Page 28 of Ten Hours

Chapter Eight

Finley

––––––––

Abel’s kiss is electric, surging heat through my half frozen limbs and warming me from the inside out. I don’t ever want to stop kissing him.

I’ve never met someone like Abel. Someone who makes me feel like the world revolves around me rather than the sun. Someone who makes me feel more than I am.

“We should get going.” He pulls back, his hooded gaze locked on mine. “It’s freezing out here.”

“I thought you said this wasn’t cold,” I remind him, once again taking his hand as he begins leading us back down the sidewalk.

“I take it back, it’s cold as hell.”

“Why do people say that?”

“Say what?” I feel his eyes on the side of my face but I keep my gaze forward.

“Cold as hell. Hell isn’t cold. In fact, last time I checked it’s an eternal pit of fire. So why do people always say cold as hell?”

“You know, I have no idea. I hadn’t really thought about it before.”

“I mean, I guess hell could be cold. How would we actually know?”

“That’s true, too.” He grins, amused by my rambling.

“Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?” I ask.

“Yes and no.”

“Explain.”

“I don’t know. I mean, isn’t that what we’re raised to believe?” He pauses. “Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I thought I did. Now I’m not really sure of anything.”

“This conversation really took a turn.” He laughs.

“I suppose it did,” I agree, not really sure why I brought it up in the first place. “So how much further? I’m pretty sure I can no longer feel my toes.” I look down at my feet.

“It’s right there.” He points across the street at the tall, brick building directly in front of us, pulling to a stop when we reach a cross walk. He looks both ways and then tugs my hand, not waiting for the walk sign before pulling me across the street.

“Um, you realize jay walking is a crime, right?”

“Sometimes you just gotta live a little.” He flashes me a quick smile before turning his attention forward.

“Where are we?”

“My apartment building,” he tells me, stopping at the front door to punch in a code before pushing his way inside, pulling me in behind him.

“Your apartment?” I choke out, a nervous knot forming in my throat.

Truth be told, there’s honestly no other place I’d rather be, but that certainly doesn’t mean the thought of being alone with Abel in his apartment doesn’t terrify me. Because it does.

“Relax, we’re not going to my actual apartment.” He pulls me down a short hallway to a set of elevators. “At least not yet,” he adds, throwing me a wink as he hits the up arrow on the control panel.

“Then why are we here?” I ask, ignoring the last part of his statement.

---