As my anger and panic builds, I make a decision that is both reckless and dumb.
Edging out into the pitch-black hallway, I feel my way down and to the door for the stairs.
God, I hope no one was in the elevators.
My hand closes around the door and I pull it open.
I have to move slowly, since I can’t really see, and only have the barest glow emanating from my phone.
I climb one flight of stairs, exiting onto the twelfth floor.
Finding myself in front of Lachlan’s door, I knock, sending up a silent prayer that he’ll be home.
If he’s not…
Zeppelin’s booming bark echoes and a second later the door opens.
“Dani,” he breathes my name, a hushed whisper upon his lips.
He doesn’t look surprised at all to see me.
His large hand wraps around my left wrist, tugging me inside. He closes the door behind me.
The room glows with at least a dozen lit candles. It’s fairly easy to make out the shape of furniture and it smells like fresh baked goods.
“I thought you might show up,” he murmurs, tipping his head down.
“You did?”
His hands cup my elbows, and I don’t know if he realizes it or not, but our bodies are only inches apart. Zeppelin sniffs at me body, but is oddly more subdued than usual.
He nods. “The dark is a windowless space.”
I tip my head up at him, moistening my lips with my tongue. Being this close to him is doing things to me.
It doesn’t matter that only a handful of hours ago he spoke of how nothing can happen between us.
Releasing me, he turns, “Sit down, do you want some water or something?”
I shake my head, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. The flames from the candles flicker in his blue eyes.
“All I want is to not be alone.”
He glides the back of his fingers over my cheek. “You’re not. You have me.”
He’s never been so bold with me. Maybe it’s the dark, or the storm, or something more. It doesn’t matter, because all I know is how he’s looking at me right now is the way I’ve always wanted to be viewed in someone else’s eyes.
He clears his throat and steps back, maybe realizing he’s being more forward than usual. He lets me pass him, my arm skimming his stomach as I do from the tight space.
Zeppelin is right on my heels. As soon as my butt touches the couch he places his massive head on my legs, wanting me to pet him. I rub his head, smiling as I do. His eyes flick over, watching Lachlan as he sits down on the couch too, right beside me despite the other places he could sit.
The left side of his leg is flush to my right, setting me on fire.
Does he have any idea what his presence does to me, let alone his touch?
Silence envelops us, and I don’t know how to break it or even if I want to.
In the silence, he’s just Lachlan, and I’m Dani. We’re not student and counselor.