“I’m sure they’ll visit you often.” I had no clue how long the drive was from Cambridge to Wales, but it couldn’t be more than a few hours. My arm went up to his back, and I rubbed it—to comfort him. Despite the cold air around us, his skin was hot under my touch. I stroked his back, paying no—absolutely none whatsoever—attention to every contour of his muscles. “You could stop working for thesecret-saving-historical-crap-societyand only teach at the university. No more chasing things around the world. Just a regular nine-to-five job. If you sit for ten minutes in a pub or stroll in a museum, you’ll find a line of women who want to have babies with you. You’re a dream man.”
A twinge of jealousy went through my gut at my own words. I wanted to be among those women. No, not among them. Just me.
He faced me, a brown curl of hair stuck on his forehead. “Even yours?” His brow puckered, and his eyes met mine and lingered.
A zing roared down my spine, and my smile dropped, but the corners of his mouth lifted. The cool air was heavy with our breaths. Something passed between us. I couldn’t stop staring at his moist lips.
Andrew straightened. Shifting closer, his hand reached my face, and he smoothed away the wet hair that had stuck to my cheek. The brush of his fingertips over my skin took my breath away. His fingers traveled down my face and wrapped gently at the nape of my neck. I slowly gravitated toward him. His mismatched eyes glinted with a million questions in them. He cupped my cheek and leaned in, tilting his head. My heart thumped out of rhythm, and his chest’s quick rise and fall suggested he felt the same way.
Andrew’s lips parted, and his face was so close, his breath touched my mouth. I wanted to kiss Andrew so desperately that it hurt inside my chest. Or maybe I was having a heart attack. A fling was a bad idea because I wanted this man for more than one night—I was falling for him. No, not falling. I was plummeting headfirst into a maelstrom of forbidden feelings. And there was nothing for me to grab on to for safety. Andrew’s mouth brushed over mine.
It was a soft kiss. Tender. Perfect. The featherlight touch of Andrew’s lips was like a petal of a fresh rose. My hands moved to his chest, then quickly to his neck, threading my fingers into his hair. The low sound in his throat let me know he enjoyed it. The pressure of his mouth on mine triggered a hunger I hadn’t been aware I felt. My mouth opened to him, and his tongue moved over mine. I moaned in pleasure. Andrew wrapped his arms around my body and brought me flush against him, his mouth devouring mine. My head whirled. I knew it would feel incredible to be kissed by Andrew, but I’d had no idea how drunk I would get on this.
Without breaking our kiss, I hauled myself on the top of him, his hard length pressed against me. I thrummed with need, and my greedy side took over. Arching into him, I ground my hips, my aching spot seeking friction and pulling another groan out of him. I shuddered at the image of his tongue on my body, of his cock inside me.
My heart was going to explode?—
“Get a room, Jones.” Richard’s voice detonated like a bomb in the cave and Andrew and I broke apart as if lightning had struck us.
ChapterNineteen
“Richard,” Andrew snarled, his expression contorting into anger. He removed his hand from me, making me go cold all over, especially where he had just touched me. “What are you doing here?”
“I’d say the same thing to you. I’m here to find Augustine’s treasure, but you’re obviously”—Richard waved his hand at us—“getting busy with…”
I took a moment to scrutinize Dr. Dickhead. In contrast to us, Richard wore swim shorts and a white T-shirt and he held a snorkeling mask with a small oxygen tank—he was much more prepared. He was a foot shorter than Andrew, and a wet shirt that clung to his body revealed a teenager’s narrow shoulders and slim arms. Such an ordinary asswipe. What exactly did Brie see in this man?
Andrew looked at me, and his eyes softened. “I’m so sorry.” He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“It’s okay,” I whispered.
It wasn’t okay.
I was making out with the sexiest man on this planet and maybe getting more than a mind-blowing kiss, and now the moment was ruined.
Andrew stood up, and I followed suit, feeling overexposed, naked, and unnerved. I hid behind his enormous frame, embarrassed that Richard had caught us barely dressed. Going for a swim in a bra and panties felt like a stupid idea now.
Richard dramatically shielded his eyes with his hand. “Not what I came to see.”
“How did you know to come here?” Andrew asked.
“You aren’t the only one who’s clever. Don’t forget, we used to work together. I know a thing or two.” Richard angled his head and caught my stare. “Mrs. Jones, I apologize for ruining this private moment. If I knew what was going on here, I’d have waited outside. But since we’re here, tell me, did you find anything?” He walked deeper into the cave, studying the same rock walls Andrew and I had examined earlier.
“It’s empty, so you can leave,” Andrew said.
“Why is it that every time we’re in the same space, you want me to leave?” Like a shark, Richard made his way around us, his eyes grazing my body. I stepped closer to Andrew.
Richard glanced at the goo of old paper near the pool, his brows coming together. “What is that?”
“The next clue,” I said, my eyes landing on the leather sack in the dark corner. It had no value, but I wanted Dickhead to think it did and that we were a step ahead of him. I bent and grabbed it. “Too bad it’s ours.”
Richard tilted his head up to nature’s sky window, and then he peered at me. “Can I see the bracelet? The one that you found last night.”
My stomach roiled. Goddamn it. William must have told Brandon. Of course, he did. But I was the idiot who shared the news with him in the first place.
Andrew drew in a deep breath, clenching and then unclenching his fists. “You can stay. We’re leaving.” He tugged my hand to go.
As I turned, Richard grasped my right arm, his fingers gripping tightly around my forearm.
