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I also needed her to trust me enough to give me her voice. I craved her words but most of all, I just wanted to hear her say my name. At least once. I wanted to know what it sounded like on her tongue. I wanted her to taste each syllable as my name fell from her sweet lips. I wanted her to want me like I wanted her.

As we walked through the library, she let go of my hand and went a couple of steps ahead of me. My eyes fell to her ass. She was wearing dark blue jeans that hugged her curves. A white oversized sweater was tucked into the waist and even though she was completely covered, I remembered exactly what she looked like beneath those layers.

I also remembered how she reacted when I saw her scars. She tried hiding them from me, but it didn’t work. Every inch of her was in my mind’s eye as I attempted to remain calm, knowing what those bastards had done to her.

It was beyond sick and twisted to think that they could remove a part of her and that would prevent her from having any sexual gratification. I had spent hours on Google trying to get some answers, but the main internet only did so much. I would have to contact a friend and dig deeper. But for now, I was going to spend the day with Ainsley and attempt to keep that smile on her face and that brightness in her eyes.

She stopped every couple of rows, keeping the rose at her nose and brushing a finger over the spine of a book.

When she stopped and pulled a book from a shelf, I looked around us. The library wasn’t overly busy. A few people sat at tables, hunched over books or taking down notes. Several of the computers were being used. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Not until I saw a man looking back at me. From where I was standing, I could see that he was heavily tattooed. He was sitting at a table, with a book spread out in front of him but he was staring directly at me.

He looked familiar but I couldn’t place where I had seen him before.

A throat clearing pulled my head around.

Ainsley came up to me.You okay?

I looked back out at the strange man who was staring at me but found his table completely empty. Scanning the large room, I didn’t see him anywhere. I had no idea who he was, but I knew that I had seen him before. I just couldn’t figure out where.

“I am.” I gave Ainsley a quick peck on the mouth. “Go play.”

She laughed, heading back to the books.

Ainsley looked back at me every so often. A small smile would spread on her face, her cheeks would turn a light shade of red, and her eyes would flash with something I had never seen before. Not directed at me anyway.

I liked her. I really liked her. I found that ever since I first met her, there was a part of me that wanted to take things slow. So I appreciated the fact that it took a bit for us to actually have sex. It wasn’t something I was used to. Most of the women I had been with would give it up right away and I found that it no longer did anything for me.

My phone took that moment to buzz. I fished it out of my pocket, saw that it was Sammy, and unlocked the screen.

Sam: You down for drinks tonight?

Me: Can’t. On a date.

Sam: With Mouse?

I frowned.

Me: I thought she was Quiet Girl.

Sam: Mouse sounds better. Enjoy, brother.

I could almost see his eye roll from here.

Ainsley glanced at me over her shoulder, her brows furrowing in the middle.

I went up to her and kissed her cheek. “I have to make a call,” I told her, keeping my mouth against her skin. “Take all the time you need. I’ll just be over here.”

She nodded, turned her head, and placed a soft peck on my lips.

That single movement, although small, did something funny to me. It made me realize that I would do anything for this woman. Even if it meant putting my relationship with my own brother on the line.

***