He has never blamed the guests for picking him out of a catalog like he is no different to a delicious cocktail on the minibar menu.
When I once challenged him on it, when we were lying together in our dorm, he shrugged.
“The services of the HOs have been a tradition amongst certain elite packs for generations,” Bird replied. “Most of them have been raised not to question it. They don’t see it as any different to the way that they treat any staff in a hotel, you know? Some are cruel and entitled, some are kind and respectful, but most are simply thoughtless. They don’t see me as an equal. So, why should they be anything but dismissive?”
“Assholes.”
“Not everyone can care about other people like you can, sis. I think most packs are just too lost in their own worries.” He grasped my hand, stroking over the back of it. “We know better that most that everybody has their own problems, right? I bet that the other kids at school were jealous of us.The Frost siblings from the billionaire pack.It must have looked like we had fucking everything. What a joke. So, I just hold onto the knowledge that I don’t know the nightmares that could be in the guest packs’ lives. Then I try to make things better for them and bring them joy, while I’m with them.”
It's no wonder that my sunny brother is so popular.
But it’s killing him.
I take a deep breath.
Seven…
Almost there.
Eight…
One more floor…
All of a sudden, Icarus lurches forward and slams his hand against the large red button: The emergency stop.
I fall to the side, as the elevator lurches to an abrupt halt.
An alarm wails out. The light cuts out.
I stare at Icarus in shock.
He leans close to me, slotting a key from his pocket into the panel and overriding the alarm.
“What are you doing?” I hiss.
Icarus’ chest is rising and falling fast. He leans his hand on the elevator wall above me. He cages me in the small space, pressing my back hard against the wall. His spicy hot apple cider and nutmeg scent flood over me.
I grip onto his tie.
I am trembling with the thrilling feeling of anticipation just before I fall — or jump — off a ledge.
I’ve always known that Icarus would catch me, even if my wings break.
Except, here is my usually controlled and sensible Icarus standing on the ledge readying to jump off with me.
Seeing him unraveling like this is electrifying.
Icarus’ eyes flutter shut, as he sinks his fingers into my hair roughly, dragging the ribbon out and allowing my hair to swing free around my cheeks.
He rests our foreheads together.
Icarus is breathing hard. “We have five minutes.”
Then he kisses me hungrily.
I whimper, as he thrusts his tongue deeper into my mouth like a claiming.
He pushes his thigh between mine, holding me in place by my hair.
