Chapter Thirty-Five
Hot.
Ruby
Divine intervention .
What else would explain the box of death’s timely slip into unconsciousness?
Nothing, that’s what.
“You know what elevators stop for, right?” I ask, practically bouncing in my work heels. I’ve been trying all week to figure out a way to get this bonehead to make a move. I even resorted to an attempt at weaponizing my shoulder freckles – not that he even noticed, the big dummy. I take my coat off, presenting cutely spotted skin, and he what? Moves away! Ridiculous.
But now. Now . The elevator! Has! Stopped!
“To drive two people together,” Will answers by rote. “Or to fall to their doom.”
I point at him. “Exactly!” Giddy elation floats through my chest. “And we aren’t falling!”
The elevator shifts as Will slams a button on the panel in front of me, then starts to pace. “What is going on,” he mumbles.
“Will!” I snap, smile falling as my brows pull together. “Pay attention!” Seriously. I know he’s smart. I know it. And yet, so, so dumb.
He stops pacing. “Pay attention to what?” he asks. “Nothing is happening.” He smacks at the control panel again. “Hello!” he calls. “Can anybody hear us?”
Oh, for the love of-
I reach forward with my free hand until it lands on his arm. It slides up, up, up to his face. I pull him down as I rise onto my tippy toes, bringing our faces together.
“The elevator is stopped , Candy,” I snap. “Pay attention.”
And then I kiss him.
**
Will
She’s kissing me.
Kissing me .
Ruby Camilla Vann, love of my life, is kissing me in the elevator at our place of employment. You know, the place where we work. And could definitely get fired for kissing.
I kiss her back.
**
Ruby
Bless the rules of elevator dynamics. Bless them .
He’s kissing me back. Finally! Kissing! Me!
I’m never complaining about this elevator ever again. As soon as we get to our offices, I’m emailing Mr. Warrick to call in my favor from Teresa’s ableism nonsense. I’d like my wedding to happen in this elevator. He can even officiate if he wants to. His cute new assistant can come. Everyone can come.
Except for Brian.
**
Will
“Stop thinking when I’m kissing you,” I complain, pulling back from Ruby’s wonderful, beautiful, perfect mouth. “What would you even need to be thinking about anyway?” I ask, dragging my lips to her jaw.
“I was thinking about Brian,” she gasps.
I scowl against her skin. “ Brian? ”
I have never been so offended.
“He’s not invited.” Her hands find their way into my hair and tug in an attempt to bring me back up to her lips.
“No one’s invited.” I say, moving down her neck instead. “We’re kissing.”
“To the wedding,” she snaps. “Come back up here.”
I snort. “Brian’s invited to the wedding. He is, however, uninvited to this conversation.”
“He’s no-” she cuts off with a yelp when I wrap my arms around her, lifting her in the air to get her closer.
I nuzzle her neck, sliding my lips against her skin.
**
Ruby
Okay, no talking about Brian when we’re kissing then. Got it.
Focus on Will when we’re kissing.
I can definitely do that.
**
Will
Freckles.
A million of them beneath my lips, grazing my tongue.
Cherries in my nose.
Ruby, so sweet, so tart, panting in my ear.
“Will,” she whispers, a plea for less. A plea for more.
“I love you, Ruby,” I murmur into the constellations on her skin. “I love you so much.”
I nip, reveling in her gasp.
“I love you, too,” she groans, breaking me apart and piecing me back together with those four little words. “Please, stop teasing. Kiss me.”
“I am kissing you,” I taunt, running my smile up her neck. “So much kissing.” I peck her jaw. Her cheek. The corner of her mouth.
She loves me, too.
I can kiss her anywhere I want.
She loves me, too.
Her head twists, and I retreat, giving attention to the freckles spattered across her collarbones. So sweet, these ones. It’s enough to drive a man crazy.
“Say it again,” I order.
“Will,” she groans.
I hum a chastisement, kissing the dip at the base of her neck. “Not that,” I mumble. “Though it was so very lovely.”
She shivers, and I wrap my arms tighter around her, supporting her as her legs give out.
“I love you,” she whispers, then whines. “Please, Will.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely…” The elevator hums to life as I lift my head, and I get one thoroughly intoxicating glance of her before I close my eyes and cover her lips with mine, giving her what she wants – what we both want.
Bliss.