“Best undressed.”
We both chuckled, then he gently pushed my hair away from my face and settled me more snuggly into the crook of his arm. “What if after all this, we didn’t click in bed? I don’t think I could go on.”
I kissed his chest. “Honestly, I think this might be one of the best days of my life.”
Blue eyes blinked down at me, sparkling with delight. “You’re going to make me have a heart attack if you keep saying stuff like that.”
“I can’t remember the last time I was this happy. And that’s the truth.” I hesitated, thinking of everything that had happened before we got home. “In some ways, this has also been one of theworstdays of my life. I mean, I never thought anyone would pull a gun on me and my friends.”
“Yeah, not a great feeling. We’re going to find the Golden Venus, Paige. I don’t know how, but we will. It’s our calling.”
“Is it?”
He rolled us until we were both on our sides, and scooted around until we were face-to-face. “Of course it is. Our families have always been connected. If anyone is going to find Wyrd Jack’s treasure, it’s us. Right? We’re not going to just stand by while the fucking Vanderburgs find it—you already know what will happen.”
“They’ll rule the fucking town.”
Seb nodded. “Yep. They’ll get all the credit, all the news reports, and people will start treating them different, thinking they’re the new town heroes—and the worst part is that they don’t even care about the Venus, or Wyrd Jack. That statue might as well be a fat stack of cash, for all they care. Now tell me, are you and I going to let that happen, after all we’ve been through? Just roll over and give the Vanderburgsourtreasure?Oursacred duty?”
“Sacred” might be going overboard, but I agreed with the sentiment fully, getting a little fired up about it, too.
“You better shut your mouth, Seb Jansen, talking that trash.”
One brow arched slowly, and he pulled me closer. “Why don’t you shut it for me?”
Gladly.I pressed a fierce kiss to his lips, feeling far less depressed about the treasure hunt than I had been, and delighted we were both on the same page.
About everything.
Chapter 26
If there was ever such a thing as too much sex, Seb and I surely came close to achieving it that night. We did it in my bed. In the shower. On the living-room rug, on our hands and knees. God help me, we even did it on the kitchen island.
When we finally shut our eyes in the wee hours of the morning, I was not expecting to want to do iteveragain. Especially when I woke up around 10:00 a.m., rolled over, and discovered that not only was I unexpectedly sore, every muscle screaming in protest, I was also covered in small bruises, bite marks, and had possibly dislocated my jaw at some point.
“Holy shit,” I complained hoarsely when I opened my mouth and my jaw cracked. “Think I’ve been pancaked by a semitruck and then backed over several times.”
“Same,” Seb said, sounding like his voice was coming from a deep well. “Um... is my back bleeding?”
I glanced at several ugly scratches. “Did I do that?”
“Those fingernails are deadly weapons,” he said, wincing as he tried to touch the scratches. “Ugh. We’re going to need to wash these sheets today. It looks like a crime scene.”
“What’s wrong with us? Is this normal?”
“Nothingis normal about this. I think I pulled a muscle in my ass—is that even possible?”
I was going to need a long, hot soak in the tub and a handful of Tylenol.
“What’s today?” I asked.
“Sunday, all day. Which means I only have to work at the marina for a few hours in the afternoon. We can sleep in till noon. Two more hours.” He tugged me closer, spooning me.
“No, we can’t. Sunday brunch.”
“N-o-o-o-o,” he whispered into my hair, pretending to cry. “Did we agree to that?”
“Unfortunately. It’s in an hour.” I wanted to make sure Jazmine and Benny were okay, so it wasn’t all bad. I just didn’t want to face real people while I was in this state. “Jesus, I smell awful. How is that possible? We already showered.”
