Read Online Excavated by Noelle Adams - Free Book Online

in
the middle of it and dripping all over the floor. He didn’t leave. “Do you
really believe in the supernatural?”
    She
shrugged and glanced away. “I do. Don’t you?”
    “No.
Whatever looks that way always has a reasonable explanation.”
    “I’m
sure there’s a reasonable explanation for all of the events I investigate. It’s
just that science isn’t the explanation for all of them.”
    Philip
thought about that for a moment, trying to focus on the intellectual question
instead of the way Lucy’s tight nipples were poking out through her wet blouse.
    “You’ve
always been a kind of investigator,” she continued. “You dig up answers to
ancient questions. That means you believe there’s more in this world than we’re
aware of right now. Why shouldn’t the mysteries—the unexplainable—go deeper
than you can excavate with your tools?”
    She
was utterly serious, and he responded in kind. “What have you seen?”
    She
shook her head. “I’ve seen things that terrified me. Not often, but
occasionally. And maybe there were explanations, but they weren’t explanations
any scientific method could uncover.”
    She
leaned down to dry off Arthur with the towel, since the dog wouldn’t stop
flapping and shaking. “You know,” she murmured, almost diffident, “for most of
human history, people knew the world was far bigger than science can explain.
Why would we assume we have all the answers now?”
    Philip
stared down at her, hearing her, knowing her.
    She
stood up with the wet towel, letting Arthur go scratch up a spot on his blanket.
“I’m not a crazy person, Philip.”
    “I
know you aren’t,” he said softly. She was clever and deep and insightful and
glowing with vibrant life.
    He
cleared his throat, trying to pull himself together. “But I don’t think there’s
anything supernatural on this island.”
    “I
think you’re right. But I’m really glad I came here anyway. It will make a
great show, and the site just seems…I don’t know… It just seems full . Of
history, humanity, something.”
    She
seemed slightly awkward, almost shy, and she started taking off her jewelry as
if looking for something to do with her hands.
    Philip’s
breath caught in his throat again, and he stared at her. In a few stilted
words, she’d expressed everything he loved about this island. She’d given his
feelings words.
    He
felt another hot rush of desire—the physical attraction compounded by something
more, something deeper. He felt close to her for some reason. Closer than he’d
felt to anyone in a really long time.
    In
years.
    “Philip?”
Lucy prompted, her cheeks flushed and her lashes lowered over a questioning
look. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    It
had been a really long time since Philip had had sex, so maybe his reaction now
was just a product of physical frustration. But his whole body was pulsing,
throbbing, all of it centered on Lucy.
    Her
lips parted, as if she’d seen the answer in his face to her question.
    When
he saw a fire ignite in her eyes, Philip muffled a groan and reached out for
her, pulling her into a hard, urgent kiss.
    She
responded immediately, eagerly, pressing her wet body against his and sliding
her hands up to his head.
    Philip
had never wanted anyone as desperately as he wanted Lucy right now. And his
only explanation for the fervor was his long dry spell.
    When
the need was satisfied, surely his world would make sense again.
    ***
    Lucy couldn’t remember
ever wanting anyone as desperately as she wanted Philip right now. She had no
idea why—since her mind was wholly against it—but there was no way she could
deny it.
    Their
kiss grew urgent far too quickly, and after only a minute they were pulling at
each other’s wet clothes.
    There
was nothing skilled or controlled or leisurely about them as they stumbled to
the little bed and tumbled down in a wet embrace.
    Lucy’s
body pulsed with need—aching in her legs, pounding in her chest. She tried