Page 33 of Devil's Kiss
“Thank you,” Jordan murmured as he passed by and moved toward the only elevator, where he pulled a keycard from his pocket and slipped it into the metallic panel. When the door slid open, Jordan held it and gave a crooked grin, returning Derek’s chivalrous gesture. “After you.”
Derek walked inside the small confines, and when Jordan followed and the door swooshed shut, he was made highly aware of his size. The elevator was narrow, personal in a sense, and the two of them only just fit comfortably together side by side with their arms touching.
He let his eyes move up the panel, expecting to see twenty-eight buttons to choose from, but there was nothing on the walls except the shiny metallic finish of the elevator. High in the right-hand corner was a small screen that seemed a little odd, but before he could get the words out, Jordan said, “It’s a TV screen and camera.”
Derek’s head whipped around so he was facing Jordan, who laughed. “Oh, no need to panic. It’s not currently on.”
Derek frowned. “Why’s it there? And where’s the button for your floor?”
Jordan shifted to rest his back against one side of the elevator. “It’s there for me to see who is stopping by, and there are no buttons because this elevatoronlygoes to my floor.”
Huh?Derek was confused. What did he mean, the elevator only went to his floor? Jordan wasn’t making any sense, but then Derek remembered that the professor was rich. Very fucking rich, apparently.
He opened his mouth, about to ask what floor they were going to, but before any words could come out, the elevator came to a smooth stop and a soft “ding” sounded.
“Here we are,” Jordan announced as the door opened and he pushed off the wall to head out into his condo. “Floor twenty-eight.”
Derek watched Jordan head out into a huge open space, and as he stepped off the elevator to follow, his jaw almost hit the floor.
Oh my fucking God.
The room that spread out in front of him was ridiculous.
As in it looked ridiculously expensive. Derek froze in place, not willing to take a step further in case he happened to break something with his huge feet or duffel bag.
The room was unlike anything he’d ever seen in his life. As far as the eye could see, the cream marble floors that were accented with flecks of brown shone so brightly that they reflected the elaborate chandelier that hung center stage like an art piece. Hell, it probably was. Directly under the light was an U-shaped couch that beautifully complemented the tones of the space. It sat atop a rectangular rug that Derek was positive looked more comfortable than his bed at home.
Jordan tossed his bag on the couch and made his way over to the floor-to-ceiling doors that provided a stunning view of a deck setting fit for a king. There were chaise lounges, a table that was likely designed to be used indoors but had somehow made it to Jordan’s balcony, and, yes, a hot tub and pool at the far end of the balcony. The spread beyond the spacious living room was not only impressive, it was out of this world.
Who lived like this?
Jordan unlatched the doors and shoved them open so the night breeze could filter inside, then he headed into the kitchen to open his fridge and pull out a bottle of wine. When he turned back with a bottle in his hand and two glasses, his eyes found Derek exactly where he’d left him, and he grinned.
“You can come in, you know. Just put your bag there until we can work out all the details.”
Derek’s heart raced at breakneck speed as he looked around the opulent space and shook his head.
This had been a terrible mistake. What was he doing here? This wasn’t where he belonged. This wassonot what he’d expected when Jordan had said he could come and crash at his place.
He’d stupidly imagined a cramped room where he could stash his bag and do his homework. Not some playboy penthouse that screamed sex, money, and success. He felt like a fucking failure.
A loser failure that was going to throw up at any moment.
“I don’t think this is such a good idea. I’m just gonna go,” he said as he backed up, and as he went to hightail it out of there, he noticed two tall podiums flanking either side of the elevator, with beautiful bronze sculptures on it that were likely worth more than he would ever hope to make in his life.
Yeah, okay, Derek Pearson doesnotbelong in a place like this.
“Wait,” Jordan said from behind him, and Derek could hear each footfall on the cream tiles as he came closer. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Derek shut his eyes and willed his voice to sound normal as he turned to Jordan, who was looking at him with confusion and worry written all over his face.
“Derek,” he said softly, and reached a hand out to touch him, but suddenly everything about this situation and the reason why Derek was there bubbled to the surface and had him backing up, as if a simple touch would make him fall apart.
“Derek. Let me help you. Iwantto help you.”
Derek swallowed past the massive lump and shook his head as his eyes flew around the room again. “Why, Jordan?” he asked. “You don’t know me. Hell, for all you know I might rob you blind in the middle of the night.”
Jordan took a cautious step toward him and squeezed his arm. “You’re right. You could. Don’t go for those statues behind you, though—they weigh a ton, and honestly, the silverware in the dining room is worth more and is lighter.”