Page 23 of Get Undressed With Me

“Fine,” she said. “But you have to tell me if you find anything. Don’t keep me in the dark because you don’t want to worry me or scare me. He’s been sending me shit for a year now, I can handle whatever you find.”

“Fine by me. It’s better you’re informed and cautious than stupid and reckless.”

He bent down, scooping up the backpack she had dropped on the floor when they started arguing. He threw it over his own shoulder before gesturing toward her.

“Stay close.”

That was the last they spoke as they made slow progress back to Brittany’s hotel. The crowds of the convention were still present as everyone settled into a weekend of lines and exclusives and parties. At one point, the crowd outside the convention center was thick, pressing them in, and Gus felt a hand take his. Glancing over his shoulder, he met Brittany’s eyes.

“Don’t make it weird. I don’t want to lose you in all the people.”

He gave her hand an involuntary squeeze.

“Never.”

After that, he kept a solid grip on her hand, not wanting her to move too far from him. When they finally emerged, they were across the street walking past several shops and restaurants. The area wasn’t as packed with people as the convention center was, but still Gus kept her hand in his, the memory of the graphic note from the flowers flashing through his mind. There was no way he was letting her go.

When they finally reached her hotel, Gus reluctantly dropped her hand and followed her into the elevator, pushing back into the space when more people joined them. He grabbed Brittany by the hips and pulled her to stand in front of him as more and more people piled in. Her back was pressed into his chest, and Gus realized his mistake too late. He wanted Brittany close but being this close to her meant he could smell the floral scent she wore, light and breezy in the otherwise stuffy elevator. He could sense the heat from her skin, could see how soft it looked, and all those things combined were enough to make his cock stir to life.If one more person pushed into the elevator, she was going to be able to feel exactly how hard he was.

And since Gus had the absolute worst luck, one last person shoved onto the elevator, holding a large bag of whatever loot he had purchased that day. The elevator shuffled, and Brittany was firmly pressed against Gus, her back to his front, his hard-on right above her ass. She shifted a little before freezing, realizing what she was feeling. She shot a sly glance back at him, her eyes wider than normal, filled with shock and something else that Gus couldn’t identify.

“Really?” she asked, keeping her voice as quiet as possible in the elevator as it started to rise.

“Proximity, killer. Just stay still until some people get off.”

His hands were still on her hips so when she shifted slightly, he felt it everywhere, his body responding in such an eager way that Gus would be embarrassed if he wasn’t so turned on. He gripped her tighter, letting the loud conversation from the other people in the elevator cover his voice.

“What did I just say?”

She fucking smirked, and Gus almost lost his mind.

“The elevator is rocking, I can’t help it.”

He leaned closer to whisper in her ear.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

“Worried you can’t get me to finish?”

They stared at each other, both realizing at the same moment the line they were about to cross, the one Gus could’ve sworn was never a possibility before today. She was his brother’s ex and should be off limits. But she was sexy and warm, and her softness was pressed against him in a way that was making him forget exactly why this couldn’t happen.

The elevator dinged as it opened, and almost everyone stepped out, leaving Brittany and Gus alone with two other people who were quietly talking to each other. There was plentyof space to stand, but Brittany made no move to leave, so Gus left his hands on her hips, both of them silently agreeing to stay where they were. They stood pressed together for the next few floors, Gus soaking in her heat, the floral smell of her hair, the catch of her breath when the elevator made an abrupt stop on their floor, all while his brain screamed at him, trying to understand what the fuck he was doing.

And then the elevator opened on their floor. With a small squeeze, he let her go, leading her off the elevator and down the hallway toward her room, keeping an eye out for anyone that might be lurking in the hall.

Without a word, Brittany stepped forward to unlock her door, holding the handle open as she turned back to look at him, the air between them still charged since the elevator.

“Thank you. For today.”

Gus nodded. “Stay inside. Call or text if you need anything.”

She nodded and slipped through the door. A cacophony of hellos came through, and Gus remembered suddenly she had a number of roommates in the hotel room with her, one of them the asshole that had put his hands on her earlier, and that bothered him. A lot.

Brittany gave him a small smile, then shut the door, leaving Gus alone in the hall wondering why he was suddenly torn in leaving her there.

Shaking off the moment, Gus headed to the florist shop that delivered the flowers, only to learn from the owners that they take online orders and can’t share any personal information about customers with him. He explained in simple terms the situation, and they promised to notify him if it happened again.

Left with no other lead to follow, Gus headed out, only to hear his phone chime with a text.

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