A Paradox of Fates

by Rebecca Hefner

  Placing the wallet and photos on the table, he turned back to her. Cupping her face, he smoothed his thumbs over her cheeks. “Every time I look at you, I realize that every step I took in my past led me to you. You’re my future, Lainey. You always have been. I love you so deeply I feel it in my soul. Every time you look at me with those stunning eyes, I send a prayer of thanks to every god you don’t believe in.” She giggled, and his heart swelled. “I’m so honored to be your partner, and I won’t let you push me away, no matter how hard you try. You’re stuck with me, duchess.”

  Gliding her palms over his pecs, her red lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Sounds perfect to me. But I’m definitely not marrying you. I don’t want to get married.”

  Hunter rolled his eyes. “She doth protest too much. I think you’re secretly dying to marry me.”

  “No way, buddy. And I definitely don’t want kids. Child-free all the way. I have enough on my plate.”

  “I’m forty-three, woman,” he said, unable to stop his chuckle. “I don’t want kids now. I’d break a hip trying to play with them. Are you crazy?”

  “At least we’re on the same page with that. But still,” she said, holding up a finger, “no marriage either. Mark my words.”

  “We’ll see, sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips.

  “We’ll see,” she repeated, swiping her tongue across his bottom lip. It drove him wild.

  Lowering his hands to her ass, he lifted her, and she yelped, encircling his waist with her legs. He carried her to the bed, throwing her on top and devouring her neck. Her hands were everywhere, in his hair, tugging at his shirt, pulling his belt buckle.

  Hunter stood, yanking his shirt over his head and unclasping his belt. Lainey sat up on the edge of the bed, her fingers tangling with his, as the metal unlatched and he shimmied his pants and underwear to his knees.

  His erection strained toward her, and she gripped his shaft, eyes wide and curious. Always the ever-present scientist, she stroked him, slow at first and then increasing in pace as he gritted his teeth. Needing to touch her, he entwined his fingers in her hair, and her gaze lifted to his.

  “I want to kiss you here,” she said, running her thumb over the tiny hole at the head of his shaft. It was wet with tiny droplets of arousal, and she spread the moisture over his sensitive skin.

  He groaned, the ministrations of her thumb so pleasurable as her dripping maple eyes stared up at him, filled with a slight hesitancy. “Yes, sweetheart,” he whispered, cupping her jaw with his free hand. “I’ve dreamed so many times about having your smart, sexy mouth around me.” She grinned, causing his heart to skip a beat. “I promise you, anything you do will feel good.”

  She contemplated for a few seconds more and then lowered her lips to his shaft. She fluttered his straining skin with kisses, eliciting a deep rumble from his chest as he clenched her hair. Tentative and thorough, her wet tongue darted out to stroke his cock, from the hard base to the tingling tip, and Hunter clenched his jaw so tightly he thought it might break. Determined to let her explore at her own pace, he gritted words of love and encouragement to her.

  Finally, she opened her mouth, sliding over his length while she jerked the base of his shaft. Hunter felt his eyes straining, his body a taut mass of nerves and pleasure. Never had he seen anything as magnificent as his resplendent scientist lavishing his most sensitive place with her exquisite mouth. As her lips worked the smooth skin, over and over, he felt his balls begin to tighten, the orgasm starting to form. Exhibiting a control he would surely lose if she kept up the ministrations, he gently pulled her away.

  Amber irises were filled with hesitation. “You want me to stop?”

  “I want to be inside you. Now. Clothes off.” He pushed his pants to his ankles, jerking off his shoes and tossing them aside.

  Lainey removed her clothes, her actions as frantic as his, and lay back on the pillow, her mahogany hair fanning behind her. Striding to his wallet, Hunter grabbed a condom, noticing how badly his hands were shaking as he slipped it on. Returning to the bed, he crawled over her, searching for her tight channel.

  “Are you wet?” he asked, gliding his fingers between her folds. She nodded, looking so cute as she bit her bottom lip. “Oh, yeah,” he said, sliding his finger inside her plushy walls as she purred. “You’re dripping. Did you like sucking me, honey?”

  “Yes,” she said, hips arching to meet his finger. “I would’ve finished you that way. You didn’t have to stop.”

  “I want to be right here when I come,” he said, retracting his finger and aligning the head of his shaft with her opening. Looking into her eyes, he pushed into her, so thrilled to be joined with her so intimately.

  When he was seated deeply in her snug warmth, he began to move, resting on his forearms as his fingers delved into the thick hair at her temples. “Lainey,” he whispered, feeling so connected to her as they moved together on the bed.

  “I love you,” she whispered, cupping his face as tears glistened in her eyes. The moment was so profound, he wondered how his heart was still beating inside his chest. She’d reduced him to nothingness, unable to even say the words back. Wanting to so badly, he was suddenly incapable. Hoping she understood, he lowered his lips to hers, sweeping his tongue around the warm hollows of her mouth, mimicking the movements of his straining length inside her fiery depths.

  Hating that he’d lost all control, he broke the kiss, burying his face in her neck. “I can’t hold back. I’m so sorry, baby. I want to make it good for you.”

  “Don’t hold back,” she cried into his ear, her warm breath sending shivers down his body. “I love you like this, so raw and open. Please, Hunter. Let go.”

  The words broke something in him, and a jolt of pleasure shot down his spine. Feeling his hips buck, he growled against her neck as spurts of arousal began to shoot from his shaft. Lost in the intimacy of the moment, he emptied everything inside her, all his years of loneliness and heartache swept away by her gorgeous body and loving words. For a man who’d lived years without knowing peace, it was something akin to heaven.

  Eventually, his shudders subsided, his body sated and heavy over hers. Lifting a shaking hand to her cheek, he rubbed his thumb over her swollen lip. She smiled, her face free of the worry and concern it so often carried. She looked young. Happy. It shifted something inside him, knowing she could be so vulnerable with him.

  “I love you too,” he said, stroking the hair at her temple. “So much, Lainey. Thank you for opening your heart to me. I promise, I’ll keep it safe.”

  “I know you will,” she said, kissing his thumb.

  He gave her a soft peck on the lips and pulled away from her delectable body to dispose of the condom. When he returned to the bed, she padded to the bathroom and came back to snuggle against his chest a few moments later.

  “You always go to the bathroom after we have sex. Should I be worried?”

  Lainey laughed, her fingers tracing a pattern over the hairs on his chest. “You should always pee after sex. It lowers the risk of getting a urinary tract infection. That’s Science 101, Hunter.”

  “Ah, yes,” he said, hugging her to him. “How could we make love without you spouting science to me? I’m wondering if I can even get hard without you reciting equations first.”

  She slapped his chest, rolling her eyes at his teasing. “It’s sexy being with an intelligent woman. Just you wait. I’m going to make a science lover out of you yet.”

  Smiling into her eyes, he pulled her close, loving how her nipples flattened against his chest. Gliding his hand over the soft skin of her inner thigh, his fingers searched for her folds. “I need to make you come,” he said, circling his finger around her opening. “Let’s see how long you can spout science while I play with you.”

  Giving him a mischievous grin, she parted her thighs. “I like this game. Let’s do it.” She waggled her eyebrows.

  Loving how unguarded she was, the protective walls she’d built all but shatt
ered, he undertook the challenge. And Hunter was thrilled to note his stunning physicist exploded in his arms rather quickly, seemingly unbothered that science was long-forgotten.

  * * * *

  Lainey trailed her fingers over the scratchy hairs on Hunter’s pecs, reveling in the rise and fall of his chest while he snored beneath her. For the first time in her life, she had two missions: to save the world, and to build a future with someone. Letting the dual purpose settle over her, she contemplated the road ahead.

  She and Nelson were close to rebuilding the Sphere. If all went well, it would be capable of time travel to both the future and the past. This opened up a world of possibility for her to save her family at the hub.

  Since Cyrus had instructed her not to travel to 2002, she reluctantly accepted his assertion that he and Claire had built a life where they were happy and whole. Love for her two dearest friends washed over her, and she wondered how they’d fallen in love. Perhaps she would hear the story one day. Oh, how she longed to hear the ways in which Claire had worn down the stoic soldier. No one was as determined as Claire when she set her mind on something.

  Her brow furrowed as she thought of Alora, Zach, Sara, Marie, Elle, and Eli, still trapped in the 2075 timeline. Cyrus’s warning had been ominous, and Lainey was desperate to save them. That would be her first mission, once she and Nelson had recreated a functioning Sphere.

  After that, the future was unknown. Or perhaps the past was unknown. In truth, it was all quite maddening if she focused on it for too long. There were so many possibilities, so many timelines that could be created. Were they destined to see the rise of the New Establishment no matter her efforts to prevent it at all costs? She didn’t know.

  In the end, all Lainey could do was try her damnedest. Forge ahead with everything she’d learned and everything still unknown, in hopes of creating a better Earth. A brighter future for humanity.

  In the past, she’d always been so consumed with fear that she would fail. Now, for some unfathomable reason, she felt calm, assured—confident, even.

  Hunter stirred below her, and his hand swept over her hair. “Hey,” he murmured, his eyes swollen from sleep. “Whatcha thinking?”

  “That we have a lot of work do to.” Her tone was solemn but firm, indicating her resolve.

  “Then we should probably get to it, duchess.”

  She nodded. “We should. Hunter?” she called softly, running her fingers over his chin.

  “Yes, sweetheart?” he said, his thumb trailing over her cheek.

  “Let’s go save the damn world.”

  As his soft laughter washed over her, she realized why she felt so assured. He was the reason she felt so confident. She now had a partner on her journey to fulfill her destiny, and neither of them would stop until they accomplished their goal.

  The New Establishment be damned.

  Dr. Elaine Randolph was armed and ready for battle.

  Epilogue

  The Year 2039

  Lainey stood under the thick oak tree, watching the children play. It was a warm day in Florida, perfect for the pick-up soccer game that had begun spontaneously. One of the children kicked the ball with might, and it rolled toward Lainey on the ground. Crouching, she picked it up as the boy approached her.

  “Thanks, miss,” he said, holding out his hands.

  “You’re welcome,” she said, smiling and handing him the soccer ball. “What’s your name?”

  “Eli,” he said, his dark eyes curious. “Do you live here?”

  “Nope,” she said. “I live in Virginia. Do you know where that is?”

  He nodded, black hair swishing. “My dad lives in Washington D.C. That’s next to Virginia.”

  “Wow. You’re smart. How old are you?”

  “Seven,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “I’m not supposed to speak to strangers. My mom will be mad.”

  “That’s true, but I’m not really a stranger. My name is Lainey, and we’ve actually met before.”

  “When?” he asked.

  She felt her lips curve. “It a long story but a really good one. Do you come to this park a lot?”

  “Yes. My friends and I play soccer here. Our moms said it’s okay if we stay in a group.” One of the children called his name from across the meadow. “I have to go.”

  She nodded. “I’d like to tell you my stories one day. I’ll be here tomorrow and hope I see you then. My husband will probably be here too.” Lainey gestured with her head to Hunter, sitting on a bench about twenty feet away. “His name’s Hunter, and he loves soccer.”

  “Cool,” Eli said. “See ya.” Pivoting, he ran back to join his friends.

  Lainey stood, wondering how many times she’d done this before. How long would it take her to earn Eli’s trust before she gave him the letter in her pocket? The one that explained who the New Establishment was and that even though her team had manipulated some aspects of past and future timelines, the regime was still a threat. Eli was a huge part of preventing their rise to prominence and must follow a specific trajectory. Only time would tell.

  Hearing the ground crunch behind her, she felt Hunter’s arm snake across her waist. “You made first contact,” he said, drawing her close.

  “Yep. I’ll come back for the next few days and slowly explain everything to him. Then, I’ll give him the letter filled with stories from the future. A future that is no longer certain but still needs to be managed. Such a paradox.”

  “Yes,” he said, placing a kiss to her temple. “All we can do is follow the leads we have and do our best to produce a favorable outcome. I have faith it will happen.”

  Inhaling a deep breath, she lifted her gaze to his. “I told him you were my husband.”

  A slow smile curled across his face. “Did you now?”

  She shrugged. “When Eli told me about our meeting, he said I called you my husband. It’s important I try to recreate past events with exact precision.”

  “But I’m not your husband. Yet,” he said, winking.

  Turning in his arms, she aligned her front with his, palming his cheek. “Well, don’t make a liar out of me, Hunter.”

  He growled, pulling her tight against his muscled body. “What are you saying, Lainey?”

  “Marry me, you damn fool. I’m asking you to marry me.”

  Throwing back his head, he laughed, the rumbling shakes washing over their bodies. Locking his gaze with hers, he arched a dark eyebrow and said, “Well, duchess, a romantic you are not.”

  Chuckling, she shook her head. “Nope. But I think you’ll still marry me anyway.”

  Placing his forehead against hers, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “My brilliant scientist. I love it when you’re right.”

  There, under the white clouds and blue sky, they sealed the commitment with a kiss, sweet and full of promise. Lainey had never been enamored with the idea of marriage, but during their time together, she’d come to understand it held great meaning for Hunter. In the end, she so desperately wanted to make him happy and was honored he craved that level of commitment with her.

  Love was a series of compromises, each person striving to place the other’s happiness above their own. He’d taught her that and so much more, and she was extremely thankful for every lesson learned. His strength was her guidepost; his love for her more magnificent than anything she’d ever imagined. Knowing that together, they would shape the future, she kissed him with every ounce of emotion in her pounding heart.

  Lifting her lids, she murmured against his mouth, “Let’s get it over with. We’ve still got to prep Eli for the future and travel to a different timeline to ensure the world doesn’t fall apart.”

  “Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Rhodes,” he said, nipping her lips.

  “That’s Dr. Rhodes to you.”

  The boom of his laughter echoed across the open meadow, filled with joy and love. Fingers entwined, they began a slow walk across the field, thus beginning the next chapter of their lives.

  Thank you!


  Thanks so much for reading A Paradox of Fates! I hope you enjoyed Lainey and Hunter’s journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  Want to know how Cyrus and Claire fell in love in 2002? Look out for their book, available for pre-order soon!

  Dying to know what happened to Alora, Zach, Eli, Elle, and the others stranded in 2075? Stay tuned for their novel in late 2020—the exciting conclusion to the Prevent the Past trilogy!

  In the meantime, if you’d like to try another one of my books, check out The End of Hatred! It’s a reimagining of the age-old Slayer/Vampyre saga with a Metallica-loving Slayer princess and a sexy, stoic Vampyre king. Their attraction is forbidden but they both crave peace. Happy reading!

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  Please consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. Indie authors survive on reviews and they are so appreciated. Your friendly neighborhood author thanks you from the bottom of her heart!

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  Books by Rebecca Hefner

  Prevent the Past Series

  Book 1: A Paradox of Fates

  Book 2: Claire and Cyrus’ story (coming soon!)

  Book 3: The conclusion of the trilogy (coming late 2020!)

  The Etherya’s Earth Series (Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)

  Book 1: The End of Hatred

  Book 2: The Elusive Sun

  Book 3: The Darkness Within

  Book 4: The Reluctant Savior

  Book 5: The Impassioned Choice

  Acknowledgments

  I’m so thrilled to be starting this new series. I always knew I’d write a time travel romance with a theoretical physicist heroine one day! So, first, let me thank my awesome mom for letting me go to Space Camp when I was fourteen. It was such an amazing experience and showed me that being a science-loving geek was actually pretty cool!