Red Phoenix's Passion is for Lovers Collection (Boxed Set) (18 page)

T
hey jumped onto the next available subway train. Unfortunately, a menacing group of young thugs occupied the car. Normally Lauren had no problems on the subway, but the men reacted aggressively towards Cyril. “What are you doing with that white chick, terrorist? Get your hands off her now!” the leader of the gang demanded.

Cyril let go of Lauren. “We’ve got no problems here, buddy.”

The youth advanced towards them. “What is an old pervert like you hanging on white girl for anyway?” His subordinates followed behind him threateningly. The rest of the people in the car remained where they were, cautiously observing the scene but choosing not to get involved.

“We’re friends,” Cyril answered, moving between Lauren and the group.

The leader gestured lewdly towards Lauren. “A raghead can’t give you what you need. But I can, baby.”

Lauren glared at him. She hated bigots. “This is my boyfriend and he gives me more than you ever could.” She tiptoed, wrapping her arms around Cyril’s substantial neck and kissing him on the mouth. Despite the dire circumstances, Lauren couldn’t help noticing how soft and warm his lips were.

The gang leader stopped in his tracks. “You’re fucking the terrorist?”

Cyril stared at Lauren in shock and then turned towards the approaching group, stating loudly so that the whole car heard, “I’m Greek, you ignoramus.”

The leader looked at Lauren in disgust. “Giving it up to an Arab, huh? You fucking little ho!”

Cyril moved towards him threateningly. “Shut your mouth, before I make you!”

Lauren couldn’t help smiling. She’d never had a man defend her honor before. “It’s okay, tiger,” she purred, placing her hands on his broad chest and looking up at Cyril innocently. “I can’t hear what those boys are babbling about anyway.”

Luckily, the train pulled up to the next stop. Cyril jumped off and held out his hand for her. Lauren hadn’t planned on sticking with him, but she jumped into his arms without a second thought. She looked back at the gang of ruffians and stuck out her tongue. “Have fun playing with yourselves, boys.” The leader lurched towards her just as the doors closed.

“Do you have a death wish?” Cyril asked and then followed up with, “Yeah, of course you do.”

Lauren felt slightly guilty. No matter how much she wanted to end her own life, she had no right to endanger his in the process. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

Cyril gave a low barrel laugh that shook his whole frame. “It was worth seeing the look on their faces.”

She smirked. “I couldn’t stop myself. I detest bigots.”

“And he didn’t even get the race right.”

Lauren looked up at Cyril and studied him carefully. “How old are you anyway?”

“Thirty-three. What about you?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Whoa, that’s young.”

“How old did you think I was?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t given it any thought until ‘Aryan Nation’ said something about it. But I have to admit, you and I must look strange with me being so much older and obviously unrelated to you.”

Lauren gave a snorting laugh. “Yeah, at first I thought he was trying to save me from you, but then I realized he had more sinister intentions.”

Cyril stopped in his tracks. “I would never hurt you, Lauren. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, your kiss was too sweet to be that of a killer.”

The brawny Greek’s cheeks reddened like a girl’s. It seemed adorably wrong. “I wasn’t expecting you to kiss me. I would never take advantage of you like that.”

“You don’t hear me complaining, do you? It was… nice.”

Cyril changed the subject. “My apartment isn’t far from here. I was thinking you could call someone to pick you up.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll just find my own way home.”

He took her hand in his and started walking. “Yeah, I don’t think so. Your idea of home includes a hole in the ground and that is not okay with me.”

Lauren mumbled something he couldn’t hear. When he asked her to repeat it, she ignored him. They walked for another fifteen minutes in silence. Lauren had to laugh at herself. Her original plan had been to run away the first chance she got. Instead, she was following Cyril home like an obedient puppy.

His apartment was in an older neighborhood. The area wasn’t rundown yet, but it was easy to see that in a couple of years it would be. The rent had to be cheap, so she figured he must be barely scraping by—just like her. Cyril led her up to his apartment, a one-room flat with a tiny kitchen in the corner, a bed on the opposite end and a couch and TV in the middle.

He watched her expression as she examined the place. “Yeah, I know. It isn’t much but with just me, I don’t need any more. Rather save my money for the future, you know?”

Lauren shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t really care what his place looked like, but she was grateful it was clean. Cyril pointed to the phone. “Go ahead and call. I’ll make us some coffee while we wait.” She grimaced and sat down on the couch rather than picking up the phone. Lauren was surprised to hear the squeal of a latte machine coming from his tiny kitchen area. Cyril brought a mug over to her with a self-satisfied grin. “Better than Starbucks. My little luxury.”

“Your own espresso machine, huh? Wouldn’t have guessed.” She took a sip of the smooth dark roast and smiled despite herself. “This is better than SB.”

Cyril sat down next to her on his lumpy russet couch. “Why haven’t you called anyone yet?”

Lauren twirled her hair tightly around her finger, cutting off circulation. Finally she answered, “There’s no one to call.”

“Don’t you have family?”

She groaned. Lauren didn’t want to get into it, so she kept it simple. “Dad died when I was eight. Mom died… six months ago.”

Cyril took her left hand and sandwiched it in between his huge ones. “I am very sorry to hear that, Lauren.”

“Yeah, well who cares?”

“I do.” He squeezed her hand before gently putting it back down on the couch. “Drink.”

She obediently took another sip and sighed. He was right; coffee was good for the soul.

“Lauren, I’d like to know what happened to your mother.”

She took several more sips before she answered. “Cancer. She died of breast cancer.”

“What a devastating loss for you.” She could hear sympathy in Cyril’s voice and it unnerved her.

The tears came and Lauren quickly stood up, moving to the nearest window before they fell. She blinked several times to regain control before speaking again. “I spent the last year with my mom. She was a fighter, never gave up. Not even at the end.”

A group of kids were playing kickball in the street below.
Mom would have been down there joining them
, she thought to herself.

Lauren turned away from the window and looked back at Cyril. She kept her voice level and matter-of-fact. “After she died I moved here for a fresh start, but I’ve failed miserably.”

“Don’t you have siblings you can lean on?”

“Nope. Only child of only children.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t even imagine that. I have a large extended family consisting of over a hundred people. They are constantly getting into my business and screwing up my life. I have often wished I was an only child.”

Lauren frowned. “Well, it sucks. I’m all alone in the world.”

Cyril walked over to her. She felt the warmth of his presence, but he made no move to touch her. “Not all alone,” he said quietly.

She grunted, refusing to look at him. “You don’t even know me. It doesn’t count.”

“I’ve noticed you at the subway station before. You always seem so focused and driven. You never look around, because you’re thinking so much. I’ve often wondered what kind of business you run.”

“Well, looks can be deceiving. I’m just a waitress. Wait, let me rephrase that. I
was
a waitress.”

“What do you mean?”

She forced herself to say out loud the terrible truth. “I got fired today. Another waitress accused me of stealing her tips. I didn’t, I never would stoop that low.” A sob bubbled out from deep within her. “But not one of them believed me…”

Cyril enclosed her in his arms and then kissed the top of her head. “I believe you.”

She melted into his arms. He smelled of manly sweat and car grease, but Lauren didn’t mind. She reveled in the sense of peace he brought to her soul. Cyril led her back to the couch and held her for several minutes. Lauren wanted to curl up in his lap, needing to feel even closer to him. But when she tried, Cyril immediately scooted off the couch. “I bet you’re hungry. I know I’m starving.”

His discomfort would have been comical if she hadn’t needed him so. It hurt that he wanted nothing to do with her. “I’m not a child,” she stated resentfully, while he rummaged through his small refrigerator.

“I know you’re not.”

“Then why are you treating me like one?”

He stuck his head out of the fridge. “What are you talking about?”

“Just now.”

He shut the door of the fridge. “Look, Lauren. You’re much younger than I am. Plus, you’ve been through a lot today. Your emotions are raw. It would be easy to do something you’d regret. I don’t want that for you. It’s not why I brought you to my place.” Cyril turned to his tiny stove and ignited the burner, whistling as he focused on grilling the sandwiches he assembled.

Lauren sat on the couch and scrutinized him. Cyril was attractive in a rustic sort of way. Truly, he was a bear of a man, almost two feet taller than her five-foot frame. He seemed all muscle under those greasy overalls. His dark eyes were friendly, but the angular contours of his face gave an edge to him, a hint of something dangerous underneath. It made watching him cook sandwiches on a little stove humorous. She had to hide her smile when he came back with a plate for her.

“Melted cheese is almost as soothing as a good cup of coffee,” he said, handing her a grilled ham and cheese.

“I don’t usually eat meat,” she announced.

“A meal without meat is a travesty,” he countered. “Now eat.”

Lauren picked up the hot sandwich and watched in delight as long strings of cheese pulled apart from it. “I do love gooey cheese,” she told him before taking her first bite. Lauren was surprised to taste a burst of spicy heat. “What else is in here?”

“A little hot sauce.”

“I like it.” She took another bite. “It has an addictive quality.” Even though Lauren hadn’t been hungry to begin with, she quickly ate the sandwich and licked her fingers noisily after she was done.

Cyril grinned and took his final bite. She grabbed his hand and sucked the melted butter and crumbs off his finger as well. He gazed at her without comment. She put his plate on the coffee table and crawled into his lap. “Cyril, I want to kiss you.” Without waiting for approval, she pressed her lips against his. This time the kiss was much more adult. When she darted her tongue into his mouth, he thrust his tongue back tasting the recesses of her mouth. She moaned and felt a hardening against her ass. Cyril lifted her off and moved away.

His Secret

“W
e can’t do this, Lauren.”

She ignored his words, because her eyes were transfixed on his crotch. Cyril’s erection was huge. He saw her look of fascination, but interpreted it as fear. “It’s my curse. It would only hurt you.”