The things we do for love.

by Anderson, Abigail

  “More wine.” She heard Adam ask her.

  “Oh, oh. No.” She said but Adam was already pouring out some more. It sploshed in her glass and she grimaced as she watched Adam fill it almost to the brim.

  “I wasn’t asking. I was telling. Live a little dangerously Cass my darling.” Adam invited.

  “My head is already buzzing.” She complained.

  “What on one glass of wine.” Adam exclaimed,

  “And a glass of champagne.” She reminded him as she picked up her glass and took a sip before placing it back down.

  “Yes, let’s not forget the glass of champagne.” Adam commented dryly and she looked around at him but Adam was looking somewhere past her shoulder rather than at her.

  He was smiling, well, grinning stupidly from ear to ear. She frowned and, unable to stop herself she turned in her seat to see what he had spotted.

  Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked onto Luke Pearson’s gaze. How long had he been watching her? Luke raised his glass to her in a salute and she gave a nod of acknowledgment and an awkward little smile before turning back in her seat. “How…” she stopped and Adam leaned in closer to her.

  “How long has he been watching you?” Adam guessed the question that she had been about to ask. “Since he spotted you out in the reception when we were enjoying the rather nice champagne.” Adam supplied helpfully.

  Cassie’s heart sank, that long? The champagne had been on trays as they had come into the venue at the start of the evening.

  She had only just managed to get through the door before she had found a glass in her hand. Great, that had been a couple of hours ago.

  “And you knew and didn’t say anything.” She complained to him. Some friend he was.

  “It would have made you self-conscious. I was doing you a favour.” He shrugged. “Besides it was nice watching him enjoying himself. He’s had a nice little smile on his lips all evening as he’s taken in every movement you have made.” Adam wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “In much the same way as at the restaurant yesterday.”

  “He wasn’t.” Cassie wriggled in her seat.

  “Oh but he was.” Adam told her, a twinkle in his eye and she stuck her tongue out at him as she playfully slapped his arm. Adam looked back over her shoulder.

  “Stop staring at him.” She said as she reached for her glass again and took a large swig of the stuff and then for good measure took a huge gulp of it.

  “Would you like to dance?” Adam said suddenly and then stood up abruptly and then he pulled her to her feet before she could say anything.

  Cassie almost had to run to keep up with him as he tugged on her hand as she trailed on behind him.

  “Adam, the dance floor is that way.” She told him, quite unnecessarily. It wasn’t as though they could miss it.

  “I know. We are taking a detour to the dance floor.” He told her.

  Yes, a detour right past Luke Pearson by the looks of things. Cassie tried to slow down but Adam just pulled harder. She leant her body back a little to add more weight but Adam leant his body forward to counteract it.

  “Adam please.” She tried to beg but then they were there and she had no choice but to fall silent.

  “Luke, I thought it was you.” Adam greeted and she watched Luke stand up and take the hand that Adam offered. “Ooh, that’s still a firm grip you got there. I do hope you have been enjoying yourself this evening.” Adam asked, he failed to keep the warm humour from his voice, or the gentle teasing note.

  “Yes thank you. And you.” Luke asked politely. Cassie heard the note of amused sarcasm in his voice and she looked up at him. What was going on? There seemed to be something.

  The two men were regarding each other carefully. She had the distinct impression that there was some sort of silent conversation going on, but she could not be sure.

  “Oh yes very much so. I am always pleasantly surprised when entertainment comes from unexpected quarters.” Adam told him before he looked in Cassie’s direction.

  “I was just going to whirl Cassie round the dance floor.” Adam informed Luke. “I didn’t want to really but she insisted.”

  “U.” She squeaked as she stared open mouthed at him. That’s not what happened.

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Luke agreed.

  “I am glad you think so. Do you mind?” Adam raised an eyebrow at him.

  “I wouldn’t mind at all.”

  “Excuse me?” Cassie said as she looked sharply at her friend. Adam turned to give her a cheeky grin.

  “You will thank me later. I have two left feet.” He said. That was another lie and she knew it.

  “What are you on about?” She had obviously missed a part of the conversation. Adam turned back to Luke.

  “It would be awfully good of you to take her off my hands.” He said now. Cassie felt herself blush. What was she, a juicy steak or something? She suddenly had the feeling that she was surrounded by wolves.

  “I would be honoured.” She heard Luke saying.

  “Adam.” Cassie tried to warn him but he just wasn’t listening to her at all.

  “I was going to do it, of course. But, I need to cleanse my chakras before I can dance with even a modicum of authenticity.” He told Luke.

  And, if Cassie had not been so embarrassed she would have marvelled at how he managed to say that with such a serious look on his face.

  Modicum of authenticity? She was going to kill him. Or perhaps, she should cleanse his chakras for him?

  Cassie put her hands on her hips as she regarded him. Could she get away with kicking his shin? She wondered.

  “Would you care to dance.” Luke asked Cassie and she turned her head to look at him, almost jumping out of her skin as she looked up at Luke as though he were some hideous beast.

  “I…” she stopped.

  “Take that as a yes. Cassie has trouble stringing sentences together that consists of more than one word.” And then Adam grabbed her shoulders, whirled her round to face Luke fully and then pushed her at him with force.

  She slammed hard up against Luke, so hard that it knocked the air out of her lungs. Luke reacted quickly, his arm coming round her waist to hold her tight up against him.

  “Ouch, you’re hard.” She said and then wished the floor could open up and swallow her whole as mortifying colour swept her face.

  “Well, one can only hope.” She heard Adam chuckling from behind her and Luke looked down at her. A strange look on his face. She could smell his aftershave and feel the heat of his body against hers.

  “That’s not what I meant.” She tried and then Luke gave her a lop sided grin that had her heartbeat dancing around under her rib cage.

  “Pity.” Adam said. “I’ll catch you two kiddies later. Have fun on the dance floor and don’t hurry back.” And then he was gone.

  “Interesting choice of friend you have.” Luke told her.

  “How do you know he’s not my boyfriend?” she asked him. Though if he had been it would have made this even more… and it was already that, as it was.

  “I thought he was last night, but I can see he’s… with someone.” Of course he could.

  “We met in uni.” She told him.

  “And he’s been with you ever since.” Luke finished for her.

  “I’ve tried shaking him but…” She shrugged and Luke laughed.

  “I’ve got one just like that.” He told her. “Only I have the misfortune of paying her wages.”

  “That’s where you are going wrong.”

  “I know. It’s a bit like don’t feed the animals.” She laughed. “That’s better. I like it when you laugh. Shall we?”

  “Shall we, what?”

  “Twirl around the dance floor. Unless you also need to… cleanse your chakras.” She blushed. “Though I don’t personally think there is anything wrong with your chakras. They look perfectly fine from here.” She blushed even harder and her mouth went completely dry.

  “Um, yes. I
mean no.”

  “Which is it?”

  “No, I don’t need to cleanse my chakras and yes I am ready to twirl around the dance floor.”

  “Then let’s go.” And then Luke stepped away from her and with a hand on the small of her back he led her to the dance floor as Cassie tried to still the butterflies in her stomach and steady her heart. Nothing worked.

  Chapter 23.

  As soon as they were on the dance floor Cassie found herself cradled up against Luke as they moved around slowly in time with the slow music that was playing.

  Slow and romantic music she noticed. Luke’s cheek rested close to her temple with an arm around her waist and her hand resting in his other hand.

  For such a big strong looking man he sure could be gentle. She felt quite safe in his arms, well at least from the outside world. She did not feel safe from him.

  “I’m sorry.” She said after several minutes went by.

  “Don’t be. Adam is just looking out for you. I’m glad you have had somebody.” Luke told her.

  “No, about earlier. Slapping you. It was uncalled for. I don’t know what came over me.” She said.

  “I do.” He told her confidently.

  “You do?”

  “Yes, don’t worry. I’ll remember for future reference.”

  “Not to kiss me again.” She attempted a light hearted joke.

  “No, to duck out of the way after.” Luke told her and she gasped in shock but then giggled. “It was my fault.” He told her. “I went a little too fast. I couldn’t help myself. No excuse really.”

  “No, it’s fine. It was fine. No harm done.” She tried to reassure him.

  “That’s good to know.” Luke told her as they continued to move around the dance floor. Though what music they were dancing to Cassie did not know, everything had fallen into the back ground. All she was aware of was her body and Luke’s. she was very aware of Luke’s and she was very aware of her body’s reaction to it.

  “So you were saying that you have one?” she tried to deflect her own thoughts by talking. Perhaps it would help to calm everything down. She was shaking like a leaf and she was sure Luke could feel it.

  “One what?”

  “Adam.”

  “Oh, yeah only my one’s named Vera, my housekeeper.” He said.

  How rich did you need to be to have your very own house-keeper. Cassie was impressed, she would struggle getting a cleaner in once a month.

  “I bet she’s not as bad as mine.” Cassie challenged him.

  “You think?”

  “I know.”

  “That sounds remarkably like a challenge.” He said.

  “Oh no. no.” She tried.

  “Okay well, I will see yours and raise you mine.” He told her and she smiled.

  “Nothing can beat cleansing chakras and a modicum of authenticity.” She told him confidently.

  “Trouncing around the place like a zombie on sedatives.” He said. She moved her head so that she could look at him.

  “I think you possibly won that hand.” She conceded.

  “Well at least Vera has been good for something. So what is my prize.”

  “Your prize?” She frowned.

  “For winning.” He said.

  “Oh… I… well… I…”

  Luke moved suddenly and she found herself at his side as he moved swiftly through the crowd and out toward the door. They passed by her table where Adam and Joe were still sitting.

  “You don’t mind if I borrow Cassie for a while do you?” Luke asked Adam and Adam gave a large triumphant smile.

  “Of course not. Go have some… fun. Isn’t that right Joe?” Adam turned to Joe.

  “Oh yes. Don’t come back to soon curvy ker.” And he winked.

  Some friends she had. But she had no time to say anything because Luke was sweeping her along back out into the large reception area and then out the doors, down the red carpet and over to the cobblestone wall of the tower of London. Before he guided her round the corner and into a small dark nook.

  She opened her mouth to say something but Luke was there. his arms around her and his lips on hers. She felt a jolt inside and she gasped as she opened her mouth and Luke slipped his tongue into her mouth.

  Cassie felt a hand at the back of her neck, cradling her. Whilst his arm pulled her closer to him. She groaned against his mouth as she kissed him back. Luke lifted his mouth from hers and hovered close.

  “Do I need to duck now?” he asked her.

  “N-n-no.” she stuttered.

  “In that case.” And he lowered his lips onto hers once more. She whimpered against him as he kissed her, as she kissed him back.

  Her hands clung to him as she drank from his lips. Luke’s mouth found her jaw. He kissed along the clean line leading to her ear and she cried out as he nipped at her earlobe with his teeth.

  “I… please.” she said.

  “It’s okay.” Luke whispered in her ear as he pulled her close to him. His mouth coming back to her mouth already swollen and plump from his kisses. “You taste good.” He told her and she felt that kick inside and there was even a delicious clenching of a muscle low down between her legs.

  “I…”

  “Curvy ker?” he asked her.

  “Long story.”

  “I’ve got time.” He said.

  “It’s a very long story.” She elaborated and she felt his lips curve into a smile.

  “I’ve still got time.”

  “Okay, it’s a very long, long story.” She told him.

  “Of course it is. Let’s get you back inside. You don’t have a coat on and you will catch your death out here. If I let you go you are not going to slap me?” he asked her.

  “No, I promise.” He lifted his head and then captured her lips once more for a devastatingly passionate kiss before letting her go and then he pulled her along back into the venue through the reception and back into the dining room.

  Once back at her table he guided her back into her seat and then pulled up a spare and sat at their table.

  Cassie was breathless, everything had happened so fast. Had it actually happened? Cassie wasn’t sure.

  “So” He turned to Joe. “Curvy ker?” he asked him.

  Cassie opened her mouth to say something, to tell Joe not to tell him. But, Joe was already sitting up straight in his chair and Adam began bouncing about.

  “There were two Cassie’s in our art class.” Joe began and then Adam joined in.

  “There was Cassie, nice Cassie. And then there was the other one.”

  “Like a blood hound. A proper nasty bi –”

  “Joe.” Cassie shrieked at him. And then Adam added.

  “A proper female dog.” And he pulled a face.

  “So I nick named her kicking ker.”

  “As in phonetics, you know.” Adam explained.

  “Yes. So then we started calling Cassie curly ker.” Joe said.

  “But then one day, Joe accidentally called her curvy ker instead of curly ker and well it kind of stuck.” Adam told him.

  “And he doesn’t need to know why you slipped up and called me that.” Cassie warned them both.

  “We don’t need to tell him.” Adam told her.

  “He’s a man.” Joe added.

  “Would it be on account of…” Luke began and then stopped and held out both hands and with a sweep he traced a line of an hour glass figure.

  Going out then in and then out with both his hands. Which, it would appear, all men seem to know and know what it means without having to be told.

  “See we didn’t need to tell him.” Adam said.

  “How do you know that?” She asked, her cheeks burning hotly.

  “Can you believe she needs to ask that?” Adam shook his head and then rested an arm on Luke’s shoulder. “You might want to adjust your dress dear, your naivety is showing.” Without thinking Cassie looked down at her cleavage before bringing up a hand to cover it.

  Adam began laughi
ng and Joe followed suit. She slumped her shoulders, looked up at Adam and leant her head to one side.

  “That’s not funny.” She moaned at him.

  “She is adorable isn’t she?” Adam asked Luke. “Couldn’t you just take her home and tuck her up beside you.”

  “It would be very easy.” Luke agreed.

  “When you have all finished making fun of me.” She said peevishly

  “We have finished, and yes, it is because of those lovely curves of hers.” He agreed. Cassie blushed.

  “They are rather nice.” Luke agreed.

  “There are a little less of them recently. She’s lost a little weight because of demon demented sister. But I am sure she’ll get them all back soon.” Adam assured Luke.

  “I can’t wait.” Luke looked at her and her mouth went suddenly dry as she looked at him, she watched a slow lazy smile curve his mouth.

  “It is well worth the wait.” Adam agreed. “And I rather think that is our cue. Wouldn’t you say Joe?”

  “I would yes.”

  “Luke, you wouldn’t mind being a darling and drop Cassie off back home would you.” Adam asked in his best innocent voice. Cassie looked at him then, her eyes narrowing as she regarded him.

  “What?” she said, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She sat up straighter in her chair as alarm bells rang in her ears.

  “I would love to.” Luke said.

  “Wait.” She tried again.

  “You know where she lives, don’t you?” Joe asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Hang on a minute.” She said. And then Adam leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  “Sorry, gotta run.” And then Joe leant down and kissed her cheek also.

  “What he said.” And then they were leaving and not taking her with them. They were leaving her here with Luke. On her own, to fend for herself.

  Chapter 24.

  Cassie stared at her friend’s departing backs until she could no longer see them. Or perhaps that was ex-friends. She was definitely never going to talk to them again.

  “Wow.” Luke said and she turned to face him again.

  “Yeah.” She agreed. He smiled at her then.

  “It would appear you have been abandoned to your fate.” He told her.

  “It rather does look that way. It’s a good job you are not a mass murderer. I could have been in real trouble now.” She joked with him.