Page 71 of Hate You Up Close

I’m quickly distracted from my thoughts by Roxanne throwing herself further onto my body and wrapping her arms around my neck. Her legs lock around my waist, clinging to me like a koala. I clench my leg muscles, trying to focus on any body part other than my dick. Roxanne’s ass is pressed firmly against my groin, making it impossible for the fucker to stay calm.

“Elliot,” she panics, gasping for air. “What is that? What the hell is going on?”

Her eyes frantically dart around the small space before she continues.

“Oh my God. The elevator is about to collapse, isn't it? This is it. This is how we’re going to die.”

I’m trying my best not to laugh at her dramatics, but she’s so fucking cute. When she buries her head in my neck, I finally allow my lips to tilt up in a small smile. One that she can’t see.

“It’s just maintenance,” I assure her, rubbing circles into her back with my palm. “They’re working on getting us out of here.”

We just sit there, holding onto each other tightly for a few minutes in complete silence. Roxanne’s body starts to relax as I slowly massage her arms, back, hips…Anywhere that it’s appropriate to touch as I try to continue calming her down.

I’ve never been a comforting person. Physical touch has never been my love language, but God, I love the feeling of her clinging to me like I’m her lifeline. I love knowing that I’m the reason she’s breathing steadily, even in a situation that terrifies her. She feels safe with me.

Selfishly, I pray to the elevator gods that they’ll keep us locked in here a bit longer, even if it’s just for another minute. I’ll take every second I can get.

Just when I think Roxanne has relaxed a little, I feel wetness pooling against the skin of my neck.

Without hesitation, I cup her jaw between my palms before sliding my fingers into her hair. I gently pull her head back so she’s looking right at me.

My heart fucking breaks in two.

Her rosy cheeks are stained with a mixture of dry and wet tears. Her lips are damp from crying, and her glossy eyes shine like a sea of emeralds.

She’s so beautiful that it physically pains me. She’s like a painting that you fear walking away from because you know you won’t remember every impeccable detail when you leave. So you stare at it for hours until you think you’ve burned it into your memory.

I want more than anything to take her pain away. In this moment, I don’t care if we make sense. I don’t care if we’re wrong or right. To hell with my job or anything else but her. Seeing her like this is breaking my fucking heart, and I’ll be damned if I don’t do something about it.

A fresh tear leaks from the corner of her eye, and my heart thumps against my chest as I lower my head and press my lips to her cheek. My tongue slowly peeks out to lick the tear away.

The salty taste of her tears mixed with her skin has every nerve in my body coming alive.

Her breath hitches when I glide my lips across her cheek, peppering light kisses along her skin until I reach her jaw. Now that I’ve started, I feel like I can’t stop. I want to kiss every inch of her sweet skin.

With my hands still tangled in her hair and her body pressed against mine, I faintly feel her heartbeat slow to a steady rhythm.

“Elliot,” she rasps, tilting her head toward the ceiling and blissfully closing her eyes. “What…What are you doing?”

Her words come out in breathy little pants. It’s so damn sexy.

“Taking your mind somewhere else,” I mutter between kisses before lowering my lips to her exposed neck.

Her pulse flutters beneath my lips, lust replacing fear as her heart picks up speed again.

“It seems like it’s working,” I say in a husky tone. Feeling bold, I gently suck on the soft spot of her neck, pulling a whimper from her. “Do you want me to stop?”

I already know her answer. She’s fucking loving this.

Without missing a beat, she shakes her head.

“Give me your words,” I command. “Do you want me to stop, Roxanne?”

I trail wet kisses down her neck, stopping just above her collarbone. My dick is so hard I can feel it nudging against the open spot between her thighs.

God, she tastes so damn sweet. I can’t keep my mouth off her skin. Every time I pull away for air, I immediately go back for more. I’m starved for her. I want to fucking devour her.

“No,” she whispers. “Please don’t stop.” She shakes her head at the same time I feel her fingers thread through my hair.