Elizabeth squeaked with surprise and dropped the robe she was putting as Seth appeared before her. "You shouldn't be here."

Seth smiled at her half-dressed state. Her gown barely covered her breasts. He did the first thing that came to his mind and pulled her to him.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, and the gown slipped further down. Their heartbeats mingled and throbbed to a new rhythm. After a long, intense kiss, she leaned against his shoulder. "My legs are wobbly."

"Hm." Seth proceeded to nibble on her neck.

"Stop it. I can't think." She tried to pull her gown back up.

"Do you need to?" He looked down into her eyes.

"What, think or make myself decent?"

A grin crossed his face.

"Your face, what happened? Are you in pain?" Her fingers traced the scar on his face.

"No, no pain. One day I will explain. Until then, you'll have to trust me." Seth ran a hand down her smooth arm and bent down for another kiss. Elizabeth's heart raced faster. He paused for a second, just to tease her, and then crushed her lips to his.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Later, they somehow ended up on a chair with Elizabeth snuggled on his lap.

"One of us has to be rational," she sat up and primly announced. "I have a couple of questions."

Her face still was only a couple of inches from his, and he was having trouble concentrating. His fingers started straying again.

Catching his hand in hers, she admonished, "Pay attention. That electric torch you left, where did it come from?"

"The Eveready? Something I picked up in New York"

"Well, my father questioned me about it. How did I get it? I told him you left it behind as an apology for quitting the dig."

"You could have said it was an engagement gift."

"Can't. Petrie confiscated that one. Father wants his own. Now, the second one you bring will be an engagement gift."

He was suddenly breathless at her words. "And the second question? Are you asking me to marry you?"

She swatted his arm. "What do you do besides jump around the world?"

"I'm a lawyer in Pittsburgh. Have my own private practice."

"Good, I don't want our children to grow up as I did, always shaking sand out of their clothes."

A deep laugh rumbled through his chest, "You are proposing. Can I say 'yes' and kiss you again?"

An hour passed before they surfaced again and became aware of their surroundings. Seth quietly asked, "Lizzie, there are things I need to tell you about myself and my family. The facts may be hard for you to accept. Can you wait for me to return to explain it all?”

"Yes." She answered with no hesitation.

"You are so wonderful and trusting," he held her tight in his arms, "but, it won't be fair to commit without knowing everything."

Lizzie started to comment, but Seth used his finger to trace the outline of her lower lip. "Wait until there's time to explain. Don't know how long I'll be gone." he bent down for one last kiss, "but be assured, I'll return prepared. Will one Eveready do, or should I bring two?"