Page 70 of Hate You Up Close

Her arms suddenly flail back, her hands clawing at the steel wall behind her.

“Oh my God, do you smell that?” she quivers. “I think…I think I smell smoke.”

Oh shit. She’s in full-on panic mode at this point. She’s speaking a mile a minute, so fast that her words are practically running together.

“Elliot, I smell smoke.”

“There’s a fire.”

“Oh my God.”

“We’re gonna die in here.”

Her eyes start darting around the lift, frantically searching for an exit that isn't there.

“Help!” she screams. “Somebody get us out of here!”

She’s not able to register that there’s no smell of smoke due to her mind and body being in a fight-or-flight state right now. I know that we’re completely safe. Maintenance is on their way up, and this will all be over before we know it.

But I know as well as anybody, anxiety doesn't give a shit about logic. So even though her fears aren’t likely, they’re still valid. The last thing I want to do is tell her to calm down or downplay her emotions. We all have our fears, and this is clearly a major trigger for her. I just need to continue letting her know that she’s safe and that I’m here for her.

I think back to the night she took care of me when I got kicked out of the bar. I remember how sweet and gentle she was with me. How calm she made me feel at a time when I felt so fucking low. I want to be that person for her right now.

“Come here,” I rasp, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her shaky body onto my lap. She’s sitting across my legs, her ass resting atop my thighs. If we were in any other situation, this position would definitely turn me on. But right now, I’m only focused on easing her anxiety.

I lift my hands to her beautiful face before threading my hands through her silky hair.

“Breathe with me, okay?” I say calmly.

“K-Kay,” she nods, pressing her sweaty forehead to mine.

We spend the next minute or so in the most intimate position of my life. Roxanne in my lap, her forehead pressed against mine, while we’re slowly breathing in each other’s air. In a sick and twisted way, I never want this moment to end. I alwayswant to be this close to her. And right now, I have an excuse to hold her in my arms.

Right now, I have a justifiable reason to touch her, which is something I crave on a daily basis.

“Are you sure you don’t smell smoke?” she whispers, her lips so close that they brush against mine with every word.

God, she’s so damn cute.I can’t take it.

I don’t think she realizes that our lips are touching, but I do. I feel her everywhere.

“Yes, baby,” I soothe, gently massaging my fingertips into her hair. “I’m sure. I don’t even smell a hint of smoke.”

“But I do,” she whispers. “What if…What if your nose is stopped up or something?”

I chuckle softly.

“We work in the most expensive, most advanced building in all of Dallas, Texas,” I say, placing a featherlight kiss to her forehead. “This tower was built with top-of-the-line safety measures, which include smoke detectors. I promise you, Rox, we would know if there was a fire.”

She nods before making my heart clench in my chest.

“Can…Can you breathe with me again?” she asks weakly, looking up at me through droopy, puppy dog eyes.

“Of course,” I smile before grazing my lips against her cheekbone. I can’t seem to stop touching her.

I bring my hand to her chest, rubbing my palm in slow, soothing circles above her racing heart as we breathe in and out together.

Just as her pulse starts to slow, a loud screeching sound bellows from the steel walls. I’m not gonna lie, the sound is unsettling as fuck. I know it’s just maintenance working on getting us out, but it scared the shit out of me at first. A bead of sweat drips down my temple as I remind myself to keep my cool. I have to for Roxanne.