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Although she seemed surprised—a tremor even passed through her body—she didn’t pull away. Emboldened, he used his tongue to explore the inside of her mouth. When the tip darted across her teeth again, she inhaled suddenly. Her tongue finally tangled with his until he finally, slowly ended the kiss.

He straightened, grinning when he saw how her eyes seemed unfocused and her lips were red as the berries they had eaten that morning for breakfast. “Lady Helen Tennison, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked.

Appearing a bit unsteady on her feet, Helen inhaled and let the air out in a whoosh . “I will,” she replied, nodding her head slightly. “Whenever you’d like. The sooner, the better.” She glanced around, stunned to discover they were still alone despite the sounds of traffic on the nearby road.

Chuckling, Tom kissed her again, a quick kiss, before he drew her into his arms and embraced her.

“I don’t think we can right now,” he murmured.

“But I can at least bestow a ring on your finger,” he added, releasing his hold on her to pull a gold band from his waistcoat pocket.

He held up the ring, its single lapis lazuli stone polished to a high sheen. “It’s not a sapphire, but?—”

“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed, yanking the glove off her left hand. “And gold .” She watched as he slipped it on her fourth finger. “My brother will be so impressed,” she added. “He makes jewelry.”

“I have been to his shop,” he acknowledged. “And as for the gold, I wasn’t going to give you silver.”

Admiring the ring on her finger, Helen glanced up and grinned. “I would not have minded, but this... this is beautiful.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him again. “Thank you, Thomas.”

His grinned widened. “I do wonder if there is a way we could marry here in Egypt.”

Helen tittered. “I don’t think I can wait any longer,” she claimed. “I want a baby. Your baby.”

Tom sobered before his eyes widened. “Oh,” he breathed. “I... I suppose we could... get started?—”

“Right now?” she interrupted, her excitement evident.

He blinked. “Wouldn’t your father kill me?”

She appeared uncertain for a moment before she shook her head. “I rather think he expects it.”

“Oh?”

Lifting a shoulder, she said, “I might have mentioned I was in want of a child as soon as possible, which means you must be my lover in Luxor,” she added, poking a forefinger into his chest. “And everywhere else we go.”

“Oh. Well. Then I suppose we...” He stopped speaking as he considered what they might do. “I can ask if there’s a room with a larger bed at the hotel,” he reasoned.

“A larger bed?” she asked, her brows furrowing.

“Well, although I intend to hold you close when we’re asleep, I wish for there to be plenty of room when I make love to you,” he murmured.

She dipped her head. “All right.”

“But first I think we should go to the ship. Speak with Mahmood. Perhaps he knows someone in Luxor who can marry us.”

She nodded.

“And then we can share a bed... that is, if he doesn’t kill me...”

He couldn’t continue when she once again kissed him. When she ended it as suddenly as she started it, he continued, “Or a mummy doesn’t curse us, or?—”

“Thomas,” she scolded, although she was still smiling.

“Is it too early to tell you I love you?”

It was Helen’s turn to sober. “Oh, Thomas,” she breathed. She was once again in his arms, her lips pressed to his as she stood on tiptoes and gripped his shoulders.

They might have continued kissing but for the sounds of voices near the entrance of the temple.

Familiar voices.

Tom sighed. He leaned down and once again bussed Helen on the forehead. “Seems we’re no longer alone, my... may I call you my sweet?”

She glanced in the direction from which the voices were coming. “Of course. Just promise me you won’t call me ‘my pumpkin’ or ‘my sweet melon’ when I’m round with child.”

“I would never!” he exclaimed. He tried hard to hide his sudden humor at the thought of what she might do to him if he did, but he audibly chuckled. “I promise.”

“Dammit,” she cursed under her breath, which had his eyes widening in surprise. “Now you’ll be thinking it,” she claimed.

“I won’t. I won’t. I promise,” he assured her, managing to display a serious expression.

When he turned to face the back of the pylon, he spotted his brother and Diana examining the carvings on the structure.

Although he had seen Diana many times dressed as she was in breeches, boots, and a white shirt, a satchel hanging at her hip, it was still unexpected.

The archaeologist was obviously planning a day of exploration in the ancient temple.

“Shall we tell them our news?” he asked.

Before he had finished his query, Helen dropped her arms but entwined her hand with his. “Diana!” she called out, rushing to join her future sister-in law. With their hands joined as they were, Tom was forced to follow.

He caught Randy’s attention and nodded when his older brother arched a brow.

Perhaps he could be of help in seeing to it Helen spent the night with him.

More importantly, though, he hoped he might help when it came to arranging a quick wedding.