“Never say never,” I reply with a wink.Where the hell did that come from?
“Well, I think if you do it in public, people would watch,” Archer adds with a laugh.
“No, no, no. I just like the idea of sneaking around. Doing it on a train or in a movie theater or something. It sounds exciting.”
“Besides,” I add, “making people in public watch is nonconsensual. Exhibitionism implies consent.”
“Listen to this guy,” Archer jokes. “Now he sounds like someone who owns a sex club.”
Freya giggles, making me smile as I shake my head. “All I’m saying is that I get what Freya means…and it sounds right up your alley. She wants to break the rules. Have sex where she’s not supposed to. Just like you…she wants to make something legalillegal.”
He winks at her. “I like the sound of that.”
“Actually,” I say, lifting my head. “If you think about it, we’re not all that different. Archer is into domination. Freya likes the idea of sex anywhere, anytime. And I like the idea of having power over someone in a way that would grant me access to them anywhere, anytime. We’re sort of all the same.”
Archer leans back against the wall, his eyes darting back and forth between the two of us. “I guess that means we’re perfect for each other then.”
No one says anything as that hovers in between us. It doesn’t feel wrong. Or maybe I’ve been in this elevator too long.
The compartment is filled with loaded silence as we try to figure out where to go from here. What on earth do we speak about after that?
Suddenly, there’s a loud noise on the other side of the doors. We all tense just as light shines through, figures silhouetted as the doors of the elevator open. It’s like waking up from a dream. My body aches as I stretch my legs, moving to stand.
Archer and Freya are squinting the same, both staring in a daze as the building staff rush in. I immediately notice the absence of celebration. No one is exclaiming their excitement at being rescued. And as much as I know we all need water and a restroom, I can’t help but feel slightly…disappointed.
Hell, maybe we are delusional.
“Monsieur, please. Let us help you up. We apologize, sir. Are you all right?”
Someone is tugging on my arm. Another person helps Freya to her feet, both Archer and I huddled close to her. It’s hard to explain, but I feel this strange magnetic pull toward them both, as if I’ve been stuck in this small space for so long the absence of their warm bodies against mine causes an ache in my bones.
We stumble out of the elevator, and the staff fuss over us, grating on my nerves.
“We’re fine,” I snap, wishing they’d give me some space.
“How long were we in there?” Freya asks groggily.
“It’s very early,” one of the women says. “Half past five.”
My brows furrow as I try to do the math. “We were in there for twelve hours?”
Freya rubs at her forehead, and I notice the way Archer keeps a hand on her back as if she could fall over at any moment. Fatigue sets in, my body aching from sitting on that cold floor for so long. Why didn’t it feel more miserable while we were in there? My throat burns and my head hurts.
“I need water,” she mumbles, leaning on his arm. “And to use the restroom.”
“Come into my apartment,” Archer says.
The staff offer to call us a medic or take us to the hospital, but I shake them off. “We’re fine, really. Just get that fucking thing fixed.”
I’m too focused on Freya, watching her cling to Archer’s side as he leads her to his apartment down the hall. We were this close to his place the entire time.
When she looks back at me, expectation on her face, I realize I have no reason to stand here. I’m only a few floors away from my own apartment. A few moments ago, we were in that cramped space together, and things felt different, but now we’re out, and I’m not going to be the fool clinging to something that isn’t real.
Not bothering with a goodbye, I turn away from them and march toward the stairs, desperately eager to be in my home, alone again.
“Monsieur, are you sure you’re all right?” someone from the staff asks, hounding me with concern.
“For fuck’s sake,” I bark. “Leave me alone.”
