Heated Abscondment

Chapter Ten - Part Eight

While Etienne was looking at his friend, he felt movement on his other side, his friends looked past him and just smiled. Etienne swallowed hard and turned to look at the new arrival at his side.

He felt all his mental capacities cease.

He’s been in battle, interacting as an ambassador for the past three years building relationships, and debated issues with adversaries to find the best policies for his government.

He’s handled interrogations, negotiations with internationals, kept his country from the brink of war, and apprenticed under his father, the King to prepare for his turn to rule their country.

Not once has he faltered or been at a loss for words.

But when he looked into those bright blue eyes he fell. Her lips were parted and all he could think about was bringing her mouth to his so he could ravage them. He wanted to kiss, bite, and claim her slender neck. But for appropriateness of the setting, he should be ready for intelligible conversation.

Yet for the first time in his life, he could think of absolutely nothing.

When she looked at the bartender when he came up to her, he heard snickering behind him. It seems the two knuckleheads knew exactly what happened to him. But they had successfully knocked him out of his frozen state and his brain was able to process and fire in response. Apparently, just in time, too because he caught what she was saying to the bartender.

“Hey Lurch, I’ll have another one of these sooner than later. And can you put the next drink these fellas have on my tab?” When he nodded, she said, “Thank you so much.”

Then she turned to him and before he could get anything out, she started talking again.