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He cupped the back of my neck. “Good girl.”

Before I could respond, his lips were on mine.

I sighed, breathing him in. Needing a little more, I parted my lips just enough for him to get the hint.

His hold on the back of my neck tightened, his tongue slowly sliding against mine.

The kiss became fast, hard, deep. It ignited this yearning for more. That little voice inside of me warned me to take it slow, but as slow as we were, I could still have a taste. Couldn’t I? Were there rules? No matter how much therapy I’d had, no one told me how soon before I could have sex again. I had tried asking but no one gave me a straight answer. They only said that I could do it whenever I was ready. I hadn’t been ready to get physical with anyone yet, until now.

I could feel Cyrus everywhere. My senses were on overload, my body completely aware of the man beneath me. My emotions were raw, but I found that I needed this. I needed him. To help me forget. To help me feel like a woman instead of this terrified little girl who jumped at every single thing that went bump in the night.

Wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders, I ran my fingers through his hair and deepened the kiss.

He groaned, pushing me onto my back. Breaking the kiss, he ran his thumb along the edge of my jaw. “Do you want me to stop?” he asked, his voice low, his eyes holding lust I had never seen directed at me before.

I shook my head, swallowing hard.

“We don’t have to take this any further than you want.” He sat back on his heels, placing his hands on my bent knees. “Okay?”

I nodded quickly, my chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

Cyrus reached behind him, pulling his t-shirt up and over his head before tossing the fabric to the floor.

My eyes roamed down the length of his torso. I knew he was big but seeing him shirtless made him almost appear bigger. A tattoo sat on his ribs with the words ‘Mom and Dad’ in fancy script along with two dates.

“My brother has the same tattoo,” he murmured.

He had a gold barbell in each nipple and one in his belly button. I had never seen a guy with a belly button piercing before.

“Ainsley.”

My gaze snapped to his, my face heating at being caught staring.

He chuckled. “I got the belly button piercing on a dare. Figured since I went through the pain of getting it done, I would leave it in.”

I think it’s sexy,I told him, thankful for the use of sign language at the moment because I wasn’t sure if my voice would have worked otherwise.

A sly smirk spread on his face. “Just wait until you see the rest of my piercings.”

My gaze fell to his waist, my eyes widening at the image he put in my head.

A laugh boomed through him. “You’re a naughty girl, pet.”

Getting a sense of bravery, I crooked a finger, indicating for him to come closer.

Cyrus towered over me. “Something you want?”

I nodded, tilting my head back, needing his mouth on mine before fear took over.I don’t know how far I can go but I’m willing to try to do a little more than we have. I just need you. I need to forget.

His mouth landed down hard on mine, pulling every dark thought from my mind.

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