Touch of the Fire God [Scions of the Ankh 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) (2 page)

Her response to him should have frightened her, at the very least surprised her. But he was hers. He belonged to her. Every inch of his bronzed, muscled body was hers.

“I have waited for you so long,” he said heavily breathing, breaking the kiss to nuzzle her neck, right on that sweet spot, which no man had ever touched but him.

“Please ...” She heard herself begin to plead. He smiled. She couldn’t see it, but she felt him smile.

“I am pleased to know your appetite for me has not diminished.” He bent his head to suckle her...

The alarm went off angrily in her ear. Groggily, blindly, she reached out to click it off. Her whole body ached. She felt unfulfilled. The dream. Damn it! How many times was she going to dream about that man? For weeks now, her nights had been filled with images of a man she had never met. She would know if she did.

Rene opened one eye and peeked at the clock. It was five a.m.
“Transportation,”
as the voice said, would arrive in one hour. She decided the first order of business was a cold, cold shower.

* * * *

So this is transportation?
she thought. A helicopter had landed in her ample backyard. Obviously, the caller had somehow known that she could sustain the landing of a helicopter on her property. She shivered. It occurred to her again that she didn’t know who had called her, and she certainly had no idea where she was going.

Hell, to make it worse, she had only told Dr. Michaels that she would call her when she got settled. Was she a kidnapping waiting to happen or what?

She stood, covering her eyes, while the blades of the helicopter whipped up the dust. A rather tall man exited the helicopter and came toward her. The man’s grace was undeniable. As he got closer, she could see that an expensive Brooks Brothers suit accentuated his well-built physique, and his sunglasses did not hide the fact that he was gorgeous.

Brown, glossy hair blew wildly in the disturbance of the air from the blades. It made him look like a model being photographed for an advertisement featuring sunglasses.

“Dr. Selkis,” he stated, holding his tanned hand out for her. She took it warily, rethinking the whole trip. “I’m Jonathan Thoth.”

“Finally, a name,” she breathed to herself, not that it would matter when she was bound and gagged and had no way of getting help. He picked up the suitcases at her feet and motioned for her to follow him.

She hesitated, but reasoned that this man already had money and that it was a rather elaborate plot to kidnap her. Besides, who would want to kidnap an orphan? She shook her head and followed the rather nice ass in front of her.

Once settled in the helicopter, she was given a headset with which to communicate. Jonathan set it on the proper channel before he began to talk.

“As I’ve said before, I’m Jonathan Thoth. It is nice to meet you, Dr. Selkis.” Rene recognized the lilt of his tone as the one from the telephone.

“You as well. Who are you to Franklin?” She watched as Jonathan Thoth removed his glasses to reveal sexy hazel eyes. For whatever reason, they didn’t send her all atwitter, though by all standards he was good-looking as hell.

“I like a woman who is direct.” He smiled, and yes, that was dazzling as well. “Franklin and I often exchanged artifacts,” he said into the headset. “Unfortunately, Franklin tried to retrieve an artifact that was not his for the taking, and he died as a result.” This was stated matter-of-factly, though it did seem that Mr. Thoth was genuinely sorry for Franklin’s demise.

“How did he die exactly?” Rene felt a lump in her throat and willed it away.

“Mountains of Sinai. He had heard of an artifact rumored to be there. He went after it, though I warned him not to. Egyptian artifacts that are buried are often booby-trapped, as you Americans say.”

“What was the artifact?” Rene wondered what was so important that Franklin would risk his life to obtain it.

Yes, he was quite the die-hard when it came to anything truly Egyptian, but she would never have guessed that levelheaded Franklin would be so cavalier with his life. And still Mr. Thoth had not said how he died.

“A book, recording the arrival of the Egyptian gods and their subsequent war.” His lips thinned as he replied. This appeared to be quite an unpleasant subject for Jonathan.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of a war between Egyptian gods,” Rene murmured into the headset.

“Hence its value,” Thoth quipped. “We’re taking this to the airport, where a private plane will be waiting for us. It’ll take us to our final destination.”

Rene nodded and decided to again ask the question that he had so deftly avoided. “How did Franklin die?”

“Scorpion,” Jonathan stated flatly, watching her closely. “He was already dead from the venom when the search party found him. He’d been missing for two days. He insisted on going alone.” Rene could hear the disapproval in his tone and agreed with it.

“Oh.” Rene knew how painful that must have been, to die by scorpion sting. Franklin would insist on going alone. He had never wanted to acknowledge that he was getting old. He was way too independent. He’d never wanted anyone’s help. He certainly had never needed hers—until now.

She sat back in the helicopter and closed her eyes. She felt Jonathan’s eyes on her for a second, and then she tumbled into a dreamless sleep.

He became restless in his earthen tomb. He had found her in his dreams. He had kissed her, made love to her. Time became nothing and then everything. He had no measure of it, no knowledge. But she was coming back to him. His slumber was no longer a void. It began to fill with color, with her. In sleep, he called to her...

Rene woke with a start to the sound of her name being called. Was it her name? She couldn’t remember, but the voice seemed to call to her. She felt a longing to answer. His voice was filled with such loneliness, such pain.

“Is everything all right, Dr. Selkis?” Jonathan asked, his eyes squinting slightly. The smallest smile played around his lips, as if he knew what she had been dreaming about.

“Yes, it was just a dream,” she said softly into the headset, trying to believe her own words.

By the time she had gathered her thoughts, Jonathan Thoth was weaving his exotic voice over the headset, informing her that they would be landing in Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, where a private plane awaited them.

Rene couldn’t help but wonder why this powerful man just didn’t pull some strings to properly bury Franklin Summit himself. Why go through all the trouble to retrieve her? She was hardly more family to Franklin than anyone else.

Something was amiss. She was sure of it.

After the powerful rotor and blades came to a stop, Jonathan led her out of the helicopter.

“It’s a little early for a nap, Dr. Selkis. Did you not sleep last night?” Jonathan’s voice rumbled out as he led her toward a sleek, private airplane, his hand casually resting at the small of her back. Rene thought it an unusual question; she glanced at him sideways before answering.

“Not well. One doesn’t usually get a good night’s rest when someone important in their life has just been reported dead.”

“Franklin Summit was important to you, then?” Jonathan seemed truly interested in her answer.

“He was all I ever had in the way of family,” Rene answered, thinking of the kind, if slightly aloof, grandfatherly figure.

“We weren’t close, but at least I had someone to call if I needed something.” Rene let her words drift low. She had never really thought about it like that.

“Well, I am sorry about your loss, Dr. Selkis.” Rene nodded and allowed herself to be guided to the jet. After settling in the aircraft, Rene turned her gaze sharply on Jonathan Thoth.

“Is this plane yours?” she asked, watching his reaction closely.

“It’s a company airplane.” He paused, now seeming to study her features. “Why don’t you ask me what you really want to? I assure you I will not break.” He flashed his gorgeous grin, making him even more attractive, and yet Rene felt no urge to flirt with him.

“All right then. Why didn’t you just bury him? You have the money, the power. It seems to me it’s costing you more time and effort to have me do it than it would to just take care of it yourself.”

“It would seem that way,” he answered, “but the truth of the matter is, a will is a will. Franklin was very clear that he wanted you to take care of this matter.”

“Doesn’t make sense.” Rene let her head fall back on the cushioned seat.

“What doesn’t make sense, Dr. Selkis?”

“None of this. Franklin Summit was some white knight that rescued an orphan. I have never figured out why and why me? And now I am the one he names in his will.”

“He took good care of you, no?” Jonathan prodded gently.

“Yes, but he made sure not to get close to me. I’m not complaining. I know many others who’ve had it worse. I just never figured he’d need me in this way.”

“Ah, well, in time, all things are revealed.” Jonathan put a long, elegant finger at his temple and lightly rested his head on it. Again, Rene thought that he looked like a model for an expensive magazine.

“You said you traded artifacts with Franklin. It’s awfully nice of you to go through this much trouble for a business acquaintance.” Rene wasn’t buying that Jonathan had been merely trading with Franklin. Mr. Thoth here screamed money, and there was definitely something about him that wasn’t quite right.

“Mr. Summit stayed at one of my homes while he scavenged for artifacts. I feel obligated. On a certain level, he and I were friends. I’ve known him a long time.”

Rene doubted that. Jonathan Thoth couldn’t be more than twenty-five, maybe thirty. Franklin Summit did not suffer the company of young people; he found them a tad
“intellectually dull, without the benefit of sufficient life experience with which to engage in a decent debate, let alone conversation.”

Rene smiled to herself, thinking of that particular conversation she had overhead once when Franklin was talking on the telephone.

She never knew anyone that he knew, that is, until now. Rene let the conversation die, and she closed her eyes. Last night had been both intriguing and restless.

She prepared to sleep again, partly in response to fatigue, partly as a way to pass the time in an awkward situation, when she netted the feeling that she was being scrutinized. Rene let her eyes fly open, determined to surprise Jonathan and make him uncomfortable. But he merely kept looking at her, every now and then tilting his head as if to get a better view.

“Why are you staring at me?” Rene was nothing if not bold.

“You look almost the exact duplicate of a friend I lost a long time ago,” Jonathan responded with an almost sad smile.

“I’m sorry about your loss.” Rene immediately felt contrite.

“I’ve had enough time to deal with it. Still, the resemblance is remarkable,” he murmured, almost to himself.

“Sleep now, Dr. Selkis. As you know, we have a long flight ahead of us.”

“Couldn’t you have just sent someone? Why make this long round trip?”

“If you want something done right, you do it yourself. Isn’t that the American saying?”

“Yes.” Rene smiled. Jonathan had a way about him that put her at ease. “You mean to tell me you believed someone would screw up delivering me to your doorstep?”

“I mean, this way, I can guarantee your safe arrival.” Jonathan rose and walked toward the cockpit, effectively dismissing all conversation and introducing a slew of questions. Her safe arrival? Rene shrugged off the remark. She was too tired to figure out the meanderings of a pretty rich boy.

The plane ride proved to be an exceptional sleep aid. She vaguely remembered Jonathan telling her of a brief layover in Minneapolis for fuel checks and being given a nice cashmere blanket to snuggle up to.

When Rene awoke, she was momentarily confused by her surroundings. Jonathan sat across from her. He had removed his suit jacket, his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, and he seemed to be intently studying the papers in his lap.

“Good evening, Dr. Selkis. It seems you’ve slept well.” There was a smile in his voice, but he never looked up from his papers.

Creepy,
Rene thought to herself.

“Where are we?” Rene glanced out into the sky where darkness was rapidly descending; she hated to miss the sun’s setting. She was completely unaware of the deep breath of disappointment that escaped her lips.

“About to land in Schiphol, Amsterdam. We need to refuel, and I am sure you are hungry. Is something the matter?” He finally looked at her, the expression in his hazel eyes showing true concern for her well-being.

“Oh, yes.” Rene felt silly that things like sunsets were a vital part of her day. “I just hate to miss a sunset.” She pushed the blanket off and stretched. She felt wound up, but well rested.

“I see,” Jonathan remarked quietly. “Well let’s get some food in you. Schiphol has nice restaurants. Do you like Dutch food?” He grinned, neatly stuffing the papers in the portfolio at his feet.

“I can’t say. Never had it.” She grimaced, starving, but not in the mood for experimentation.