Fireworks: Riley (7 page)

Her moan of pleasure was wicked and vibrated against the length of his shaft and his hand fisted into the length of her hair as his hips began to thrust upward.

“Uh, uh, uh,” she said, shaking her head and releasing his cock with a soft pop. “You were never very good at letting someone else be in charge.” She pulled his hand away from her hair and licked playfully at the tip of his cock once more, causing his cock to flex against her tongue.

And then he watched as his shaft disappeared between her soft pink lips and into the liquid fire of her mouth and he knew he was lost.

“I’ll come if you don’t stop, baby.” His breath was labored and sweat dampened his skin. His fists bunched into the blankets as she doubled her efforts, her mouth relentless as it devoured him whole. The back of her mouth relaxed and she took him even deeper, and then she started to swallow, the motion undulating her tongue on the underside of his cock, and he lost all control.

His come jetted in stream after stream, filling her mouth, and he held back a roar as she drank him down.

***

Maggie released him from her mouth as his body continued to spasm against her, and she continued to lick and stroke him softly as he came down from his orgasm. His cock was still hard and anticipation filled her as his eyes opened and met her gaze.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so connected to him. It was literally as if they were sharing the same heartbeat, the same thoughts, and the same breath. They were tied together in a way she couldn’t explain.

Her gaze went to the book wrapped up in Riley’s backpack. She could still feel its pulsing heat, as if it were alive in her hand. She slid up his body until she straddled his hips and she held his cock steady as she sank down to the hilt.

Riley twined his hands with hers and she held on tight as she began to ride. His hips arched upward to meet her and fiery sensations tore through her clit as her orgasm started to build. She cried out and he released her hands, grabbing hold of her hips as he pumped into her.

“Riley,” she cried out. “What—” she shook her head, unable to finish her thoughts as heat consumed them both—the same heat that they’d felt when touching the book earlier. It consumed them. Bound them together in a way she’d never experienced before. As if it were more than just his cock buried inside her. But that he was actually a
part
of her.

She collapsed onto his chest, unsure if she could survive the intensity of the emotions rioting through her. She felt what he was feeling—the deep love he had for her, the lust that consumed him when he touched her, and the confusion at what was happening to their bodies now. But neither of them could stop.

Their mouths found each other as the hunger raged inside them, their tongues melding and stroking. Perspiration soaked their skin and hips clashed. Desperation took hold as their flesh became one, and the white hot lightning of release crackled across her sensitive skin—from the tight bundle of nerves at her clit to the edge of her cervix where the head of his cock kissed with every deep thrust.

“I’m going to come,” she said. And then she rose up and planted her hands on his chest, riding them both to the finish. Her head tossed back and his fingers bit into her hips as pleasure consumed them. And when the storm broke free inside of her, wave after wave of pleasure destroyed what was left of her control.

The heat went hotter and higher than she thought possible, until she was surprised they didn’t combust into flames, and then his seed erupted inside of her and she cried out against at the intensity. She’d never felt him like that. But she was so sensitive to everything happening with their bodies all she could do was marvel at the wonder. As his seed planted itself firmly in her body. She couldn’t explain it. But she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they’d just conceived the child they’d both longed for.

Tears fell from her cheeks to his chest and when she looked down into his eyes, she saw the dampness there as well. He’d felt it too.

Maggie collapsed on top of him, exhausted, and he wrapped his arms around her as they both fell into a sound sleep.

Riley heard the rumble of an engine in the distance just before dawn, and he shook Maggie awake and motioned for her to get dressed as quickly as possible. He’d had a feeling sometime during the night that he needed to be on alert and ready for whatever was coming. And despite the fact that he knew he couldn’t really trust anyone but Maggie, he’d woken Sam out of a sound sleep and filled him in. Because he’d had to trust someone.

He’d returned the Book of Souls to the room they’d taken it from during the night. The power was undeniable. But it wasn’t a magic he wanted to mess with. It said danger would come to any who possessed the book, and after what had happened during their lovemaking the night before, he believed the legend.

They didn’t need danger in their lives. They had a child to think of now. He knew there was a child with a conviction he couldn’t explain. And he’d do whatever he could to protect it and Maggie.

Dawn was just breaking over the horizon when the Jeep came to a stop and Dr. Bekhit got out of the driver’s seat. Riley was surprised to see he was alone, and doubt went through his mind that maybe he was overreacting. But then he remembered the blood on the edge of the platform.

“Dr. MacKenzie,” Bekhit said as he got out of the Jeep. “Sorry to disturb you so early, but I thought you might need my help since you are men short.”

“How’s Walker?” Riley asked.

He saw Sam out of the corner of his eye move to start a fire so they could get coffee going. It was just business as usual as far as anyone was concerned. Bekhit didn’t noticed the gun Sam hid in his lap as he stoked the fire.

“He is much better today,” Bekhit said, though now that Riley was looking for it he could see the calculation in the other man’s eyes. “He had a nasty infection. The hospital recommends that he return to the United States as soon as he’s able to travel.”

“I’d like to go back with you this morning to check on him, if you don’t mind. I’m responsible for my team while we’re here. And I can arrange transport back so his family doesn’t have to.”

Bekhit paused at that request, and Riley could tell by the look in his eyes that Walker wouldn’t be coming back to his family. And that if Bekhit had his way none of them would be returning home at the end of the dig. Anger knotted in the pit of his stomach and his hand fisted at his side, but he forced himself to relax.

“Sure, my friend. A good idea.” Bekhit moved to the open tent area where they’d laid out the new finds from the day before. “You’ve been quite busy. This is an excellent amount of progress.”

“We finished clearing out Sector C.”

“Any luck opening Sector D?”

“Not yet,” Riley lied. “As you know, we’ll only get one chance at opening the chamber door, and we want to make sure we do it correctly. We haven’t deciphered the code.”

“He’s lying,” Jay said, appearing from his own tent. A gun was held loosely in his hand and rested at his side. “He’s cracked the code. Or I should say Walker cracked the code and left it for him in the back of the journal. I knew you recognized what it was when you took the journal from me yesterday. I’m familiar with the numerical code he used too, Dr. MacKenzie.”

Riley shrugged, knowing now the game was over. “Good for you, kid. But knowing how to recognize the code doesn’t mean that you could decipher it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have tried to get into the sealed door by yourself. And just because I do know the code doesn’t mean I have the book.”

“I followed you into Quadrant D. I watched you open the door.”

“Like I said, so what? If you were standing there then you should’ve noticed I didn’t come back out with the book. What did you do with Walker? I saw the blood.”

“He is dead,” Bekhit said, shrugging. “I knew he’d broken the code. He’s not nearly as good of a liar as you are. So we took him on a little field trip to see if he’d test it out. But his constitution was stronger than one might think.”

Riley barely spared a glance at the weapon Bekhit pointed at him. He was too busy praying that Maggie would stick to the plan and stay hidden inside the tent.

“If you want the book then you can go get it yourself,” Riley said.

“You will get it for me or I will cut little pieces off your wife. Do you understand me?”

“Fine, but like I said, I don’t have the book. It wasn’t in the sealed room.”

“I told you already he’s lying,” Jay broke in. “He has the book. I heard them talking about it last night.”

“Excellent,” Bekhit said. “That saves us time and much trouble. Get the book, Dr. MacKenzie and we’ll kill you quickly.”

“That’s a tempting offer, Bekhit, but I’m going to have to pass. Jay needs to get better at eavesdropping. I don’t have the book. And from what I could see it’s not in the sealed room.”

“Bullshit,” Jay said, taking a few steps closer and pointing the gun in his hand at Riley. His hand wasn’t steady like Bekhit’s, and Riley knew instinctively he was the one to worry about.

Sam’s body tensed, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, but Riley didn’t spare his a second glance. He’d have to trust his friend to have his back.

“I don’t know what you overheard, but it wasn’t that I have the Book of Souls,” Riley said, letting his aggravation show. “It wasn’t inside sector D. And believe me, we looked. You’re chasing a legend. A myth. It doesn’t exist.”

“If you don’t have it, then you won’t mind if we search your things?” Bekhit asked.

“Sure. Go ahead.”

Before Jay could take a step a shot rang out from inside his tent and Bekhit dropped onto his knees. He dropped his gun to staunch the flow of blood coming from his upper thigh.

“Don’t even think about it,” Sam said to Jay as he came to his feet, the weapon trained steady on Jay. “Drop your weapon and get down on your knees.” Jay tossed his gun into the sand and did as Sam asked.

Riley held his gun steady on Bekhit and walked closer to the wounded man. “I forgot to mention my wife was in the tent. She doesn’t like people going through our things. But she’s a hell of a shot. Pretty cool, right? She was one of those privileged rich kids that grew up shooting for sport. It comes in handy on occasion.”

“Thank you, darling,” Maggie said, coming out to join him. “And I don’t mean to be dramatic, but we should probably get the hell out of Egypt before this place is swarming with soldiers and looters.”

“I always said your wife was beautiful and brilliant,” Sam said, leaning down to pick up Jay’s weapon. “I say we truss these guys up, leave them for the buzzards, and catch the first flight out. I’m sure Cambodia wouldn’t mind if I showed up a few days early.”

“I’ve never been to Cambodia,” Maggie said.

“No offense, but you’re not going to be there this time either. Lord, you guys are loud. I’m going to have to bleach my eyes and ears to get those sounds and images out of my head.”

“I always love getting together with you, Sam,” Maggie said, her face flushed red with embarrassment. “We should do it again real soon.”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but none of us are going to Cambodia. The smartest thing for us to do is head to the UK and immediately go to the press. Publicity is our only way out of this mess. We’ve got all of our documentation on the finds, and Sam had the video camera rolling during Bekhit’s confession of Walker’s murder. Not to mention we’re the only ones who have deciphered the code to get into Sector D. By the time we’re done with the press we won’t ever have to worry about retaliation from Bekhit or the Egyptian government. And they’re going to want to be real nice to us if they want to get into that room any time soon.”

“You put the book back in the room?” Maggie asked.

“While you were sleeping,” he nodded. “It brings danger to those who possess it. So they’re welcome to keep it. You and I have something precious that needs our protection.”

Maggie’s smile was radiant as she looked at him, the love shining in her eyes. “You felt it?” she asked.

“I did. It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experienced. To actually feel life created.”

“Have you guys been doing drugs?” Sam called out. “You’re sounding a little crazy.”

“Shut up, Sam,” they both said in unison.

Maggie took his hand and placed it on her stomach. “I love you, Riley MacKenzie. Thank you for giving me our babies.”

He went to smile and then her words penetrated. “Wait a second. What do you mean, babies?”

Maggie considered herself a patient woman. Really, she did. But sometimes the MacKenzies tested that patience right to the edge of the canyon, until she wanted to push them all off.

“All I’m saying,” Cooper MacKenzie said, bringing in a stack of blankets into the bedroom, “is that you could’ve planned a little better.”

Sweat glistened on her brow and her hands fisted against the sheets. “I’m going to get out of this bed and kill you, Cooper MacKenzie.”

“I’d like to see you try, darling.” He gave her a wolfish grin and winked. “What I was going to say, before you so rudely interrupted with your puny threat, is that having a baby during a February blizzard in Montana isn’t the best idea."

“If she can’t get out of the bed to kill you, then I’m duty bound as her sister-in-law to help her out,” Claire said, following her husband into the room and shoving him in the back. “It’s not like babies send out an invitation when they’re ready to come. And she’s two weeks early.”

“She’s progressing fast,” Charlotte said from the side of the bed. She held Maggie’s hand as another contraction seized her whole body. “She’s barely been in labor an hour and already the contractions are one on top of the other. I was in labor for thirty-six hours with Jayden.”

“I feel like I have to push,” Maggie said, panting.

“I imagine so,” Cooper said. “It looks like you swallowed a semi. I’ve never seen anyone so big in my life.”