Page 21 of Royal Catch
Marguerite is nearly upon me when Polly makes her way up the dune. I’m on my feet, silently cheering for my horse in the race.
They’re neck and neck within seconds because Polly is strong and determined. They both stop short at the cave entrance. Marguerite tilts her head, letting the remaining blocks fall. The challenge was to scale the sandy dune with the blocks balanced on their head, so the blocks are no longer required.
Polly neatly plucks the blocks off her own head and sets them on the ground. “This is the final clue, the cave.”
Marguerite’s brows furrow. “The treasure’s in a cave? You go in.”
“Then you forfeit?”
“Just check if there are any bats or snakes in there. Then we’ll both go in.”
Polly shakes her head. “If I go in first, I’m getting the treasure.” She’s matter-of-fact, not angry about Marguerite throwing her to the hazards of an unknown cave. Like me. Ha.
They both stare at the cave. I wait, silently urging Polly to take the lead.Nothing in here but us hungry wolves.
Polly turns to Marguerite. “You think there’s spiders in there? I mean, I don’t care about bats. They’re sleeping in the daytime like cute little mouse vampires. But spiders?” She shivers.
“This is silly,” Marguerite says. “I’ll go.” She takes a step forward and turns back to Polly. “Are the snakes around here poisonous?”
“Relax, I’ll go. If anyone’s going to be devoured by a giant anaconda, it should be me. After all, I’m the lowest princess on the totem pole.”
I clench my jaw. She shouldn’t talk about herself like that.
Marguerite is still working her angle. “Bring the treasure out, and you can keep most of it.”
News flash, ladies, you can’t have onlymostof me.
Polly tilts her head, considering. “If I do that, I’ll be the winner. You’ll be second place.”
“That works. I’m not worried. There’s still weeks left of the competition, and I was first place yesterday.” The whole negotiation is surprisingly cordial and restrained.
Another woman appears on the dune.
“Go!” Marguerite hollers, giving Polly a shove.
Polly takes off like a shot into the cave.
I step forward into the light, and she throws her hands in the air and screams bloody murder.
“Relax, it’s just me,” I say.
She smacks my shoulder repeatedly. “You scared the shit out of me! What’re you doing skulking around caves for? Where’s the treasure?”
Somehow I know this isn’t going to go over well. She really wants some kind of compensation for her efforts. I don’t know why exactly, but I give her the benefit of the doubt that it’s for a good reason. I fear I’m halfway in love with her. One hug, one kiss, and I’m a goner. All because of her and her rebellious free spirit.
I take her hand. “Follow me.”
She follows me into the darkness, and I pull her close, my arms lightly wrapped around her. She’s trembling. I really did scare her. “I’m sorry I startled you.”
Her arms wrap tightly around my waist, and she presses her cheek to my chest. Then, seeming to realize she’s hugging me, she suddenly drops her arms and lifts her head. “It’s fine. Just point me in the direction of the treasure.”
I tighten my hold on her, hugging her or restraining her, I’m not sure. All I know is she’ll be furious when she hears the treasure news. I do the only thing I can think of in these circumstances, holding a feisty sexy woman in a dark cave, I kiss her, one hand on her jaw, holding her in place, my arm banding around her waist, keeping her close. It’s a hard demanding kiss meant to distract her, and she responds like I lit a fire under her. Our tongues do battle as her fingers tunnel into my hair, and her leg lifts and wraps around mine. It’s the hottest kiss of my life, urgent and wild. I’m rock hard. I cup her firm ass, pressing her against my aching groin.
“Did you find it?” Marguerite calls into the cave. “Are you still alive?”
Polly breaks the kiss, breathing hard. “Fuck me,” she whispers in a low curse. “You’re the treasure, aren’t you?”
I drop my hold on her and hold my temper in check, speaking in a fierce low tone. “You don’t need to sound so disappointed.”
