Page 9 of Cosplay & Consequences

I let out a small whimper of delight in spite of myself. “Oh, why can’t you be Tyrst’an instead of Marlin Sinbad?”

He let out a long laugh, genuinely amused. I wasn’t sure of why, the joke wasn’t that funny, but I laughed along with him. When he stopped, he gazed at me for a moment, his eyes examining me as if he just found something new. “My dear girl, Isla Coppola wishes she could be one ounce of your Fiona.”

I knew it was flattery, but it warmed my soul to hear it. I grinned like an idiot. The elevator door opened, and he carried me inside. “Which floor?”

“Four.”

He shifted me slightly, his hand running up my thigh for a moment, before managing to hit the button with his elbow. I thought he might put me down, but no. He continued to hold me like I was nothing. Feeling slightly exposed and embarrassed, I spoke up. “You don’t have to carry me the entire time.”

He did a little shrug with his shoulder as if just holding a woman in an elevator was an everyday occurrence. “I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you are.” I didn’t mean to say that out loud and could feel my cheeks burning. I expected to be laughed at. Instead, he glanced at me for a second and smiled before focusing his attention on the elevator doors.

“I’ve seen a lot of Fiona’s today. You, however, are definitely the most beautiful one.”

I’m not sure how this man still carried me in his arms, because I’m pretty sure I had liquefied into a puddle. And that voice. Damn. That voice was too good.

The elevator dinged, and he stepped out onto my floor. “Where to?” he asked.

I should have left him at the elevator. I should have hobbled down the hallway on my own.

Though something in his eyes and smile drew me in. I wasn’t ready to leave his arms just yet. “I’m in 421,” I said quietly, feeling a flush of warmth go through me.

He paused for a moment before nodding. He carried me down the hallway until I was at my door, placing me gently on my feet. My ankle wasn’t throbbing as badly, so I was able to stand lightly on it. I unlocked my door, pressing it lightly until it cracked open. I turned to the embodiment of Tyrst’an and smiled. “My hero.”

His grin widened. He had nice teeth. “Are you alright from here?”

I opened my mouth to say a simple “Yes” and “Thank you” but that’s not what I said. Instead, I leaned back against the wall, staring at his lips. I let my free hand run down my own forearm, feeling the goosebumps on my skin. When the words slipped out, I felt like a different person.

“Why don’t you come inside?” I heard myself saying. Shock flashed over his face. I didn’t blame him. I surprised myself. I never did this sort of thing.

I knew very well what could happen if I let him take me to my room. Until I said those words, I didn’t think I had it in me. However, the thought of letting him walk away was a regret I didn’t want to live with.

His act dropped completely. His posture relaxed, and he dropped his gaze to his feet for a moment. For a second, I thought he was going to say ‘no.’ Instead, he took a small step closer to me and let his eyes meet mine. His smile was nervous now, his cheeks were flushed with a nice shade of pink. “I don’t normally do this.”

His voice was quiet and sweet. It was his normal voice. Which wasn’t unpleasant, but…

I let my fingers run along my collarbone and shook my head. “Uh-uh. No. His voice, please,” I requested.

He chuckled and I heard that voice again. This time the smile was almost predatory. “I didn’t help you for this.”

Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed his tunic, pulling him close. Me. The one who takes an hour to decide what to eat. Who waited a week to order socks online and took a year to buy a used car, because I had to make sure I got it absolutely right. I threw caution to the wind and pulled a man I just met in for a kiss.

His hand cupped my face as the other slid behind my neck. His lips met mine. He started slow and soft. That soon changed when I leaned into him. As it became more passionate and heated, his hands moved down and then picked me up again. This time he pulled me up against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my back pressed against the partially open door. It pushed open easily and, just as quickly, snapped tight behind us.

Danny

Istood on the other side of the door, struggling with words. It had been a long time since I’d been in this kind of situation. I wasn’t exactly sure how to leave gracefully. I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave at all.

She didn’t seem to notice as she smiled that crooked grin of hers. Her costume was completely gone now. The wig had come off at some point in the evening. The long red hair that tumbled down her shoulders was a definite improvement. Everything had been replaced with a fuzzy white bathrobe which unfortunately hid the watercolor tattoo of the Glen Orrin crest that went down her right shoulder and arm. She stood leaning against the doorframe in bare feet, slipping a piece of paper into my hand.

“What’s this?” I asked, inspecting the note.

“Well, since you don’t have a phone with you, I had to go analog,” she chirped. “You know. In case you’re free later this week.”

My smile grew wider at the thought of that possibility. “I’d really like that.”

Her gaze took me in again, as she bit her lip in a way that made me catch my breath. “Then don’t be a stranger,” she replied.