[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.* * * *[Back to Table of Contents]60 Emerald: Rewriting Historyby EM LynleyChapter FivePierce and Tobin had brought their tuxedoes with themthat morning and, after a quick bite at a quiet bistro near themuseum, they changed in Tobin's office.There was animpressive catered spread at the reception, but Tobin wouldbe too busy to eat.He was expected to make the rounds withthe director or on his own, trying to make the importantpeople feel even more important.It was part of his job, andone he liked less and less.Pierce remained close, in eyeshot the entire time.Tobinstill had his cell phone.He felt a little guilty about not trustingPierce, especially after so many great orgasms in a twenty-four-hour period, but that had been the deal, and Pierceseemed to be enjoying himself so far.The evening went off without a hitch.Tobin gave a fewshort interviews for print and one film crew, and, as expected,the Crown was the center of attention.He repeated the storyof its original theft and his efforts to reunite the gems.Piercetagged along on the obligatory tour of the highlights to agroup of the director's closest cronies, engaging in politechitchat with white-haired, bejeweled art patrons, several ofwhom appeared to be acquaintances.Pierce kissed hands,fetched drinks and charmed everyone, as Tobin watched witha heavy heart.If only their time together wasn't so artificialand filled with his own dread about what would undoubtedlyeventually happen to the emerald.61 Emerald: Rewriting Historyby EM LynleyAfter the reception, the museum slowly emptied out exceptfor security personnel.Tobin was still on a high.He loved towander the deserted building, and now he hoped it wouldcalm him a little.Pierce followed along, mostly silently, untilthey got to the Egyptian room.The centerpiece of thiscollection was a display including an actual burial chambercompletely reconstructed in the center of the room, whichvisitors could enter and experience the inside of a genuinepyramid, including the original if faded wall and ceilingmurals."Remember the first time we came here together?" Pierceasked, his voice soft and wistful."What about it?" Tobin knew exactly what Pierce meantand he didn't particularly want to be reminded.He recalled itevery time he entered this room."Didn't you once say something about fucking in apyramid?" A corner of Pierce's mouth lifted."Yeah, I said something like that." Tobin wished Piercewould stop rehashing their past.It was killing him toremember the good times, and he didn't want to play thisgame with Pierce.Not again."Well?" Pierce's expression turned hopeful."Turned out it wasn't as good as I expected." Tobin kepthis voice even, though his chest ached with the effort.Hewasn't as good at this as Pierce was."You did it then?" Was that disappointment, or maybeeven hurt in Pierce's voice?"Twice." Tobin lied.62 Emerald: Rewriting Historyby EM Lynley"Oh." Pierce's veneer of suave sophistication andplayfulness seemed to have thoroughly cracked and hesounded as awful as Tobin felt.Truth was, Tobin had neverbeen in the pyramid with anyone, but every time he saw it,he recalled that conversation he and Pierce had years ago.Heclosed his eyes for a few seconds and attempted to gather histhoughts.Pierce turned from the pyramid's entrance and wanderedover to the next display, leaning down to examine a collectionof scarabs.He kept his back to Tobin."I think it would be amazing with you, Pierce." Tobin'svoice was little more than a whisper but in the emptymuseum it echoed and he hoped Pierce couldn't hear thepain.Pierce's head shot up, but he didn't turn toward Tobin.Tobin bit his lip.Pierce didn't seem to be playing after all;he seemed genuinely upset.Tobin wished he could take backthat ridiculous lie.Why did he always handle things withPierce the wrong way? Maybe he could still salvage thesituation."Still interested?" Tobin hoped he didn't sound like he waspleading.He pulled his phone from a pocket and punched inthe code that locked down the room and the doors slid shutwith an echoing clang.No one could enter until he releasedthem.He turned off the cameras with another code.Seeming startled by the shutting doors, Pierce rotatedslowly, a thoughtful look on his face, until Tobin held out abeckoning hand.As soon as Pierce's fingers touched his,Tobin pulled him close.Damn, how good Pierce smelled.63 Emerald: Rewriting Historyby EM LynleyAlways had.It had taken years to get the smell of him out ofTobin's memory so he could be around other men wearingPierce's favorite colognes and not think of him.And in barelytwenty-four hours, it had all come undone.Pulling each other's jackets off, they kissed, mouths at firsteager and seeking, but then slowed, savoring each other, andthe poignancy of this moment, long delayed.Tobin backedPierce against the side of the pyramid, kissing him deeplywhile hands strayed under Pierce's shirt, fingers seeking skin,caressing, pinching, possessing.* * * *Afterward, they lay in each other's arms."I'm surprised you'd even go in this thing," Pierce said, stillslightly short of breath."Shouldn't it be back in Egypt?" Heknew Tobin was on the Restitution Committee, but thepyramid had been here for so long and it had always been amajor bone of contention.Tobin let out a soft laugh."It's on loan now.Officially.Themuseum restored it to Egypt a few months ago.""What?" Pierce turned to see if Tobin was joking."It's been kept quiet, protecting the EgyptologyDepartment from too much scrutiny about what else theyhave.The museum arranged an 'indefinite loan' of thepyramid and a few other choice items, and in exchange theEgyptian government overlooks anything else currently in thecollection." Tobin sounded bitter."I take there is a lot left here that ought to go back?"64 Emerald: Rewriting Historyby EM Lynley"A lot.Much of it isn't even catalogued, so the museumcan deny knowing they own it.But the curators and archivistsknow exactly what's here."Pierce nodded and let out a sigh.Pierce hadn't realizedhow disillusioned Tobin was with his job, a job he'd dreamedabout for years, long before they'd ever met.Leaning down,Pierce combed his fingers through Tobin's hair and kissed histemple, the hair slightly damp from their exertions."What canyou do?""Nothing." The word burst out between Tobin's lips, thenhis expression softened.He closed his eyes and leaned intoPierce's touch."Some days, I just want to send a list to theEgyptians.Or maybe just ship it all off in a big crate.A bunchof big crates.""Interesting idea.You'd probably lose your job
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]