Page 90 of Discovering Her Earl

Because he hardly left her side, she picked up on his irritation with Comte Girard Dumast when the Frenchman flirted with her. She almost thought he might be jealous, but certainly he knew there was no competition. After all, she and Julian stole kisses at every possible opportunity.

They shared their mid-day meal as well as steamy glances with one another over dinner. As soon as everyone settled in their tents for bed, Elaina counted down the minutes until silence fell over the camp and she could join Julian in his tent.

He was always waiting as if he couldn’t stand another second without having his body pressed up against hers. He kissed her frantically until their clothes were removed and they could touch skin to skin. They both groaned softly when they first joined and she thought she would never forget that feeling as long as she lived.

He stirred next to her and that familiar smile brought a rush of happiness as always.

“I am glad you are still here,” he whispered.

“And I am so glad I agreed to let you come on this expedition. To think how lonely my nights would be,” she said while his fingers trailed up her spine causing a pleasant shiver.

“I daresay, your nights wouldn’t have been very lonely if you’d not wished it.” He kissed the inside of her wrist, but she saw the flicker of unhappiness in his beautiful blue eyes.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Comte Dumast.” He made the name sound like a curse.

“Girard?” She laughed. “No.”

His low growl made her laugh again.

“The way you use his Christian name makes me want to bury him in the sand.”

“I can’t very well say ‘Comte de Dumast’ as we work together. It is quite a mouthful.”

“Hmph,” he offered a surly, Scottish sound.

“Regardless of whatever I call him, I have no interest in having him in my bed. Though I will admit it is interesting to see you ruffled by the thought. Honestly, I’ve never thought of him as more than a friend of Uncle Henry’s until I witnessed your reaction.”

“You should be careful of men like him.”

“Because he might seduce me as you have done?” She fluttered her eyes at Julian until he broke out of his sour mood and smiled. But he turned serious again.

“You don’t understand. I know what we have now must end when this expedition is over, and I want nothing more than for you to find happiness in your life after we part. But I can’t bring myself to manufacture that happiness when I think of you with him.”

“For now, we only have to think of me with you.”

He nuzzled his lips against her neck just under her jaw in that place that made her heart race.

*

The first week in March, everything shifted. As was common when the team moved from digging to crating and labeling the artifacts for transport. They wouldn’t search for anything else on this trip.

They would make their trek across the desert and set sail for their voyage back to England before the season started. Lainey had never hated the process more than she did this time.

For when they returned to Egypt on their next expedition, Julian would not be with them. He would be married to his proper countess, and Lainey would be…

As she had been before. A spinster archaeologist with no prospects.

But she would be forever changed. She now knew a man’s heated touch. The exquisite pressure of his claiming. The desire in his gaze, and the passion in those quiet moments after sex when promises were made.

Too soon, they were boarding the ship to return to London.

It wasn’t just the pieces of pottery in cargo that were shattered, but her heart as well.

*

“Our final sunset. We will reach England tomorrow,” Lainey said as they stood on the ship watching as the orange sun dipped into the sea.