“I think if we find any data pertaining to the Lost Gold, it’s worth a shot. We have enhanced technology and some of the best experts at finding treasure. Those ancient explorers died because they had to contend with trekking through wild jungle. We can fly right to the coordinates.”
“I didn’t think you would catch the treasure-hunting bug, Avril,” Nik said. “We should stick to well-known areas, where the possibility of finds is greatest. Traipsing into an irradiated jungle filled with who-knows-what sounds like a death wish.”
“Your input is noted.” Avril smiled at the others. “Okay, the Larco Museum is our next destination.” She looked at the holo-table. “Computer, calculate how long to arrive at the Larco.”
“Three hours.”
“Excellent. Okay, I know some of us have rested.” She cast Nera a pointed look.
Nera raised a brow. “No, I didn’t.”
Nik hid a smile.
Avril’s lips flattened into a hard line. “Everyone, get some rest. We’ll assess the conditions when we arrive, but we have to assume there may be zombies, so we’ll go in once the sun has risen in the morning.”
Everyone left the room and eventually, Nik found himself at the front of the ship in the observation lounge. Stretched across the front of the room was a rounded window of synth glass that even extended across the floor for several meters. He stood on the glass, looking down at the twisted black jungle below.
The jungle looked completely impenetrable. Thick, twisting vines climbed through warped, distorted trees. He could only guess what kind of nasty things the vegetation was hiding. Every now and then, he spied ruins. Broken structures poking above the dark foliage. Remnants of a forgotten world.
He looked to the right, and caught sight of the black vastness of the ocean. It lapped angrily against black-sand beaches, and, in the distance, it stretched out to the horizon.
He didn’t hear her, but he knew when Nera joined him. It was like he was attuned to her presence.
She stepped onto the glass next to him, and peered down. “Doesn’t look friendly.”
He eyed her. “People say that about you.”
“I’m not friendly.”
He grabbed her and reeled her closer, his lips hovering over hers. “You are to me.”
“Not really, but you just seem to like my brand of unfriendliness.”
He couldn’t help his smile. Damn, he was besotted. “Maybe I do.”
She reached up, tracing his jawline. “I think you must have a hidden masochistic streak.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
She fiddled with his shirt. “So, Dr. Phoenix, what should we do to while away the hours before we reach Peru?”
“We could study up on the Larco.”
Her fingers toyed with the buttons over his chest. “Hmm. In your cabin? Naked?”
“If you’re naked, I could hardly concentrate on research.”
“That’s the entire point.” She turned, heading for the door. She looked back over her shoulder for a single, electric second, then she disappeared into the corridor.
Damn. Nik was hard as hell.
He took a deep breath, then hurried to follow her.
Feeling very pleased with herself,Nera followed Niklas into the cargo bay several hours later. She found her gaze on the way his cargo pants shaped his toned ass. That big, strong body of his…she felt a flash of heat and was amazed she could even feel desire after the way they’d spent the last few hours.
Her steps faltered and she stared at his broad back. She knew he physically wasn’t a danger to her, despite her being sore in a few intimate places. But he was still a risk. Even now, she felt the cracks in her internal defenses. Defenses she needed to survive.
She took a steadying breath. However much fun she had with Niklas, this had to end after this hunt. She wasn’t capable of more. Her fingers curled, her nails biting into her palm. He deserved more. He deserved to be loved and cherished, and the capacity to love had been beaten out of her. She touched her chest. All she had left was a dried husk of a heart.
