Page 22 of Hell House
Once inside, he sets me down, wrapping his massive hands around my frozen feet. He starts rubbing the length of my legs getting blood flow back into them.
“My god, it’s like touching an icicle.” He murmurs, working his hands up and down my legs.
“How do you feel about using my socks?” I scrunch up my nose, but don’t have much room to protest.
“I promise they don’t smell.” He sits next to me, ripping his shoes off, his socks coming right after.
“Here, put these on your feet.” He shoves his sock-less feet back into his shoes while I shrug on his warm socks.
After I have the socks on, I text Skye, telling her where I am. A read receipt quickly follows.
Skye: I’ll be right there.
“Skye’s on here way.” Pierce nods, gathering me into his arms. I tell myself it’s only for the warmth. I’m not a big hugger but after that experience, I’m glad to have someone holding me.
“The flames were just everywhere.” I feel Pierce go ridged around me before he rubs his hand up and down my arm.
“I’m glad you got out okay.”
“It was weird, like I had a guardian angel or something, waking me up in time.” I shake my head, remembering the face of the woman yelling my name before Skye and I fled the room.
“Do you believe in angels Pierce?”
“I think anything’s possible.” We fall into a comfortable silence, taking each other’s body heat as we wait for Skye to show up. I never in a million years would have thought Pierce Ledger would help me like he was.
“Thank you.” I say, feeling Pierce’s hand still against me.
“Yeah, well… couldn’t have you turning into an icicle. Then who would I annoy.”
“Ah, there he is. Douchebag Ledger, in all his glory.”
“Need I remind you that I just saved you from hypothermia?”
“Mmm, but it sounds like it was for purely selfish reasons.”
“I never claimed to have pure intentions Salem.”
He glances down at my lips, and I feel myself move into him. His eyes go wide, licking his lips as he moves in towards me. We’re a breath away from each other when Skye comes barreling in through the door.
“Oh my god, Salem. Are you okay? I’m freezing and was wearing more clothes than you.” She stops taking in Pierce and I on the floor.
“Oh good, you were able to warm up.” Her blue eyes twinkle with laughter. She knows just how much I loathe Pierce Ledger. She just saved me from making a huge mistake. What was I thinking about to kiss Pierce? God, I must have been delusional from loosing my body heat.
“I’ll see you later, Salem.” Pierce says letting go of my arm as he brings himself up to standing.
“Wait. You’re leaving?” He looks down at me, wrapped up in his hoodie. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the motion.
“I need to go find my brother.”
“Lukas?” Skye asks. “I saw him over by the dorm building with Emmet.”
He nods, then leaves- the doors wafting in a blast of cool air as he walks through them.
“Asshole.”
Skye examines me for a moment. “Are you good?”
I let out a breath. “I mean we’re alive, thankfully. But shit our stuff.” She looks at me her eyes filling with tears.
