Rush (Men of Rapture #1)

by Faye Byrd

  “I’m angry with you, Rush,” she says, lifting her chin a little fucking higher. “But not so angry that I’m willing to leave.”

  “Good.” I give her a careful smile as I pour us both a glass of wine. “I’ve worked so hard. I’m a better man than when you last saw me, yet there is one part of me that is exactly the same.”

  She grips the stem of her wine glass and takes a sip, licking every drop from her pouty pink lips. “Tell me.” She faces forward and sets down her glass, lifting her fork. “I’d love to hear everything, especially how Blondie fits into the equation. Not sure I pegged you for an animal person.” Her lips are pursed to hold back a smile.

  I chuckle, my girl’s ears perking up at hearing her name. “Blondie was the easy part.” I tear off a small piece of garlic bread and offer it to my girl. “She was at a puppy mill and had gotten run over by a golf cart. Most of the other animals had already been adopted, but Blondie was still with the ASPCA. They were looking for someone, and I showed up and demanded they let me have her.”

  “Wow.” Her brows lift as she glances at me. “I don’t know how the great bar-hopping Rush Kaplan would even come across that type information in everyday life, but at least the name makes sense.”

  “Har, har,” I say, poking a finger into her ribs and eliciting that fucking giggle that floods me with happiness. “I actually read it in your office, and I took the magazine with me when I left.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” She changes tactics, her eyes accusing and her tone hurt. “Do you know how it felt to have you just walk away like that? And okay, maybe not that day, because I didn’t realize how much time would pass before I’d see you again, but when you didn’t respond to my texts, I got the message. It hurt, Rush.”

  “I’m sorry, doc.” I claw a hand through my too-long hair. “I still think I did the right thing.”

  “Okay,” she says, releasing a calming breath. “What exactly did you do? And why did it have to be alone? Make me understand, Rush. I’m your best friend. We’re supposed to be there for each other.”

  “Oh, doc.” I sigh, reaching over and brushing my thumb along her jaw. “You are most definitely not my best friend.” Several emotions flicker across her face, but I rush to clarify before she gets the wrong impression. “You’re way more than that. You mean every-fucking-thing to me, okay?”

  “It doesn’t feel that way,” she says, her eyes a gloomy gray. “It feels like you got what you wanted and skipped town.”

  “Fuck!” I jump up and start pacing, unable to bear the weight of her words. They hurt—badly. “That was … I never meant to hurt you. Don’t you see?” I pause, my hand splayed across my chest as I plead with her to understand. “Being with you meant everything to me. So much so that I knew I had to conquer my demons to be worthy of you—of us.”

  She slips off the stool and comes to stand before me. “We could’ve faced them together, Rush.”

  “I’m selfish, doc.” I shake my head once. “I didn’t want you to see me fail. I had to make sure I could do it.”

  A tear slips down her cheek. “And did you?”

  I hold her eye as I lean in and run my tongue along her cheek, drowning in the taste of her pain. “I did,” I whisper, trailing my lips to her ear. “I hope you’ll like the man I’ve become.”

  “I liked the man from before, so I can’t imagine not liking an improved version.” Her arms encircle my waist and her face presses against my chest.

  I close my arms around her and just fucking breathe. I’ve dreamed of this moment for weeks, and there’s so much left to say, but only one thing is gaining steam, and I’m about to explode with the need to express it.

  “Are you sniffing me?” I ask, chuckling.

  “Mmm,” she hums. “Absolutely.”

  I sigh, so fucking happy she’s here. “Alyssa?” My voice cracks from the desperate need to speak my truth. She freezes and then slowly pulls back to meet my eyes. “I … I love you. No, scratch that shit. I’m so fucking in love with you. You’ve brought me back to life. Will you go on a date with me?”

  Her mouth pops open, but she doesn’t say anything for a good twenty seconds—which feel like ten fucking minutes. I’m in goddamn agony as I watch differing emotions flicker through her expressive eyes. They’re no longer gloomy, shifting from a dark gray to a deep shade of blue.

  “Yes,” she finally says, and then she stands taller, lifting her chin. “Yes. I want to go on a date with you. And yes, I’m in love with you, too.”

  I don’t bother with discussing or hashing or even repeating anything. I simply lean down and press my mouth against hers. She fists my shirt and holds me tightly as I run my tongue along the seam of her closed lips. She opens with a soft sigh, and every cell within me vibrates as the first spark ignites between us.

  It takes everything inside me to end the kiss and pull away, but this has to be right. I never want her to think sex is all I’m after. I fucking want it all, every single part of her, and I want it as soon as she’s willing to give it.

  “Sorry,” I say, looping my arm around her back to keep her close. “That was hot but so fucking inappropriate. We still have a lot to talk about and a date to plan.”

  “All in due time.” Her hand slides up my chest and around to cup my nape. She pulls my head down so we’re breathing the same air. “I’ve missed you, Rush.”

  And just like that, every good intention I have flies out the window. It doesn’t mean there isn’t anything good about us, because everything is—it’s fucking exceptional. She’s not asking for a verbal response, and I don’t give her one. Scooping her up, I start for my bedroom.

  Her body responds to my touch like no one else ever has, and the electrical current that arcs between us is otherworldly. Our connection is beyond the norm, surpassing anything I’ve ever before felt, and I can admit that now. She’s beautiful and honest and kind. She’s responsive and sexy and confident.

  She makes me feel alive.

  THE END

  If you enjoyed Rush and Alyssa’s story, you can find them making appearances in the other two planned books for the Men of Rapture series. Book two will feature Ace and his second chance love, while book three will focus on Niko. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my work :)