The Serpent in the Stone - By Nicki Greenwood Page 0,60
chin and smiled at him. “God, no. I’d have to buy a new wardrobe every other week.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Walk around naked.”
She groaned in mock outrage and pushed up onto her hands.
He reached up to stroke the back of her neck. His eyes clouded with regret. “I am sorry, Sara.” His hand slid from under her hair, and he touched the amulet swaying between her breasts. “Be careful down there today, okay?”
Uncomfortable, she turned from his gaze. A look like that was too dangerous to contemplate. She’d offered him her body last night, and he’d taken it without hesitation. She didn’t dare hope there might be more to it.
You are a freak. Face it. She shoved into a sitting position. “If it gets much lighter, they’ll see me coming back.” She reached for her clothing and pulled it on. “You be careful, too.”
Ian swung his legs over the edge of the bed and scooped his jeans off the floor. She paused to admire his naked body and the way the light trailed across his skin. The same way her hands had done the night before.
He caught her looking and grinned.
She flushed and went back to dressing. She’d meant their night together to be a one-time thing, a way of proving to herself that something of her truly mattered to him...but oh, she wished they had just a few more hours.
Last night hadn’t been enough.
They stood up together, and he gave her a gentle kiss. She leaned into him, breathing him in, fearing she’d never have another chance.
“I’ll see you later,” he murmured. With a last caress, he released her and went to the door to open it.
She called on the wolf. As soon as she slipped into its body, she sprang out the door and loped away.
The journey back to camp didn’t take long in her lupine shape. With all her senses alert, she crept around the back of her tent. She heard movement in some of the other tents; she’d gotten back just in time. Making sure no one saw, she shapeshifted back into human form and rounded the tent, then ducked inside.
The interior looked undisturbed. As she saw the profusion of beer bottles on the table, Cameron’s image punched into her mind, blatant shock in his expression. What good were her gifts if they couldn’t save him? Cam hadn’t had a chance to live. How could he die so young?
She forced away the guilt and snatched a fresh set of clothes. Pulling on a lightweight jacket against the cool air, she emerged from her tent.
Dustin, Flintrop, and Lambertson had already begun morning preparations, moving about in subdued silence. Sara sucked in a breath and went toward them.
Lamb noticed her and left the others, meeting her halfway. “Are you all right?”
She marshaled a smile. “I’ll be okay.” She saw lines of grief in his face, and felt her smile disappear. For the first time, Lamb didn’t seem like the invincible, brilliant doctor of archaeology that she’d known since childhood. He looked tired. “You?”
“Cameron was the best student I ever taught, excepting you girls. I know his family well.” He sighed. “I have to go back to England to see them about this. After that, I’ll be staying at Eurocon to take care of some business matters. I’m leaving you and Faith in charge here. Sara, be careful. I don’t want any more accidents.”
“You aren’t coming back?”
“As soon I’m able.” He took a step toward her, and she saw by his posture that he wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know quite how. For that, she loved him all the more.
She studied the laces of her boots. The amulet weighed heavily around her neck. Her heart thumped, and she teetered on the point of telling him everything. “Lamb?”
“Yes?”
She lost her nerve under his somber, pale-blue gaze. “Have a safe trip,” she mumbled, then stepped around him to join the others.
As she approached, Flintrop looked up from his position at the sieve box. “Hello.”
The sympathy in his voice pricked at her. She remembered asking Flintrop if he was in love with her. He hadn’t answered, but he hadn’t needed to.
Tilting her head, she gave him a critical look. He was handsome enough, the sort of man who could make grimy jeans and a T-shirt look appealing. Smart. Successful. Powerful.
But cold. Distant in the way of a beautiful artifact, unreachable behind barriers of velvet rope and glass.
Ian was different. Warm and real and immediate, and he set fires in her that no