by Liliana Hart
“Let’s get out of here. We can look at it later.”
Maggie let out a long breath and they made their way back toward the outer room, careful to step over the squares on the way out. Riley pulled the door closed behind them and all at once the squares in the floor rose back to floor level and the squares he’d pressed on the platform rose back to their standing position.
“You sure know how to show a girl a good time, Dr. MacKenzie.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, Dr. Lawrence.”
CHAPTER FIVE
They worked tirelessly for the rest of the day in Sector C, transporting inferior pots, jewelry and artifacts from the room and bringing them out to the covered area where Sam and Jay diligently cataloged and inspected each item.
By the time the sun went down, there was no sign of Dr. Bekhit or word from anyone about Walker, and Riley was starting to wonder if the next time they’d see anyone was when the deadline was up and soldiers came back to dispose of their bodies.
It was dangerous to take off on foot with limited supplies, but he’d rather take his chances with the desert than someone holding a weapon. There was time enough to make a decision. At least for the night they’d be safe. And they’d be alerted to anyone approaching the area since the desert was so quiet at night.
They were all exhausted, and after a light supper of cheese and bread from their supplies, they all went to their respective tents for the evening.
“Do you think one of us should try to make it into the city tomorrow? Even if they don’t bring a car back?” Sam asked, holding the flap of his tent open.
Riley could tell by the look on the man’s face that his gut was screaming just as loud as Riley’s that something wasn’t quite right about the situation.
“Let’s give it until morning and reevaluate. And then yeah, we do what we gotta do.”
Sam nodded. “That’s what I figured you’d say. I’m with you, MacKenzie. To the end.” And with that Sam disappeared inside his tent.
Riley’s tent was set up on the opposite side of the camp, away from the sorting tents and the tomb itself. And away from the others on his team. He liked his privacy. And he liked facing in a direction that would allow him to see lights coming from outside—whether from cars or flashlights—and he liked his tent to be positioned so sound was directed toward him and not away. He was always careful. For good reason.
“I’ve missed this,” Maggie said once they were inside the tent.
He bent down to light one of the lanterns in the corner and looked back over his shoulder at his wife with a curious expression.
“You’ve missed camping in the desert?” he asked.
Her face was serious and he sat down to face her, unlacing his boots and putting them in the corner.
“I’ve missed spending this time together with you. I feel like I owe you an apology.” She shrugged and he could see the tears in her eyes as she blinked and struggled to hold them back.
“No, of course not,” he said, panicking at the sight of tears. “What would you have to apologize for?”
“I know I’ve been different this past year. And that I’ve gotten harder to live with the longer we keep trying to have a baby and not succeeding. But last night while we were making love, I didn’t think of that once. It was only about being with you. And I realized how much I’ve missed you over the past year. That level of intimacy.”
“Sweetheart. You don’t owe me an apology. I want a family as much as you do. And we’re a team on this. And you’ve only been a little crazy,” he said, lips twitching.
She sniffed out a laugh and one of the tears slipped free. “We’re a team,” she said, nodding in agreement. “And I’ve come to realize that you’re the most important thing in my life. You’re my focus. The reason I want a child is because it would be an extension of who we are together. But if it’s not meant to be, then it’s not meant to be. I don’t want to live the rest of our lives like we have the last year. Filled with disappointment after disappointment when focusing on each other is what’s important.”
“You want to stop trying?” he asked, more confused than ever.
“No, of course not. But I realize a child is not the end all be all of our love. I want to enjoy every moment I have with you. And if we’re blessed with children then we’ll enjoy those moments when they come as well.”
“Deal,” he said, smiling, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. She was his best friend and his partner. Her happiness was his, and vice versa. They’d work through this together, no matter what the outcome might be.
“Now do you want to see this book in my pocket, or not?”
“That’s not a pickup line I’ve ever heard before,” she laughed. “Very original.”
“Thank you. I try.” He pulled the cloth wrapped book out of his pocket and laid it in his lap, unwrapping it carefully.
Even in the dimness of the lantern light, the book shone with an unnatural glow. Maggie moved closer, so she sat beside him, and her finger trailed along the gilded edge.
“It’s almost hot to the touch,” she whispered. “How odd.”
Riley opened the book carefully, though the papyrus pages were perfectly preserved, the edges of each page coated with gold leaf. And inside the writing was precise and beautiful, as if a machine, or magic, had written the glyphs instead of the human hand.
“It is warm.” It was almost like holding his hands over an open flame. Maggie’s hand rested beside his, each of them touching a corner of the outside of the book, and it was as if he could feel its power running through both of them in a continual loop. It was intoxicating. And he could see how when the words were spoken that it could bespell whoever possessed the book.
With that in mind he closed it and wrapped it back in the cloth, sliding it inside his backpack. Almost immediately a chill filled the air, and Maggie shivered.
“So weird,” she murmured, removing her own boots and then working at the buttons of her shirt. “Why do I feel so sad?”
He couldn’t explain it, but it was powerful. The best thing for them both would be to push past it. “I have no idea. If you’re that sad then maybe you shouldn’t be the boss tonight after all. It’s a pretty big job.”
Her brow arched and he grinned at the indignant look on her face. Her hair and body was bathed in the glow of the lamplight and it was hard to take his eyes off her as he discarded his own shirt and pants.
“Don’t worry. I’m up for it. As are you, I see.”
He snorted out a laugh. “So sassy.”
The blankets that covered his bedroll were soft and he spread them open and shook them out, just to make sure no creatures had made themselves at home. And then he lay on his back in the middle of the covers and propped his hands behind his head.
“Now what?” he asked as she finished getting undressed and knelt beside him.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m in charge, remember?”
“As far as I can see, you’re just a lot of talk and not a lot of action.”
“Better watch out or you’re going to end up with a gag in your mouth.”
“I’d rather end up with you in my mouth,” he said with a leer.
“I’ll take it under advisement. Now be quiet. You’re distracting me.” She grinned and then leaned down to nip at his hipbone and he jerked against her. “It’s been so long since I’ve tasted you.”
“Don’t let me stand in your way,” he said through gritted teeth as her hand wrapped around the length of his shaft and she moved between his thighs. And then her damp, hot mouth surrounded the head of his cock and every teasing thought escaped his mind.
“God, Maggie,” he groaned. Her tongue swirled around the head and then she swallowed him from tip to shaft. And then she repeated the process over and over until he thought he might die from the pleasure. Her hand stroked him so it worked in tandem with her mouth and his balls tightened.
Her moan of pleasure was wicked and vibrated against the le
ngth of his shaft and his hand fisted into the length of her hair as his hips began to thrust upward.
“Uh, uh, uh,” she said, shaking her head and releasing his cock with a soft pop. “You were never very good at letting someone else be in charge.” She pulled his hand away from her hair and licked playfully at the tip of his cock once more, causing his cock to flex against her tongue.
And then he watched as his shaft disappeared between her soft pink lips and into the liquid fire of her mouth and he knew he was lost.
“I’ll come if you don’t stop, baby.” His breath was labored and sweat dampened his skin. His fists bunched into the blankets as she doubled her efforts, her mouth relentless as it devoured him whole. The back of her mouth relaxed and she took him even deeper, and then she started to swallow, the motion undulating her tongue on the underside of his cock, and he lost all control.
His come jetted in stream after stream, filling her mouth, and he held back a roar as she drank him down.
Maggie released him from her mouth as his body continued to spasm against her, and she continued to lick and stroke him softly as he came down from his orgasm. His cock was still hard and anticipation filled her as his eyes opened and met her gaze.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so connected to him. It was literally as if they were sharing the same heartbeat, the same thoughts, and the same breath. They were tied together in a way she couldn’t explain.
Her gaze went to the book wrapped up in Riley’s backpack. She could still feel its pulsing heat, as if it were alive in her hand. She slid up his body until she straddled his hips and she held his cock steady as she sank down to the hilt.
Riley twined his hands with hers and she held on tight as she began to ride. His hips arched upward to meet her and fiery sensations tore through her clit as her orgasm started to build. She cried out and he released her hands, grabbing hold of her hips as he pumped into her.
“Riley,” she cried out. “What—” she shook her head, unable to finish her thoughts as heat consumed them both—the same heat that they’d felt when touching the book earlier. It consumed them. Bound them together in a way she’d never experienced before. As if it were more than just his cock buried inside her. But that he was actually a part of her.
She collapsed onto his chest, unsure if she could survive the intensity of the emotions rioting through her. She felt what he was feeling—the deep love he had for her, the lust that consumed him when he touched her, and the confusion at what was happening to their bodies now. But neither of them could stop.
Their mouths found each other as the hunger raged inside them, their tongues melding and stroking. Perspiration soaked their skin and hips clashed. Desperation took hold as their flesh became one, and the white hot lightning of release crackled across her sensitive skin—from the tight bundle of nerves at her clit to the edge of her cervix where the head of his cock kissed with every deep thrust.
“I’m going to come,” she said. And then she rose up and planted her hands on his chest, riding them both to the finish. Her head tossed back and his fingers bit into her hips as pleasure consumed them. And when the storm broke free inside of her, wave after wave of pleasure destroyed what was left of her control.
The heat went hotter and higher than she thought possible, until she was surprised they didn’t combust into flames, and then his seed erupted inside of her and she cried out against at the intensity. She’d never felt him like that. But she was so sensitive to everything happening with their bodies all she could do was marvel at the wonder. As his seed planted itself firmly in her body. She couldn’t explain it. But she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they’d just conceived the child they’d both longed for.
Tears fell from her cheeks to his chest and when she looked down into his eyes, she saw the dampness there as well. He’d felt it too.
Maggie collapsed on top of him, exhausted, and he wrapped his arms around her as they both fell into a sound sleep.
CHAPTER SIX
Riley heard the rumble of an engine in the distance just before dawn, and he shook Maggie awake and motioned for her to get dressed as quickly as possible. He’d had a feeling sometime during the night that he needed to be on alert and ready for whatever was coming. And despite the fact that he knew he couldn’t really trust anyone but Maggie, he’d woken Sam out of a sound sleep and filled him in. Because he’d had to trust someone.
He’d returned the Book of Souls to the room they’d taken it from during the night. The power was undeniable. But it wasn’t a magic he wanted to mess with. It said danger would come to any who possessed the book, and after what had happened during their lovemaking the night before, he believed the legend.
They didn’t need danger in their lives. They had a child to think of now. He knew there was a child with a conviction he couldn’t explain. And he’d do whatever he could to protect it and Maggie.
Dawn was just breaking over the horizon when the Jeep came to a stop and Dr. Bekhit got out of the driver’s seat. Riley was surprised to see he was alone, and doubt went through his mind that maybe he was overreacting. But then he remembered the blood on the edge of the platform.
“Dr. MacKenzie,” Bekhit said as he got out of the Jeep. “Sorry to disturb you so early, but I thought you might need my help since you are men short.”
“How’s Walker?” Riley asked.
He saw Sam out of the corner of his eye move to start a fire so they could get coffee going. It was just business as usual as far as anyone was concerned. Bekhit didn’t noticed the gun Sam hid in his lap as he stoked the fire.
“He is much better today,” Bekhit said, though now that Riley was looking for it he could see the calculation in the other man’s eyes. “He had a nasty infection. The hospital recommends that he return to the United States as soon as he’s able to travel.”
“I’d like to go back with you this morning to check on him, if you don’t mind. I’m responsible for my team while we’re here. And I can arrange transport back so his family doesn’t have to.”
Bekhit paused at that request, and Riley could tell by the look in his eyes that Walker wouldn’t be coming back to his family. And that if Bekhit had his way none of them would be returning home at the end of the dig. Anger knotted in the pit of his stomach and his hand fisted at his side, but he forced himself to relax.
“Sure, my friend. A good idea.” Bekhit moved to the open tent area where they’d laid out the new finds from the day before. “You’ve been quite busy. This is an excellent amount of progress.”
“We finished clearing out Sector C.”
“Any luck opening Sector D?”
“Not yet,” Riley lied. “As you know, we’ll only get one chance at opening the chamber door, and we want to make sure we do it correctly. We haven’t deciphered the code.”
“He’s lying,” Jay said, appearing from his own tent. A gun was held loosely in his hand and rested at his side. “He’s cracked the code. Or I should say Walker cracked the code and left it for him in the back of the journal. I knew you recognized what it was when you took the journal from me yesterday. I’m familiar with the numerical code he used too, Dr. MacKenzie.”
Riley shrugged, knowing now the game was over. “Good for you, kid. But knowing how to recognize the code doesn’t mean that you could decipher it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have tried to get into the sealed door by yourself. And just because I do know the code doesn’t mean I have the book.”
“I followed you into Quadrant D. I watched you open the door.”
“Like I said, so what? If you were standing there then you should’ve noticed I didn’t come back out with the book. What did you do with Walker? I saw the blood.”
“He is dead,” Bekhit said, shrugging. “I knew he’d broken the code. He’s not nearly as good of a liar as you are. So we took him on a little field trip to see if he’d test it out. But his constitution was stronger than one might think.”
Riley barely spared a
glance at the weapon Bekhit pointed at him. He was too busy praying that Maggie would stick to the plan and stay hidden inside the tent.
“If you want the book then you can go get it yourself,” Riley said.
“You will get it for me or I will cut little pieces off your wife. Do you understand me?”
“Fine, but like I said, I don’t have the book. It wasn’t in the sealed room.”
“I told you already he’s lying,” Jay broke in. “He has the book. I heard them talking about it last night.”
“Excellent,” Bekhit said. “That saves us time and much trouble. Get the book, Dr. MacKenzie and we’ll kill you quickly.”
“That’s a tempting offer, Bekhit, but I’m going to have to pass. Jay needs to get better at eavesdropping. I don’t have the book. And from what I could see it’s not in the sealed room.”
“Bullshit,” Jay said, taking a few steps closer and pointing the gun in his hand at Riley. His hand wasn’t steady like Bekhit’s, and Riley knew instinctively he was the one to worry about.
Sam’s body tensed, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, but Riley didn’t spare his a second glance. He’d have to trust his friend to have his back.
“I don’t know what you overheard, but it wasn’t that I have the Book of Souls,” Riley said, letting his aggravation show. “It wasn’t inside sector D. And believe me, we looked. You’re chasing a legend. A myth. It doesn’t exist.”
“If you don’t have it, then you won’t mind if we search your things?” Bekhit asked.
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Before Jay could take a step a shot rang out from inside his tent and Bekhit dropped onto his knees. He dropped his gun to staunch the flow of blood coming from his upper thigh.
“Don’t even think about it,” Sam said to Jay as he came to his feet, the weapon trained steady on Jay. “Drop your weapon and get down on your knees.” Jay tossed his gun into the sand and did as Sam asked.
