A beam of yellow light split the darkness as Adam switched his flashlight on. Jacinda followed suit as the two soaked individuals stumbled into the cave which housed the silver mine. They'd been riding hard since leaving the Amazon camp hours ago and now they weren't only wet but exhausted.
"Who's been praying for rain?" Jacinda panted as she leaned up against the cave's cold wall.
"I don't know but I hate being wet!" Adam groused, running a hand through his hair. "This is why I hated Seacouver! Rained every bloody day."
"At least it isn't as cold here as in Washington," she offered helpfully, wincing as a raindrop slithered down the back of her neck.
Even in the darkness she could tell he was smirking at that comment as he trained his light over the walls and floor. The sparkling of the silver veins didn't seem as awe-inspiring as it had the day before. Now it was just part of their damp refuge.
"How long do you think it's gonna last?" Jacinda asked.
"It's coming down pretty hard," he mused taking a few steps to his right. "Could be hours. We need to build a fire or something. It might not be as cold as the Pacific Northwest but it's going to get rather chilly."
"Especially in these clothes," she added ruefully.
Adam knelt down and started rummaging through their bags.
"We've got two good-sized blankets in here," he pointed out. "We can get out of these wet things and wrap up in them."
"Sounds lovely," she sighed tiredly.
While Adam scrounged up some dry wood from the back of the cave, Jacinda began peeling off her top. It didn't take long for the chill to hit her wet skin. Teeth chattering, she managed to pry off her boots and wriggle out of her wet jeans.
Adam soon had a nice pile of kindling stacked up in the far side of the mine. Miraculously the matches they'd brought had kept dry and in moments they had a warm fire going. Jacinda laid out her clothes near the fire as Adam unceremoniously stripped down to nothing. Even in the relative bleakness of the situation, Jacinda couldn't help but be affected by the glorious sight. The innocent expression he presented when he caught her eyeing him only reinforced the fact.
As he unselfconsciously settled to the ground beside her she could just imagine this is what he must have looked like several thousand years ago, in some remote land warming himself by the flames of a stranger's campfire. He was a part of history and not for the first time she thanked God that he had been sent to her.
He seemed to read her thoughts (a talent she was getting used to) and the innocent expression became one of invitation as he situated the other blanket over his broad shoulders and held up one corner in her direction. She smiled as she snuggled into his embrace and wiggled happily between his thighs. His smooth skin was cool to the touch. Poor guy seemed to feel the effects of the cold so fiercely. No wonder he preferred warm climes.
The wind howled as the rain seemed to come down even harder than before. Flashes of orange and yellow lightning lit up the mouth of the cave for brief moments before the mine was once again cast into darkness.
"This has been some vacation," Jacinda mused aloud, as she watched the smoke from the fire curl up towards the rock ceiling.
She felt Adams's chest rumble against her back as he laughed. "Indeed. Immortals, Amazons, floods...a vacation of mythic proportions!"
"And despite our current predicament, I've had a blast, Adam," she grinned, turning her head to place a kiss on his shoulder. "I wanted adventure and you gave it to me."
He chuckled. "So you're saying you're ready to settle down now and--"
Stopping abruptly, he realized he was about to say settle down and raise a family. He felt her flinch slightly in his arms and he tightened his hold. They sat quietly for awhile until Jacinda broke the silence.
"Xena said something about fertility rites," she said softly. "I know she was just joking, but, do you suppose there are really things out there than can help...you know..."
Adam *knew* there were things out there that purported to assist in the process of conception. Whether a certain herb's administration had actually done the deed or just coincided with a natural conception, he wasn't certain. He'd only witnessed the use of those sorts of charms and spells a few times. He would hate to tell her about them and get her hopes up only to be disappointed again.
"Most are myths and superstition," he finally said as he ran a hand along her back.
"Myths? Like you?" she replied wryly.
The corners of his mouth curled up. She never lost her sense of humor. Dropping a kiss on her neck he said, "Most myths are just that. Once in awhile you get lucky."
She giggled, both from his tongue trailing down her neck and from his words. "Is that what I am? Lucky?"
"What do you think, Jace?" he asked between neck nibbles. "Do you feel lucky?"
Collapsing in laughter she managed to respond, "That was the worst Clint Eastwood imitation I've ever heard!"
He looked offended but then recovered quickly by saying, "Good thing I have other talents."
The fire had chased away the chill from the cave, and Jacinda was starting to fell warm and toasty in Adam's strong arms. She could feel the day's exhaustion pulling her down. Leaning her head on his chest she inhaled deeply. He smelled like the rain. Smiling sleepily, she replied, "Sleep now, talents later."
Chuckling into her damp hair, Adam leaned against the side of the cave and wondered how long they'd be stuck here. Not that being here alone in the dark with the woman who made his immortal heart race was a bad thing! Having once again successfully taken her mind off their currently childless condition, he let the exhaustion overtake him as well.
