What the River Knows (Secrets of the Nile #1)

by Isabel Ibañez

He lifted an insouciant shoulder and I laughed, if only to hide the ache tearing at my heart. Whit still wouldn’t talk about the years he spent in the military, nor would he say much else about his family, but an easy camaraderie existed between us. He sought my company whenever there was any free time. I counted on him to bring me dinner when the hour grew late and I still hadn’t finished a particular sketch, and I always made sure his coffee was hot in the morning. It wasn’t everything, but at least we had a few smalls things between us that felt real.

“I’m attracted to you, Whit. More than I’d ever expected.” More than a friend, but I bit down on the words. I still had my pride, and she governed me ruthlessly. “There’s no tomorrow for us, we don’t even have today. But I wanted you to know how I felt. Even if you don’t feel the same way.” He regarded me without saying a word. He kept quiet while I stood, and quiet while I gathered my things. It was only when I went to walk away, my legs trembling, that he finally spoke. “Inez,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, “it goes both ways.”

“Olivera, I can hear you,” he said quietly. “Are you all right?” I fought to keep my voice steady, but failed. “Go away, Whit.”

He dragged the fabric to one side and stepped inside, blinking in the dim light. His gaze dropped to the ground where I sat huddled on the rug. Whit sank to his knees beside me and reached for me, pulling me close to his side. The strong line of his leg pressed against mine.

“Inez,” he whispered. “I’ll go if you want me to, but I need to know if you’re a...

He wrapped his arms around me, his thumb drawing circles at the small of my back. The caress loosened the awful knot in my chest, unraveling it slowly. I breathed easier, and my tears slowed. Whit had never been this gentle with me. This patient.

He waited without pushing for more. It was a side of him I’d never seen but knew existed. His breath was free of whiskey, his eyes were clear. I hadn’t seen him drink in weeks, not since losing his flask in the river. Whit’s confession lingered between us. It goes both ways.

The truth had a way of changing things. Slowly, I slid my hand across his chest, felt his steady heartbeat under my palm.

I would allow one more breath before I pulled away. But then he used his index finger to tip my chin up, and our eyes met in the soft light. His blue eyes dropped to my mouth and I shivered. He was going to kiss me, and I wouldn’t do a thing to stop it, even though I should. He was going to hate me afterward, but at least I’d have one memory of a perfect moment. He shut his eyes and exhaled, and when he opened them again, his hands gently moved me farther away, creating a slither of space.

Whit gave me a sidelong glance. The silence stretched. I was stalling, the words trapped in a tangle at the back of my throat. From the corner of my eye, I spotted his slight movement. His warm palm engulfed mine. Squeezed, and then released it.

Whit nudged my knee with his. “Stop it.” I startled. “What?” He leaned forward, and spoke quietly so that Isadora couldn’t hear. “I know what you’re doing. You can’t change what happened, or what you did. Try not to destroy yourself over it. Your mother betrayed you. If there’s anyone you can’t forgive, let it be her.”

“Try,” he said gently. He stood up and held out his hand. “Come on, Olivera. I have something I want to show you.”

His hands were steady and sure, and I wanted them to explore my body.

He threaded his hands through his hair and gave me a slightly peeved look. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “Your mother talked a lot about you, the books you’ve read, the pranks you pulled on your aunt and cousins. What you loved to eat, how much you loved coffee. That day on the dock, I thought I was meeting someone I already knew, but you still surprised me. I wanted to laugh when you fled from me, that cheeky smile on your face.”

“I couldn’t bring myself to throw the button away…” He sighed, and then added softly, “Or give it back.”

With deliberate precision, he reached for my hand. His calloused palm was rough against mine. He laced his fingers through mine and I shivered. His eyes warmed as he slowly, so slowly, drew my hand toward his mouth. He placed a soft, lingering kiss on the back of my wrist.

“In time we hate that which we often fear,”

“Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, and we are for the dark.

“Look at this!” Kareem exclaimed. As one, we all looked in his direction. My uncle’s face twisted in horror. Kareem stood by a jar, one skinny hand holding the lid, and with the other, he’d used his finger to scoop up whatever was stored within. Dark, thick liquid coated his index finger. Kareem brought it to his lips. “No!” Abdullah yelled. Too late, Kareem licked the sticky mass. His expression turned thoughtful, and then he grinned, and replaced the lid. “It’s honey.” “That honey is over two thousand years old,” said Tío Ricardo. “I can’t believe you’d put something like that in your mouth.” Kareem shrugged. “It smelled good.” Whit shifted his feet, half turning toward me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing. Abdullah ruffled Kareem’s hair, chuckling. “No more honey for you,” Abdullah said fondly. “Go and assist the crew.” Kareem took off, his sandals slapping against the stone.

This moment was for just her and me, the taste of roses in my mouth, the magic rioting under my skin. When I finally made it to the burial chamber, tears pricked the corners of my eyes. The objects and artifacts glinted gold from the light of the soft flame of my candle. I didn’t want to forget any of the details, but more important, I didn’t want to forget what it felt like to have found her. I’m glad she rested with her family. Glad, too, that everything that had been provided for her journey through the underworld was accounted for and recorded. Years from now, Abdullah’s careful recordings would be a guide for those studying the last gasp of her life on Earth. Time slipped by and I forced myself to turn away from Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. My gaze lingered in the treasury, wishing I could place the ring back where it belonged. The ring had started everything.

Curious, I pivoted and searched the crowd for my uncle’s familiar tall form and disheveled dark hair. I found him immediately, next to a broad-shouldered man with auburn hair and brawny arms. He wore black from head to toe, and it suited him. A dark knight with a heart of gold. Whit.

“Because I want one memory with you dancing. One thing that’s mine before we part ways…”

Tension seeped out of my shoulders. His blues eyes were locked on mine, and I felt myself give a little. He stared at me with infinite tenderness, and it nearly broke me to know that he’d never have the chance to look at me that way again.

“One thing I can carry with me back home,” he con...

His lips brushed against my temple. “I know it’s selfish, and I hope you can forgive me for it.” This was one memory I wanted, too. “Forgiven,” I breathed. Whit twirled me around the dance floor, holding me close, his minty and clean scent making my head spin. Couples swirled around us, whispering and gossiping, and counting down the minutes until the New Year. He released the tight hold around my waist, and backed a step away from me. “Thank you for the dance.”

He slowly leaned forward and whispered, “Happy New Year, Inez.” “Feliz año nuevo, Whit.” The noise around us rose to a deafening crescendo as he softly brushed his lips against my cheek.

Whit used his elbow to slam the face of the one holding him down. He jumped to his feet, eyes feral. “Touch her again and I will end your miserable life.”

I bent forward, tears gathering in my eyes. Whit howled, struggling anew.

“Can you come closer?” “Why?” “I need to know what they’ve done to you.”

“Sweetheart, do you want to hear this or not?” I laid my head back down, the endearment working like a balm. Whit removed my hairpin and plucked my hat off my head. He cast it aside.

“Inez,” he whispered slowly. “You’ll have to forgive me for what I do next.”

The moment his mouth covered mine, every thought, every worry fled from my mind. He tugged me closer, his arms digging into my lower back. One hand glided upward, holding the back of my head, threading his fingers through my messy hair. He kissed me deeper, and I melted against him. I swept my hands across the width of his shoulders and he shivered under my touch. He coaxed my mouth to open, touched his tongue to mine in a delicious sweep. I moaned, and he caught the sound, holding me tighter. A sharp tug pulled, deep in my belly, as I shifted to get closer. He made an approving noise at the back of his throat, and his hands cupped my rear, and he pulled me against him. My eyes flew open when I felt how much he wanted me.

Whit pulled away enough to read my expression, a tender smile bending his mouth. I was flushed, my bloo...

“I’ve never had a friend like you,” he said. “That day on the dock, you walked away from me, leaving behind almost everything you owned with the most insufferable smirk on your face. My God, you surprised the hell out of me.” He kissed me, pulling my bottom lip into his mouth. “When you made m...

I laughed, and he kissed me again. He drew me close, and he palmed my breast, his thumb brushing across sensitive skin over my shirt, and I shivered. “Do you kiss all of your friends like this?” I asked, breathless. “Did y...

I shook my head, dizzy from his touch, the strength of his arms wrapped tight around me. The hard plane of his chest made me feel safe, as if he’d protect me from whatever happened next. I kissed him, knowing there’d never be...

The flame of the candle went out. We froze, our breaths mingling together in the dark. Whit wrapped both arms around me, our chests pressed so close together not even a secret could pass through. A sob worked its way up my throat, coming out in a muffled gasp. Tears dripped down my face, and Whit kissed each one. “Is this it, Whit?” I whispered. He sq...

We were fused together in the pitch black. Whit idly dragged his palm up and down my back, and the only sound came from our soft breathing and the scuttling of some insect across the stone. We traded kisses in the deep shadows, distracting me from the terror inching close...