Out of Time 01 - Out of Time

enough of being called a prostitute for one day,” she said with wan smile. “I guess we could get two rooms. Be most of our money, but if you’d rather—”
    “No,” Simon said. One room was the best idea and not just monetarily. He had no intention of letting her out of his sight while they were here. And if the few reactions she’d gotten from men so far were any indication, she was going to need some looking after. “One room will do, Miss West.”
    “Professor,” she said. “I think maybe you shouldn’t call me Miss West anymore. At least not in public. It’s okay to call me Elizabeth. I know it’s awkward, but...”
    “We don’t have any choice, do we?” he said too sharply. He rolled his shoulders to release some of the tension. It wasn’t her fault he couldn’t get a grip on himself. He was used to having a place for everything and everything in its place. This sudden turn into the unknown left him off-balance and he didn’t like the feeling one bit. Not to mention being here with her. He’d managed quite well to control himself around her before. But then, he’d been able to hold academia between them. He could step back and regain himself, rebuild the wall she unwittingly felled. But now, they were forced together and he wasn’t sure what to do. For the first time, he wasn’t sure of anything. And they’d only been there three hours.
    He turned his head away from her and kept his eyes on the opposite side of the street. Dilapidated tenements and brownstones nearly black at the base with soot told them they were in the right area. This area they could afford at least. Simon watched the people gathered on the stoops warily and gripped the handle of their suitcase that much tighter. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before he saw signs for rooms to rent.
    They settled on the Manchester Arms. It was an average sized residence hotel—three stories, no elevator, but the lobby was clean and the price was right. Seven dollars for the week, paid up front. Simon took the key from the desk clerk, and they started up the stairs.
    “He was nice. I was beginning to wonder if everyone here was just nasty,” Elizabeth said. “Gives me faith in humanity again.”
    “You’re easily persuaded,” he said, squinting to read the door numbers in the poorly lit hallway.
    “You’re such a cynic. I thought he was nice.”
    “A bit too nice, I think.”
    “Come on, newlyweds always get special treatment,” she said. “Ah. Here we are. Room Thirty-four.”
    Simon set the suitcase down and unlocked the door. He pushed it open and gestured for Elizabeth to go first.
    “Aren’t you going to carry the bride over the threshold?” she teased.
    She was impudent and absolutely charming. “Miss—”
    “Elizabeth. You know, you haven’t said it once.”
    Simon took a deep breath. “Elizabeth.”
    She blushed a little and grinned. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
    What could he say? Yes, it was. That saying it meant he’d crossed some invisible line he’d drawn for himself? That the mere thought of her name made his stomach drop with desire? That the way it fell across his lips felt like a prayer he wasn’t worthy of?
    “No,” he said. “It wasn’t.”
    “Good,” she said with a smile and took a step into the apartment. The room was dark, and she felt along the wall for a light switch. She found it quickly and turned it on.
    Simon picked up the case and followed behind. She stopped a few feet inside the door. He was about to ask what was wrong, when he saw it for himself.
    The bed. There was one bed. One tiny, little double bed, for them both to share.

Chapter Five
    E lizabeth could feel Simon’s presence behind her. When she’d pulled up short, he’d practically run into her and now they were standing so close, they were almost touching. Touching. The bed. Those two thoughts definitely needed to be separated. She tore herself away from staring at the small bed and walked over to the window.
    The room was musty and could use some fresh air. And so could she. “Is it me or is it hot in here?” she asked, and then yanked open the drapes.
    Simon cleared his throat and set the suitcase down. “Yes, it is rather warm.”
    She tried to jimmy the window open, but it wouldn’t budge. “It’s stuck.”
    “Let me,” Simon said from close behind her. Too close behind her.
    She turned around, and they were almost touching again. She smiled nervously and side-stepped out of his way. “I’ll