She spun and stared at him. “Once again, your imagination is getting the best of you. That sort of thing only happens in novels.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Still...” He examined the smooth walls as she continued on. If he were going to hide an invaluable treasure, he’d certainly—
He bumped into Red’s back. “Now what?”
She pointed ahead. “It’s like you spoke it into existence.”
His wounded pride rushed back as the light flickered off a line stretched across their path. Well, at least it used to. Time had loosened the bonds and it sagged low.
He grinned. “Only in the novels, you say?”
She let out a huff and carefully stepped over it. He ran a finger over a rusted spear tip hidden in the wall. Morbid.
After clearing the trap, Red at least had the sense to move slower. They didn’t go far when the tunnel opened into another cavern. A shaft of sunlight cut through the space and ended in a conspicuous glimmer.
Next to him, Red rubbed her eyes. “Please tell me I’m not seeing things.”
He took the torch from her and strode out into the open, weaving his way between chests and barrels. When he flipped open a weathered lid, the firelight reflected off a thousand coins. He couldn’t stop the little thrill that ran through him.
“You’re not seeing things.”
She stumbled forward and fell to her knees next to him, running her fingers over the coins. Her breath hitched.
Christian twisted in a slow circle. So many crates and chests. There had to be at least a hundred. Strings of pearls hung twisted among dusty cobwebs from a golden candelabra at his side. A wooden box ahead overflowed with tarnished silver goblets.
Read’s fabled treasure.
“Red, this is...” There were no words. They’d stumbled onto therichest treasure in the world. One whose existence he’d scoffed at an hour prior.
She stood and wiped at her eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“We found it.” She whispered the words to herself and took a step toward him. A grin broke free. “We found it!”
With a little whoop, she rushed toward him. Her enthusiasm must have been infectious, because when she threw her arms around his neck, he didn’t try to dissuade her. And when her soft lips pressed against his, he wrapped his free hand behind her back and leaned into the kiss.
His body reacted instantly, humming with awareness as her fingers tangled in his hair. Heat slipped through his veins, and the urge to claim her, to bend her over the nearest barrel, pulsed with each beat of his heart.
He backed into said barrel and laid the torch over the lid. With both hands free, he cupped her bottom and lifted her. She pressed her hips forward, grinding against his erection and he groaned. The thin fabric of her blouse pressed taut over her nipples and they brushed his chest.
“Red.” Her name came out in a reverent sigh and he slowed the reckless pace of the kiss, twining his tongue around hers, sucking her lower lip into his mouth. And realization slammed into him.
He needed her. Same as he needed air to breathe.
Not a need that a brief coupling could sate. A need that had him wanting her like this every day for the rest of his life.
Forever.
He must have tensed because she tilted her head back a fraction, searching his eyes with hers. His mouth dropped to her neck, tracing the exposed line of her collarbone. With a heavy swallow, he ignored her little gasp and lowered her to the ground.
What was he thinking? He’d nearly taken her in the middle of adark and dirty cave. Nearly laid his heart bare. The wordforeverstill beat in tune to his pulse, hovered on the tip of his tongue.
The magic of finding the treasure. That’s all it was. It couldn’t be more. Not between him and Red. Not ever.
She let out a shaky laugh and untangled her hands, dropping her forehead to his shoulder.
“I didn’t mean... I mean...” Shadows hid her face, but he’d put money on the blush creeping across her cheeks.
