Page 23 of Heart in Waiting
He glanced down at the device, and sure enough, it had more cracks in it than an abandoned building scheduled for demolition. He patted his jacket and cursed. “I forgot my phone in the car.”
“Of course you did.”
Carter opened the door for the elevator phone and found the inside empty. The remnants of the shredded cord were all that remained. Any other time he might chalk it up to bad luck, but the entire thing didn’t seem right. What were the chances he’d get stuck in an elevator with no way to contact anyone? Even if someone had planned to trap him there, they couldn’t count on him forgetting his cell phone. He was being paranoid and seeing plots where there were none. Coincidences happened all the time.
“We might as well get comfortable. I think we’ll be here a while.”
Olivia didn’t seem to like that suggestion by the way she glared at him. That woman had more disgruntled face expressions than Oscar the Grouch. TheSesame Streetcharacter always looked pissed off. Olivia, on the other hand, took that to a murderous level. Maybe he should try to charm her into a better mood. He might come to regret it later, but he didn’t know how long they’d be stuck in the elevator. He’d prefer not to argue with her the entire time.
“How do you propose we manage to find anything remotely comfortable in this small space?” She snapped her fingers. “I know! I’ll slide down the wall and sit on the floor. This skirt is perfect for that. It won’t rip at all if I attempt it.”
He glanced down at the skirt and had to agree with her assessment. It was tight, and she probably would destroy it if she tried to sit on the floor. He tilted his head to the side, and his next words were out of his mouth before he thought better of it. “You could take it off.”
Her mouth fell open, and she was blissfully silent for several moments. It was then that he thoughtfuck itand pulled her into his arms. His lips were on hers before she had a chance to respond. Immediately, she wrapped her arms around his neck and they lost themselves in each other. This was what he had been avoiding for so long? Heat filled him and went straight to his dick.
Olivia raked her nails through his hair, making him groan. She was a vixen and would be wild in bed—if they had a bed to use. Hell, those were overrated anyway. He could rip off her skirt and fuck her against the wall.
Bad idea...Elevators had cameras. They couldn’t do more than kiss each other into madness, but oh what a kiss it turned out to be. Nothing but fire, fury, and passion consumed them. If he didn’t stop soon, they’d take things farther than they should. He didn’t want to, but he pulled back. The elevator echoed with their heavy breathing.
“What was that?” Olivia asked.
“You looked like you could use a good distraction,” he replied cockily. “You’re welcome.”
“For a minute there, I was starting to think you were all right,” she said, and pushed him back. “Then you had to go and ruin it.”
“My kiss made you think I’m all right?” He grinned. “I can do better if you want.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I admit, I wasn’t trying to make you fall in love with me.”
“You’re a dick,” she said.
“No,” he replied. “But I do have one.”
He should stop while he was ahead. Carter wanted to pull her back into his arms and kiss her until he forgot where he started and she began. He almost needed to do it, and if he baited her enough, she might give him what he craved. Another kiss might prove too much though. Kisses as hot as the one they’d just shared led to one thing—sex—and he refused to commit a felony by giving into his baser needs.
“What?” Olivia batted her eyelashes. “You do? Oh my, I never would have guessed.” She sashayed slowly toward him and then trailed her fingers over his already aching cock. “Is this it?”
“Don’t.” His voice was guttural.
“Don’t what?” She gave him a once-over. “Appreciate this fine appendage?” Olivia cupped her hand over him and squeezed lightly.
She was killing him slowly. He deserved every bit of it too. Carter had walked into this situation with his eyes wide open. There was a reason he’d tried to keep his distance from her, and he failed miserably. Something he couldn’t make himself regret. It was inevitable they’d come to this point, and now there would be no going back. He was about to lean in and kiss her again when the elevator moved up. The doors slid open and a group of people stared at them.
Carter cleared his throat. “Well, I guess that’s our cue to exit. I’ll see you later tonight.” He stepped off the elevator and didn’t look back. If he had, he might have yanked her with him to find a dark closet they could get naked in. He had to rein in his lust—for now. Later though, he would have her all to himself, and maybe it was time to explore whatever brewed between them. He was tired of fighting himself, and her. Some things were inevitable, and apparently Olivia and him fit that description.
