CHAPTER 5 #2
DeShaun stepped into the elevator, tapped his floor number and turned to stand solemnly facing forward.
I knew he could see me.
He couldn't miss me.
I was trying to rush to him without shedding any of the demureness my expensive dress suggested.
He made no effort to hold it.
I watched in horror as the doors started to slide shut on him.
He gave away no expression.
I ignored the inquiry about my meal from the concierge.
DeShaun's eyes narrowed.
My own were probably one of desperation and sorrow.
He slipped from my view. Almost.
I drove my fingernails first between the doors, then felt them squash against my fingertips. I couldn't control the smallest of screams.
The doors surrendered, sliding open to either side.
DeShaun's gaze was fixed over my head, looking somewhere into the distance.
I gulped silently, then stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the third floor.
He sighed.
I turned my back to him, hoping something in the sight of my ass in this figure-hugging green dress would ignite the passionate man inside him.
His silence gave nothing away.
I watched the doors slide shut.
The ascent began in deeper, tension-filled silence.
The digital floor display changed quickly from G to 1.
Was I really going to say nothing?
Was he?
1 to 2.
Why'd I made such an effort to follow him if I wasn't going to say something?
2 to-
The elevator jolted to a sudden stop.
I checked the display. It still read 2. The doors weren't opening.
DeShaun stepped quickly in front of me. He pressed the button for the 4th floor. Nothing. He pressed again several times. Still nothing.
I moved aside as he tried to pry the doors open with his big fingers. My eyes were intoxicated by them, the darkness of the skin on one side and the lightness on the other, as I fantasised about how they'd feel jammed inside my-
“We're fucking stuck,” he said.
I sensed the sheer anger in his voice, and knew it was meant as much for me as the situation. So I said nothing.
He found the alarm button and drove his fist into it, forcing a bell to ring out instantaneously.
I felt my little clitty tingle at the sight of his might.
He began to rotate his shoulders. He cocked his head to first to one side, stretching his neck, then the other.
I heard two distinct cracks of bone.
He breathed deeply out.
“I'm sure they won't be long,” I said.
He whipped his head to look at me.
“The help, DeShaun... You called for help.”
He grunted.
I tapped my toes.
He looked down at them.
I stopped.
He hit the alarm button again, this time more frantically.
I folded my arms.
“They should've called us,” he said.
“The alarm's loud, DeShaun, I'm sure they know-”
“Ms Liu, I really don't need this from you right now.”
I caught his arm in my hand, giving his incredible muscles a gentle squeeze. “DeShaun, I told you before to call me Sasha.”
He ignored me.
I watched sweat roll down the side of his face. “DeShaun, are you okay?”
He said nothing.
“I'm not going to bite, I promise you.”
He pulled his arm away. “I'm claustrophobic,” he snapped.
“I see,” I said, and stepped away from him, trying to give him more room. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No!”
I fixed the strap of my clutch bag on my bare shoulder.
“I'm sorry... Sasha... I'm not good with small spaces like this... Not for this length of time.”
It hadn't been very long. Not at all. But I knew he didn't need to hear that.
“Why aren't they doing anything?”
“I don't know, DeShaun, I'm sorry.”
“What have you got to be sorry for?”
“Hey, DeShaun,” I said softly. “Look at me. Please.”
He looked at me.
“I'm sorry for everything.”
He studied me for several seconds, then conceded a nod.
I was waiting for him to say Not as sorry as I am when the elevator jolted into life again.
We ascended for only a couple of seconds until it stopped, the doors slid open and DeShaun rushed through the door and onto my floor.
Hadn't I just witnessed him repeatedly try for the next floor up?
He took several deep breaths.
I stepped up behind him, then rubbed his back. “You're okay,” I said. “I promise you.”
He nodded.
“I mean it, you're okay.”
He armed sweat from his brow.
It felt right to comfort him, especially with my hand on his shirt. Not seductive. Sensual perhaps. But it felt natural to soothe his troubles.
He turned, letting my hand fall away. “I wish you hadn't seen me like that.”
“Nonsense, DeShaun-”
“Nobody sees me like that, Sasha.”
I tried not to smile. “Nobody sees me the way you do.” Not the way he had.
“Sasha, don't-”
“I don't think you should rush back into that lift, DeShaun.”
He took one glance at it.
“You're on the next floor up?”
He surrendered a nod.
“My room's just here,” I said, and gestured to 301 in front of him. “Come in, please. I'll make you a coffee, or you can have a water, or whatever you want.”
“Sasha...”
“Please, I owe you an explanation.”
He said nothing.
“DeShaun, you deserve an explanation. I want to give you that. You can still hate me afterwards, if you want-”
“I could never hate you, Sasha.”
I pulled my keycard from my purse. “No pressure, but there's a lot you need to hear. And I'm willing to tell you everything, if you want. No lies. No bullshit. The total truth.”
He looked back to the elevator.
“You're reluctant, I get it. I'm not forcing you to come in. I'm offering.”
“Sasha...”
“Please, you're very welcome.”
DeShaun exhaled. “Okay... But it's just to talk.”
“Of course,” I said, then unlocked the door and pushed it gently open. “After you, DeShaun.”
He reluctantly stepped into my hotel room.