17. Bloodsucking Monsters
Bloodsucking Monsters
Cerise
Chase your joy and don’t be ashamed of it.
I couldn’t get those words out of my head.
Ever since Liam had said it a couple of days ago, I longed for it.
To chase my joy. But now, I didn’t even know what that was anymore.
Did I find joy in my work? Yes, but it wasn’t enough.
Relationships? I’d never found true joy in those.
What about friendships? Absolutely. But Emberly and her wife were my only true friends.
I had no family besides my mother. Did I find joy in her? Never.
Wow, I really am pathetic, aren’t I?
“You’re in your head, sunshine,” Liam said as we pushed through the dense underbrush.
“Am I?”
“You are.” He reached out his hand, helping me over a tangle of vines.
“Just concerned we will be lost in the jungle forever and never find our way back.”
“Maybe that would be fun.”
“What?” I shook my head at him in amusement.
“Just imagine it.” He waved his hands in the air.
“The rigid Doctor Thornheart and the ludicrous Doctor Pendragon living in the jungle. We’ll make our home in a cave you will have meticulously cleaned and organized somehow.
I will entertain us both with daily adventures where we climb trees and bathe in hot springs and decorate the cave with our collection of feathers and flowers. ”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “You are utterly ridiculous.”
“I think you like it.” Liam glanced at me, a twinkle in his eye.
“You are also presumptuous.”
But he was right. I did like it. A lot.
“Hmm…Are you hungry, by the way?” he asked.
“Starving.”
“This is a good place to rest.” He gestured to the clearing we’d just entered.
I took a seat on the soft ground, pillowed by mosses and leaves. The boughs of the trees were high above, a group of small primates chattering to each other as they swung from the branches. A black snake slithered by, disappearing into the dense ferns, chasing an insect for its own meal.
“Well, shit. We’re out of food,” Liam said.
I whipped my head to him as he sat across from me, digging through his pack. “I thought we had enough for at least another day or two.”
“Apparently not.”
No food? What were we going to do? I rubbed my hands along my thighs as I tried not to panic. “I haven’t seen any fruit that’s safe to eat so far.”
“Great. Do you know how to hunt?”
I gasped. “You mean brutally kill and eat an animal? Of course I don’t know how to hunt. Do you?”
“No. But we need to do something…”
“Do you think we’re getting close to our camp at all?” I asked softly.
He tried to hide the worry on his face, but I saw right through it. “I have no idea to be honest. I fear we may have gotten turned around at some point.”
I put my head in my hands. “Oh no. We really are going to be lost in the jungle forever.”
“No we’re not. We’ll find our way out or someone will find us. I bet they have a search party combing the terrain everywhere.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Silence descended upon us, only interrupted by the sounds of the rainforest. I couldn’t stop thinking about us starving out here. How were we supposed to find sustenance? How much longer could we last?
“Do you hear that?” Liam asked suddenly.
My heart leaped in my chest. “Hear what? What’s wrong?”
“Water. There’s a river or stream nearby.”
“So?”
He gave me a grin. “Let’s go fishing.”
He stood, holding out his hand. I took it and let him pull me up.
“You know how to fish?” I asked, hopeful.
“Of course I don’t. But it can’t be that hard. I’ll figure it out.”
“Right…”
We pushed through the understory, climbing over dense brush and more fallen trees.
The sound of water grew louder and we emerged from the forest, stopping before a stream.
Crystal clear water flowed gently over colorful pebbles.
A small waterfall flowed off a rocky outcropping and moss covered the surrounding riverbanks, interspersed with dainty pink flowers.
“Oh! It’s beautiful!” I said, scanning the terrain.
“And look right there.” Liam pointed to the water at our feet.
I followed his finger, looking beneath the surface. Fish. Dozens of fish. Darting through the water, about a foot in length, their bright blue scales shimmered with the movement. My stomach grumbled with the promise of protein.
Liam set down his pack. “Collect some wood so we can build a fire and cook them. I’ll try to catch one.”
I put my hands on my hips, amused. “And how do you intend to do that?”
Liam ran a hand through his hair. “I have no clue. I suppose I’ll get in the water and just grab one.”
“Well, good luck with that endeavor.”
I turned around, searching the forest floor for dry wood. After gathering a few pieces and setting them down to look for more, I caught Liam out of the corner of my eye, taking off his clothing.
“What are you doing?” I asked, facing him as he tossed his shirt onto the shore.
“I don’t want to get my clothes wet.” He removed his boots, then trousers, and set them down next to his shirt.
He gave me a roguish grin, standing there in his briefs. Briefs that were tighter than I’d noticed before and didn’t hide the outline of what was tucked away. I couldn’t pull my eyes from him as I imagined how he might—
“Are you done looking?” he teased. “I do know how to use it, you know.”
I jumped, blushing and turning away to find more wood. “Don’t flatter yourself, professor. We’re in the jungle. We’re dirty and gross.”
“Are you saying if we weren’t dirty and gross…”
“No! That’s not what I’m saying.”
I heard him laugh quietly behind me.
But I was lying to myself. I was curious to know what this man was capable of behind closed doors.
After a while, I had gathered enough wood to start a small fire. I arranged the pieces exactly like I’d learned to allow enough airflow for the oxygen to feed the flames. It was perfect. I had to admit, I was excellent at arranging firewood. Now all I needed was a flame.
“Are you almost finished?” I asked. “I could use your magic to start this.”
Liam stood thigh deep in the water, crouched in a ready position. Every so often his hand darted below the surface, but it came up empty after each attempt.
“I’m not almost finished. These fish are too fast.”
“Told you.”
“You want to have a go?”
I pulled my knees into my chest, wrapping my arms around my legs, and laid my chin on top, watching. “No, thank you. This is quite the entertainment.”
He was facing me, but focused on the fish below the surface.
I couldn’t help but let my eyes roam over his carefully crafted arms, his delicious-looking pecs and six pack.
Again, how in the world did a professor have a six pack?
He wasn’t bulky, he was lean. And absolutely gorgeous with how his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to catch a fish.
“Hurry up. I’m starving.” I let out an exaggerated groan.
“Shhh…you’ll scare them off.” Liam’s arm shot out with a splash and he yelped, pulling his hand out with a wriggling fish. “I got one!”
I couldn’t help but clap my hands. “You did it! Well, bring it here and we shall cook it.”
He climbed out of the river and walked over. “I have to kill it now, don’t I?”
I grimaced. “I suppose that would be the humane thing to do. Kill it quickly, otherwise it’s going to suffer as it suffocates.”
“I’ll turn around so you don’t have to watch.”
He did as he said, kneeling on the ground. Picking up a rock he brought it down but I didn’t even pay attention, my eyes caught on something on his thighs. Several somethings.
“Umm….Liam?”
“Hmm?”
“You have something on your legs.”
He straightened. “What? What’s on my legs?”
“Leeches.”
“What! Oh, fuck no. Oh gods, get them off.” He jumped up and started shaking out his legs, almost like a dance.
I burst into laughter, unable to control myself.
“Cerise! It’s not funny! Get these bloodsucking monsters off of me!”
This only made me laugh harder, but I turned to the backpack and pulled out a blanket, laying it on the ground. “Lie down and hold still, ridiculous man.”
“Argh…this is the worst day of my life. Hurry and remove them.” He lay on the blanket, fidgeting and agitated.
“I doubt this is the worst day of your life,” I chided, leaning over to inspect them.
“How many are there?”
“Five on one leg and three on the other.”
“Fucking hells,” he muttered. “I’m going to get a disease and perish.”
I rolled my eyes. “No you won’t. They’re harmless. Stop being so dramatic.”
Liam tensed at my words. “Don’t call me dramatic…” he said quietly.
Oh? Well, that hit a nerve. Interesting.
“I’m sorry. Hold still and I’ll get them off.”
He groaned.
I used a fingernail, working my way under the mouth of the first leech, while I held Liam’s skin taut with my other hand. I flicked the leech into the water and started on the next. All the while, Liam moaned and cursed under his breath.
After a few minutes, I’d removed them all. “Check everywhere to see if there are any more. They could have gotten into your underclothes.”
“Are you serious?” He groaned again, remaining on his stomach. He pulled his briefs down and I was bombarded with the sight of a very tight, very lovely rear.
I cleared my throat. “I’m not checking your front. You must do that yourself.”
“Fine. Well, are there any back there?”
My eyes scanned his skin. There were three on one cheek. “Yes…”
“Where?” His voice was panicked.
“Three on your rear.”
“My rear? What are you, eighty?”
“Your behind.”
“My ass, you prude.”
I laughed. “Yes. That. All on one cheek.”
He lifted his head to look over his shoulder. “Oh fucking hells. Now they’re going to suck all the blood out and my ass will be uneven and I’ll never be the same again. Get these damned things off me.”
I pursed my lips, resisting the urge to laugh yet again. “You know that’s not how leeches operate, Professor. Hold still. I’ll hurry.”
Repeating the process I’d used on his legs, I tried to ignore the fact that I was touching his…ass…and focused on the clinical removal of the bloodsuckers. He cursed foul things under his breath the entire time.
“There. All gone,” I said after a couple of minutes. “Get up and check the rest of your body. But if there are any on your…you know…you’re on your own.”
“My cock?” he asked as he rose and tilted his head at me.
My face heated as he peered down to check himself.
“You have a filthy mouth.”
Seemingly satisfied he was leech free, he looked up and smirked. “It’s much filthier in the bedroom.”
“For goodness’ sake.” I shook my head. “Start the fire and let’s cook our meal.”
He chuckled at my embarrassment, donning his clothes again before picking up the fish and sitting next to the fire. With a snap of his fingers, a small flame burst to life in his hand and he angled it toward the firewood. It caught without issue and within minutes, our fire was devouring the wood.
“Do you know how to prepare a fish?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Do you?”
“Not something I ever learned. Just stab a stick through it and hold it over the fire. Then we can eat around the scales and bones.”
He shrugged. “Sounds like a plan.”
Retrieving a small knife from his bag, he sharpened a nearby stick, poked it through the fish and held it above the flame.
“Ouch,” he said. “It’s hurting my hand.”
“All right. Set it down. I have an idea.”
“What’s your idea?”
“Once the fire has burned down, we can wrap it in a leaf and cook it over the hot coals.”
His eyes lit up. “Brilliant.” Liam sat back on his hands, crossing his legs, and regarding me over the fire. “Thank you for the assistance with the leeches, by the way.”
I gave him a subtle smile. “It was quite the adventure. May I ask you something?”
“Sure, sunshine.”
“What was that reaction about me calling you dramatic?”
Amusement fell from his face, a lock of white hair falling over his eyes. I gave him a minute, waiting. He sighed. “Well, you told me about your difficult family. I suppose it’s only fair that I tell you about mine.”
“You don’t have to…”
He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s all right. Well, dramatic was a word that was often used when I was being…too much.”
“Too much?”
“My parents—my father especially—and brothers always told me I was too much. And as the youngest, I was often ganged up on a bit. They said I was too emotional. Too excitable. I’ve never been organized, never good at being on time. I’m kind of full of chaos if you hadn’t noticed.”
I watched him closely. “I suppose I have.”
“My father wanted me to work for his business. He’s obsessed with the ‘family legacy.’ My brothers are the same way.
But building homes sounded so incredibly boring.
I wanted adventure. I wanted to shape young minds and actually do something in the world.
Teaching is perfect for me. But they don’t see it that way. ”
“It seems our parents have a much different definition of success.”
“Indeed. I was a hyper child. I guess I’m still that way to some degree.
I get bored easily. Can’t sit still to save my life.
You should see me when I’m teaching. I’m all over the classroom.
My office is a disaster. I can’t ever find anything I need.
But my students love my classes. And I love their enthusiasm.
So yes, the word ‘dramatic’ is a bit of a sore spot for me. ”
My heart ached at the notion of Liam’s parents telling him he was too much. While I initially felt that way, I’d learned over the last few weeks that he was just himself. And there was nothing wrong with being a little disorganized or wild. I could use some of that in my life, I supposed.
“I know what it’s like to be called too much,” I said softly. He watched me intensely. “Not in the same way as you. But I’ve had people say the same thing about me. Except I was too strict, or too severe. Too uptight.”
He was quiet for a long time, the fire at last burned to coals. I wrapped the fish in a leaf as we sat there together. Breaking the silence, he said, “We are very different, you and I. And yet the same.”
I thought for a moment. “Yes. I suppose we are, aren’t we?”