Lara’s Bargain (Patreon)

Lara stepped off the small plane, dust blowing around her boots as she walked into the quiet village. The sun was low, and the shadows were long over the small huts. People stared as she passed, whispering about the confident stranger with a backpack on her shoulder.

Inside the chief’s hut, the air smelled of smoke and spices. The chief was a big, heavy man, wearing feathers and beads. He leaned forward, his belly pressing against his legs. “You want the artifact,” he said slowly.

Lara smiled, already guessing what the chief wanted—something personal, maybe even something sexual. The idea didn’t bother her. In fact, it made her smile even more.

The chief gave her a long look. “Then you must give me something in return.”

Without a second thought, Lara’s playful smile grew. “Deal,” she said, excited by what was coming.