Welcome to 'Dig'. I hope you'll like it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I will stipulate that no more of this will post until I finish writing this. I just wanted to give you a taste.
Chapter 1: 'Through the Fire and Flames' by DragonForce
Holding the emerald in my hand, my mouth drops open at the magnificence of the gem. It's beautiful beyond words.
"Let me hold it," she asks, her eyes as wide as saucers.
Smiling, I carefully place it in her hands. Although I have no idea about the carat weight, it's the size of a fifty cent piece. Stunning and exquisite, the clarity is flawless as well. Just after handing it to her, we feel the first rumble. When we turn to face each other, our jubilation is replaced by fear. Moments later, we feel the earth moving again, this time dust and rocks start to rain down on us.
Trying to fight the sense of panic that's beginning to erupt, my eyes dart around. Without wasting anymore precious time, I grab her hand, pulling her along with me.
"We need to get the hell out of here before this place buries us alive!"
I can see that she's full of fear too, her eyes intense and wild plus she's squeezing my hand so tight, it's starting to numb.
"Be careful, the terrain is hazardous at best," I caution. The path is treacherous, the air is dank and the ground slippery. Suddenly the earth shakes anew and the mine roars, the ceiling dropping more rocks down on us. Just as I see sunlight beginning to filter in, a huge boulder drops mere feet in front of us.
"Damon?"
"I know, sweetheart." Keeping her hand tightly in mine, we continue. By the grace of God or by fate, there's enough room to squeak by if we suck in our breaths. Although it's a tight squeeze, we somehow get through. The entrance in sight, we run as if our lives depended on it and they do. Just as we're mere yards from the sunlight, fire and brimstone metaphorically consume us. The earth beneath our feet is literally shifting as the entire mine begins to collapse on top of us. Covering out heads, we run as fast as our feet will carry us. The entrance slopes in a downward pitch so I give her a shove, sending her somersaulting towards the opening. Once I see that she's safely outside, I dive too. Just as I reach the entryway, another huge rock falls, landing inches from me. Swallowing thickly, I jump to my feet, reaching the threshold, just as the ground stops shaking.
My heart is thrumming a strong cadence against my rib cage, my chest heaving as the adrenaline spike begins to wane just slightly. Barely able to take a breath, I'm nearly bowled over when she runs towards me pell-mell. Throwing herself against me, she wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing tightly.
"We're safe, it's okay." Knowing she's terrified beyond words, I stroke her back, trying to soothe both of our shattered nerves.
"Tell me you have it," I utter, once I pull some air into my lungs. Releasing her hold on me, she smiles widely before dropping the emerald into my hand.
"Do I really have to go to that fancy schmancy affair? You know that it's way above my pay grade." Standing up, I walk over to the cooler to grab a cold bottle of water.
"Yes, you have to do this. We need the money to continue our field work."
"You know how I hate dressing up?" I whine, dropping my chin to my chest.
"Oh stop acting like such a baby. Besides Ric and Jenna are going. And of course, Nik and Caroline will be there too. "
"Fine," I mumble under my breath. After taking the last swallow of water, I walk back to the fossil that we're trying to excavate. Carefully, I take the brush in hand, using it to remove the soil from around the specimen. We're in the northwest South Dakota digging in the Hell Creek formation. 'Sue' the infamous T-Rex was found here in 1990. It's also notable for other North American upper Cretaceous fossils such as the Tyrannosaurus rex and the Triceratops. We've uncovered a species of feathered dinosaur, resembling an ostrich. 'Anzu Wyliei' lived sixty six to sixty eight million years ago. It belonged to a group of bird-like dinosaurs known as Oviraptorosaurs. The species ranges from dinosaurs the size of turkeys to the twenty-six foot 'Gigantoraptor' found in inner Mongolia.
The fossils revealed interesting details of the individual animals. Two showed signs of injury, one with a broken rib that had healed before death, and the other had an arthritic toe bone. The three partially complete skeletons we've uncovered revealed an intriguing glimpse of what Anzu wyliei may have looked like in life. The so-called Chicken from hell was about eleven feet in length, measuring five feet high at its hip. It had a long neck and hind legs like an ostrich, feathered arms and tail, large sharp claws at the end of its forelimbs, a skull crowned by a tall crest, and like today's birds, a beak with no teeth. Its skull structure seems to indicates that it was an omnivore.
Oviraptorosaurs once lived in a Cretaceous period land mass that has since split to become the modern-day continents of Asia and North America. They're mostly known from the fossil record in Asia. But until now, only a few incomplete specimens had been found in North America. Anzu wyliei, therefore, is a significant find in that it gives paleontologists like myself a better understanding of North American Oviraptorosaurs, and their evolutionary relationship to Asian Oviraptorosaurs. Based on the geology of the Hell Creek Formation, a late Cretaceous outcropping, Anzu wyliei lived in a humid floodplain, unlike some of their counterparts in Asia that lived in semi-arid environments. This may provide a clue as to why North American Oviraptorosaurs were more closely related to each other than they were to most of their Asian cousins, despite the ancient connection between the two current-day landmasses.
Picking a brush up herself, she starts dusting the other end of the skeleton.
"For heaven's sake, would you quit pouting?" Rolling my eyes, I just keep my mind focused on what I'm doing rather than have to listen o her. Scooting over towards me, she takes my chin in her palm, turning it to face her.
"If this is so important, why can't you go and leave me to my bones?"
"Because it's you they want," she says, with emphasis on the you.
"So I'm going to have to clean up and fly to New York only to have to listen to the snobs declare themselves masters of the universe..." I roll my eyes and shake my head at the inanity of it all.
"I know full well you don't like black tie affairs but sometimes we have to do the things we don't want to do."
"I know, Lex. I'll go and I'll smile and I'll play the part."
"Good boy," she teases, ruffing up my hair. Shaking my head, I start to laugh.
"What the hell did I ever see in you?" When she sticks her tongue out, I laugh that much harder but turn my attention back to the skeleton that we're trying to unearth.
Dressed in my black suit and navy tie, I pull my invitation out and hand it to the doorman. His eyes dart from me to the paper in his hand and back to me again before gesturing for me to go inside. I mingle among the crowd till I find Mikael and Elijah Mikaelson, a couple of my most lucrative benefactors. Sitting down at the table, I sit back, cross my legs and listen to the speaker. Once he leaves the stage, Mikael walks to the podium to introduce me. I stand up, tip my imaginary hat then sit back down. Mikael speaks for quite some time. Finally he's done and announces for the festivities to begin. Finally I can get up and stretch my legs a little bit. Walking towards the bar, I stop when I see a couple of friends of mine.
'Ah Damon, you're here. Obviously Lexi worked her magic to get you to agree to come tonight."
He gives me a knowing look while handing me a flute of champagne.
"That she did. How are you, Nik? And where is that beautiful wife of yours?" I start to say when Caroline steps beside me.
"Damon, I'm so glad you made it." she says, smiling widely at me. Smirking, I lean in so my lips are close to her ear.
"So when are you going to leave this chump?"
"You make it so hard, Damon. But what can I do? The big oaf needs me," she adds, playing along.
"Har, har," Nik remarks, rolling his eyes at the two of us at the same time he pulls Caroline close to him.
"Come on, Nik. Lighten up, we're only teasing."
Eying me conspiratorially, she raises her hand to whisper into my ear.
"He needs to poop. It's been a few days."
I start laughing so hard that my eyes start to water.
"You have a keeper here, Nik," I blurt out. I laugh that much harder when I happen to notice the scandalized look on his face. My belly hurts by the time I finally compose myself. I look up just in time to see her give me a wink just as Nik is pulling her away. Shuddering, I start working my way through the crowd looking to see if there's anyone else I know here. Although Lexi did say that Jenna and Ric would be here, I haven't seen them yet. Just as I turn my head to look around again, someone bumps into me, spilling my glass of champagne all over the front of my shirt.
"What the...," I start to curse. But when I look up and see the endless doe eyes staring back at me, I'm rendered speechless. Lord she's hot, I think to myself.
"I'm so sorry," she blurts out, stopping to cover her mouth because she can't seem to stop herself from giggling.
"I'm glad I could provide the entertainment for the night," I grumble. Stepping back, I drop my eyes to look at my now drenched shirt. When I hear someone whistle, I glance at the buxom blonde who steps beside the brunette bombshell. Sucking in a breath, I turn my eyes back to the beauty in front of me.
"Look at those abs, Elena. Score," she squeals, glancing at my middle while giving Elena a high five.
"Like what you see Elena?" I tease, giving her a flash of what Lexi calls my eye thing.
"I really do," she adds, licking her lips.
"Elena, he's actually blushing," the blonde states, waggling her brows at her friend.
Smiling, I shake my head.
"Ladies, l don't blush." Although I know I am because I can feel my face heat up and my blood sloshing through my veins.
"I think you should show him, Rebekah," Elena teases, reaching into her bag and handing her a pocket mirror. Raising it to me, she shoves it in my face. Lifting my own arm, I use it to lower her hand, pushing it aside because I don't need to see for myself.
"Okay, okay, you proved your point. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find the men's room."
"I'd be more than happy to help you with that shirt," the brunette volunteers. When she bites onto her lower lip, my breath hitches when I feel my dick twitch.
"Who am I to argue with a deal like that? Lead the way." Gesturing with my outstretched arm for her to lead the way, I wait for her to make the first move. Grabbing onto my hand, she looks over my shoulder at Rebekah.
"See ya later, Beks." She gives her friend a wink, watching her till the blonde disappears into the crowd.
"This way," she whispers, latching her arm through mine. After looking around in all directions, she pulls me out of the ballroom entrance, shoving me into the elevator as soon as doors open. Without missing a beat, she pushes me against the back of the elevator and slams her lips to mine.
"Which floor?"
"Twenty four."
When I feel her tongue running along my lips, I open my mouth and suck her tongue inside.
"Who are you?" I pant, pulling back when I need air.
"Elena, now shut up and kiss me."
"My pleasure." Breathing heavily, I just stare for a millisecond before smacking my lips to hers again. Using one of my hands, I start to hitch up her dress and lift her leg around my hip, grinding my now raging erection against her wanton core. Edging my fingers closer to the promised land, I tease the edge of her panties, plunging a finger inside. Dropping her head onto my shoulder, she starts to shamelessly ride my finger. Just as I start to work her into a frenzy, the elevator pings and the door opens. I look up when I hear a startled gasp, only to see an old lady who's glaring at us angrily. Elena struts out of the elevator, stopping right in front of the middle aged prude.
"I'd be glad to share him with you, if he can keep it up that is?"
"Well I never," she scoffs, clearly scandalized.
"Obviously," Elena taunts. Just as she's readying herself for round two with the woman, I grab her hand and run down the hall, both of us bursting out in laughter. As soon as we get to my hotel room door, I slide the key card in, push it open. The two of us fall in, still laughing uproariously. As soon as we reach the bedside, she wastes no time in unclasping my pants button, lowering my boxers along with my pants till their tented at my feet. With a wink, she grabs onto my shirttails, rips them apart, the buttons flying. Shocked, I look over my now ruined shirt.
"You didn't want that did you?" she asks coyly, sucking her finger into her mouth. Cupping the back of her neck with my hand, I pull her lips to mine, kissing her torridly. I pull back with a gasp when she takes a hold of my cock, using the tip of her fingernail to tease the slit.
"Fuck Elena, what are you doing to me?"
"I intend for you to do just that," she teases, pulling my earlobe into her mouth at the same time she gives my cock a not so gentle tug. It takes all the self control I have but I pry her fingers off of me.
"You're overdressed. Now strip," I demand, lowering my lips to her neck, brushing that spot just behind her ear with my lips and tongue. After giving her a taste of what's to come, I drop onto the bed and shimmy back to the head of it. My eyes widen to the size of saucers as I watch her makeshift striptease. As soon as she flings her bra over her shoulder, she gets on her hands and knees and stalks up the bed till she's right in front of me. Her breasts swinging like a pendulum, hypnotize me. Reaching up, I pluck her nipples, tugging and squeezing them till she's writhing and moaning above me. Sliding down in a bed a little, I use my mouth and latch onto one, suckling forcefully while my thumb and forefinger continue to play with her other breast.
"How do you want it baby?" I ask, my mouth full of her nipple and areole. When I let go, I use my teeth to elongate her nipple with my teeth.
Smiling like the little minx that she is, she turns around, wiggling her perfectly shaped ass in my face.
"Um, um." Getting onto my knees, I place one hand on her left hip. When she winks at me over her shoulder, a throaty grunt escapes my lips as I slam balls deep into her. Stopping for a minute to get a grip, I raise my head up and close my eyes. When I hear her growl for me to move, I pull out and thrust back in, establishing a rhythm. Flesh slapping against flesh, greedy moans and growls fill the room with the sounds of our fucking.
"Harder Damon," she moans, throwing her own head back.
"Your wish is my command, sweetheart," so I ram in and out, hitting her g spot with each thrust inside of her. Grunting loudly, I feel the coil tightening precipitously in my lower belly. My strokes become chaotic and disjointed. On the cusp of my release, I reach around to fondle her clit, launching her into hyperspace. Her velvet walls suck me dry as I cum inside of her, painting her womb with my release. Weakened by the force of that orgasm, I collapse on top of her before lazily rolling off.
"Wow," is all I can say, my voice hoarse and throaty.
"Ready for round two?"
Finding myself getting lost in her twinkling brown eyes, I lick my lips.
"Oh honey, you have no idea. But I need a moment to catch up."
"Seriously?" she laughs, raising up on one arm to press a kiss to my lips.
"Honey, it's not the age, it's the mileage." Once I catch my breath, we go for round two and then three before exhaustion pulls me to sleep with her curled in my arms. Waking up with a yawn, I open my eyes, noticing that Elena is nowhere in sight. Sitting up, I throw my legs over the side of the bed. After rubbing my eyes, I get up to see if she's in the bathroom. The only thing I find is a post it note stuck to the bathroom mirror.
'Thanks for the wild night.'
Feeling like I got kicked in the gut, I grab the note, crumple it up and toss it angrily into the waste basket.
"Unbelievable," I say out loud. Shaking it off, I step into the shower. Turning the water on hot, I lean forward, pressing my palms against the shower wall. Closing my eyes, I let the water pummel my body and wash away the remains of last night. Hard as I try I can't get the image of Elena surrendering to the throes of passion out of my head. Taking a deep breath, I reach for a washcloth and a bar of soap to scrub my body, the image of being inside her beautiful body emblazoned in my mind.
This plot is courtesy of Eva's stellar mind. She comes up with these brilliant ideas and I try to bring them to life the way she imagined. Thank you, Eva. Love you lots.
Remember, everything is not always as it appears to be...
A huge thank you and big fat hugs to Kate for the brilliant cover image.
I did steal a line from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. I've seen that movie innumerable times...
Again, no more of this will post till I finish it. I have three chapters left to write.
Since we're about turn the lights out on 'Rainy Days and Mondays', I wanted to give you a taste of 'Dig'. 'Angels Fall' and 'Tears in Heaven' still have much left to tell.
Please be kind and press that *REVIEW* button.
As always, have a safe and wonderful day. Thank you so much. We'll see later this week for the final chapter of Rainy as well as updates on the other two stories.