Page 75 of Love, Academically
“Thank you,” Lila said, with a grateful smile. She was going to leave it at that, but she’d had some bubbles and before she knew it, her mouth was open and words were just falling out. “You look like a princess.”
It was true. With her delicate tiara (yes,tiara), matching diamond necklace and white satin dress that skimmed her body, pooling on the floor, she did indeed look like a princess.
A small smile accompanied a slight eyebrow lift, as if Seren was scared to make too many facial moments in case they ruined her Botox or gave her wrinkles.
“I’m going to give you a piece of advice,” she said, turning to the mirror to assess her make up.
Perhaps it would be something trivial like, ‘make sure you have that drycleaned rather than put it in the washing machine’, or ‘you should really wear the Chanel eye shadow’. What she didnotwant was advice on her fake boyfriend or his family.
“No, no, that’s okay. You don’t have to,” Lila said.
Seren ignored her.
“Please remember thatthisis Rhys’s world, whether he wants it to be or not. Hewillend up back with his family. No matter how much he rebels, he will come back or be dragged back. And when he does, will he bring you with him?”
Was that a challenge in Seren’s eyes? It was hard to tell whenher face was so blank and motionless. The old Black and White Lila would have bowed her head, curved her shoulders inwards and nodded softly. But she was Technicolour Lila now, with a couple of glasses of champagne in her.
“Is that what you think he’s doing? Rebelling, like a child? He’s a grown man, Seren,” she said. “I don’t know what the future holds for him, forus, but I trust Rhys to make the right decisions forhim. The Rhys I know isn’t easily bullied.”
“You don’t know Llewellyn.” Her perfect lips pursed. “I’m not your enemy here, Lila. In fact, I’ve never seen him so happy. I’m glad someone got through to him.” Seren turned back to Lila and offered her a tight smile. “Anyway.”
Then she wafted into a cubicle.
Lila stared at the closed cubicle door for a second or two. That was a healthy reality check Seren had just dropped, and she didn’t have the brain power to think about it right now.
Instead, she grabbed her clutch bag from the side and headed out to meet Rhys, giving her best ‘Seren walk’ a go.
Oh Christ.
He was leaning by the main door, hands tucked into those tight trousers, bow tie loosened, looking just like frigging James Bond. A hot one, not that one in Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Except instead of the trademarked sexy smirk James Bond usually wore, he was frowning in confusion.
“Why are you walking like that? Do your feet hurt?”
“I wastryingto walk like Seren,”
“Why?”
“She’s so elegant and perfect.”
“That she may be,” Rhys said, shrugging out of his jacket. “But I prefer someone a bit messier.”
Rhys swung his jacket over her shoulders, tugging at the lapels to make sure it sat straight. A flash of a frown smudged his eyebrows as he reached to tuck a wayward lock of hair behindher ear. As his fingers grazed her cheek, her lips parted and a puff of air escaped. They were close enough that one deep breath would have her against his chest.
“Come on,” he said, his voice a little rough. “Let’s go.”
Rhys intertwined their fingers and led her outside.
The car drive home was… anticipatory. Rhys didn’t let go of her hand, except to change gear, and then took it again, running his thumb over her knuckles, circling the softness of her palm. It was like he couldn’t stand to let her go.
This boded well, because Technicolour Lila had decided that tonight was indeed the night, and she was going to invite him in and get down and dirty with Rhys Aubrey.
“Come in for a moment,” Lila said, as he walked her the five and a half steps to her door. She squeezed his fingers that had conveniently found hers.
Rhys followed her into the front room and she deposited her handbag on the table and reached to unbuckle her shoes.
“Let me,” Rhys said.
He dropped to his knees in front of her and looked up expectantly. That warmth in the bottom of her belly that had been present all night, expanded and heated. Because he was on his knees for her, and her mind was doing all kinds of filthy things.
