3. Jess #4
“Do you make it a habit of catching damsels in distress?” I asked.
“I was merely in the right place at the right time,” he replied. “Not that I’m complaining. It’s not often a beautiful woman just falls into your arms.”
If it hadn’t actually happened, I would have rolled my eyes at the line. However, he could probably tell me anything with that voice of his and I would throw myself at him.
“Hmm. Lucky me.” I don’t know what happened to my own voice. If it wasn’t me doing the talking, I would have said I purred.
His face flushed as he let out a small chuckle. “Why do I feel like I’m the lucky one?”
I let out a small whimper of delight in spite of myself. “Oh, why can’t you be Tyrst’an instead of Marlin Sinbad?”
He let out a long laugh, genuinely amused. I wasn’t sure of why, the joke wasn’t that funny, but I laughed along with him. When he stopped, he gazed at me for a moment, his eyes examining me as if he just found something new. “My dear girl, Isla Coppola wishes she could be one ounce of your Fiona.”
I knew it was flattery, but it warmed my soul to hear it. I grinned like an idiot. The elevator door opened, and he carried me inside. “Which floor?”
“Four.”
He shifted me slightly, his hand running up my thigh for a moment, before managing to hit the button with his elbow.
I thought he might put me down, but no. He continued to hold me like I was nothing.
Feeling slightly exposed and embarrassed, I spoke up.
“You don’t have to carry me the entire time. ”
He did a little shrug with his shoulder as if just holding a woman in an elevator was an everyday occurrence. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, you are.” I didn’t mean to say that out loud and could feel my cheeks burning. I expected to be laughed at. Instead, he glanced at me for a second and smiled before focusing his attention on the elevator doors.
“I’ve seen a lot of Fiona’s today. You, however, are definitely the most beautiful one.”
I’m not sure how this man still carried me in his arms, because I’m pretty sure I had liquefied into a puddle. And that voice. Damn. That voice was too good.
The elevator dinged, and he stepped out onto my floor. “Where to?” he asked.
I should have left him at the elevator. I should have hobbled down the hallway on my own.
Though something in his eyes and smile drew me in. I wasn’t ready to leave his arms just yet. “I’m in 421,” I said quietly, feeling a flush of warmth go through me.
He paused for a moment before nodding. He carried me down the hallway until I was at my door, placing me gently on my feet.
My ankle wasn’t throbbing as badly, so I was able to stand lightly on it.
I unlocked my door, pressing it lightly until it cracked open.
I turned to the embodiment of Tyrst’an and smiled. “My hero.”
His grin widened. He had nice teeth. “Are you alright from here?”
I opened my mouth to say a simple “Yes” and “Thank you” but that’s not what I said. Instead, I leaned back against the wall, staring at his lips. I let my free hand run down my own forearm, feeling the goosebumps on my skin. When the words slipped out, I felt like a different person.
“Why don’t you come inside?” I heard myself saying. Shock flashed over his face. I didn’t blame him. I surprised myself. I never did this sort of thing.
I knew very well what could happen if I let him take me to my room. Until I said those words, I didn’t think I had it in me. However, the thought of letting him walk away was a regret I didn’t want to live with.
His act dropped completely. His posture relaxed, and he dropped his gaze to his feet for a moment.
For a second, I thought he was going to say ‘no.’ Instead, he took a small step closer to me and let his eyes meet mine.
His smile was nervous now, his cheeks were flushed with a nice shade of pink. “I don’t normally do this.”
His voice was quiet and sweet. It was his normal voice. Which wasn’t unpleasant, but…
I let my fingers run along my collarbone and shook my head. “Uh-uh. No. His voice, please,” I requested.
He chuckled and I heard that voice again. This time the smile was almost predatory. “I didn’t help you for this.”
Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed his tunic, pulling him close.
Me. The one who takes an hour to decide what to eat.
Who waited a week to order socks online and took a year to buy a used car, because I had to make sure I got it absolutely right.
I threw caution to the wind and pulled a man I just met in for a kiss.
His hand cupped my face as the other slid behind my neck.
His lips met mine. He started slow and soft.
That soon changed when I leaned into him.
As it became more passionate and heated, his hands moved down and then picked me up again.
This time he pulled me up against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my back pressed against the partially open door.
It pushed open easily and, just as quickly, snapped tight behind us.