Page 138 of Toxic Kiss

thirty-five

“I can walk away. I just don’t know how to stop needing you.” – Haven

HAVEN

My brain is a mess, my body is sore, and my skin is warm from the hot shower. I glance at the door that’s still hanging in the same position, and I can already hear Declan’s annoying voice bitching about the cost.

Walking out into the hallway, I clamp a hand over my mouth as I choke back a scream. Cyrus is sitting on the floor, outside the door, eyes closed. I nearly stepped on him.

Right on cue, my heart beats harder. He’s here. He didn’t leave. He stayed with me. It really should not feel this good to know this, but it does.

Crouching down, I stare at his lax face. He’s still breathing. I’m debating leaving him here when his eyes snap open. He grabs my arm like we’re in a fucking horror movie. I squeal and jerk back, then land on my ass.

“Fuck, Cy…are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

He doesn’t say anything, and I push up onto my knees.

“Cy?”

His eyes find me, but he is clearly confused.

“What is it, Cy? What’s wrong?”

“Where are we?”

His eyes fill with terror, and my heart rate, which is just starting to settle, skyrockets.

“What do you mean?”

His hand is shaking on my arm as he looks around.

“It’s just a black hole, Haven. How are we not falling?”

He shuts his eyes, and I can’t help but glance around for a bottle of booze, but there is nothing in sight. Either way, the fear I see in him is real. He’s not faking this for attention.

I cup his face, and he lifts his chin, but keeps his eyes closed.

“Cy, did you take anything,” I ask softly, not wanting to sound accusatory.

“No. I haven’t moved from this spot since I left your room. I swear I haven’t.”

“Okay, I believe you. Can you open your eyes and look at me?”

He slowly does, and I give him a little smile.

“You see me?”

He nods.

“We’re at the Monarch Hotel.”

“We’re on our way to Boulder, Colorado,” he mumbles.

“Yes. We’re leaving shortly to finish the three-hour drive to the next venue on the tour. The rest of the crew is already there. Do you remember that?”

“Yes…and I picked this hotel because of the name.”

I smirk and then wipe it away, not wanting to get caught up in the sentimental words, even as my heart beats faster.