Page 53 of Liam
I snort. “Oh yes, nothing gets my spectroscope humming like sleep deprivation and eyestrain.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to crawl under the desk. Did I just make an innuendo about spectroscopes? To Liam Valeur? Kill me now.
Liam raises an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye that does nothing to help my composure. “Your spectroscope, huh? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
My face flames. “That’s not… I didn’t mean…” I wish for a convenient wormhole to open up and swallow me.
Liam laughs, a full, rich sound that makes my traitorous heart skip a beat. “Relax, Dr. James. I’m just teasing. Although I have to say, your dedication to ASTRA is...admirable.”
The way he says “admirable” sends a jolt through me that has no business existing between us.
This is dangerous territory, Aleria. Abort mission. Retreat to the safety of professional distance.
I should turn away. I should change the subject. I shoulddo anything but sit here, lost in Liam Valeur’s blue eyes, wondering what would happen if I just leaned in and?—
The loud beep of our spectrometer snaps us both out of whatever that was. I jump, nearly falling out of my chair in my haste to put some distance between us.
“I should check that,” I mumble, all but fleeing to the other side of the lab.
As I pretend to be engrossed in readouts, I feel Liam’s eyes on me. What just happened? And, more importantly, how am I supposed to get through the rest of this night without combusting from sheer awkwardness?
There’s something different about him tonight—his usual polished demeanor has cracked. He looks vulnerable, revealing glimpses of the man I once knew. The one who laughed at my terrible physics puns and brought me coffee during all-nighters. The one who made me feel like I belonged in a world I never thought I’d fit into.
A lock of his dark hair has fallen across his forehead, just like it used to during our late-night study sessions. Back then, I’d allowed myself to brush it back, letting my fingers linger. Now, years later, I have to physically restrain myself from reaching out.
The sharp lines of his face seem softer in the dim lab light, his expression open and unguarded. It reminds me of how he used to look at me when we tackled challenging math problems together. Focused, yes, but also warm. Encouraging.
Before everything changed, before he pulled away and became the distant, polished Liam Valeur the world knows now.
What happened to that Liam? And is he still in there somewhere, behind all the polished defenses?
The thought both thrills and terrifies me. Because if that Liam is still there, the one I once... No. I can’t go down that road again. Not after how it ended last time.
The computer screen flashes green, and my heart leaps into my throat.
We’ve done it. We’ve cracked the problem we’ve been wrestling with for weeks.
“Oh my God,” I breathe, hardly daring to believe it. “Liam, look!”
He leans in, his shoulder pressing against mine as he peers at the screen. For a moment, neither of us moves, the implications of our success sinking in.
Then, all at once, we explode into motion. I jump up, letting out a very un-scientific whoop of joy. Liam’s right there with me, his face split by a grin.
“We did it!” he exclaims, his voice husky.
Before I can process what’s happening, strong arms encircle my waist. The world tilts as Liam lifts me clean off my feet, spinning us in a dizzying circle.
For a moment, the universe narrows to just this—the solid heat of Liam’s body pressed against mine from chest to thigh, the intoxicating blend of his cologne, the vibration of his laughter rumbling through my ribcage. My fingers tangle in the soft hair at the nape of his neck, and I feel more than hear his sharp intake of breath.
He sets me down, his hands lingering on my waist. The air between us feels charged, electric. Liam’s gaze drops to my lips, and I sway forward, drawn by some invisible force.
Then, like a bubble bursting, reality crashes back in. We both seem to realize the inappropriateness of our position at the same time. Liam releases me as if burned, taking a hurriedstep back. I nearly stumble at the sudden loss of his support, my legs unsteady.
We stand there, an arm’s length apart, but it might as well be miles. A thick, awkward tension has replaced the earlier excitement.
“I, uh...” Liam clears his throat, running a hand through his hair. “That was...”
“Yeah,” I agree, my cheeks burning. “Quite the breakthrough.”
