“Because! Because there could be cameras.”
“So?” He takes a step toward you. “Then let’s give them something to see.”
You’re about to protest, but the elevator lurches again, dropping another few feet. Instead of protesting, you scream.
Ziros grabs you, holding you against his chest until your breathing returns to normal.
“I meant it,” he growls in your ear. “I’m not letting anything happen to you, human. Do you not believe me?”
Your heart thunders. “I believe you.”
Of course you do. He’s made it clear that if you die, so does he. And he’s been very clear that he does not want to die.
Yet you can’t help the automatic terror at being trapped in a malfunctioning elevator.
There’s obviously only one solution here.
Only one way to get your mind off it while you wait to be freed. Sure, you could let Ziros pry open the doors, but then you’d be damaging the property—andputting yourselves in danger trying to climb out when the elevator might plunge again at any moment. A moment that could be deadly if you were mid climbing out.
Looks like you’ve got no choice.
As the elevator jerks upward, then down another few feet, you cling to Ziros, pulling him closer as you whisper, “Kiss me.”
He smirks. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He slides one hand behind your head, the other behind your back, lifting you against the wall as he kisses you again, his tongue parting your lips as his fingers twine into your hair.
Wait—that’s not the wall at your back. Those are the elevator doors.
But you can’t sweat a detail like that. Not while your hot book boyfriend is kissing you like this.
Except, well—
Suddenly, the doors stutter open and the both of you tumble backwards out into the bright department store lobby as a small group of shoppers turn and stare in shock.
“Oh, my,” exclaims an elderly woman, covering her mouth as if she’s just been scandalized. Someone else whips out their phone.
You land on top of Ziros with a groan.
Behind you, the security guard-turned-elevator-maintenance-guy clears his throat.
“It should be all fixed now,” he says. “So feel free to hop back in if you’re going up.”
“Thank you,” you say on reflex as you haul yourself shakily to your feet. “But I think this time we’ll take the stairs.”
Ziros stands beside you, smirking as if he’s enjoying the attention of everyone staring.
It’s probably not every day you see a guy as hot as him tumble out of an elevator mid make out.
* * *
You stand in front of the dressing room half an hour later as Ziros emerges in the last outfit you picked out. It’s all been normal, everyday stuff. Mostly jeans and T-shirts, plus a baseball cap, which he seems to have instinctively known to put on backward.
You know, for added Hot Book Boyfriend Effect.
“Hang on,” you say as he stands just outside the dressing room. “Can you do me a favor? Just grab the top of the doorframe and, you know,lean.”
He narrows his eyes at you. “What?”
