Page 88 of Reset

“Now, can we forget about the klepto teens and move on? I don’t have time for anger right now. I just want to be aboveground, where there’s fresh air and toilets you can sit on.”

His lips twitched as his good humor returned. “I still get to kill them later though, right?”

She inclined her head as though in thought. “You don’t want to kill kids, Ryan. But I’m sure we can come up with an equally satisfying way to make them suffer.”

With a chuckle, he placed a kiss on the end of her nose. “Ready to go?”

There was nothing to get ready, so Sarah just nodded. “Better grab the candles; we’re going to need them. Wait! We can do that thing they did on Indiana Jones. You know, where he wrapped some cloth around the end of a bone before setting it on fire and using it as a torch.” She shuddered. “Bad joke. I couldn’t use a bone like that.”

Ryan’s smile lit up his face as he stood. “Just when I think you can’t get any better, you bring in Indy.”

“I’ll even sing the theme tune if you’re good. Now, let me get what we need out of this bag. There’s no point carrying it. You can just shove things in your pockets, and I’ll carry the water bottle.”

Sarah stood, and using the cooler as a table, she went through the contents of her bag. The only useful things it held were her travel toothbrush set and a few remaining antibacterial wipes.

A hand snaked around her stomach as Ryan pressed up behind her. His lips found the crook of her neck, where he placed a lingering kiss. Instantly turning her knees to noodles.

“I can be good,” he rumbled against her skin, sending shivers, of the best kind, through her. “I can be really, really good.” He nipped at the sensitive spot between shoulder and neck.

“Stop it,” she protested weakly. “I have no willpower when it comes to you. One more bite, and I will jump you again.”

His chuckle was dark and delicious. “If only you knew how tempted I am right now.” With a sigh, he released her. “But we have to get out of here. I am going to keep that little revelation in mind for later though.”

Well, hell.

“Well, hell,” Ryan said as he held the candle up to the wall filled with graffiti. “How are we supposed to tell which red the little shits meant?”

Visions of hanging the teens, by their ankles, over a pit of squirming rats filled Ryan’s mind. Maybe he’d even go all blockbuster villain on them and light a candle under the rope that held them in place. Naw, that was too clichéd. He’d tie them by their ankles under one of the Paris bridges and swing them like a pendulum, watching as they narrowly missed the boats and sobbed for their lives. Yeah, better.

“I think that’s orange.” Sarah leaned past him to point at a tag scrawled across the brick. “And that one looks more magenta than red. I’m going to go with this one. I think that’s definitely red.”

“You sound very convinced,” he drawled. “Also, I think you’re putting too much faith in those idiots. I’m not sure they knew the difference between magenta and red.”

“They were artists, of course they did.”

Oh, sweet, naive child. “Stats, you saw their artwork. It didn’t instill confidence.”

She slapped a hand in the middle of a huge, unreadable tag. “This one is red.”

“It’s as good a choice as any, I suppose.”

“That’s the spirit.” She glared at him.

It was cute. Kinda like an irritated puppy—a poodle puppy! The hair was totally in poodle territory, although he’d never mention that to Sarah. Somehow, he didn’t think she’d take it as a compliment. One day, though, he was buying them a poodle.

“Stop grinning at me,” Sarah snapped as they headed down the corridor that’d been tagged with the chosen red paint.

“Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side.

“I wish there had been a bed,” she said woefully before looking up at him with those big bronze eyes of hers. “Ignore me. I’m just tired and cranky.”

“At least you aren’t terrified or unconscious,” he joked, “so we’re on the up.”

Sarah stared at him for a second before grinning. “True.” She leaned away from him and held up their water bottle. “Do you need another drink?” It was barely a quarter full.

“I’m good, thanks.”

“We need to find some water soon, or we’ll be in trouble.” She took a couple of sips before holding his hand, making him grateful that there was enough space in the tunnel for them to walk side by side.