I grabbed a blue wrap dress that stopped at my knee, and black-booties. Somewhere in the closet hung a cropped black jacket to tie the outfit together perfectly. I got dressed quickly, added some makeup, and made a judgement call that braids were in my near future. Maddox patiently waited, holding a jacket of his own over his arm and stared down at his tablet intensely.
“I’m ready to go, Mr. Pushy.” His head turned toward me, and I smiled at his reaction. Making this stoic man show emotions was quite enjoyable now. His breaths appeared to have slowed and the grip on his tablet nearly shattered it. Confidence flowed from me as I walked toward the door. His screeches from his boots on the floor behind me let me know he followed.
We made our way to the elevator. I’d been all smiles and enjoying the high of a pretty outfit when the doors closed, until the air between us thickened and my smiled lips became needy.
Oh, the joy of tight quarters when you’re sexually repressed.
“So, where are we going?” I didn’t dare look at Maddox. I didn’t need to see his eyes to know he desired me; I could feel it. The elevator grew warm, and I stared at the ticking numbers as we descended.
“We are going out,” he said in a gruff voice.
Thankfully, the elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and two women entered, breaking up the tense atmosphere.
“Good evening.”
The woman and her friend were dressed for a fun night out like me. I smiled at them politely and avoided eye contact with my bodyguard. We began moving once the door closed and then suddenly we stopped.
I looked at the stuck numbers on the digital board and then finally at Maddox. One of the women reached out to hit the button to the ground floor, but nothing happened. A piercing screech echoed in the small space, and the elevator dropped a foot. The women and I screamed and fell to the floor when it abruptly ceased moving again.
“Oh my God. Someone help!” one of the woman screamed, and pressed the help button repeatedly. I looked at Maddox and felt hopeless. I had the ability to help us. But since there were no plants around, I’d probably grow them from my body and expose myself to these women. He nodded, understanding what my predicament was as soon as a loud “thunk” vibrated above us and we were falling.
I was useless, unable to help without being completely exposed. Sure I could pay these ladies off but there would be no way for me to truly contain the situation forever.
Maddox gritted his teeth, and the elevator shook from something pushing against the bottom, slowing us down a bit. He used his power over air to slow our descent until we landed on the bottom with a great shake. We collapsed on the floor again.
“Oh, thank God,” one of the woman sobbed. Maddox and I both stood first, then helped both of them rise.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to him, and he ran a large hand over his short blond hair before nodding. We both didn’t think the elevator had malfunctioned on its own, but maybe I’d be pleasantly surprised to find out our descent was an accident.
“Is anyone in there? Oh goodness, the ambulance is on their way!” someone yelled on the other side of the door and the women frantically screamed again.
Now we had to wait for them to pry the doors open and get us out.
Chapter Seventeen
Maddox
Once we’d given our statements to the police and waved off the paramedics, I dragged Hazel to the club I’d planned on going to before the incident. I’d analyze the scene later and break into the police’s database for more clues. The Collector might have caused the elevator to snap like that, but he or she didn’t want Hazel harmed. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself on the way to the club.
Hazel danced in the VIP section with other celebrities and heiresses, where they could let loose without paparazzi. I stood guard, with the other bodyguards in the shadows, watching our charges. I didn’t like watching her shake her ass, with pompous men’s attempts to touch her. She didn’t let anyone mess with her and swatted their hands away. I didn’t need to protect her, but like in the elevator, she’d proved to have a vulnerable weakness. She didn’t want her true identity to be exposed, so I assisted to stop us from being seriously injured or killed.
“Your guard is so hot!” a drunk woman yelled at Hazel even though they were only two feet away from each other. Her red-painted nail pointed at me. It would be considered rude to roll my eyes, but the action almost occurred.
“You have no idea,” Hazel hollered, and I suddenly wished I’d told the bartender to stop bringing her drinks. I wanted her to have fun, not get shitfaced. My assumption she could handle her liquor appeared skewed.
“Lucky.” One of the other guards coughed to disguise his comment and when I shot him an angered look, he wisely shut his mouth.
Earlier, I’d been on the edge of my control when she walked out of her room, dressed to slay the hearts of men. No bra beneath that blue dress, sexy brown legs with black boots, all tied together with a short black jacket. Ever since she walked into my life as a scared homeless girl, I’d wanted her to be mine forever. As we aged, growing into teens with hormones and feelings I’d wished for her to want me as me. To have the freedom to touch her freely, to hold her hand, and kiss her whenever I desired.
I fucking desired to kiss her hard, and the magnitude of force needed to resist threatened to be too much. Especially when she looked at me like she wanted me too. I’d come back into her life, accepting that we wouldn’t be picking up where we left off before. I’d be her bodyguard and that’s it, but the tension between us wasn’t one way. I just didn’t know if whatever she felt would be enough to push her into my arms or would her resentment of me keep us separated.
“Wanna dance, hunkster?” A familiar actress I’d seen in a recent movie came up to me and started dancing against me.
“Oh, yes, you’re so big, I bet you can do amazing things with those big hands,” she moaned and pressed her ass against me. I looked at her guard, waiting for him to step in so I didn’t need to, but he just watched her without muttering a word.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I can’t.” I gently nudged her toward the dance floor, where two people called for her attention. She wasn’t having it though. Instead of joining them, she faced me and began dancing again.
“He’s polite, too. You know I’m a famous actress, right? I’m sure Hazel wouldn’t mind if I borrowed you for a few minutes. She was fine for years without a guard.” The woman’s breath reeked of alcohol and her movements became overly fluid.
