I give him a thumbs up from over my shoulder as I stop in front of the elevator that leads down to the entrance gates. I push the button, the doors glide open, and I step inside. Once I've pushed the main floor button, the elevator begins its descent. I lean against the metal wall, my pulse quickening as the numbers of the floors get lower. I'm anxious to see Maddy more than I was aware of. I need to make sure she's okay, see it for myself. I want to know what happened to her. And I want to talk to her about what's been going on with me. I haven't had that in my life before, a safe place to lose my shit. But Maddy is starting to feel like that place for me.
When the elevator arrives at the main floor, the doors open, and I push away from the wall to exit. Then I walk down the side path to the entrance. The car Maddy got into the last time I saw her is parked in front of the barriers. I hurry toward it, my strides long and quick, the stitches on my side barely noticeable.
I quicken my pace even more when the passenger door opens, and Maddy gets out.
"I'd say thanks for the ride," she tells the driver as she grips the door. "But since you took me against my will, go fuck yourself." She flips the driver the middle finger and then slams the door.
When she turns toward me, relief washes over me. She appears unscathed, although a bit worn out. Her long, brown hair flows across her shoulders in waves, and her expression conveys her emotional state, which mirrors mine—pure relief.
"Hey," she says as she hurries toward me. "That guy is super annoying?—"
I fucking kiss her. Like full on devour her with my lips as my arms loop around her waist, and I pull her so tightly against me, I can feel her heart slamming against my chest.
So much for breaking off our fake dating agreement.
But the sight of her caused so many emotions to pour through me that I can't grasp onto anything else. To make the situation even more problematic, she kisses me back with equal fierceness. Her hands travel to the hem of my shirt, and she grasps the fabric, her fingers grazing my skin. My muscles are taut, and a drop of pain emits from the stitches. But I barely register it as I bite her bottom lip. She whimpers as one of her hands trails up my chest, and then she hooks her arm around the back of my neck. Her fingers comb through the hair on the nape of my neck as we kiss and kiss and kiss. I'm not sure we would've stopped if someone hadn't honked.
We both startle, but I don't pull back; instead, resting my forehead against hers.
"Wow," she whispers breathlessly.
"Yeah, definitely wow," I agree, closing my eyes and breathing in her scent.
She smells like she always does, all sugary and warm and fucking delicious.
"Are you okay?" she asks while placing her palm against my chest, where my heart is beating as fiercely as a damn hummingbird's wings.
I take one more inhale of her scent before slanting back to look at her. “You were taken, and you're asking me if I'm okay?"
She nods. "You seem uneasy about something."
How the hell can she read me so well when we've only known each other for a few weeks?
"I do need to talk to you about some stuff, but after you tell me what happened to you?" I tuck a strand of her hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop it from happening."
"Oh, River, always wanting to protect me." She smiles, but it fizzles. "Can we talk inside?"
Nodding, I step back, lace my fingers through hers, and guide her back to the elevator.
From this side, my fingerprint is required to gain access. Once my thumb is scanned, the door opens, and we enter. The doors click shut, and I press the correct floor button to begin ascending.
Maddy glances behind us. "I'm glad there are no windows on this one." She twists back to face me. "I'm not sure I'm mentally capable enough right now not to have a total meltdown with my acrophobia." She frowns. "Well, I guess I still have to get on the other elevator…" She shakes her head at herself. "God, I need some rest."
"After we talk, we should go to bed." I skim my thumb across the back of her hand. "And while we're on the elevator, you can lean against me and close your eyes."
She nods, releasing an uneven breath. "I just hope I don't have a panic attack."
A few minutes later, we find out the answer as we enter the other elevator. Doing as I suggested, Maddy curls up against me, closes her eyes, and breathes in and out. I trace a path up and down her back, whispering encouraging words. She manages to make the ride without completely panicking, but she does bolt off of it so swiftly that she trips and bangs her hip against a table in the entryway.
"Ow," she gripes as she rubs her hip. "That was so spazzy."
"It was pretty smooth," I tease her as I exit the elevator.
Finn saunters into the room then. "Hey," he says to me, then his attention lands on Maddy. "Did you get hurt?"
"Sort of." She rubs her hip a few more times. "I tripped into the table."
"Smooth," he jokes, eliciting a nasty look from her.
