Page 22 of Cuffed By Love

“Yes. Please hurry.” I run out of the house and race across the street to her house. The rain was coming down hard, soaking me almost instantly. My heart hammering up in my throat.

“Lock your door, and don’t come out until I get there. I’m coming.” I open the old wooden birdcage and find the spare key under the little house's hood. I check the door for any signs of forced entry, but it was locked. “I’m here,” I assure her and hang up as I slide the key in and turn it to unlock the door quietly. I walk into the house, straining my ears to hear any noises but hear nothing. I walk through the house toward the kitchen and turn the light on. It’s empty, and the back door is locked, and so are the windows. I release a breath of relief and make my way upstairs to Mira’s bedroom.

I knock on her door. “Tinks, it’s me, open up.” I hear the patter of her feet on the wooden floor before the door opens, and she looks up at me, her eyes wide with panic before she hurls herself into my arms. I smile and wrap my arms around her protectively. I can feel her heart racing against my ribs. “The house is empty, Tinks. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Are you sure? I heard noises. It sounded like footsteps, and I panicked.” She mutters into my chest while I brush my fingers through her hair.

“Yes. I’m sure Tinks, I’ve looked all over the house. There's no one here. All the doors and windows are locked.” I assure her, and she exhales, visibly relaxing before she pulls back and looks up at me.

“Thank you for coming over so fast.” I smile, rubbing her bare arms soothingly. She looks me over. “You’re soaked, you’re going to get sick.”

“I’ll be fine.” I say brushing a loose strand of her hair out of her face and tuck it gently behind her ear.

Mira shakes her head, her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’ll get you a towel. You need to get out of those wet clothes.”

Through her panic and mine to get to her, it took a moment for me to realise what little she had on and how insanely gorgeous she looked. I watch her move around her bedroom, and swallow hard; my eyes glide over her body clad in a pair of velvet tight-fit, blue booty shorts and a matching crop top. I try desperately not to perv on her perfect body and how nicely those shorts hug her bum. Mira being Mira, of course, is oblivious to the effects she has on me as per usual. I clear my throat and follow her further into the room. “It will dry off in a bit, Tinks.”

Mira comes over with a fluffy white towel and hands it to me. I use it to dry my face and hair. A bright flash of lightening followed by a roar of thunder causes us both to start. Not even a second later the power cuts off leaving us in complete darkness. Mira gasps.

“Oh, well, that’s just great.” I hear her grumble and can’t help but smile at the frustration in her voice.

“Must be an outage from the storm.” I try to move around her room without knocking anything over while I take my wet shirt off and use the towel to dry off. “Do you have any torches or candles? I can go and check the fusebox.”

Mira sighs and I can hear her footsteps as she moves around the room, “I’ve got candles, and you’re not touching any fuseboxes. It looks like the whole street is out anyway.” My eyes finally adjust to the dark and I can just about make out her profile from the moonlight filtering through her window.

“Not surpising, it’s coming down hard.” I reply and get a glimpse of her when another flash of lightening lights up the sky for a second. Mira lights a bunch of candles, those scented ones that girls obsess over and must have all over the place. The room is lit dimly and I observe her when she turns to face me.

“I can’t believe Ayla left you all by yourself. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would have come over and stayed with you.”

Mira sighs while she climbs up on her bed and brushes her fingers through her wavy hair. “I only found out she wasn't coming back home a little while ago. She did say she would come back, but I assured her I was fine and it’s not exactly safe driving in this weather.” She explains with a shrug while I sit at the edge of her bed and nod in understanding. “I thought I’d be fine on my own, and I was until I heard noises.” She admits sheepishly, and I chuckle, shaking my head.

“You scared the crap out of me, Tinks.” I hit her with her pillow. Mira smiles and shrugs a little pulling the pillow from me and hugging it.

“I’m sorry, you’re the first person I thought of to call.” She declares coyly, her golden gaze falling to her fingers fumbling with the pillow. I like that—I like the fact she thought of me first in a moment she was afraid and in need of protection—like I was her saviour.

“Don’t ever be sorry.” I reach over and tuck my fingers under her chin, lifting her gaze so she could look at me. “I’m glad you called me.”

“You are?” I nod, holding her gaze.

“I am,” I reply, smiling, my thumb caressing her jaw. “You just inadvertently may have admitted that I’m your hero, Tinks.” Mira chuckles and slaps my hand away, her cheeks filling with blood.

“I did no such thing.” I watch her as she shuffles back on her bed, stretching her legs out. “A pompous arse is what you are.” She jests, her eyes alight with glee.

“Oh? That’s the thanks I get for putting my life in danger for you?” Mira laughs when I grab her ankle and pull her down the bed till she was flat on her back.

“I said thank you, didn’t I?” she squeals when I poke her sides.

“A measely, dry thank you just won’t suffice, I’m afraid.” I laugh, tickling her, and she cackles wildly, thrashing around.

“I’m all out of the wet ones…ahhh, Dev, please!” I grab her hands and pin them to the bed while straddling her.

“Are you taking the piss, Tinks?” Mira giggles cheekily, her eyes all big while she peers up at me, trying her best to feign innocence.

“No!” She gasps, chuckling, “I said thank you, how would you prefer I thanked you then?” I grin down at her, and she blinks. “What?”

“I can think of, oh, I don’t know about ten different ways you can thank me for saving your life.” I drawl, leaning closer, and Mira stills.

“Such as?”

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