Page 13 of Liam (The Valeur Billionaires #4)

“Ah, so I’m a catalyst for your personal growth? How generous of me,” Liam quips, his voice laced with amusement. The handcuffs clink as he shifts, pulling my arm with his.

“More like an invasive species that I’m developing antibodies against,” I shoot back, trying to ignore the warmth radiating from his body.

Liam’s chuckle vibrates through me. “I prefer to think of myself as a rare, exotic specimen you can’t help but be fascinated by. And now you’re literally attached to me.”

“The only thing rare about you is your ability to fit your ego through doorways,” I retort, tugging at the handcuffs in a futile attempt to put some space between us.

“And yet, here you are,” Liam points out, his eyes twinkling. “One might think you enjoy our little bond.”

I spin to face him, nearly losing my balance. Our joined hands instinctively rise, Liam’s steadying me while pulling me closer. I try to ignore the jolt of electricity at his touch. “The only thing I enjoy is the opportunity to deflate your oversized sense of self-importance, Valeur.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Dr. James,” Liam says with a smirk. “Your denials are almost as entertaining as your attempts to hide how much you’re enjoying this.”

I glare at him, acutely aware of how little space there is between us. “Trust me, the moment these cuffs come off, I’ll be putting as much distance between us as physically possible.”

“Until then,” Liam says, raising our joined hands, “duck,” he murmurs, his free hand guiding my head down. His touch lingers, and my cheeks flush.

As we weave through the ropes, our bodies fall into a natural rhythm. It’s like a dance, our movements synchronized, communicating more through subtle shifts and touches than words.

My foot catches on a low-hanging rope. I stumble, a small gasp escaping my lips. But before I can fall, Liam’s arm wraps around my waist, steadying me.

“I’ve got you,” he says, his voice husky. Our faces are inches apart, and for a moment, the world narrows to just us.

“Thanks,” I breathe, aware of his arm still around me, the solid warmth of his body. We stay like that for a heartbeat longer than necessary before separating, and to my horror, I realize I don’t want it to end.

Near the end of the maze, we encounter a challenging section. We have to contort our bodies, pressing close together to fit through a small opening.

“We need to...” I start, my mind going blank as I find myself flush against Liam’s chest.

“Rotate,” he finishes, his eyes locked on mine. “Unless you’d prefer to stay in this rather compromising position? I won’t judge.”

Is it my imagination, or did his eyes just flick to my lips?

I glare up at him, ignoring the way my heart races. “Just move, Valeur, before I decide to test the strength of these handcuffs.”

For all my complaints about his leadership style at work, I can’t deny that Liam knows how to adapt and collaborate. The thought that I might have been wrong about him is more uncomfortable than our current physical proximity.

As we twist our bodies, every point of contact between us feels electrified. The steady thump of his heart, slightly elevated like mine. Our linked hands are trapped between us, and I’m hyperaware of how perfectly we fit together.

We emerge from the maze breathless and disheveled but triumphant. As Stephanie unlocks the handcuffs, I flex my fingers, trying to shake the lingering sensation of Liam’s touch.

“Well, Dr. James,” Liam says, a hint of admiration in his voice, “I must say, you’re full of surprises. Who knew you had it in you to be both brilliant and bendy?”

I snort, fighting a smile. “And who knew you could be useful for something other than signing checks and looking pretty in a suit?”

He clutches his chest. “Did you just call me pretty? I’m flattered. Should I be worried about you developing a crush?”

“The only thing I’m developing is a headache,” I retort, but there’s no heat in it. “Though I suppose you’re not entirely useless. You make a half-decent ladder, at least.”

Something fundamental has shifted between us. The air crackles with an energy that has nothing to do with our competitive spirit and everything to do with the man walking beside me. And for the first time, I’m not sure if I want to fight it.

“You know,” Liam pants as we race to the next checkpoint, “if you applied this much dedication to our joint projects at work, we’d be revolutionizing the industry in no time.”

I shoot him a glare. “Maybe if you spent less time in board meetings and more time in the lab, you’d appreciate the complexities of what we do.”

He laughs, the sound warm. “Touché, Dr. James. Maybe we should switch roles for a day. I’ll take your lab; you take my meetings. What do you say?”

The mental image of Liam in a lab coat, fumbling with beakers, is so absurd that I can’t help but giggle. “I’d pay good money to see that, Valeur.”

His eyes widen in mock surprise. “Was that a real laugh I just heard? Careful, Dr. James, people might think you’re enjoying yourself.”

I school my features into a scowl, but heat rises in my cheeks. “Don’t get used to it,” I mutter.

The last challenge of the first half looms before us. A blind trust exercise. Liam must guide me, blindfolded, through an obstacle course. My stomach churns.

“If you make me fall, Valeur, I swear I’ll accidentally spill hydrochloric acid on your fancy shoes,” I threaten, my voice wavering as the blindfold descends.

“Relax, Aleria,” Liam says, using my given name for the first time today. The sound of it on his lips does funny things to my insides. “I’ve got you. Trust me.”

To my surprise, and likely his too, I do.

His voice becomes my anchor in the darkness, guiding me.

“Step up... Now to your right... That’s it, you’re doing great,” he murmurs, his voice low and encouraging.

I navigate the course, guided by his words. It’s disorienting, relying on someone else, especially someone I’ve considered an adversary for so long. But there’s something exhilarating about it, too.

“You’re almost there,” Liam says, his voice tight. “Just a few more steps. Now duck under this beam... Perfect.”

Where I expected arrogance and condescension, I find support and encouragement instead. Each step forces me to confront an uncomfortable truth. Perhaps I’ve been so determined to see Liam as the enemy that I’ve missed seeing who he really is.

As I cross the finish line, I rip off the blindfold, blinking in the sudden light. Liam’s face comes into focus, his blue eyes shining with an emotion I can’t quite name.

“We did it,” I breathe.

“We did,” he agrees, his voice husky.

For a moment, we just stare at each other, the air between us charged with something I’m not ready to examine too closely.

Stephanie’s cheerful voice announcing the halfway point of the hunt breaks the spell. As we catch our breath, I realize we’re neck-and-neck with another team. Breathless and flushed with exertion, Liam and I lock eyes. The intensity I see there matches the determination coursing through my veins.

“We’re not losing this,” I say, surprising myself with the vehemence in my voice.

Liam nods, his usual smirk replaced by a look of intense focus that makes my breath catch. “Agreed.”

As we prepare for the second half of the hunt, I’m struck by a realization that’s both thrilling and terrifying. Liam and I make one hell of a team. And I’m not sure how to feel about that at all.

“Ready for the next round, partner?” Liam asks, offering his hand.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Just don’t slow me down, Valeur,” I reply, but I know he won’t.

He grins, that infuriating, charming grin I’m finding less infuriating and more…something else. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Dr. James. Let’s show them what we’re made of.”