Detective Baldwin and Officer Jaxon aren’t under Price’s thumb.” We hadn’t heard from the man who had tried to destroy Jaron and Piper’s life so many months ago. I wasn’t sure if that was for the better or for worse.
“And you know this how?” Greyson asked, stopping in his tracks.
“I just do and if anything happens, I’ll take the blame but right now, I just need to get Ainsley settled. She needs her rest.” And I needed to make love to her before she vibrated out of her skin.
“Fine.” Greyson looked between us both. “Ainsley, you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need but if I know Cyrus, he’ll be finding you a house soon enough that you both can move into.”
I leaned over and kissed her temple. “He knows me well.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes shining.
“Of course. I’ll keep the guys in the loop and contact a few people I know. We will find Price again before he tries to destroy any more lives,” Greyson said, his voice rough.
Leading Ainsley out of the meeting room, I turned to Greyson. “Thank you,” I told him. “I don’t say it enough, but I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Sam.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” Greyson cupped my shoulders. “And it wasn’t just me. It was Eve. It was Tray and Catch. It was their wives. It was all of us. Eve and I couldn’t have any more children after Jaron but having you two in our lives, made up for that additional loss. My wife wanted more kids and was hurting because of it. So I should be thanking you for putting a smile on my wife’s face again.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me a little longer than usual. Greyson wasn’t a hugger, so I would savor this moment.
“Thank you,” I repeated, returning the hug.
“Go take care of your girl.” He released me and made his way to the side of the house he shared with his wife.
“Cyrus.” Ainsley’s soft voice pulled me right into her arms. “I need you,” she whispered into the crook of my neck.
Grabbing her hand, I quickly led her down into the basement. I would show her the house later but right now, I really needed to give her a tour of every inch of my cock.
Once we were in my bedroom that was now hers as well, I kicked the door closed and had her in my arms.
“Make love to me,” she whispered, kissing my jaw. She fisted my hoodie, pulling me closer.
“I’m scared I’ll hurt you.” I cupped her ass, pushing her back until she hit the edge of the bed.
“You won’t.” She laid on the bed and began stripping. When she was fully naked, my eyes dropped to the bandage at her side. “Please, Cyrus. I need you.”
Stripping out of my own clothes, I crawled onto the bed between her legs. “We should go slowly.”
“No.” She wrapped her hands around me, pumping hard, fast, and pulling me toward the spot I wanted to be forever. “We can go slow later. I just need a release. Please, Sir.”
Letting her guide me to her sweet pussy, I slowly lowered into her.
A sigh trembled through us both at feeling that connection once again between us.
Reaching up, I wrapped my hand around her throat, running my thumb along the gold collar. It was the only thing she was wearing while the rest of her was completely bare for me.
“I love you,” I grunted, thrusting slow and deep.
“I love you, Cyrus.” Her hands trailed down my back, cupping my ass and pulling me forward.
I stopped, staring down at her. “Marry me.”
“I’m wearing your collar.” A cheeky grin spread on her face. “Do you even have to ask me?”
I tilted my head, raising an eyebrow. “Is that a yes, pet?”
Ainsley tapped her mouth.
Lowering my lips to hers, I breathed her in and swallowed her yes.
Cyrus
My baby boys,
If you’re reading this, I’m obviously no longer around. I know it’s morbid, but I needed to write this letter just in case. With the line of work your father is in, I knew it could happen.
So first, I just want to say how sorry I am that we left you. I had your dad read this. He thought I was crazy and said that we would always be around forever and ever, but I convinced him to look at it realistically. People die. It happens. I’m just sorry that it happened to us.
I never told anyone about this letter. Just him. But I know that someone will come across this one day and give it to you when you’re ready. If you’re reading this, clearly, that time is now.
My first regret is not showing you both how much we love you. You were definitely a surprise, but know that your father and I loved you endlessly. Even as boys, you’re both strong in your own way.
Sammy, your humor and your smiles are contagious. I joked around with your dad once, saying that you were going to grow up to be a comedian. He was having none of that. He said that his boys would join Hell’s Harlem much like their daddy.
I couldn’t agree more but still liked to poke the bear anyway.
Cyrus, you’re quiet but you listen. You’re also a stubborn little boy. Or man, I guess you would be now. It’s so weird, writing this, thinking how both of you are hopefully married at this point. Happy. Fathers. And more. So much more.
I want you to have everything that life has to offer you.
But what I want most of all is for you to be there for each other. You’re brothers but you’re also best friends. Be that until the very end. Never let a woman come between you. Never let the club come between you.
You are brothers first. Always.
I placed the letter back in the envelope and handed it to Sammy.
A shuddered breath left him. “It feels like just yesterday that we lost them.”
“I know.” We stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down at our parents’ headstone. Two months had passed since Ainsley was stabbed. Sammy never pushed to visit Mom and Dad’s graves, but I knew he needed it. So after leaving Ainsley in my bed, I called up my brother and we spent the morning together. We hadn’t hung out just the two of us in months, so I knew that we both needed this. Some brother time.
“How’s Mouse doing?” Sammy asked, changing the subject because he was feeling uncomfortable. I knew because I felt it too. We didn’t like talking about how much it hurt to lose our mom and dad because, well, it fucking hurt. They were taken from us far too soon, but I also knew that we weren’t the only ones hurting. Every time the crew who had known our parents, saw us, you could see the pain in their eyes because we both looked like our dad.
“She’s doing well but she wouldn’t want you worrying about her.” It was one of the things I loved about Ainsley. She and Sammy became close quickly. He now referred to her as ‘Sis’ and I couldn’t be happier that they were getting along.
“I know.” He pulled the smoke from behind his ear and stuck it between his lips. “Red and I started...well...you know.”
I glanced at him. “Good.”
He nodded once. “It’s very good. Only woman I’ve ever met who can handle my mood swings.”
“Poor thing.” I playfully nudged him in the shoulder.
“She likes it and I like when she calls me out on my shit. She’s a brat and I love that even more.” A hint of amusement flashed in his dark eyes. “Anyway, thank you for this morning. And please thank your girl for me.”
“I will.”
He nodded again, kissed the tips of his fingers and touched the top of the headstone that had our parents’ names on them. “I love you, Mama and Pop. I hope to one day have a love as strong as yours. Maybe it’ll be with Red like I’m hoping.”
A lump formed in my throat, never hearing my brother talk about love at all. I knew he loved me and our extended family, but he never mentioned love once when it came to the women he was with.
“I’m gonna head out of town for a bit,” he said, walking past me.
“Drive safe, brother.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, staring down at the headstone. “I miss you. Both of you,” I muttered.
A gust of wind suddenly billowed around me, sending up a pile of leaves and flower petals. I didn’t overly believe in life after death and was definitely not a religious person, but I did believe in signs. I also believed in fate.
Ainsley thanked me often for saving her, when really, she saved me. No, she rescued me.
From myself.
From the pain and constant agony of losing our parents far too soon.
Because of her, my beautiful fiancée and sub, I could take a step forward and finally live a life my parents would be proud of.
Ainsley
Eyes down.
Palms up.
Breathe.
Don’t make eye contact unless I’m told to.
Don’t utter a single word unless I’m asked to speak.
Do as you’re told unless I was feeling uncomfortable or needed to talk about it.
Breathe.
Don’t talk back.
Smile.
“Color, pet?” Cyrus whispered in my ear, his lips brushing back and forth over my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Green, Sir,” I breathed.
“Good girl, thank you for telling me.” He sat back in the armchair, the sound of ice clinking against glass, sending a shiver down my spine.
I was kneeling at Cyrus’s feet in the living room of our home. Home. I still couldn’t believe that we had bought a house together. After being together for a while, we purchased a home and were getting married in the next couple of months. Wedding plans were coming along nicely but that was only because I had people to help me. I met Cyrus’s cousin Bee Horsch. She was married and had a son of her own and I fell in love with him instantly.
Everyone had been kind and I couldn’t be more thankful for the life and family Cyrus had given me.
