Eli's Pov
He glanced down at her with a look of pure speculation upon his features, not because she thought it was good to start again, but that she gave him an answer so quickly. Not that he wasn't pleased at all, he was more than pleased by he answer but he was worried she wanted to jump into this for some other reason.
"You... You do?". He stuttered quietly as a smile broke onto his face down into her eyes as they swayed in time to the music. She nodded quickly and layed her head against his shoulder gently with a little giggle.
"I know what your thinking and no this isn't a rash judgment on my part at all Goldsworthy. I've had years to think about what I would have wanted to say to you and I got them.. well I got a lot of them out to you already.". She quietly replied as her eyes closed gently melding into his embrace completely.
As Clare snuggled into his body, he couldn't help but think that in the time they had been together a dance was something that had been forgotten. Then again, he had screwed up at least two of those occasions for them by either his shenanigans or stupidity. This time around would be different because they are already over the bump with the ball, and he hoped that the drama that followed their adolescent selves around would be diminished.
"I am honored that you are allowing me another chance with you, and while I can't promise that drama won't be in our lives, I will promise to enjoy this time. I won't have any expectations up front, but will be willing to allow this all to take the time it needs.". He whispered into her curls as his lips pressed against her head kissing them lightly. The lilac scent that had always enveloped her crashed into his senses almost knocking him over in remembrance.
Clare glanced up at him with a soft, gentle smile that erased all the doubts that crossed his mind the last few days. Her blue eyes twinkled happily as she brushed her lips against his gently at first, but then tentatively began to devour his with all the passion that she felt in that moment. The music began to change as they pulled apart with a laugh as they moved from the floor before another couple trampled them. Eli grasped her hand lightly as they walked to the tables holding the items to be auctioned off.
"You are worth it, you know?". Clare began softly taking his hand in hers and squeezing it reassuringly. "Just for reference that one time you asked me if I believed in love at first sight and I said no, as I recall. Perhaps that was a lie, because I was in love with you then as I am now. This is why it was easy to give you an answer. It was a shock, I know because your face told me, but understand that the risk is worth it all.".
The smile that flickered across her lips calmed his racing heart that threatened to burst from it's confined deep in his body. He could only follow her through the crowds as she began to look over each of the items that were up for auction with a critical eye. He wasn't sure of what she was saying to him for several moments as his head replayed the last few minutes over and over.
"...lovely gift for Adam.". Claire said to him pointing to a small gift certificate to a local gaming business. Eli shook his head coming out of the reverie that her confession had put him in to smile at her quickly. He watched as she began to wander around speaking to a few of the people that swarmed around the edges of the ballroom. He took two of the champagne flutes from a passing waiter as Clare turned to look at him with an inquiring look as he held up the glasses.
"Go bid for that gift and then we shall have us a little time back at the table. Don't know about you dear, but my feet don't much like dancing but I can imagine yours are used to the hours of standing,". He smirked as she reached for the glass in his hands, sipping the light liquid with a little giggle as the bubbles reached her nose. "Nor alcohol still it seems,. Edwards, You predictable minx.". He shooed her towards the bidding papers and waited till she made her way back to him as they moved towards the table together.
…...
Hours later as the ball was winding down, Eli sat watching Clare float across the dance floor with Adam. While he wasn't a good dance sometime in those years Adam had some training and could do what he couldn't. Not that it bothered him because Adam was their best friend and the only man he truly trusted Clare with. His eyes flickered critically as he watched the delicate material of the dress Clare wore billow as she spun, the laughter he supposed was breathless as he couldn't hear it over the music but would never forget the sound.
"You may devour her whole if you don't watch it Goldsworthy.". Drew intoned drolly next to him, grinning at the look on Eli's face with a little cackle. "I promise I won't tell anyone. But, I do have to ask one question to you if that's permitted. Author's such as yourself, from what I hear, tend to keep their lives all akimbo. From what Adam tells me you both were estranged for years and now you look like your on the road to a wedding. What gives?".
Eli glanced at his best friends brother with a slight smirk upon his lips as his shoulders struggled to shrug under the scrutiny. " Did Bianca let you look at the dictionary again? Didn't realize there were pictures in there now, guess I should look at one every once in a while.". He laughed as Drew frowned at the insult but he kept on speaking, "Actually, I guess there are some authors who value their aloofness but I have never been one of those types. I just found myself never coming back here much. I've seen you often enough Torres, so I know you don't miss me. As for what we, Clare and I, have going on it's between us. Things happen, as I'm sure you know when relationships have rocky ground. I recall you having some of those problems years ago with your darling wife.".
Drew sighed deeply as his eyes cut to where the woman they were discussing was speaking to his mother and another woman on the school board. He shrugged in response and glanced back at Eli with arched brows. It had been always painfully clear even back in school that Drew wasn't blessed with brains as much as he was the doer of the two Torres brothers.
"No worries man, Adam said you were working on it. Good enough for him then good enough for me. As for rocky, lets just say that sometimes that relationship was on sand and no rock. Luckily, I was smart enough to know when I had a good thing and held on for dear life with her. She's a firecracker, but she's mellowed as an adult and now she's carved the life she wanted with me and the kiddos. Wouldn't change that for the world.". Drew commented with a grin, sipping the amber liquid in his glass slowly.
Just as he was going to give an answer to Drew's words the two dancers came back to the table and he was suddenly filled with the heady fragrance of what is Clare. Her hands slid into his automatically almost causing him to spill the champagne straight into her lap but at the last second his mind began to calm averting the crisis at hand.
"Watch it there buster!". Clare admonished with a little giggle on her lips, clearly the alcohol she imbued earlier was still in the system. "This is an expensive dress after all!".
"Must not mess it then should we?". He whispered into her ear as she settled on his lap much to the surprise of the occupants of the table. He knew they were speculating on just what was occurring but he wasn't going to let this night end if she was this open, then so be it. Adam glanced between the two of them quickly trying very hard to hold back laughter.
Fuck.
Please don't begin to squirm, he thought to himself as she moved just so slightly applying pressure against their bodies. She was far too busy speaking to Bianca across the table to witness the look of sheer helplessness that began to trick down his face as his body began to respond to her pressing against him, wiggling just so with each laugh.
"Clare, You might want to stop squirming just so, else I won't be able to move for quite a while without embarrassing anyone.". He leaned into her to whisper ever so slightly, his voice thick hoping she got the point, and quickly. Her eyes widening in realization as she stilled and nodded without vocalizing the predicament that her body had done.
Her cheeks began to grow rosy as she glanced back at him with a smile, blue eyes flickering down for just that second to his lap. He smirked at the red that began to creep down to her neck and only he knew what that meant, she wasn't embarrassed but trying to hide her interest in him. The first time this happened was after filming hat little Romeo and Juliet film for English class and even back then she had a hard time hiding her emotions from him.
…...
Clare's Pov
This was almost too easy, she thought to herself as she settled upon Eli's lap with no resistance from the man himself. As a man there was never not a time where a woman's presence there would be disregarded, she supposed. A few wiggles and he was already beginning to become distracted she found after his words fell upon her ears. The blush that bloomed against her skin gave away the need that began to build deep within couldn't be contained. He would spot it, she knew, and give himself that mental pat on the back by trying to be the gentleman, she suspected.
Fuck.
This was not where she wanted to begin anything that wouldn't be finished by dawn. Nor did she believe that she would want to sleep with him again this quick, but when it came to Elijah Goldsworthy, all bets were off.
Double Fuck.
Her vision rose from the green eyes of the man she was attempting to torture to a couple that was gliding towards them. When he abrupt movement caught Eli off guard his own gaze caught where she was currently focusing on and stilled himself.
"Clare, I'm sorry.. I should have known they would show up eventually.". He growled soundlessly against her curls as she set her onto the chair besides his, only the small pout on her lips gave away the need that still clung to her thighs from their proximity moments ago.
"Eli, wait.". She spoke quickly, shaking her head already knowing what was brewing within his mind. "Let me handle this,". She said with a shake of her curls as she stood, bracing her palms against the table. His eyes glanced at her legs with a smirk before waving a hand in agreement.
She gave him a quick smile watching as he sat back down on the chair, blue eyes turned to cast a glance at the two whom they just spoke of with a soft, sad sigh on her lips. The stood nervously glancing at those still at the table, hoping that it would be safe to approach but kept their space, waiting if need be to flee at a moments notice.
Clare moved towards the two women with a grace that she, herself, had not known existed before. The champagne, in the end, had helped her out more than she would ever have known, till now. The smile was genuine which surprised the two before with as they sighed together, even if they didn't quite know they had.
"Fiona and Imogen, how nice to see you both on such a lovely evening.". She began quietly, holding up one hand to quiet their voices. "Let me just say what I have to say and then you can speak. Forgive me for being slightly rude at that but if I don't continue I may lose the words I had prepared last night. I won't go into specifics here in public about the last decade of my life. That withstanding, Imogen, you may have not realized all the hurt you caused in not only my life, but Elijah's when you chose to be selfish but the past is the past. I will forgive you, for now. You may think I'm foolish, and I may be.". She shrugged.
"oh, Clare... This, is.. was most unexpected.". Fiona began tentatively with Imogen beginning to nod along with the words.
"I'm not done, but thank you.". Clare contined keeping her voice soft, almost husky with emotion, "In the end it's not my words that you need, for you weren't my friends in school and that was always fine to me, because you don't always need to be friends with your significant others. You will need to find your forgiveness with Eli, because deep down he was the one who got the short end of the stick. For his sake, only his mind you, this is finished between us. We do crazy things for love when it looks as if it's been taken from us, no?".
The two women looked at each other, hands clasped tightly together as they nodded towards Clare with faint, regretful smiles etched onto red stained lips. Each of them moved just a little closer to Clare, their shoulders turned in as if the tension was lessening with her forgiveness.
"We will speak of this tomorrow night, yes?". Clare said sweetly, the strain starting to fray the edges of the plasticine smile she held in place. "I will make sure that Eli comes early to speak to you, Imogen.".
Clare didn't wait for either of the women to begin to speak instead spun on her heels and moved back towards the table with her head held high, but the smile fell from her face.
…...
As soon as she reached the table his hands gently cupped and elbow leaning in to kiss on her curls again, gently whispering into her ears just quietly trying to lend her some of his quiet confidence. Without even saying a word to her it was the most comfort that she'd ever received. Her palms slid around him pulling herself against his body slightly into a hug wanting to feel the heat he radiated.
"Time to go Cinderella.". He urged lightly cupping her chin with his hands pulling her face up into the light with a smile.
They quickly made their goodbyes to those around the table and smiles towards each other. As soon as the doors closed behind them the laughter bubbled from her lips causing him to pull her closer to him. The lobby stood silent as they began to walk towards the doors that stood between them at the night outside.
"So, are there anymore tricks up your sleeve rabbit?". She asked him quietly as they stood before a block of windows that gave a view of the city at night, the twinkling lights soothed her frayed emotions.
His fingers reached out to grasp hers gently pulling her closer to his side. The heat that always came off of him anytime they touched was reassuring after having to deal with someone that she had hoped to not have to see. When he began to tug her to move she glanced at him with a frown, unsure as to what he was planning.
"I wasn't sure if this was going to be part of the evening, but I think it's time that we did talk by ourselves for a while if you don't mind?". He asked seriously as she nodded towards him with a quiet look. He responded with his own nod motioning towards the bank of elevators. " We can talk under the stars in my room if that is acceptable, if not then we go where you wish.".
She pulled away from him with a soft sigh and smiled as she walked towards the door with a soft laugh on her lips again, "Your acting awful formal with me Goldsworthy, and I'm not sure why. C'mon". She called out, hearing the echo across the lobby as she walked before him, hips swaying slowly for his benefit.
He could only do one that and that was to follow her wherever she wanted to go.