Page 65 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
"I just don't, but beggars can't be choosers, right? The mattress looks comfortable." He sat on the bed and bounced. "It is."
"We need sheets," Tamira said breathily. "And pillows. I remember seeing boxes of linens when we looked through things before."
He'd noticed them on their last expedition, filing the information away with the instinct of someone who'd learned to always note resources and escape routes. "I'll get them."
He found the boxes exactly where he remembered, labeled in fading ink as Guest Linens. He grabbed the box, carrying it back to where Tamira waited.
She'd been busy in his absence, clearing away smaller boxes and furniture to create more space around the bed. Together, they opened the linen box, finding sheets that smelled of lavender and were surprisingly well preserved.
"Silk," Tamira said, holding up a pillowcase to the light. "Of course, it would be silk."
They worked together to make the bed, their movements synchronized as if they had done it a thousand times before. Every brush of their fingers sent electricity through him. Every shared glance held promises of what was to come.
When they were done, Eluheed looked at the tarps they had dropped in a pile on the floor. "I have an idea. Let's put those back up. They will hide us in case someone decides to come down here despite Lord Navuh's instructions."
"They are covered in dust," she pointed out.
"I'll shake them out, and then we will put them up carefully."
She nodded. "Our own little hideout. I like it."
It was much better than being exposed in the middle of the expanse of the basement.
When they were done, they were both covered in dust, but a few strong pats took care of most of it. Besides, they weren't going to stay clothed for long.
"My lady?" He lifted the tarp for her to crawl inside.
Tamira toed off her shoes and pushed them under the bed before crawling into the space he'd made.
Eluheed followed her inside and let the tarp drop. If not for the illumination coming from Tamira's eyes, they would have been plunged into total darkness.
Their lips met in a kiss that was different from all the desperate, stolen kisses before. This one was slow, thorough, a promise that they had time. Not enough time, never enough, but more than they'd had in weeks.
Her hands went to his shirt, unbuttoning it with steady fingers. His own hands tangled in her hair, releasing it from the pins that held it back. It cascaded down her back like dark silk, and he buried his face in it, breathing in her scent.
"I've dreamed of this," she whispered against his neck. "Every night in that damn black and white bed, I've dreamed of you."
"No more dreaming," he promised. "We're here. We're real. This is real."
What followed was a reunion of bodies too long separated. Every touch was reverent yet hungry, every kiss an attempt to make up for weeks of deprivation. The silk sheets grew warm beneath them as they relearned each other's bodies,mapping familiar territory with the joy of explorers returning home.
"I missed this," Tamira breathed. "I missed you. Your presence, your warmth, the way you make me feel alive."
He understood. In all his centuries of existence, Eluheed had never felt as present, as real, as he did with her. She anchored him, made his long life feel like it had more purpose than just being the guardian of a treasure that was still waiting for him to retrieve it.
Every moment with her was precious because he didn't know when they'd have one again. The two hours they still had felt like both forever and no time at all. The mysterious room full of sand didn't matter.
Only this mattered.
Skin against skin, breath mingling with breath, two souls finding solace in each other despite the impossible circumstances.
21
TAMIRA
"You smell incredible." Tamira folded her hand around Elias's erection and gave it an up-and-down caress. "Can I take a taste?"
His eyes widened. "If that's what you want to do."
