“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 throughit 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?”
