Tender – 015
"Time to head back," Shuurei held the door open, ushering her guest through, but stopped when he turned to her, his hand just above hers on the wooden door.
"Ladies first," he explained after a moment, when she didn't automatically walk through.
"Oh. Right. Thank you," she said, and smacked the light switch on the wall soundly, trying to shake off the thrill of pins & needles that had stolen up her arm at his touch. The heat was acting up again, it was far too warm suddenly, she found. And it was important to save energy, to turn off unnecessary lights, to unplug appliances you aren't using, etc., etc…
While Ryuuki knew it was wrong, very wrong, to do so (in light of her potential status as his sister of all cosmically-wrong things!), he let his hand lower and cover hers to pull the door shut; then let it fall to her back to guide her, as the gentleman he was raised to be. (And all the while Shuurei cursed that damn malfunctioning furnace, again.)
At the bottom of the stairs, she cracked the door open to peer outside.
"The masses have calmed down, Miss," a smooth, low voice whispered from just beside her ear on the opposite side of the door, so close it startled her and made her jump.
Sensing her scream, quick as lightning the tall man swooped through the doorway, covering her mouth with his wide, calloused hand.
"Forgive me for kidnapping you, but we need a quick word."
Ryuuki swallowed a groan.
First he's (potentially) related to his love-interest, now this?
Worst. Date night. Ever.
TBC.