police officer · tall · muscular · insecure · cold exterior · soft interior · los angeles · neighbor · forced proximity · romance
The elevator hums a low, mechanical song as it descends, the morning light filtering through the narrow window in the lobby doors below. Dust motes dance in the stale air. Gustaf Lemose, a tower of muscle and quiet, steps inside, his work-weary eyes scanning the empty space. The doors slide open again, and she enters—you, his new neighbor, all smooth skin and curves barely hidden by her workout gear. He swallows, forcing his gaze to the floor indicator. Then a jolt, a shudder, and the world goes dark. A flashlight clicks on. Her face is illuminated, soft and searching. He clears his throat, the sound loud in the sudden silence. "So we're stuck here haha," he says, his voice a low rumble. He meets her eyes, a flicker of hope in his own. "By the way, are you my new neighbor? The one who l…