Page 8 of Her Two Dragons

Michelle wanted to argue that watching him walk wouldn’t do her any good either, with his muscular calves, his strong back and shoulders that gave him an almost jungle cat-like quality. At least she could hide any arousal she felt in her shorts. It wouldn’t be on display. Though, the way her body was hot and tingling, she was sure it was still clear as day that she was completely hot and bothered. Maybe if they’d been out in the Egypt sun, no one would’ve been the wiser.

“You said you saw some light up ahead?”

“Yeah, not too far.” He tensed, and she wondered if he was having a hard time not turning back around and looking at her again. Or kissing her again. “As soon as we get out, we’ll get Dr. Brighton, bring some flood lamps down, so we can really get a feel for what you’ve uncovered here.”

“I wish it didn’t feel like it was going to get taken away as soon as we hit the surface. I mean, there are doctors of anthropology and archaeology up there. And people writing their doctoral theses. I’ll be lucky if I even get a mention in someone’s paper for being the one to uncover the door.”

“This is your find, Michelle. You should play a hand in documenting it. And who knows. Maybe you’ll find your Obsidian Moon after all.”

“I hope so. The descriptions of it are incredible, even if they’re incomplete. I’d love to just see it, to be able to hold it in my hands. To know that I played a role in finding it.”

“Let’s make sure it happens.” He glanced over his shoulder, smiling at her. “After all, no one would even be in this room if it weren’t for you.”

“You don’t want any credit?”

“Are you kidding? This isn’t my area of expertise. I wouldn’t know the Book of the Living from the Book of the Dead. I’d probably end up resurrecting killer mummies by accident.”

Michelle let out a laugh, surprised that he’d actually seen the movies, since he made no comment before. “Just don’t read ancient Egyptian around the books and don’t try to steal mummified organs, and I’m sure we’ll be okay.”

“Trust me, that is not my type of treasure.” He paused for a second, shifting his body to the left, and he almost looked like he was sniffing the air. “I think it’s this way.”

“What is your type of treasure?” Michelle reached out, her fingertips skimming over his lower back as he stepped to the left. She wanted to ask why he was smelling their way out, but she couldn’t find a way to ask it that didn’t make him sound like a wild animal hunting prey.

“What do you mean?” He shrugged, moving a little quicker, almost as if having her touch on him was too much.

“If you were going to collect a treasure, what would it be?”

“That’s a very broad question. Who says it has to be just one thing?” His feet started up an incline, giving her an even better view of his calves and his ass.

“Surely there’s something you want, more than anything.” She smirked. “Boy Scout supplies, maybe?”

Darius laughed, a deep, rumbling, warm sound that changed his entire world-on-his-shoulders attitude. “They have come in handy today.” He paused again, shining the flashlight around. “But no, I think if I could have only one thing in my treasure piles, it would be something far more valuable than that.”

He didn’t elaborate, didn’t indicate what he thought would be of most value to him, and Michelle couldn’t exactly blame him for it. Other than the searing kiss that still tingled over her lips, she didn’t know much of anything about Darius.

“Hello?” Another voice came from the dark.

It took Michelle a moment to realize it was Khalid.

“What are you doing down here? Tell me you didn’t follow us in without a flashlight.” She shook her head in disbelief. How had either of these guys proven their worth enough to be on a dig like this?

“I’m not that far from the entrance.” He chuckled as Darius lit up his face with the flashlight. “I would’ve gone back to get one if it got too dark.”

“We’re almost out then?”

“Indeed. Dr. Brighton is assembling equipment to bring in, so that she can start documenting the find. She asked that I get you both out of here and make sure to get you both water.”

“I’m not leaving until she agrees to let me help document. This was my discovery. I found the door. I was the first one in.”

Darius and Khalid both laughed.

“Such a stubborn American.” Khalid shook his head. “Fine. Darius, why don’t you go get Michelle’s water bottle, and I’ll let the good Doctor know that Michelle’s staging a sit-in.”

She frowned as both men seemed to jump at the opportunity to help her, to make sure she got what she wanted.

It wasn’t like her request was unreasonable, exactly, but it also wasn’t something she desperately needed. What she really needed was to get Darius’s kiss out of her head, so that she could refocus on her job at the dig.

Being down here, among artifacts and treasures not seen in millennia, was exactly what would help her do that.

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