Letting out a sigh, I pulled away from her and went back behind the receptionist’s counter. Our usual receptionist only worked a few hours a week since finishing school and advancing in her career. I filled in for her when I wasn’t teaching ASL classes. Even though I didn’t speak and liked sticking to myself, I enjoyed working behind the counter and seeing people when they came through the front doors. Especially when they were usually quiet themselves. My demeanor was calming, I was told.
Whenever I helped at the front desk, Jay had the calls forwarded to her office. I tried insisting on just staying behind the scenes but both her and one of the therapists told me that it would be good for me.
“The bigger one is Cyrus and then his twin brother is Sammy,” Piper explained, pulling me from my thoughts. “Don’t let his gentle name fool you though. He’s kind of an ass.” She laughed. “But I love them like brothers.”
I wanted to ask for her to tell me more but when they turned toward us, I changed my mind.
Piper waved.
They came inside.
And all the air was sucked right out of my lungs as the one named Cyrus stared at me.
“How’s my third favorite girl?” Sammy asked Piper, pulling me from his brother’s intense gaze. Sammy went up to Piper and drew her in for a hug.
“Third?” She pushed away from him and smacked his arm. “Why am I number three?”
“Because Bee is number two. I knew her first. And then your daughter is number one.” He clutched his chest. “She stole my heart.”
Piper giggled, shaking her head. “One day a woman will steal your heart too, Sammy.”
The smile fell from his face. “Unlikely.”
While Piper and he continued talking, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Cyrus was shifting closer to me. My stomach felt like there were butterflies flying around in it the closer he got.
“What’s your name, pet?” he asked me, his voice low.
My eyes snapped to his, almost expecting him to be talking to someone else. But when I realized that it was only me and him and that Piper and Sammy were no longer around, my heart pounded.
That single word. Pet. It did something funny to my belly. Something I had never felt before. Something I never thought I would feel. Ever. And especially not for a man.
Desire.
For a man.
A stranger.
Cyrus tilted his head, watching me.
Out of habit, I lifted my hands to sign my name but then realized that he wouldn’t know what I was saying. My name was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t say it. I tried, God I wanted to tell him, but it was like my mouth wasn’t connecting with my brain and the words wouldn’t come out.
“You understand me?” he asked gently.
I frowned. Did he think I spoke another language?
I nodded, pulled my phone from my purse, and began typing. When I was done, I showed him the screen.
My name is Ainsley.
His eyes moved across the screen before meeting mine once again. “It’s nice to meet you, Ainsley.” He stuck his hand out. “I’m Cyrus.”
Chewing my bottom lip, I tentatively reached out my hand and returned his handshake. His touch was firm, his calloused thumb brushing over the back of my hand.
“You don’t speak?” he asked, keeping his hand wrapped around mine. The question held no hint of judgement.
Shaking my head, I pulled my grip from his and went back to my phone. I had every intention of typing up a reply, but his throat clearing stopped me.
Do you use American Sign Language to communicate? he signed slowly. He fumbled over a few of the words and hand signals, but I got the gist of what he meant and the fact that he tried, did something funny to my heart.
My eyes widened.
His lips pulled up into a smirk. “Surprised, pet?”
I nodded quickly.
He chuckled, the sound deep and growly.
For the first time in a very long time, I smiled back.
I wanted to ask him how he knew ASL, but our conversation was cut short when Piper and Sammy stepped into the lobby. Sammy had a scowl on his face while Piper was on her phone.
“What’s going on?” Cyrus asked them, taking a step toward me.
He was standing so close, if I made a sudden move, my shoulder would brush just beneath his chest. I could smell the cologne coming from him. It was spicy mixed with a hint of leather.
My eyes flicked to his leather cut, noticing a Hell’s Harlem logo sitting on the left breast with vice-president just beneath it. He obviously knew Jaron, Piper’s fiancé.
“Jaron wants you two to come over for dinner tonight,” Piper said, confirming my thoughts and looking up from her phone.
“He probably wants me to watch Brynlee so you two can have some alone time,” Sammy said, rolling his eyes.
Piper grinned, her cheeks turning pink. “We did that once.”
“Yup and I’m never letting it go.” Sammy wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Watching the exchange before me sent a flutter of unease rushing through me. I wanted that. Family and friends. People you could trust with your heart and emotions. Someone I could trust with my body and soul. But I was so damn broken, there was no way that could ever happen.
“You may be free of us now, but you will never forget. I will come back for you.”
The words had only been a whisper at the time, but he was right. I hadn’t forgotten.
My palms became sweaty, my heart was racing to the point it felt like it was trying to escape my chest.
“Breathe, pet,” Cyrus murmured beside me.
I turned, needing to get out of here. Needing to get away from people’s eyes and just escape. I needed to be by myself for fear that someone would see my vulnerability and take advantage of it.
“No.” Cyrus’s voice was firm. “Breathe.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head. My body vibrated, the anxiety slicing through me like tiny little shards of broken glass.
“Look at me, pet.”
That rough demand forced my eyes open.
“I said, look at me. Now.”
A soft whimper left me, but I did as I was told and was met by a dark, stormy gaze.
“Breathe,” Cyrus said gently, taking a deep inhale before blowing it out slowly.
I did the same, repeating after him.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
“Again.”
Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
My heart finally started slowing down, the need to leave no longer there.
“I got you, pet,” he whispered, reaching out and running his thumb along the pulse point on my wrist.
That single touch sparked something inside of me that had been dormant for so long.
“We should go, Cyrus,” Piper suggested. “Jaron is here anyway.” She came up to me and picked up my phone. She quickly typed something on it and showed me the screen.
You good?
I nodded, my heart warming that she cared.
She smiled. “Take care of yourself, Ainsley.” She handed me my phone, spun on her heel, and went up to Sammy. “Let’s go.”
He hesitated, his eyes locking with mine. They flicked between his brother and me, a deep frown settling between his brows.
Cyrus didn’t budge.
That fact alone made me stand up straighter. I jutted my chin, refusing to back down from his incessant stare.