“You mean get out of here alive?”
“I’m not letting you die.”
She laughs, “For a total stranger, I actually believe that. I think that I’d like to eat a slice of pumpkin pie.”
“Pumpkin pie?”
“Oh yea. I might be a bad ass rocker chick on stage, but at heart, I’m an UGG boot wearing, fleece blanket snuggling, football watching, fall loving girl who enjoys all things pumpkin spice. I’m also a Libra so I think it’s obligatory for us in our balanced nature to love all things fall, pumpkin and cozy. My sister and I make the best pumpkin pies together every fall and it’s the main dish I look forward to eating every Thanksgiving.”
I conceal a snort at her mentioning being a Libra. The reminder of her insistence on astrology and our balanced nature’s compatibility.
“I don’t think pumpkin pie classifies as a main dish. Isn’t it dessert?”
She gasps, “Don’t say that. Anything can be if you believe in it.”
“Can’t say I’ve had pumpkin pie in over ten years.”
“You’re crazy. It’s a must-have for the holiday. With a dollop ofwhipped cream on top. Mmm...”
I smile, “I think you’ve convinced me. I might have to have some this year.”
“Well, if we get out of here before tomorrow, I’ll invite you over for dessert. My siblings told me that the new co-op has started a Thanksgiving night tradition where people from all over Lonestar Junction bring dessert to share and fellowship together. My sister and I will be bringing our pumpkin pies.”
I’m silent, knowing full well that I’d likely end up there anyways after spending Thanksgiving dinner with the Cameron’s at Ashwood ranch. With Jovie and Stevie’s ownership and management of the co-op, it’d be a natural progression for the night to lead there.
“Might take ya up on that.”
Just as I finish my sentence, a voice calls out from a few feet below us, and a sliver of light shines through the cracks up into the elevator doors, piercing through the thick darkness.
“Hello! You alright in there?”
“Yeah. We’re fine. There’s two of us in here,” I call back.
“We’re about to get the lift running again. Seems like a rusted bolt to the power switch came loose.”
“Oh, God,” Dove gasps from next to me as she fumbles in the darkness with her hands, searching for something to grab onto but finds my cock instead.
She’s quiet, gripping me firmly through my jeans. Thankfully, I’m not sitting in the dark with a boner like a creep, but I know I’m still a lot to hold and she got a handful.
"Ohmigod... I'm sorry... is that... did I just grab your…?" she drops her hand from my shaft that she was squeezing, her voice trailing off into what I assume is silent shock.
I clear my throat, adjusting myself in my pants and trying not to harden. Last thing I need is for her to lay eyes on me for thefirst time with me tenting my jeans. "It's all good," I play it off casually.
The elevator suddenly lurches downward, causing Dove to jump back into my side, nestling in my armpit. I can feel her body begin to shake again.
“Hey. Try to take a deep breath slowly through your nose. This isn’t going to fall. You’re going to be alright.”
I listen as she inhales through her nose, then exhales gently out of her teeth, blowing that cinnamon scent directly into my face. Her head lowers, burrowing into my side as she clings to me tightly while trying to take in air.
“I’m sorry, I’m not usually like this, I just need a moment to collect myself.”
I allow her to hold me like that, clinging tightly to my arm, head buried in my chest, willing myself not to touch her back though I desperately want to. It wouldn’t be fair for me to grasp her the way I want to, given the fact that she doesn’t know who I really am yet.
The elevator lurches again, and I hear a loud swear from one of the men working on it below us.
I'm not worried about this rickety hunk of metal dropping the five feet we've risen from the ground floor. I've been in much worse elevator situations overseas and fallen from far greater heights. I know she'll be fine, and if it comes down to it, I'll hoist her onto my lap to make sure my back and body take the brunt of any injury.
Plus, judging by how she's practically in my lap already, I'm sure I could lift her above my head if we drop so she wouldn't even realize she's falling.
