Page 63 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
"Who goes first?" Tony asked.
She wanted to tell him that tonight belonged to her and Elias, but she'd already said too much. "We'll flip coins to decide who gets to go first."
Her eyes met Elias's. "I know you hate dusty furniture, but you promised to help me move boxes."
Thankfully, he was a quick thinker and got her meaning right away. "A promise is a promise, and I always keep my promises."
After she returned to the tent, the hours crawled by with excruciating slowness. A new crate arrived, and as she lifted one book at a time, the sun tracked across the sky with maddening lethargy, and she caught herself checking its position every few minutes, willing it to move faster.
Finally, blessedly, Areana announced it was time to pack up for the day.
The ride back to the mansion was torturous. Elias sat in the back row with Tony, close enough that she could smell the earth and sweat on him, far enough that she couldn't touch him without being obvious.
The men were dropped off at the hotel, so they could shower and change for dinner, and even that short separation seemed like too long.
She went to her room to do the same, selecting a comfortable dress that wasn't too fancy for work in the dusty basement, and most importantly, was easy to take off.
The thought made her heart beat faster with excitement.
When had she become this desperate creature, counting minutes until she could be in her lover's arms?
The answer was simple. When she'd met Elias.
When she came down, the butler announced almost with glee that Lord Navuh and Lady Areana would be joining them this evening.
Tamira's heart sank. When Navuh dined with them, meals lasted longer. He would hold court, discussing the restoration progress and asking pointed questions that required elaborate answers.
It could add an hour or more to dinner, cutting into their precious time.
Elias and Tony walked into the dining room looking freshly showered and excited, but Tony covered for them by singing the chef's praises. To the staff, they would just appear as two men excited about a good meal.
Dinner turned out to be exactly the ordeal she'd expected.
Navuh was in an expansive mood, regaling them with stories of acquisition and conquest that Tamira had heard before. She smiled at the appropriate moments and laughed when expected, all while hyperaware of Elias sitting at the far end of the table with Tony.
"I hear the book restoration is proceeding well," Navuh said, turning his attention to Areana. "How much longer do you estimate?"
"Several more weeks at least," Areana replied smoothly. "The damage was extensive, but we're making steady progress. We will be back in our quarters before the task is done."
The meal dragged on. Dessert was served—something elaborate with layers of cream and fruit that Tamira couldn't taste. Coffee followed, dark and bitter, while Navuh discussed his plans for expanding operations in Southeast Asia.
Finally, he stood. "I have calls to make. Enjoy your evening, ladies." His gaze lingered on Areana. "Don't stay up too late."
Once he was gone, Areana waited a full five minutes before speaking. "Tamira, why don't you go ahead to the basement? Take Elias to help with those heavy lamps you found so fascinating the other evening." She turned to the other ladies. "Does anyone else want to go exploring?"
"Count me out," Sarah said. "I had enough dust to deal with for one day."
"I'll go tomorrow," Tula said. "I'm too tired today." She looked at Tony. "Would you like to stay and watch a movie with us? Lord Navuh lets us use his movie theater, and he has all the latest releases."
"I would love to." Tony tried to sound nonchalant and failed. "I haven't seen a movie on a proper screen in forever."
20
ELUHEED
The basement stairs creaked under their feet as Eluheed followed Tamira down into the darkness. His hand found the light switch from memory, flooding the space with harsh fluorescent light that made them both blink. The silence that enveloped them was profound—no servants bustling about, no guards standing watch, no eyes tracking their every movement.
"We're actually alone," Tamira breathed, turning to face him at the bottom of the stairs. "Utterly and completely alone."
