"Shit... I am sorry, butterfly," I heard before getting wrapped inside his arms.

......

My tears wetted his black shirt, making it look darker while he held me so close to him in a breathless hold.

"I ha..te you," I said between my small coughs and loud cries, while he didn't say anything, letting me cry inside his warm chest.

I was clenching his shirt so tightly that the buttons were forced to open. His hand kept rubbing my back. I could hear his loud heartbeats just like mine. It was comforting yet scary to think why he was having that reaction. I could taste my salty tears inside my mouth. He slowly slid his hands a little down and picked me up, wrapping my legs quickly around his torso. I let him pick me. He held me tightly. His one hand went to my hair, patting my head from behind. He didn't say a word still after the sorry. Clenching and unclenching the shirt, I cried...

"I w...as sc..ar..ed," I said between my cries and looked up at him, hoping he would say something to comfort me, but he didn't, and I regretted looking up too quickly when I saw his eyes. They were dark...

My expression stilled. My eyes poured tears, but no sound came from my mouth except...

"L...e..ave me," I said, pushing myself up from his chest, struggling. But his hold, which just a second ago was caressing my head, suddenly forced me into him.

I saw the car a few feet away from us. Wanting to run away from him before we could even reach there, I bit his shoulder while he remained stiff. Then I broke into sobs, having no way to get away from him. His dark eyes stared at my every action, making me flinch at every eye contact. I was scared to even think about what he was going to do.

When we reached the car, he placed me inside the passenger seat and locked the door from outside. I kept tapping the door to get out, to run desperately, but nothing worked. Taking the driver's seat, he locked the door from his side too and just sat...

Not starting the car, not saying something—just silent. And that silence scared me to death...

"R...hys," I called, and he turned his head toward me.

"What were you doing in the middle of the highway, Maya?" he said, and I trembled, hearing the calmness in his voice.

"I am s...orry..." I mumbled, and he chuckled suddenly before shouting very loudly:

"WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING THERE? DON'T YOU KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS?"

I flinched and looked down, sobbing.

"DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU? ARE YOU STUPID? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN'T ASK FOR LIFTS ON THE HIGHWAY, FOR GOD'S SAKE? DIDN'T ANYONE TEACH YOU? FOR FUCK'S SAKE, YOU WERE ABOUT TO GET KILLED!"

He kept shouting, and I kept crying, looking down.

"FUCKING ANSWER ME AND STOP CRYING!"

"N...o..." I mumbled while crying and hiccuping, and he shouted again:

"LOUDLY!"

"N..o.. on..e t..aught me," I said, and he stopped. Widening his eyes, he looked at me before closing them.

"Shit..." he said softly without opening his eyes, and I didn't say a word, just kept crying silently.

Minutes passed, but my cries weren't stopping while Rhys' head rested on the backrest. His eyes stayed closed, maybe trying to calm himself, because I saw him gulping again and again.

Suddenly, my hand was pulled by him with a little force until I was so near him. His other hand went to my waist, and he made me sit on his lap.

I let out a squeak at this action. I looked up quickly, and his eyes met mine. This time, there was no anger, no darkness.

His hand, which was on my waist, slid down and went toward the bottom of my shirt, taking it up along with his hand. His hand slid onto my jeans until it reached the naked flesh of my waist, placing them there so comfortably.

I saw his action with my own eyes, following his hands' every movement. When it was placed inside, I looked into his eyes again.

"Maya," he said softly in his deep voice, and I gulped before letting out a hum.

"First, wipe your tears and runny nose, butterfly," he said, and I widened my eyes, quickly taking my hands up to my face. I wiped my face. The sleeves of my shirt made it easier, and they were large. Once I was done, I looked at him again, and he shook his head before coming close to my face and placing his lips softly on my nose.

"Why are you like this?" he whispered, letting his hot breath touch my lips, and a hiccup left my mouth. Taking his face away, he asked:

"Why has no one taught you this, butterfly? Didn't your school teach you about those road rules?" he asked as his hands started brushing my waist slowly. I closed my eyes, letting the last drop of a tear fall.

"I was homeschooled..." I said softly, and he frowned.

"Why?" he asked, and I lowered my head before slowly sliding my arms onto his waist and placing my head on his shoulder. He went stiff at my action, and I was surprised too, but yet it was comforting. It was what I didn't want to do, yet I wanted to do because the warmth and comfort his body was giving me was making me dive deeper into his arms.

His hands again started moving a little up now on my back before settling there and caressing it. He let out a hum, and I rubbed my face on his shoulder.

"I was bullied..." I said slowly before closing my eyes softly and letting sleep engulf me in the comfort of his arms around me, even if this closeness between him and me was dangerous.

READY FOR RHYS' POV...

(But you will get it after a few hours. For now, it's time for Baldwin's Possession, so let's go there...)