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"Antiquities theft. Looting. Violating federal law. Take your pick, love."
For a moment, I can do nothing but stare at him. The full implications of what he suggested sink into my brain gradually, leaving me dumbfounded until I finally comprehend his plan. "Let me see if I've got this right. We're going to pretend to stumble onto the caverns and stumble onto those men attempting to loot the priceless treasures contained in the complex of chambers."
"Exactly."
"They won't get any accolades for discovering the treasure. Instead, we will report the theft, and they will go to prison."
He taps the tip of his nose. "Now you're catching on."
"You must have a plan for how to contact the authorities."
"Of course I do."
"And your friend Alex gave you pointers on how to convince those authorities that we're just innocent tourists, not people who tried to illegally excavate in the Grand Canyon."
Errol spreads his arms, palms out, and adopts the most convincing look of fake innocence I've ever seen. "We haven't excavated anything. Those caverns are exactly how we found them."
"But you, um, blasted a hole in the entrance cavern. And you blasted the doorway open."
"Did I? Seems to me those blokes in there must have done the blasting. Why would tourists like us want to do that?"
He sounds damn convincing too. Wow, I never knew Errol had such good acting chops. Of course, convincing me is easy. Will the authorities buy his story? I guess we'll find out soon enough. We don't have much of a choice, not with Frisk and his men in our custody.
"Do you want to hear the rest of the plan?" Errol asks.
"No, I trust you to handle this. Just tell me what I need to do to help you."
He pulls me close with one arm, and I tip my head back to meet his gaze. Those blue eyes glimmer in the sunlight, like polished gemstones with a thousand facets, as complex as the man himself. He brushes a lock of hair away from my eyes. "Be careful,mo chridhe. The scheme I've come up with could be fun, but it's also risky. Frisk and his men are not nice people."
"I know. I'll keep my eyes peeled at all times."
He wraps both arms around me and lifts me onto my tiptoes. Then he presses his lips to mine, holding them like that without even trying to deepen the kiss, and my heartbeat accelerates. I love the feel of his lips on mine, even though they're slightly dry, and I can't stop my body from relaxing into him.
"I need you to make me a promise," he says, with his lips still touching mine. "If this plan goes sideways, you will run as far and as fast as you can."
"No, I won't leave you—"
"Please, Ashley. I need to know you're safe."
While I understand why he wants me to promise I'll run, I won't lie to him. Where would I go, anyway? I have no idea how to navigate the Colorado River and its many rapids. I don't have a map to guide me either. But mostly, I refuse to leave Errol because I'm not the kind of person who flees while someone I love is in danger.
"I will try to stay out of the fray," I tell him. "But I can't promise to run away. I won't do that. I can't do it. As long as you're here, this is where I'll be too."
His lips curl into the smallest of smiles. "I knew I couldn't talk you into leaving, but I had to try. Your safety matters more to me than my own."
"Ditto. So, what can two stubborn people do when neither of us gets our way?"
His smile curves into a sly slant. "We take the wild and crazy approach, naturally."
Errol kisses me, deeply this time, teasing me with light flicks of his tongue and driving me wild with powerful thrusts. I dissolve into him, curling my tongue around his, desperate to taste him and explore every inch of his mouth. Kissing has never been as good with anyone else. I can never go back to dating regular men who have regular jobs and who give me regular kisses. Errol is extraordinary in every way.
He pulls away and pecks a kiss on my forehead. "Be careful, Ashley."
"You too."
Errol nods, then saunters away toward the opening of the box canyon.
I keep watching until he disappears. As much as I long to follow him, I know he needs me to stay here. Slashing Frisk's raft couldn't take that long, could it? Errol should be back soon. I head back inside the entrance cavern, where Munro leans against the wall, watching Frisk and his men with his gaze narrowed and his demeanor relaxed but alert.
