Temporal Shift (Entangled Select Otherworld)

by Nina Croft

  He stopped moving. Reluctantly, she blinked open her eyes and found him staring at something behind her. He withdrew his hand, a rueful expression on his face. Gathering her scattered wits about her, she twisted her neck so she could see what he was gawking at.

  The screen was lit up with flashing red letters and her heart skipped a beat.

  MATCH.

  She was there. The exact spot of her vision. She tore her gaze from the console to stare at the screens in front of her.

  “Is that your wormhole?” Devlin asked.

  She pushed him away and staggered to her feet. Wonder filled her. She’d started to worry they would never find her pathway to the past, that perhaps it didn’t really exist.

  But there it was. A blue-green shimmer across the field of space. The iridescent colors spiraled in toward the circular entrance, and occasional flashes of intense white light shot out from the opening.

  “I guess we’re not finishing this,” Devlin said from beside her. He shook his head. “I know when I’m beaten. And by a bloody wormhole in space.”

  But he was gazing with fascination at the screens. “You really want us to fly into that thing?” He turned to look at her as he spoke, his gaze dropping from her face to her body. Peering down, she found her jumpsuit open from neck to groin and heat flooded her. He reached across and tugged up the fastener, then adjusted his own clothes. “Maybe it’s just not meant to be.”

  “It is meant to be.” She knew it.

  Devlin turned back to the screens as he tapped the comm unit on his wrist. “You all want to get up here. Looks like we’re on.” He pressed the switch on the console, and the doors slid open, then he turned back to her. “You’re a little flushed, darling, might want to get that under control before the others get here.”

  Her own gaze dropped to the bulge in his pants. “And you might want to get that under control before they get here as well.”

  He gave a short humorless laugh and cupped himself. “Not a chance, sweetheart. Not in the time we have, anyway.”

  She knew how he felt—she was frustrated as hell. But at least he wasn’t acting like he hated her anymore. He flung himself onto one of the chairs and rested one booted foot across his thigh, effectively hiding his erection. Then she did her best to push him from her mind and concentrate on the wormhole that now filled the screen.

  “Wow.”

  Daisy was the first to arrive. She hadn’t softened toward Saffira in the past five days. If anything, she’d hardened her attitude, remaining cold and aloof. But that was gone now as she stood in the doorway and gaped at the screens, her face filled with awe.

  Rico and Thorne were close behind. Thorne looked from her to Devlin but didn’t speak.

  Rico entered and sniffed the air. “Dios, you two been screwing on my bridge?”

  “I wish,” Devlin muttered.

  How did the vampire know? She glanced down to make sure she was fully covered, but everything was in place.

  “Smells like a fucking brothel in here,” Rico continued as if seeing her confusion. His nostrils flared and he scowled.

  She decided to ignore the comment although she could feel the color washing her skin.

  “So it’s not just a figment of your imagination,” Rico said, standing in front of the screen and studying the wormhole. “I suppose we should get this over with and see what’s on the other side.”

  She thought she could detect a faint note of interest in his voice. Whether he wanted to be or not—this whole thing intrigued him. He’d been a little better since he had spoken to Skylar. They were out of range of the comm units, but he’d at least satisfied himself that Skylar was safe, for now.

  He hadn’t forgiven Saffira though, and she doubted he ever would, but at least he no longer looked at her as though ripping her jugular open was number one on his priority list.

  And he seemed able to focus again. Which was good, because he had to fly them into the wormhole. Once in, he had to concentrate on the time they wanted to arrive and hope it would be enough to twist the path of the wormhole to where and when she needed to be.

  In theory it should work. It had worked in her vision.

  Rico took the pilot’s seat and for the first time fastened his own harness. “Okay, everyone, strap yourselves in tight, because the ride might get a little rough.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Saffira crossed the room and sank down in the chair beside Devlin. Sadly, the bulge in his pants appeared to have dissipated. He raised a brow as she lifted her gaze to the level of his face.

  “Some things are just not meant to be, baby.”

  He was wrong about that.

  “You feeling as frustrated as I am?” he murmured.

  “No.” She fumbled with the harness, unable to get her fingers to work properly. Laughing softly, he stood up and crouched in front of her. After brushing her hands away, he fastened the buckles, tightening the strap around her waist. She was totally aware of his hands touching her, burning through the cloth, reawakening all those nerve endings she’d struggled to shut down. He leaned in close and kissed her lips. A long slow kiss, his tongue pushing inside, stroking the roof of her mouth, her teeth, her tongue.

  A sweet kiss, unlike the others, which had been sexual. This was just a kiss…

  “On a schedule here,” Rico said.

  Devlin pulled back, leaving her bereft. He took his seat and she glanced at him sideways. “What was that for?” she asked, aware that everyone was staring.

  “It occurred to me,” Devlin said. “That there’s a good possibility we’re all going to die any moment now. In the circumstances, kissing a beautiful woman seemed a good idea—might be my last chance.”

  “You think I’m beautiful?”

  His gaze ran over her, suddenly serious. “Yes.”

  “God fucking save me from the mating rituals of others,” Rico muttered. “Could we get going?”

  Devlin fastened his own harness and grinned. “I’m ready. Just not sure for what.” He glanced at her sideways. “What are you expecting? Any clue what we’ll encounter in there?” He waved at the screen and she dragged her gaze from him to the swirling mass of light. It was the color of Devlin’s eyes.

  She chewed on her lower lip. The truth was, once they headed into the wormhole she had no idea what to expect, maybe total chaos. The holes were kept open by a field of negative energy, which had the potential to tear the Blood Hunter apart, but perhaps she shouldn’t mention that bit. “I don’t know,” was all she said.

  “Well, we’re about to find out,” Rico said. “Hold on tight.”

  He pressed something on the console in front of him, and the ship shot forward, pressing her back into the seat.

  “You want me to hold your hand,” Devlin murmured.

  His eyes were bright with excitement; he was enjoying this. She glanced at the other two. Both Daisy and Rico had the same expression of anticipation on their faces. They were crazy.

  She clashed glances with Thorne in his seat opposite and he shrugged. Then she gripped her hands in her lap, focused her eyes straight ahead, and let her own excitement build.

  They could be dead soon, but she didn’t believe that. She’d seen herself on Earth. This was going to work. She was going to save the universe and everyone in it.

  The entrance to the wormhole filled the screen now. A swirling mass of radiance with lines spiraling inside and brief flickers of intense white light.

  A hand tugged at her fingers and she didn’t fight as Devlin’s palm slid into hers.

  The ship’s lights flashed off and the engine cut abruptly as they passed the entrance. The screen was a blinding mass of white now, and she fought against screwing her eyes up tight.

  “I think that’s the point of no return,” Rico said. “And just to let you know—I am no longer in control.”

  The ship spiraled slowly at first and then faster until they were gyrating dizzyingly in the darkness. Saffira lost track of time, aware only o
f the hand still grasping hers, the darkness, the whirling sensation spinning her around and around.

  Finally, they slowed, and a faint blue-green glow shone from the screens, illuminating the room in an eerie dim light, almost like being underwater. She peeked at the big hand on her lap, still gripping hers, and at the man attached to it.

  He grinned. “Hey, we’re still alive.”

  She looked around the room, Daisy appeared a little greener than usual, but otherwise everyone was good.

  The ship wasn’t moving at all.

  “Let’s see if we can’t get her back up,” Rico murmured.

  Devlin tugged free and jumped to his feet, crossing to the console and tapping a few switches so a 3-D diagram flashed up in front of him. He studied it for a moment. “She looks good.” He leaned across Rico and pressed a switch. “Try the manual override.”

  A faint vibration rumbled beneath her feet and the lights flickered on. “And we have power.” Rico glanced behind him. “So which way?”

  As she stared at the screens, she could just make out the images. They were in what looked like a wide tunnel. It curved up ahead so she couldn’t see very far. But on the screen behind, she could see a dark circle—she guessed where they’d come in.

  “Straight ahead,” she said. “You must picture Earth, 2030, somewhere you know, preferably close to where I’ll find this president. Keep it in your mind.”

  “Yeah, I’ve got it. We’ve been through this a million times. Do you have any idea how long we’ll be in this thing?”

  “No.”

  “Have you any idea about anything?”

  She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. “No.”

  “Well, we’d better start moving.”

  Sitting back, she tried to relax as the ship drifted slowly along the tunnel. They were in the belly of the worm. As they turned that first corner, she saw more of the same. From their research, she knew that wormholes were usually proportionate to the size and distance they covered. She was going a long way and a vast amount of time. It stood to reason that it wasn’t going to be a quick journey.

  She had things to do, though. Devlin had provided her with plans for the ship and a whole lot of information, but there were other things she needed. Including star charts so the people of Earth could find their way to the Trakis system and their new home.

  Would they listen to her? They had to. The Blood Hunter would help. And Thorne with his wings.

  She would make them believe.

  They’d been in the wormhole for twenty-four hours. Everyone was getting restless. Thorne had taken to pacing the length of the ship. Devlin was playing with his engine. Saffira was on the bridge, making sure Rico was concentrating.

  The slow speed was driving him crazy, and he was starting to lose the little calm he’d regained. But the tunnel was too narrow for traveling any faster, and they couldn’t risk colliding with the outer walls; a hit might bring negative energy raining down on them.

  She also knew she was driving Rico even crazier telling him to concentrate on the time and the date, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

  “You are still thinking about—”

  “Will you just shut the fuck up,” he snarled.

  Daisy sniggered, and Saffira decided it was time to leave. She had nothing else to do; she was ready.

  Well, maybe she had one more thing to do. The feeling had been growing since he’d held her hand. Since he’d kissed her and told her she was beautiful. It might not be a declaration of love, but it was something.

  She found herself watching him when she was in the same room, found her body gravitating in his direction.

  Where was he?

  As if she’d conjured him up, he appeared in the doorway and looked around the room. He came toward her, throwing himself into the seat by her side, long legs stretched out in front of him.

  “No change?” he asked the room in general.

  “No,” Rico snapped. “Maybe this thing doesn’t end. Maybe we’ll spend the rest of eternity wandering around in this fucking tunnel. We’re probably going round and round in fucking circles.” He punched his fist on the console in front of him and swore.

  “Who’s a grumpy vampire?” Devlin murmured.

  “Fuck off.”

  Devlin’s lips twitched, but he obviously decided against saying anything further. Very wise. Rico’s shoulders were tense and he exuded an almost tangible air of frustration. “I’m hungry,” he growled.

  That wasn’t good.

  Devlin turned to her. “Maybe it’s time to go for a walk.”

  “Good idea,” she replied. This might be her last chance to be alone with Devlin before they got to Earth. After that who knew what would happen?

  Rico watched them go through narrowed eyes.

  She glanced back as they left the room. “Will Daisy be all right? He won’t…?”

  “Bite her? No, she’ll be fine.” Devlin’s gaze wandered down over her body. “He’s not the only one who’s hungry.”

  Her heart rate picked up. “You want some ice cream?”

  “Hell, no. You know what I want.” He took a step toward her. “I want to finish what we started. And I want to do it quickly before anything else gets the chance to interrupt us. My dick is so hard right now…” He took a final step so his body was up against hers. Fisting his hand in her hair, he tugged her head back, lowered his own, and kissed her hard. His mouth was rough against hers, his tongue thrusting inside, filling her as his hips pressed into her. He was hot and hard, and she could feel the length of his erection through their clothes.

  She was panting when he released her mouth. So was he. “Well?”

  She nodded. Just once. It was enough. Grabbing her hand, he dragged her along the corridor, only stopping when he reached the door to his room.

  “Did I mention this is going to be fast?” he said, pressing his palm to the lock. The door slid open.

  She stepped inside and stood, shifting from foot to foot. Should she remind him she’d never done this before? At least not in real life. But she didn’t want to break the mood.

  He was stripping off his belt as he entered the room. He tossed it to the floor and tugged his T-shirt over his head. Naked from the waist up, he was gorgeous. Broad shoulders, golden skin, a lean flat belly ridged with muscle and dissected by a line of creamy gold fur.

  His pants hung low on his hips, and as she stared he flicked open the fastener and tugged them down. His erection sprang free. Thick and heavy, flushed with blood and vertical against his belly.

  He cursed as his pants got caught on his boots. Dropping onto the bed behind him, he kicked them off, throwing them across the room, following them with his pants. And at last, he was totally, gloriously naked and the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her life. Her gaze was drawn to his shaft and it pulsed under her watchful stare.

  He glanced up and frowned. “Did I mention the fast bit? Because, sweetheart if I don’t get inside you soon I am going to go seriously insane.” With his eyes still on her, he wrapped his fist around his cock. “Strip…please.”

  The muscles in her belly tightened and moist heat flooded between her thighs. She swallowed, but her hand went to the fastener at her neck and, without giving herself time to think, she tugged it all the way down.

  After toeing off her boots, she wriggled out of the clingy jumpsuit. She’d never been naked with someone before, and she shifted from foot to foot. Then she peeked at Devlin and her shyness vanished. Her need was reflected in his face. Maybe he didn’t love her, but he wanted her, and that would have to be enough for now. His eyes were heavy lidded, his cheekbones flushed. “Come here.”

  She took the three paces to the bed where he sat, his hand still on his dick. And she was afraid. He radiated a raw masculine power, totally male, and the air around him filled with the musky feral scent of his arousal.

  He reached out with his other hand and stroked up the outside of her thigh and her skin t
ingled where he touched. His fingers trailed over her hip, delved into the dark red curls that guarded her sex, and slipped between her thighs. One finger slid into the sodden folds of her sex, and a smile of satisfaction curled his lips as he discovered her wet for him. He found her clit and rubbed it with his fingertip so a gasp escaped her, heat flushing through her system.

  “Next time…if we have time for a next time…we’ll take it slow, and I’ll kiss you here.” He flicked the engorged little nub with his finger.

  There had better be a next time. Just the thought of his mouth between her legs sent a wave of pleasure reeling through her.

  “But this time…” Withdrawing his finger, he gripped her hips with his hard hands.

  In one fluid move, he picked her up, turned her, lay her on the mattress, and came down over her. He inserted one hair-roughened thigh between her legs and she felt him scalding hot against her sex.

  His hand moved on her and one finger pushed inside. “You are so fucking tight. Shit, a goddamn virgin. I’ve never had a virgin. Slow or fast?”

  “Fast.” She needed him inside her now.

  “Okay, tell me if I hurt you.”

  She nodded, but she wouldn’t, not if she could help it. She wasn’t giving him any excuse to stop this.

  “Ready?” Not giving her time to answer, he filled her with one thrust of his hips.

  She couldn’t help it, she threw back her head and screamed. The pain was sharp and intense, and she held herself very still.

  “Crap…”

  Her eyes were screwed up tight and she forced them open. Devlin stared down at her, his eyes narrowed. “You okay?”

  Was she? The pain had gone, though she ached a little as her body adjusted to the fullness of him, stretching to accommodate his size. Devlin balanced on his elbows, holding his weight off her body. She tried a little twitch of her hips and he gritted his teeth. Maybe she was okay. She could feel him all the way up inside her. “Yes.”

  “Tell me if anything hurts.”

  He slid a hand between their bodies, between her legs, and found her clit. As he rubbed it slowly, the tenseness eased from her, and she shifted against him. Something was building inside her. He flexed his hips, easing out of her, the drag against her sensitive flesh an exquisite combination of pleasure and pain. When he pushed back inside, she welcomed him. He was balanced above her on one hand, while the other still played between her legs. Massaging her clit as he pushed into her only to withdraw. He was moving easier now, each thrust of his thick cock bringing a surge of pleasure.