Page 59 of Hot in the City
“I thought we were done with work for today. But yeah, casual wear would work. I can imagine PJ style pants for working from home, you know, lounge pants. Cute t-shirts and hoodies.”
Megan stood at the bottom of the stairs and jiggled the door handle. It didn’t budge. She glanced over her shoulder at Cruz, whose frowny face was tenser than before. She jiggled the door handle again, but no luck.
Stepping back, she grabbed her staff card again and swiped the card reader by the door. Obviously, it was after business hours, but that should work. Nothing happened.
“Nope. not opening. What the–”
Cruz stood right behind her and wrapped her in his arms, or reached around her to get to the door. It was cosy. She’d rather he was actually embracing her, not simply trying to get out of the tight space. The door handle moved a little, but the door still didn’t open.
Now that she’d been in there a minute, the stairwell was becoming uncomfortable, as the concrete walls and floor created a heat well without air conditioning. It was a disgustingly hot day outside. Sweat trickled down Megan’s back, making her feel gross, worn out, and just plain over it.
Cruz leaned in, closer to her body. Whispering in her ear, making her shiver, he asked, “Hey, do you have a phone number for building security? They might need to come and let us out.”
She nodded. “Um, good idea.”
Megan found her phone and scrolled to find the security number. Sometimes she’d called them when there were building-related problems, like with that elevator that didn’t want to work. She pressed the call button on her phone and listened to the ring tone, ringing out.
“I think they must have gone home already. But someone will be on call.” She left a brief message, alerting them to the fact that they were stuck in the stairwell, and importantly, the fire door seemed to be broken.
Cruz backed off, and she immediately missed him, which was an odd thought. She watched him turn and take in their surroundings. The dank space was lit by fluorescent security lights that buzzed ominously.
He glanced behind them, back up the stairs. “I’m going back up to check the doors on each floor. Maybe we could get out of here and use the elevators on another level.” He nodded at her. “Why don’t you keep calling security?”
She nodded, even though she didn’t know if that would work. Security would get her message, but if they were offsite it could take a long time for them to get back into the central city. And the other floors probably weren’t an option. The elevators were kind of temperamental at the best of times.
Cruz took off before she could say any of that, and she stared after him, even after he jogged up a level and she could no longer see him. She heard the pounding of his footsteps echoing as she placed another couple of calls to security, who still didn’t answer. After a while, she heard him stop and bang on a door. It obviously wouldn’t open.
On a whim, she texted Jean again.
Hey, Cruz and I are stuck in office stairwell! It’s hot and gross. Downstairs door won’t open. It’s supposed to be a fire exit! If you don’t hear from me in an hour, can you call management? I called security already. Thx
Cruz was back a minute later. He was puffing from running all the way up and down the stairs, his hair was damp and falling over his forehead and he’d never looked hotter. Even with a grimace.
“No use. None of the doors will open.” He sat down on the bottom step, leaning his head in his hands.
Megan sat down next to him. There was no point worrying about her white dress getting dirty from the concrete step. She was already ruined, at least when it came to cute outfits. She wouldn’t mind Cruz ruining her in other ways.
She sighed, louder this time. “I’m so sorry about this. What a stupendously horrible first date I turned out to be.”
He looked across at her and grinned. “This wasn’t exactly my plan for our first date. But I can’t say I mind getting stuck with you.” He reached out and stroked a fingertip across her jawline.
Her heart beat stuttered. “Yeah? What were you planning for our first date?”
“Netflix and chill?” He cracked up laughing even as she elbowed him in the ribs.
She sent him a hot glance. “Is that what we should be doing at your apartment right now?”
“I was hoping for something like this...” He leaned closer, until he cupped the back of her head, and she noticed the length of his black velvety eyelashes, fluttering closed. Beautiful. He was a truly beautiful man.
Cruz’s lips met hers and the shock of it was enough to leave her gasping. The sweetness of it. The tastes of him, like spice and honey, like something Megan had been longing for but she never knew it. He licked into her mouth and she opened for him, making a sound like a kitten mewling. She tried to pull back, embarrassed, but he just bit her lower lip and groaned.
Well, if he wasn’t embarrassed, she wouldn’t be either. Shuffling closer to him, she found her hand on his shoulder, the muscles there shifting under her grip. She was holding tight, she didn’t want to let go. One of her hands drifted lower, down his back, and then his hand was on her hip, gripping her tight.
The heat of him was a shock – so was his size. She’d been aware of his height, but the strength of the muscles under her hands made her feel delicate, even more petite than she was. So, when he picked her up, actually lifted her by the hips to settle her in his lap, she giggled with the ridiculous feeling of flying.
Cruz whispered under her hair, right near her ear, “Is this all right?”
She nodded, whispering back, “Yes.”
