Her gaze traveled over an exposed hip and a fascinating curve of muscle that disappeared under the bed sheet. Mia had studied Greek sculpture and architecture extensively, including the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns . . .

Her gaze returned to his sleek, muscled groin and she wondered, dare she?

She stole a furtive glance at his face. Exeter appeared years younger in his sleep, unencumbered by all the worries and responsibilities he took so seriously. She lifted the covers slowly, enough to view . . . an impressive phallus at rest.

“It is called nocturnal penile tumescence. The spontaneous occurrence of an erection of the penis during sleep.”

He was awake.

Caught in the act of peeking, Mia dropped the sheet. Her cheeks flamed with heat, still she was filled with curiosity and more than a little trepidation. Her need to know, however, trumped any fear. “This is normal for men—this size and stiffness?”

She dared to meet his gaze and wasn’t exactly sure how to read his expression. Something between sleepy arousal and amusement. “Fully erect, a man’s penis varies in size. Some are larger than others—all of them get the job done.”

She folded back the sheet. “I see.” Her gaze traveled up his torso. “You are handsomely made, Doctor Exeter.”

“As are you, Miss Chadwick.” He cupped her buttocks and brought her pelvis against him. How easily this man thrilled her. Even now her body tingled from the feel of his hard penis pressing against her belly.

He had mentioned his discomfort last night, which had set her wondering about his pleasure. About exactly what happened when a man climaxed. She understood the mechanics of procreation—but this was different. No one had ever mentioned the part about pleasure—except Exeter.

She placed her hands on his chest. “May I touch you here?”

Exeter nodded.

Her fingertips moved down his torso. “Here?”

Exeter’s eyes narrowed. “Mia.”

She nuzzled the dark stubble of beard on his chin. “May I please touch you . . . ?” She moved lower and he caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

He brushed a kiss over her knuckles. “I’m not sure that should happen right now.”

A sharp rap preceded the sound of Jersey’s sword reopening the door latch. Exeter leapt out of bed and grabbed his trousers from the floor. Propped on her elbows, Mia nearly gasped. He shoved a long limb into a pant leg and covered a nicely muscled buttock cheek. Even as he hopped into his trousers he aroused her.

A pale pink glow suffused the room. “It’s dawn,” she mused aloud. Exeter dipped to peer out the window as he buttoned his pants. “We should be in Paris.”

Jersey stuck his head in the door before he entered the room. “A drawbridge went out last night—the train was held up for nearly two hours.”

Exeter opened his valise and pulled out a fresh shirt. “When do we arrive?”

“We’re on the outskirts of the city—no more than twenty minutes.” Ever the vigilant bodyguard, Jersey stole a quick glance around the room. “They’re serving pastries and coffee in the dining car—join us.”

Chapter Ten

“OH, MY”—Mia poked her head out of the carriage—“this is lovely.” L’Hôtel Claude exuded an Old World charm with its gated yard and striking dark blue awning over the door. Topiary trees planted in carved stone containers made charming sentries to each side of the hotel’s entrance.

Everything about their temporary residence was elegant and understated—very much like the man who handed her down from the carriage. She took note of the quiet courtyard’s neatly trimmed, ivy-covered stone walls and tall iron gates. It was also a fortress.

Exeter checked in and distributed room keys. “We’ve got two connecting suites on the sixth floor with four sleeping chambers. If we require more rooms, the hotel assures me they will make every effort to accommodate us.”

During the trudge upstairs, Jersey calmly laid down a few security rules. “I’d like to request that no one leave the hotel alone and never without either Valentine or myself as an escort. Report any strange occurrence, no matter how insignificant. And I must ask everyone to leave their rooms unlocked, in case Valentine or I have to get to you quickly.”

On the sixth floor, before Exeter could turn his key, the door to room 19 opened. “Bon jour, mon amis.” Mr. Ping bowed politely and ushered them inside the suite. “The rooms are perfectly situated, Doctor Exeter.” Ping swept back the pale under curtain behind a swag of sumptuous drapery and opened French doors. “Come, have a look.”

The view from the hotel room was spectacular. Her gaze traveled across the Quai des Orfevres and the Seine to the Latin Quarter on the left bank. A telescope mounted on a tripod had been set up on the narrow balcony, which hardly had room for the window box planted with red cyclamen. Exeter leaned over to take a look, adjusting the eyepiece. “What am I looking at, Ping?”

The attractive and somewhat whimsical character folded his hands over his chest. “Latin Quarter. The east wall of the Sorbonne. There is an underground entrance to a student dinning hall—mostly used by delivery people to the kitchen.” Exeter motioned Jersey in for a look.

“Directly below the kitchen,” Ping continued, “is one of your long-lost entrances to the catacombs.” The gifted genie was in shirtsleeves and waistcoat; he apparently had been there for some time, preparing the room for their mission. Of all the Nightshades, Mia found Ping the most fascinating. He was also a powerful, magical force who was said to transmogrify between male and female at will. She had never seen him in his female form . . . Jinn. There was something intriguing about this beautiful, androgynous character, whom she found to be deadly handsome in a most exotic way—with his liquid silver eyes and long black hair. She had once had a discussion about him with America and Valentine, more of a girlish giggle, but she was surprised to learn they all felt the same attraction to Ping.

“What about the other locations?” Jersey looked up from the eyepiece to the river.

Ping sighed. “The view is blocked from here, better from the rooftop—we can set up there if need be.”

Mia hadn’t taken her eyes off the iron spire across the river. “By Mr. Eiffel’s Tower?” she queried. “It is rather . . . intrusive.” They all turned to study the daunting edifice.

“I’m not sure I like it—yet.” Jersey muttered. Exeter added a grunt of agreement.

“Why the surveillance?” Mia asked.

Exeter turned to her but spoke to all. “It is my understanding that Tim will be bringing several new gadgets with him—radio communication devices modified for our world. These will allow us to speak to one another, no matter where we are in the city. The telescope is a precaution—an aboveground lookout, to keep us apprised of either the French police or Prospero’s patrols.”

Ping nodded. “The other device will track us underground, and keep us from going in circles.” The young man crossed the comfortable sitting room and pushed apart pocket doors to a dining area. “I thought this would make for a kind of war room. We can tack up the maps and store all of Tim’s equipment in here”—Ping gestured to the table—“and enjoy a meal.”

A number of covered dishes were placed on a table set for six. Mia and America both lifted domed lids. “Thoughtful of you.” Mia thanked the jinni.

He turned to America. “Phaeton has been a great friend to me as well as a brave protector of us all. I sense his time with Prospero has been difficult”—when America looked up in alarm, Ping smiled a mysterious Ping smile—“. . . for Prospero.”

While Exeter and Jersey pinned up the map purchased in London, Mia fixed a plate for Exeter. She piled on his favorite foods, including lamb braised in a luscious ratatouille. Exeter sat down at the table beside her. “This looks perfect, Mia.”

“Of course it is.” She grinned, digging into her salade niçoise. “Is there a bellpull about? I know I’d love a good soak and a nap, after luncheon.” There were nods from both America and Valentine.

“Enjoy your meal, ladies, and allow me to order your baths.” Ping exited the room, returning some minutes later holding a plainly marked tin, and a tubular device, of the kind Tim Noggy carried about.

“Tim asked me to bring these on ahead.” Ping pushed a toggle switch on the side of the cylinder and a vibrant green line shot out from the end of the tube and into the air. The narrow light beam snaked up and down, sometimes curling back on itself, sometimes dividing into two lines to make a rectangular box, then merging into a single line once more. The beams traveled up and down, side to side, forming a labyrinth of glowing green lines in the air.

“A map of some kind?” A wide-eyed Mia looked from Exeter to Ping.

Ping positioned the projection over the map on the wall. Almost at once they all realized what was happening. The new semitransparent grid was aligning with the much older map, at least in most places.

Exeter set his fork down. “Another version of the catacombs?”

Ping nodded. “From the other side.”

“The catacombs of the Outremer,” Mia whispered.

“Using both maps, and the locator bugs, we should be able to triangulate the most likely spots Prospero has hidden Phaeton.”

America’s gaze fell on the plain metal box. “Locator bugs?”

Ping nodded. “Open it.”

America used two fingers and gingerly lifted the lid. Simultaneously they all peered inside. A great number of black beetles—mechanical creatures the size of a tuppence—swarmed about inside the tin. “I’ve been working with the tech wizard, Oakley.”