Page 68 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
He chuckled. "Should we hide it?"
"Yes. This is our secret haven. Our four-poster paradise." She laughed. "Complete with mysterious sand architecture next door."
"Maybe we should investigate it properly next time," he suggested, though he knew they wouldn't. Every moment was too precious to waste on mysteries that didn't concern them.
"Maybe," Tamira said, but her tone suggested the same thought. "Or maybe we'll just stay right here, in our bed, pretending the rest of the world doesn't exist."
The thought was seductive. If he could freeze time, keep them in this moment forever, he would. But time was their enemy, always running out.
"We should go," Tamira said, her words heavy with reluctance.
"Yeah, we should." He released her from his arms and reached for their discarded clothing, handing Tamira her dress.
They dressed quickly. Their break was over, and it was time to return to reality.
"Your hair," he said, reaching out to rake his fingers through it. "It's mussed."
"So is yours." She reached up to smooth it, her touch lingering. "There. Now you look properly dusty and disheveled from moving furniture."
"Is that our story?"
She nodded. "Unless you want to grab a few decorations on our way out and claim that it took us hours to find them."
"That's not a bad idea. It would be suspicious if we emerged empty-handed after all this time. I'll grab something quickly."
"I'll come with you," she said. "We need to choose something believable."
As they made their way through the maze of furniture, Eluheed noticed things he'd overlooked before—a collection of oil paintings leaning against a wall, ornate mirrors reflecting their disheveled appearance, carved wooden chests that might hold treasures or just old linens.
"These," Tamira said, stopping beside a pair of small statues of stone cats that looked menacing. "They are substantial enough to justify the time we spent down here, and I like them."
"Are you sure you want those in your room?" Eluheed asked. "They look angry."
"They'll look perfect on the shelf by the window," she said, then lowered her voice. "And every time I look at them, I'll remember tonight."
As they climbed the stairs, leaving their sanctuary behind, Eluheed glanced back at the barred section with its mysterious sand. He had an odd feeling about it and wondered why touching Navuh hadn't revealed what he was hiding in there.
At the top of the stairs, Tamira paused, turning to him.
"The day after tomorrow," she said softly.
"I'll be counting the minutes."
She smiled at that, reaching for the heavy door handle. But before she could press it, Eluheed caught her free hand.
"Wait," he said. "Your lips."
She touched them self-consciously. "What about them?"
"They're swollen. From kissing."
"Oh." She bit her lower lip, which was counterproductive. "What should I say if anyone notices?"
"That you were dusty from the basement. You kept touching your mouth and nose, trying not to sneeze."
"That's actually brilliant."
"I have my moments."
