31. The Escape
The Escape
Liam
Back at my table, I sipped my beer as my eyes followed a flushed Cerise reclaim her seat.
I’d had to hide in the hallway, urgently willing away my erection after what we had done.
But now it threatened to reappear at the sight of her.
Her subtly swollen lips, her pinkened chest, and the fact that her panties sat in my pocket.
Luckily, quite a few people had risen to visit with other tables as they waited for Cerise’s mother’s speech, so no one seemed to notice the two of us had disappeared.
I almost groaned out loud replaying how Cerise’s entire body shook, and I had to discreetly adjust my cock under the table. Had I planned on cornering her and getting her off when I went after her?
Not at all.
I was worried, especially with how abruptly she had left her table. But once we were alone in that room, I couldn’t help myself and it seemed neither could she.
I would never be able to get enough of that woman. Her body, mind and soul.
Smoothing her hair, Cerise glanced my way and I gave her a wink. Her face turned bright red and she shifted in her seat.
Next to fucking Ambrose.
I’d always hated that bastard. He had the world’s largest ego and spoke with condescension to nearly everyone.
But I hated him even more at this moment because I could tell how uncomfortable he was making Cerise.
And the fact that he apparently put his fucking hands on her.
I wanted to lunge across the ballroom and break his nose.
I would break my hand a dozen times over just to make him feel even an ounce of pain.
“Where did you disappear to?” Coen asked, breaking my trance.
“The bathroom,” I lied.
He looked at me pointedly. “You have a smug look on your face. What did you do?”
“Nothing bad. I just helped Cerise relax a little.”
“Liam. At a work event?”
“Like you’re one to talk. I saw you eyeing that woman over there.”
I gestured a few tables away. It was the same woman Cerise had been talking to earlier when I first saw her. She wasn’t someone I recognized, but that didn’t mean much, seeing as I didn’t usually attend these things.
He snorted.
She was quite pretty, though. Her platinum blonde hair brushed her shoulders, tight curls bouncing when she spoke animatedly with her hands. She smiled often and appeared to be incredibly talkative and friendly.
Not Coen’s type at all. At least, not what I imagined he would like. Come to think of it, he rarely dated. I didn’t even know if he had a type.
He was quiet, pensive. That’s why we made such a great pair as friends. He was the calm to my chaos. Painfully introverted, he hated social events like this more than I did. But while I hated them because they felt fake, he hated them because there were just too many people.
So a bubbly, talkative blonde? Yeah, not his type.
But he couldn’t pull his hazel eyed gaze away from her.
The murmurs of the crowd died down as the elderly man retook the stage and raised his hands.
“If I may have your attention. It is now time for our keynote speaker and guest of honor, Doctor Anya Thornheart…”
The man went on and on about her accomplishments but I tuned him out, much too busy watching Cerise’s reactions to care.
I tuned her mother’s speech out too. It was likely going to be about her famous discovery and I didn’t want to subject myself to that unbearable woman drone on. We all knew about her successes, this was just a way for her to boast about them. Again.
Cerise watched her mother with hardly any emotion, nodding and clapping at the appropriate times while pasting on a small smile. But I knew it was fake. I could see the pain in her eyes.
At one point, Ambrose leaned in and whispered something in Cerise’s ear and she tensed, not responding as she continued to watch her mother.
But whatever he’d said affected her. Her hand clenched her glass of water so tightly, her knuckles turned white as she took a sip.
I looked at her plate and saw that most of her food appeared untouched.
Was she too stressed to eat or had I stolen too much of her time during dinner with our rendezvous?
Not to worry, though. I had a plan. As soon as Coen received his recognition, and Emberly and the rest of the team accepted their awards, Cerise and I were leaving.
Though she didn’t know it yet.
The awards ceremony went without a hitch, but I could tell it pained Cerise not to be up on that stage with the rest of our group.
Though Emberly was credited with the discovery of the lizard, Sophie, Aaric and Dr. Rosenshield were all recognized as well due to their presence when the discovery was made.
With the speeches and awards finished, people rose from their chairs to mingle. Music began to play as a few guests took their place on the dance floor in the center of the space.
I stood, scanning the room for Cerise. She was still seated, seemingly in a heated discussion with Ambrose.
Enough of that.
I adjusted my glasses and made my way to her table. I stopped behind her and placed a hand on the back of her chair, my thumb stroking her back softly beneath her hair. Hidden, so no one could see.
“Sorry to interrupt what I am sure is a riveting conversation, especially considering who you are speaking with, but would you like to dance with me, Doctor Thornheart?”
Before she had a chance to reply, Ambrose cut her off.
“Excuse me. Can’t you see we’re busy? If Cerise was going to dance with anyone, it would be me.”
“Oh?” I spoke with mock surprise. “Didn’t she break up with you or was I misinformed?”
Ambrose sputtered, trying to come up with a reply.
“Besides, Ambrose,” I said, purposely using his first name to piss him off, “It’s just a dance. It’s not like I intend to corner her in a storage room and have my way with her.”
Cerise choked on the water she was drinking.
“Are you all right, Doctor Thornheart?” I asked, patting her back. “You should really be careful. You know how dangerous sipping water can be.”
She nodded vigorously, coughing. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice raspy.
Ambrose gawked at both of us, still speechless.
Cerise turned to him. “This conversation was over anyway. I’d like to go dance with Doctor Pendragon.”
He stayed silent as Cerise rose and followed me to the dance floor. Taking her hand in mine, I placed my other carefully on her waist and began to lead us. I really wanted to yank her flush against me, but I didn’t want to do anything to worsen her stress.
“Liam,” she said harshly. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.” I feigned innocence. “I was just reassuring him I did not plan on doing that.”
She blew out a frustrated breath but smiled despite herself. “I must admit, the look on his face was one I’ll never forget.”
“Nor will I.” I grinned back.
“I never got a chance to tell you that you look incredible tonight,” Cerise said, her violet eyes warm.
“Why thank you, sunshine. And I know I’ve told you several times, but you’re beautiful. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you all evening.”
She squeezed my shoulder.
I scanned the ballroom as we continued, my eyes catching on Coen in the corner with the blonde woman. She was speaking animatedly and he couldn’t pull his eyes away.
“Who is that woman?” I asked. “I saw you speaking with her earlier.”
“Doctor Fiona Thatcher.”
“Where does she work?”
“She’s a botanist. She just left her last position. Said she’s been taking some time off to attend to personal family matters. Why do you ask?”
I jerked my head in her direction. “Seems like my best friend can’t stay away from her.”
“Your best friend is Coen Langley?” Cerise looked appalled.
“Yes, he is. I guess I never told you that. Why are you so surprised?”
She lowered her voice. “Everyone says he’s…”
“An asshole? He is.”
She winced. “And he makes his students cry.”
I spun us, gripping her hand. “Oh, he does. But he has many layers. He’s not all bad.”
“Well,” she said. “I’ve learned not to judge a book by its cover…or a colleague by the rumors that follow them.”
“As have I, sunshine.” I squeezed her hip.
We finished the dance and I leaned in as the music slowed, about to transition to the next song. “Meet me in the hallway leading to the front door in five minutes. Don’t be late.”
“What? Why?”
“Don’t ask questions. Just do it.” I let go and made my way back to my table, then let Coen know I was leaving. He gave me a look, but was so enamored with Dr. Thatcher, he didn’t give me a hard time.
Weaving through the crowd, I made it a point to avoid Ambrose and Cerise’s mother, when I ran into Emberly.
“Oh, hello,” I said. “Just to let you know so you don’t worry, I’m leaving and taking Cerise with me.”
Emberly crossed her arms. “Why does it sound like you’re kidnapping her?”
“Because she’ll probably initially refuse, but I am quite persistent.”
“That you are. You two have fun.” She gave me a wink and disappeared.
I hurried to the hallway to find Cerise already waiting. “You’re late,” she said.
“At least I’m predictable.”
Cerise laughed. “So what’s this about?”
I strode forward, took her hand in mine and pulled her after me toward the door. “We’re leaving.”
She tugged away like I knew she would. “What? No. It’s not over yet.”
I turned around to face her. “I knew you’d say that. Listen, Emberly knows. You were present for the important part of the evening. Now let’s have the fun part.”
She hesitated, looking in between me and the door. “Well…”
“Listen, Cerise. I was helping you find your fun and then we got inconveniently interrupted when we were rescued.”
“Are you saying that us being rescued when we were lost in the jungle was inconvenient?”
I bit down on a grin. “That’s literally what I just said. I wasn’t done helping you yet. So we’re going to pick up where we left off.”
“And where is that?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises, Liam.”
“I’m aware. But I’m still not telling you. Now are you coming or not?”