Dark Matter: SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE

by Jessica Loft

  My breath, which I didn’t realize I was holding, came out of my lungs in a whoosh. I was placated, but only slightly. “Sadie, can you come into my room for a moment?” She nodded and stepped past me into my hotel room. I looked at Wentworth and said, “You should go downstairs to the parlor. We will speak to you shortly.”

  The man opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it. He turned his tall, lanky body and descended the staircase. Next I addressed the hotel clerk. “I think we almost have this worked out. Thank you for your assistance.”

  Where my cool confidence came from, I couldn’t say. That man Wentworth had shaken me, badly. There was a part of me that would take back the offer to Sadie, take back the risk, and gladly bundle her on the train back to South Carolina. But I wouldn’t shove her back into Wentworth’s arms without talking to her first.

  I stepped into my hotel room and pushed the door behind me, without closing it. While I wanted privacy with Sadie, I didn’t want to compromise her reputation. She was pacing the narrow space, wringing her hands. Immediately she turned to me. “Shane, do you believe me?”

  “Believe what, exactly?”

  Sadie stopped, turning to me and throwing up her hands. Her hair was down, and she was damned lovely; it was chestnut colored, hanging in long waves down her back. “I did not make any sort of arrangement with Wentworth. My father broke off the engagement and paid him off; the next day I left. End of story. I did not make any sort of secret plan with him behind anybody’s back. He is odious to me, and terrible. Shane, I don’t want to marry him!”

  I took a deep breath and regarded her. At war inside me was the safe route: turning my back on the risk and sending her home, and with her would go the excitement of the adventure, the attraction to the lovely girl in front of me. My mind shuffled through our correspondence, recalling the feelings she stirred in me. Hadn’t we talked about taking risks? About facing the uncertain future for the thrill of it? Did I want to be safe my whole life?

  With these thoughts in mind I answered, “Sadie, more than anything I want to believe you.”

  She was visibly relieved. Taking a few steps towards me, she reached out and grasped my hand, entwining my fingers in her own.

  “But Sadie, you have to go and talk to him. I will back you up, and enlist other men to help if need be, but you have to go down and speak to him. He is counting on confusing me into letting you go, using his money and position to push me around.”

  “He’s despicable,” Sadie whispered, stepping closer to me. I let go of her hand and slid my arm around her waist in a loose but protective hold.

  “What Wentworth doesn’t know is that this is Colorado. We do things differently out here. Folks aren’t impressed with fancy clothes and old money.”

  Sadie looked into my face, her own naked with gratefulness and relief. I was tempted to kiss her, and I would have, except that I wanted to save that lovely moment for after our marriage. Instead I trailed my finger down her cheek and smiled.

  “Go tell him how it is, Sadie. I’ll wait in the parlor.”

  She sighed and pulled from my hold.

  At that moment the clerk appeared at the door, clearing his throat and tapping at the doorjamb.

  “Excuse me, Miss?”

  We turned in this direction. “Yes?”

  “Telegram for Sadie Collins.”

  CHAPTER 10

  SADIE: BEWARE WENTWORTH ON HIS WAY TO COLORADO TO STOP YOU MARRYING YOUR COWBOY.

  I rolled my eyes at my father’s too-late attempt to warn me. But at least it was proof to Shane that I wasn’t conspiring against him. “See?” I waved it in front of him.

  His eyes scanned the note and he smiled. “I didn’t believe him, Sadie. Not for a minute.”

  We descended the stairs together, holding hands. I wanted everyone in the hotel, especially Wentworth, to see that I had chosen Shane.

  A wave of revulsion engulfed me as I saw Wentworth seated in the parlor, sipping tea like the King of England. Shane squeezed my hand and gave me a little push. I dropped his hand and strode to the table where Wentworth sat, dropping into the chair opposite him. Shane, I noticed, stepped out into the street, which was now soaked in pale yellow sunshine.

  When my gaze moved back to Wentworth, I noticed he was closely watching me watch Shane. He smirked and said, “Well, here we are. In Colorado! What a lovely state, Sadie.”

  I took a deep breath. “Wentworth, I am not marrying you. You can’t force me to no matter what you think. I’m going to sit here with you for approximately five minutes, and then I’m going to marry Shane.”

  The smugness dropped from his features. “Is that so?”

  “I know what you’re trying to do and it won’t work. You’re trying to make Shane think that I never planned to marry him.”

  “And did you? Plan to marry him?”

  I threw my hands up. “Yes! I made a choice, and my father not only broke my engagement to you, but he paid you the cost of my trousseau for your trouble! I don’t care about society, about rules, or about you. It’s my choice to marry.”

  Wentworth leaned forward on his elbows. “I will ruin your father over this.”

  His words gave me pause, for that was the one aspect of this ugliness that scared me. For all of society’s whims and gossips, I didn’t care one bit. Nor did I care about money or power. I did, however, care for my parents and their well-being.

  Wentworth saw this and pressed his advantage. “He will suffer censure from our partners, and the disdain of the whole city. Probably, he won’t be able to work again. All because you wanted to marry a cowboy. Because you wanted adventure. Do you want to be selfish, Sadie?”

  My breath heaved in my chest as I turned over his words. In many ways, he was right. The world as it stood would gossip about me and by extension, my parents. Possibly, many opportunities would be cut off from them.

  In those short moments, I remembered my conversations with Shane, and the last few I had with my father. Maybe the world that shut us out wasn’t the world we wanted to be a part of anyway. Maybe the importing firms in Charleston wouldn’t hire my father anymore; as a result, he could find something else to do with his life that made him happy. The question was whether or not I was willing to force my parents to take that leap.

  Wentworth reached across the table to take my hand. “Come, Sadie. Think of your parents. You are young; you have your whole life! Your parents are not. They need stability for their remaining years. Luckily, your young man has secured a church, one that is ready to perform a marriage service. They may marry us instead, my dear.”

  The safety of his words lulled me. Securing safety for my parents lulled me as well. Wentworth’s hand felt too smooth; it lacked the roughness and substance of Shane’s stronger, more callused one. There was probably some symbolism there that I shouldn’t ignore.

  I pulled my hand away. “No, Wentworth.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Pardon me?”

  I shook my head, violently. “No. I say ‘no’ to the world. I say ‘no’ to you and your threats and unfairness.” The chair scraped on the floor as I stood up from the table. “Go home, Wentworth.”

  He stood as well, and his voice was low and threatening. “You’ll regret this.”

  “I might,” I nodded. “I might regret it in small ways, but if I married you I would regret my entire life.”

  I walked away from him, towards the front door, which was propped open to admit the cool breeze and sunshine. The parlor was filled with random patrons who had watched our interaction with curiosity. As I reached the door, I paused and turned back to the dining room. Wentworth stood, fuming, while the others in the parlor grinned at me with encouragement.

  CHAPTER 11

  While a small, ugly voice still niggled at me that Sadie may indeed change her mind and go home with Wentworth, I knew that I had done the right thing in at least trying to fight for her. Recalling our many letters, detailing the pull of risk and adventure, had reminded m
e. I would not look back on this day with regret. I would know that I’d done all I could to keep her.

  In the meantime, what was left but to walk the streets of Denver, which had just lately awakened to a new day? The sun wasn’t high enough to provide anything but a pale light and a spring mist; indeed, it was still chilly, but the sky was clear and blue and promised a gorgeous day. A few early risers passed me, tipping their hats or smiling at me, all reasons to love the West. As I told Sadie, out here we didn’t care for old money or fancy family names. In the Territories, everybody had a crack at being somebody, and the definition of somebody could change according to each person’s whims.

  The church stood at the end of the main thoroughfare; I had come around the night before to ask if someone would be on hand to perform a marriage, and the parson on deck had said he would. I glanced at the small stone structure, then back behind me towards the hotel. I would leave it up to God, then. He was available and ready to marry us, whenever Sadie made her decision.

  “Shane! Shane!”

  I heard Sadie’s voice and turned to greet her. She ran towards me, still unkempt, but it didn’t matter to me. When she reached me she was out of breath.

  “I did it,” she said with a triumphant grin.

  And still, I was cautious. “Did what?”

  “Sent Wentworth packing!”

  “What did he say?”

  “He was mad as hell.”

  Despite the tension of the last few hours, I chuckled. Sadie threw her arms around my neck, and really, it felt right. I pulled her close and buried my hand in her hair. After a minute I pushed her back, my hands on her shoulders, and searched her face.

  “Sadie, are you sure?”

  “Shane, why are you asking me this?”

  “I’m just saying that it’s a risk. We barely know each other, and you’re turning down certain riches and comfort for a life that may not have any of that. Our cabin is small and secluded, nothing like what you are used to.”

  “Can I see the mountains?”

  “What?”

  Sadie smiled. Her eyes were wide and expectant; her fingers gripped handfuls of my shirt, and she looked into my eyes. “I said, can I see the mountains from our cabin.”

  Sheesh. The cabin was set back so far on Smalley’s acres that the mountains were practically right on top of us. I told her as much.

  “And you’ll be there? In the cabin, with me?”

  I cocked my head at her. “Well, yes. That’s the idea. Us getting married and living together.”

  She shrugged. “Okay, then. I know that I may not have the riches and things that Wentworth has, but for a few small concessions I’m willing to take the risk.”

  “Concessions?” I said slowly.

  “The mountains, and you. Can you promise me those things?”

  My stomach was turning flips. I barely knew how to answer her. My head moved up and down in a slow nod. “Yes, I can guarantee those.”

  She backed away from me and hooked her arm through mine, turning me towards the church. “Then let’s get married.”

  I betrayed her honor just then—hers and my own—but I couldn’t wait any longer. Although she was trying to pull me down the street to the church, I yanked on her arm, tugging her towards me once more. With my other hand I cupped her lovely face and kissed her. What was five minutes in the eyes of God? I was fairly certain he was smiling down on us anyway.

  Thirty minutes later, we were standing at the altar in the small limestone church, while a kindly, older parson stared at us over his Bible. He spoke God’s word over us, mostly those dealing with honor, and commitment, and loving your spouse as Jesus loved his people. All of that seemed easy. There was nothing about money, or nice things, or using your spouse as leverage for a business deal. In that, I felt like Sadie and I were right on target.

  We exchanged vows but not rings, because we didn’t have money for them, but we didn’t mind. The important things were done in the eyes of God and the government, and that was what mattered.

  When the parson proclaimed us married, Sadie and I kissed once more, legally this time, and I felt my heart occupied as it hadn’t been since Seth’s death nearly a year before. Soon, I would tell Sadie about my big brother, and with her compassionate heart she would probably shed a few tears for him and his too-short life.

  At the hotel, we claimed our things, which the clerk had generously cleaned out of our rooms for us. There was no sign of Wentworth. When asked, the clerk said he simply disappeared the way he came.

  “Let’s hope he goes back home; I’d hate for him to try to make a name for himself in Denver.” Sadie said, finishing a last cup of tea before our long ride out of town.

  “He’d never make it,” I proclaimed. “But it doesn’t matter anyway, does it?”

  She gave me a long, happy look. Long, because we were married and it was allowed; happy, because we had taken the risk and said “no” to the world and “yes” to each other. At least, that’s why I was happy.

  “Are you ready to go home?”

  Sadie’s face broke into the loveliest of grins, and she nodded. Rising from the table, she gripped my hand and planted a kiss on my cheek.

  “Let’s go start our adventure.”

  Now Enjoy The Next Story Below Or Choose One From The Table of Contents

  Seminar Seduction

  Lorraine Jasper worked the zipper of her boyfriend's trousers down to his knees and reached into his boxer briefs. She wrapped her small hand around his member and looked up at him slyly. He isn’t even watching me! They were trained on the television mounted on the wall that was running the financial news.

  "Lex," she called from her knees. "Lex!"

  Alexander Hendrickson kept his gaze steady on the TV. Lorraine scoffed, how dare he? She took hold of his testicles and squeezed. That got his attention.

  "What the fuck, Lori!?" Alex held his balls grimacing. Lorraine rose to her feet and brushed off her knees before straightening her skirt.

  "It is incredibly rude not to pay attention to the woman on her knees in front of you, Lex!" She started her way back around his desk, ready to head out of his office and start working. Stalking to the door she demanded, “We haven’t been able to see each other for a couple days, so you would think you would have enjoyed the surprise I was trying to give you.” Alex quickly concealed himself and went after Lorraine. He grabbed her hand as she reached for the door.

  "Lori, come on, I'm sorry, don't be like this." Lori allowed him to turn her by the shoulders to face him. She looked up at him, anger in her eyes. In her highest heels, she only just cleared his shoulders, but it didn’t make her feel inferior. As his secretary, she controlled the flow of people in and out of his office every day. But as his girlfriend, she was allowed in and out of his office at all hours, every day, and usually only visited for calls such as the one she had tried and failed to make.

  "You aren't paying attention to me," she said crossly, sulking up at him. A face Alex knew all too well and saw too often. He had developed a system to deal with her that would lead to the least bloodshed. His foolproof technique was to apologize and say it was his fault. Whether it actually was or wasn't his fault was immaterial. In this situation, however, he knew it absolutely was.

  "I'm sorry, babe. I'm really distracted this morning."

  "I know, that's why I wanted to help you relax." She ran her hands across his shoulders and chest before wrapping them around his neck.

  "I know. I've just been so busy," he sighed letting his hands come to rest on her hips.

  "Take some time off this weekend, just you and me. I'll help you unwind," she said suggestively. Lorraine leaned up, kissing him. Alex watched her walk out of his office while he sat down at his desk. He sighed, crisis averted. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Lorraine was very good at her job. She had worked for his company for two years and for nearly the entire span of those two years she had been serving Lex at work and at home. She had long, rich br
own hair perfect for an occasional tug, and green eyes that shone. Her face was beautiful in the classical sense and her enviably slender body always looked great no matter what she was wearing.

  She had come in to interview for the job and after just two weeks on duty; Lex had said and done all the right things to land himself Lorraine Jasper as a girlfriend. It was the longest relationship he had ever had. She was beautiful, attentive, and kind; 2 more things than he had previously ever looked for in a woman.

  After the first 6 months together he had asked Lorraine to move in with him and had watched his bachelor pad undergo an acute feminization. He never thought he would be the kind of man who made huge concessions in his life and comfort for a woman but Lorraine had made him that man. He didn't necessarily want to marry her or have her mother his children but he did like waking up next to her and all the impromptu visits she made to his office.

  Becoming a husband and father would be great for his image and consequently his business. He knew that everyone loved a family man, people trusted men who had their shit together enough to support a household. As his nagging mother was constantly reminding him, at 32, he had to settle down at some point. But for the moment, he was happy to have Lorraine and make sure she took her birth control pill every day.

  Sitting back in his chair, he reflected on his career. He hadn't gone into business because he had a passion for profits or an entrepreneurial spirit. Business was hard. It was challenging. And it was that challenge that fed him. He was constantly facing off with people who didn't want to give him what he wanted and he made it so that they would. The money was always fun but there was even a limit to what you could do with it after a while. The cars were cool. The property was great. The women, before Lorraine, were very great. But, even though now he was tied down, he was tied down with*+out boundaries. She was more than enough to keep him from getting bored. She was smart, funny, his parents loved her, and she was hot. He had very little to complain about.