Pyramids and Promises (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 2) (12 page)

Conner met her gaze, his eyes dancing. “The night is still young. Plus, be glad that I had self-control. Otherwise you would miss the surprise, and you’d be pretty angry if you missed this.”

Jessica wasn’t sure if she felt relieved yet or not. “What are we doing?”

“Not telling. But all bets are off after this.” Conner tried to scoot closer, but Octo wasn’t moving. He didn’t even lift his head. “This is why I don’t take you on more dates.”

Jessica glanced out the window for a second to give her a chance to think. They had left the lights of the city behind, not that it really registered in her mind. All she could think about was Conner’s words.

“What’s that supposed to mean? All bets are off?” She asked after she found her voice again. Conner rendered her speechless more often than she liked to admit.

He ran his fingers along her arm. “It means, I absolutely did not turn you down. It simply wasn’t time yet.”

Jessica shivered. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. What did he have cooked up? But before she could demand to know what he was up to, Ahmed stopped the car.

“We’re here, Mister.”

Conner reached across her and opened the door.

“Out you go.” He pushed against her, and she practically fell out of the car. Octo stretched and lazed his way out.

Conner scrambled out after them and grabbed her hand. Wherever they were, it was dark. There was only a half moon out, and the only artificial light reflected back from Cairo proper.

Jessica looked up. The moonlight might be minimal, but there was no hiding the shadow of the Great Pyramid looming over them.

“What are we doing here?”

Conner smiled. “You’ll see.”

He went down on one knee and leashed Octo.

“Are you starting to understand a little more now?” he asked.

Surely, he didn’t mean that silly promise to have their first kiss on top of the pyramid. That was illegal.

Octo whined and tugged on his leash, but Conner shushed him.

“Deal, bub. I couldn’t bring you otherwise.” Leash in one hand, Conner reached for Jessica with the other.

They walked up to the back of the pyramid where a group of six or seven men stood with wicked looking guns.

Conner handed Octo’s leash to her and approached the guards. He spoke to them in rapid Arabic. One of the men dropped his gun and gave Conner a massive hug.

Jessica watched the whole scene with interest. She had no idea what was happening. After a few minutes of discussion, Conner pulled out his wallet and handed the man a huge stack of bills. The man grinned and pointed up at the pyramid.

Conner waved Jessica and Octo over.

“You ready?”

“For what?” she asked slowly.

“To climb up to the top.”

“Are you for real?”

Conner nodded. “Turns out I know one of the guards. These guys will do anything for a little cash. Come on.”

Jessica’s heart stilled. He wasn’t putting her off. He was making sure this night was memorable for her. Up until this moment she figured this whole thing with Conner would be a fling. A rebound relationship, but now she wasn’t so sure. She was falling hard, and she didn’t want to get her heart broken again.

They walked down a bit for some privacy. Once they were out of sight of guards, Conner let Octo off his leash.

“Stay close and piss on nothing,” he said. The dog bobbed his head as if he understood each word.

“Shall we?” Conner waved at the stones. Jessica could barely breathe. She was actually going to climb a pyramid. Wait, not just any pyramid, The Pyramid.

He let her go first, and she scrambled up on each brick. It was surprisingly easy to climb. Octo had no trouble leaping up from one level to the next. He’d stop and wait for Conner and Jessica to join him before jumping up to the next brick. After they made their way up about a hundred feet, Conner spoke.

“Is our deal still on?”

He meant the kiss. Of course he did. The very thing that Jessica herself had practically been begging for back in her apartment. She wanted it. Had wanted it all week. But now, out here in the dark and the partial moonlight, after he went to this effort, she felt unbelievably shy.

“Well?” he prompted. “I wouldn’t even ask after how mad you were that I didn’t kiss you earlier, but I want to make sure.”

Octo snorted. He’d gone up two levels and was tired of waiting. Jessica climbed up one more without answering Conner, but his arms slipped around her from behind before she made it up the following step.

“It’s polite to answer questions,” he teased. His hand grazed her skin where her t-shirt had raised up a little.

“The one about our deal?” she asked innocently and felt him nod. “You’ll have to get to the top and see.”

He chuckled softly and released her.

“Then let’s get to the top,” he said and climbed the next set of bricks with Octo.

Breathless with anticipation, Jessica followed him.

J
essica’s mercurial moods gave him whiplash. One moment she was angry he wasn’t kissing her, the next she was all bashful when he said that he was going to soon. It was a delight to find out how she would respond next. He couldn’t wait to get to the top.

Octo made it there first. He was having the time of his little doggy life. Bringing him along had been a good decision. Conner hadn’t spent enough time with him lately, and since Jessica seemed to like him, maybe they could do more with him.

Conner climbed up next and reached down to help Jessica. She, however, was enthralled by something.

“Do you have a flashlight?” she asked.

“No, why?”

“There’s something engraved in these top bricks.”

He knelt and laid his hands down next to hers. She took his fingers and ran them over the ancient stone. Just as she said, there were carvings in the rocks.

“Must be hieroglyphs,” said Conner.

“I bet they are touting this crowning achievement.” The wonder in Jessica’s voice made him smile. He wished he could see her blue eyes shining bright like he knew they were.

“Or maybe they just have the name of whatever dude they buried here,” he said, knowing full well it was Khufu and that she’d know too.

She laughed and grabbed his arm. He pulled her up to join him and Octo at the summit. This was better than climbing a mountain, at the least, less snow. Conner kept his arm around her as they looked back toward Cairo. He wasn’t about to let her get too far away from him now.

This city went on for miles in every direction. The lights of Cairo were so bright they almost outshined the moon, and they definitely dimmed the stars. It was impressive.

“It’s beautiful,” Jessica whispered reverently.

“It is.” He drew her closer to him. Even Octo recognized how special the moment was. He sat and stared at all the brightness.

Conner had never actually made this climb before. He’d thought it was impossible, but when he went around asking what it would take to climb it, he was told he’d have to do it in the middle of the night and be prepared to pay several thousand pounds. He gladly paid it. It was worth it for the view alone.

Making Jessica happy was a huge bonus. He met her eyes, and he knew this was the moment.

“You sure you want this?” he asked in a husky voice.

Jessica nodded.

“I am,” she said, her bashfulness gone.

He leaned down and gently placed his lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. He didn’t want to let her go, but he didn’t want to push her further than she was comfortable with, but she was soft and eager. She teased the edge of his lips with her tongue, and he forgot all about taking things slow.

It took longer to get down then it did to get up. Conner couldn’t keep his hands off of Jessica, and she was happy to oblige him. He brought her close for a kiss. Sunk his hands into her beautiful blonde hair and lost himself until Octo barked for them to hurry up. When they finally reached the bottom, Jessica was giggly and giddy.

“You seem pretty pleased with yourself,” he said as they climbed into the car.

“It’s past four a.m. I got no sleep tonight. Plus, I just had the best first kiss of my life. I am not responsible for how much I giggle.”

Octo jumped into the back of the car with them. Jessica scooted closer to him to make room for the dog. Octo barked and licked her ear. She dissolved into a fit of giggles again, and Conner put his arm around her.

“Well, then I guess we need to go put you to bed.”

Octo sat against her and sighed contentedly.

“You know, I don’t know how to do this.” Jessica dropped her head back on the seat as they drove into the sea of Cairo lights.

“Do what?”

“Relationships.” She grinned at Conner. “I don’t exactly have a great history.”

He chuckled. “I’m not so good at them myself, so I guess we’ll just figure it out together.”

She yawned and rested her head on his shoulder. He played with her hair, and in less than thirty seconds he noticed her breathing had changed, and she was fast asleep.

They arrived back at her apartment, and he fished her key out of her pocket. Octo had his head in her lap, and he watched Conner like he was protecting a new bone.

“What? She belong to you now?” he whispered and handed the key to Ahmed. Octo stood. He jumped over both Conner and Jessica to get out into the fresh air. Conner shook his head and slid his arm under her knees.

He carried Jessica into her building, and she never even fluttered an eyelash. Ahmed held the door, and Octo bounded in ahead of them.

“Should I wait for you after I check the apartment?” Ahmed asked in the elevator. Conner shrugged one shoulder. He hadn’t given it much thought. He didn’t know what to expect after the pyramid.

Ahmed unlocked Jessica’s door and checked over her apartment. Octo went with him like he was a security dog instead of one of the most spoiled creatures ever.

“Ya, Mister, it is safe.” Ahmed returned. Octo did not. He must have found a place to sleep. Lazy beast.

“I’ll be waiting in the car.” Ahmed let himself out and locked the door.

Conner carried Jessica into her room. Sure enough Octo was smack in the middle of her bed, looking quite comfortable.

“Really?” Conner chuckled. “We should go home, you know.”

Not that he wanted to.

He laid Jessica down and slipped off her sneakers. He stood back and considered helping her out of her jeans, but that would be torture for him, and he wouldn’t take advantage of her like that. So she was sleeping in her dusty clothes tonight. He pulled the blankets over her. Once he tucked her in, Octo leaned against her and rested his head on her hip.

Ahmed had dropped Conner’s gym bag on the floor. He grabbed it. She might be sleeping covered in sand and pyramid dust, but he didn’t have to.

He took a long shower and threw on the clean shorts and shirt that were in his bag. Jessica and Octo were both sleeping soundly when he finished. Conner was about to make his way back out to the couch, but changed his mind. There was plenty of space for him on the other side of Octo, and he was going to take the chance that Jessica wouldn’t be too mad in the morning.

J
essica woke up hot and sweaty, with her hair trapped under her arm. She tried to move, but couldn’t. Something heavy was holding her in place. She cracked her eyes open. Bright sunlight filled her room and shone all over the large black dog lying on her chest.