That tiny spark of contact traveled straight up Reese’s arm and settled low in her belly. Sloane didn’t pull away. She didn’t speak. She only watched Reese, eyes dark and wide, as if she was actively losing a battle with herself.
“Tell me to stop,” Reese whispered.
Sloane closed her eyes. “I can’t.”
That was all Reese needed.
She reached up, a slow, deliberate lift of her hand, giving Sloane every chance to retreat. But Sloane didn’t move. If anything, she leaned in first.
Their lips met in a soft, startled collision. Not urgent. Not practiced. Not anything Reese had expected.
Just real. Carnal. Amazing. This should have been the moment the elevator burst to life, stealing this very important moment, but it didn’t. They were left to explore it, deepen it, breathe in the shock of how right it felt. Sloane’s hand came to Reese’s jaw, tentative at first, then certain, guiding her closer. Reese melted into the touch, into the kiss, into the way Sloanekissed like she’d been holding herself back for far too long. The world narrowed to warmth and breath and the soft press of mouths learning each other in the dim, humming quiet of the elevator. For a suspended, perfect moment, nothing existed outside the two of them. No rules, no roles, no impossible lines drawn between who they were supposed to be.
Just this.
Just them.
They came apart breathless and a little shocked. Silence settled as they watched each other, still hungry, still wanting. “There are probably cameras,” Sloane said finally.
“I suppose there are.” Reese’s eyes never left Sloane’s. But she was right. The last thing either of them needed was some assistant shift manager at the hotel selling the footage to one of the racing outlets. “I’ll stay over here,” Reese said.
“You haven’t moved,” Sloane pointed out, the beginnings of a smile tugging her lips.
“Oh, right,” Reese said, her cheeks warming because her brain had clearly not returned to its full function. She slid to the other side of the elevator, which, honestly, was only a few more feet. “So.” A pause. “How’s your day been?”
That pulled a laugh, and Reese understood that she would spend an entire lifetime trying to earn that sound again. Something warm and certain settled in her chest. She loved Sloane’s laugh, the way it softened her, brightened her, cracked her open in ways Reese had only ever imagined. And suddenly, more than anything, she wanted to be the reason Sloane laughed, over and over again.
She wasn’t sure what to do with that realization, so she held it quietly for herself.
Before either of them could speak again, the elevator jolted with a violent shudder. Reese’s hand instinctively shot outto steady Sloane, who grabbed her arm in return. Then the machinery groaned, hummed, and miraculously began to move.
They both stood quickly, straightening clothing, smoothing hair, clearing throats like teenagers caught doing something they absolutely shouldn’t.
“Great timing,” Sloane muttered.
“Elevators respect drama,” Reese whispered back.
That earned her another tiny, involuntary tug of a smile.
The doors slid open to thelobby, not a midfloor landing, proving the universe had a sense of humor and liked to weaponize it. A few guests milled about, including Delaney, who froze mid-text the moment she spotted them stepping out of a stalled elevator together, hair mussed, faces flushed, looking profoundlynotnormal.
Delaney’s eyes narrowed slightly, just enough for Reese, who knew her well, to notice.
Sloane cleared her throat. “I’m, uh, going to take the stairs.” She pointed vaguely toward the stairwell as if announcing a fire exit. “Five floors. Good cardio.”
“Right,” Delaney said. “Cardio is always a good idea.”
Sloane gave Reese one last look—quick, soft, and absolutely devastating—before ducking away with the brisk efficiency of someone escaping a crime scene.
Reese stepped out, trying very hard to appear like a woman who hadnotjust kissed someone she shouldn’t in a stalled elevator. She failed.
Delaney watched Sloane disappear, then turned back to Reese with an expression far too knowing.
“So,” Delaney said slowly, sliding her phone into her pocket. “Anything you want to tell me?”
Reese swallowed. “About what?”
Delaney’s eyebrows lifted. “Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.”
