LOVE QUAKES: BOXED SET (BOOKS 1-4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the fact that I’m an innocent because he wants to be the first to have me or because he has no competition, or both?
     
    “Yeah, I have very little sexual experience, Tristan,” I admit with burning cheeks, “but I think kissing you is a great way to learn and to pass the time here, while we also get to know each other.”
     
    His face lights up like a flashbulb, “This is our first date then. My day just keeps getting hotter all the time, Joanna. I hope we’ll know each other so much better when we’re done here,” he admits with a boyish grin. Then his arms pull me into a warm embrace and we cling to each other. My arms snake around his waist again. Tristan seems to like that sort of touch.
     
    “So what are the lyrics to Love in an Elevator? I ask as we snuggle together in the corner.
     
    “I don’t remember all of them but what came into my mind was this,” he begins and sings the chorus.
     
Love in an elevator
     
Livin’ it up when I’m goin’ down
     
Love in an elevator
     
Lovin’ it up ‘til I hit the ground.
     
    His vocals sound pitch perfect, of course. “I hope we’re not going to fall to the earth in this thing,” I cry as tears spring into my eyes, “my life is just starting.”
     
    “We’ll be alright, Joanna. There’re brakes running along the sides of the chute that’ll keep us from falling too far,” he assures me and kisses my brow. “I’ll keep you safe, baby.” I cling to him and look into his eyes for help. He’s delighted that I’m hugging him for all I’m worth.
     
    In the next instant, we hear the sound of a cable tapping on the top of our elevator. A small door at the top of the unit vibrates. Then Tristan’s phone starts to signal.
     
    “Bailey. Then that tapping sound on the ceiling of our elevator is our lifeline?” he listens for a bit to the latest update while I remember my bladder. I have to go to the bathroom so bad. When Tristan clicks off, he tells me some disturbing news.
     
    “My crew thinks we’ll be jammed in this elevator for quite a while, Joanna. When the quake shook the building, it tilted us at a forty-five degree angle in the chute. Getting the lift straightened up involves renting a large hoisting device that’s in Los Angeles. Bringing it from there to here will take days. We don’t want to stay here for days,” he explains with the precision of a commanding CEO.
     
    “I won’t have a bladder left in a few hours,” I joke. “Is there some fix that’s reasonable?”
     
    “Yeah, Joanna, the emergency rescue team thinks the two of us will be able to get out of here by holding on to that cable we just heard scraping against the ceiling. They’ve already lowered the cable from the top floor to our chute. That’s the tapping sound. Since we’re no more than twenty feet from the top of the building, we shouldn’t have any trouble either shimmying up the line, or getting hoisted up by the crew while hanging on to the cable.” He seems to find the plan very reasonable and he’s enthusiastic about using the line.
     
    I’m feeling really queasy by now, “What? I don’t know about that.” Visions of my less than graceful moves in gym class haunt me. I’ve never been very physical or athletic not like Tristan apparently seems to be.
     
    He smiles to reassure me. “However, they want us to wait until the aftershocks settle down. If one hits while we’re being hoisted to safety, we could go plunging down and really hurt ourselves,” he explains with caution and then kisses my nose.
     
    “When will the aftershocks settle down?” I ask with a shaking voice. Since I’m not known for my athleticism or coordination, I have no desire to shimmy up a cable, although I won’t mind holding onto Tristan while they pull us up. Unlike Tristan, I feel zero enthusiasm about the prospect of leaving here by cable.
     
    “No one can say for sure but at least until the quakes start measuring about 3.5 or less. In the meantime,