"On the condition you're absolutely sure you want this," he said. "Don't…be caught up in the moment right now. In the feels."
I liked him all the more for that. Most of the guys I knew wouldn't care if I got caught up. If I had regrets, they would be all mine, not their problem. Okay, I made some bad choices in the past, but this felt like the right one.
"I'm very sure." I nodded. "I want to spend more time with you."
He smiled softly, eyes warm. "I want to spend more time with you too. Lead on, loveliness."
My breath caught in my throat at the endearment. "This way, good sir."
OMGOMGOMGOMG. That was all that went through my mind as we crossed the road and approached the building. I willed my hand not to break out in a flood of sweat. I silently begged my legs not to turn to mush halfway across the road.
"Nice place," Hawk said as we stepped in through the front entrance.
All of a sudden the place looked shabby and tired. The carpet was worn thin from years of passing feet. The walls were the same colour they were painted in approximately 1985. The light fixtures matched the walls. Everything was neat and clean, but dated like old wallpaper and those singing trouts people used to hang on their walls. Do they still make those?
"Uhm it's a little…well-loved," I said. I was embarrassed to have brought him here. I pushed the button for the elevator. "My apartment is a bit more up to date."
He looked somewhat anxious as the elevator doors closed behind us, but he turned to me and cupped my cheek with his hand.
"I'm here for you, not what your building looks like. I've been in much worse places than this. Hell, I'velivedin much worse.My first year out of college, before I signed with the Humpbacks, I slept on a friend's couch. Even when the money started coming, I was scared to spend it, in case it stopped coming. I gave more to my Dad than I spent on myself." He sighed. "I'm just a regular guy, really."
"I know," I said. My face was on fire from his touch, soft and delicate, like he cradled something special and not just me. "I'm not used to seeing things through someone else's eyes. It's…" I shrugged.
"Confronting?" he suggested. "Wait until you see my place. You'll laugh at my decorating ideas."
"You don't have a singing trout on the wall, do you?" I asked.
He looked surprised, but laughed. "No, should I?"
"Absolutely not," I said. My mind went a bit wild at the idea of going to his place. Not because it was a freaking mansion, although no doubt it was. The fact he seemed to be thinking beyond tonight, beyond just once. Beyond the bet…
The elevator door slid open with a grinding of gears.
"Oh good, I was worried it might get stuck," I said. "It does that sometimes."
"I kinda hoped it would," he said with a cheeky smile. His hand went from my cheek, down my arm, to my hip. He left behind a blaze of fire. "But mostly not. I'm not a fan of elevators."
I shivered.
"My apartment is this way." I nodded down the hall.
"Okay."
We stepped out of the elevator and let the doors whoosh shut behind us.
Moving swift and smooth, like he did on the field, Hawk grabbed me around the waist, drew me to him and pressed me against the closed elevator doors. I had a second to react, if I wanted to pull away, as his burning eyes bored into me. Icouldn’t do more than breathe; he had me transfixed, pinned emotionally and physically. He pressed his mouth to mine in a firm, scorching kiss that could have set the whole building on fire. Flames danced on every inch of my skin. I might combust here and now.
I ran one hand through his soft hair, the other pressed against the wall.
Except it wasn’t the wall.
My fingers hit the elevator call button.
One moment I leaned against the closed elevator doors, the next I was falling. I let out a squeal and landed on my ass, feet hanging out of the carriage, Hawk's body on top of mine, heavy and pressing, but also somehow comfortable. Well, comfortable if we weren’t in an elevator by accident.
When I got past my surprise, I let out a peal of laughter. His followed mine a moment later.
"Oops." He looked down at me and grinned. He gave me another, long kiss, then got up and offered me his hand to get up.
