Unscheduled Encounter

The ballroom buzzes with polite chatter and the clinking of champagne glasses. Ella nurses a drink, trying to look as if she belongs, her eyes scanning the crowd for any useful contacts. Suddenly, a hand grips her arm, turning her around. It’s Liam, looking impossibly sharp in a tuxedo. "This is hardly the place for such quiet contemplation, Ella." Before she can protest, he pulls her onto the dance floor, his hand settling firmly on the small of her back. The music swells, a slow, sultry rhythm. He draws her close, their bodies moving in sync. "You’re out of your element here," he murmurs, his breath warm against her ear. "But you adapt. I like that." His gaze drops to her lips, then back to her eyes, a challenge in their depths. "Tell me, Ella, what else do you adapt to so easily?"