Cowboy from the Future

by Cassandra Gannon

  Addy made a face at him, not eager to leave her sleeping bag, no matter how much she wanted to track down his brothers. This “Hall of Records” was warm and familiar to her. She and Jacobi had done something to get the lights dimmed and the noise stopped, but Addy was still very much at home amid the dormant magic that lived here.

  She looked cozy and content right where she was. “I don’t know how far thirty gantii is, but it sounds like a lot.”

  “It is a lot.”

  “Wonderful. Just what my backside needs. More time on a horse.” Red curls bounced at the force of her sigh. “Well, did your brothers leave us any food, at least? I’m not going anywhere before breakfast.”

  It took him a moment to process her words, because he was beguiled, again. Four gods, she was the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen. All Cade wanted to do was crawl into the sleeping bag beside her warm, rumpled body. Instead, he cleared his throat. “Of course there’s food.” Deke and Jake had left more than half the supplies and the two best horses. “Put your clothes on and I’ll get you something to eat, alright?”

  She was already somewhat dressed. As far as he could tell, she’d slept in her shirt, which was really Jacobi’s old shirt. Not that Cade had watched her get ready for bed. …His eyes following her every movement in the darken room. …His body hard as a rock and aching for her. …His mind boggling over the strange, lacy underwear she rinsed out and hung to dry.

  “Food. Good.” She gave a mumbled sound of agreement, rubbing her eyes. “Look, I’m really not a morning person. I’m pissed at you for being a jackass and I’m going to brutally kill your brothers, just as soon as I get the chance. But, right now I need coffee too much to even stand. Are you sure there isn’t any coffee around here?”

  Addy asked that every morning, apparently hoping that he’d been lying to her since she’d arrived. “I don’t know what coffee is. I’ve told you that. Repeatedly.”

  She gave a dismayed groaned, her hand covering her face. “But, how can you not know what coffee is? How could humanity have lost such precious knowledge?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not human.”

  “Oh Lord. This again.” She rolled her eyes. “Look, it’s really, really early for you to start with the Voltyn crap. My brain isn’t fully functioning, so I’m going to end up saying something unsupportive. Let’s just not, okay?”

  “There is nothing unsupportive you could say to me. I am immune.” Cade busied himself by digging some breakfast out of the bags. “I have heard it all from the cradle, so say whatever you wish.”

  “Fine.” She snapped. “I’m going to say exactly what I’m thinking then: Use your own head instead of letting other people define who you are, moron. Their insults are not true. If you stopped listening to them, you’d know that you are human. One hundred percent. How could you even doubt that?”

  He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Because I apparently control elec-triss-ty. Name me one other human who can do such a thing.”

  “Captain Marvel.”

  “Who?”

  She shook her head. “Has it ever occurred to you that having powers isn’t a bad thing? We write stories about people like you in my time. They’re called superheroes. They’re the legends that kids admire. Why don’t you focus on the positive aspects of being amazing?”

  The woman truly did live in another world. “Such as?”

  “Such as you can do things that other guys would love to do.”

  Cade scoffed at that and crouched down beside her. “You think so, huh?” He handed her some buffalo jerky.

  “I know so.” Addy gave the jerky a skeptical sniff and tried a small bite. “Not many men could get a girl ready to rip her clothes off in an alleyway. Embrace your extra-specialness.” She chewed the food, making a face. “I miss pancakes.”

  Cade’s eyebrows shot up. “You were ready to rip your clothes off?”

  “Really? That’s what you got out of my little speech?”

  “Well, it’s what you said.”

  “I didn’t technically say it. You just inferred it. Since, I don’t rip my clothes off for unromantic jackasses, you must have been hearing things.” She made a twirling gesture with her hand. “Turn around, so I can get dressed.”

  “I never claimed to be romantic.” Although he was charmed by the idea that she wanted him to be. Had any woman ever expected romance from a Voltyn, before? He very much doubted it. Anonymous couplings in the dark were all they wanted from his kind. Softer feelings were reserved for humans. It was just so Adeline to think only the best and most noble things about him. Cade stood up so his back faced her, trying very hard not to picture her unclothed body two feet from his. “Why are you mad at me exactly?”

  “Men should never ask that question. It just gets them in deeper trouble, because you should already know.”

  “Except I don’t know.”

  She made a frustrated sound. “You walked out of here last night, not even caring that I’m from the past, Cade. Not even one question about where I come from. All you focused on was getting rid of me as quickly as possible.”

  Was she kidding? “You’re the one who said you wished to return to your own time.” He’d only left because he didn’t want to fucking hear about the world that could offer her so much more than he ever could. He hated the idyllic past that was going to steal her away.

  “Don’t try to make this my fault. I’m totally in the right and you’re being a dick. As usual, I might add. Since I got here, there hasn’t been a single day that you weren’t actively searching for ways to annoy me.”

  “Me annoy you?” Cade automatically turned back around, exasperated with her. “That’s a joke. You’re the most impossible woman in the…” He stopped short, his tongue no longer fitting in his mouth. “Shit.” He spun back the other way and blinked. “I forgot you were dressing. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t see anything.”

  “It’s alright.” She told him easily.

  She wouldn’t be so forgiving if she knew the truth. Four gods, had he seen things.

  Adeline’s skin was perfect all over. He squeezed his eyes shut, every gant of it burned into his retinas. How could anyone be so beautiful? It seemed even more impossible than the enchanted time she came from. Her breasts were soft globes tipped with pink. Her hips were curved, a neat halo of golden-red curls at the junction of her thighs. As many times as he’d imagined her, he’d never imagined anything quite so perfect. Cade’s chest couldn’t expand far enough for him to get oxygen into his lungs.

  This girl is supposed to be yours.

  Shit! He was already cracking.

  “I’m sorry.” Cade repeated. He reached up to rub his temple hard enough to nearly drill through his skull. He could feel the glowing power in his hands crackle against his skin. Damn it. He wished he could erase the image of her from his mind. Wished he could turn back around and just gaze at her naked body for the next month or so. Wished things were different. “I’m so sorry, Addy.”

  “Calm down. No harm done.”

  Only Adeline would be so casual about this. He let out a long breath, wanting to slaughter his brothers. “There are laws about you consorting with me. If you insist on being mad at someone, it should be at Deke and Jacobi for putting you in this situation.”

  “Consorting?” She snickered. “I don’t know how the translation works in your language, but, in English, consorting is a delightfully old-fashioned word. …And kind of romantic. Like Romeo and Juliet or something. Maybe there’s hope for you, yet.”

  He disregarded that. It was the only way to deal with some of Addy’s more bizarre statements. Instead, he tried to get through to her as clearly as possible. “Say you’re right and humans don’t like my kind because they’re envious of the Voltyns’ powers. It seems doubtful, but alright.” He shook his head. “Well, they’ve dealt with their jealousy by putting rules in place, making sure ladies like you stay away from men like me.”

 
; “I’m not a lady.” Addy snorted. “I’ve told you that. Repeatedly.” She thought she was very clever, tossing his own phrasing back at him.

  Cade wasn’t amused. “You are a lady.” He’d never met one before, but he knew this woman was the epitome of the word. “There are laws that forbid us from being in a room together like this, Adeline. My brothers know that.”

  “And as The Year Three Thousand’s version of Bonnie and Clyde, it’s so important that we follow the law.”

  He stared up at the ceiling, asking the gods for patience. “You’re not understanding how serious this is. Without Deke and Jake around, we’re alone. And right now you’re naked. Before this, there was chance we could’ve convinced them you were kidnapped. But being alone and naked with me is enough to get you arrested.”

  “You’re not understanding.” Footsteps sounded and Addy moved so she was standing in front of Cade, all her pale curves revealed. “I’m not going to lie about anything.” Her eyes locked on his, her face determined. “No one tells me who I can be naked and alone with. Not in any time period.”

  Cade’s mind went blank. His eyes skimmed down her nude body, lingering at places that he wasn’t supposed to see in the first place. “I’m going to count to ten and then this is going to become serious.” He warned in a rasping voice. “I mean it.”

  Her eyebrows rose, as if his response caught her off guard. “Really?” She blurted out, like she was surprised that he didn’t plan to keep arguing about whatever it was they’d been arguing over.

  “Yes! Fuck, you have no idea what you’re doing.”

  Addy looked intrigued by the looming disaster. “Oh, I think I do.” Green eyes glinted with feminine awareness as she considered her options. “Unlike certain jackasses, I can think for myself.”

  Nothing in his entire life had prepared him for someone like Adeline Mulhaney. She truly did beguile him. “You can’t do this. You’re supposed to be afraid of me.” He tried to keep his eyes above her neck, but it was like trying to stop his heart from beating. “Everyone’s afraid of me. Why are you never afraid of me?”

  “Maybe because I think you’re a lot more afraid of me.” Her head tilted, red curls caressing her shoulders. “So, just to clarify, I have ten seconds of leeway before the seriousness begins? Ten whole seconds of fun?”

  The possibility of that drove all logic from Cade’s mind. “Damn it, Addy.” He whispered helplessly.

  “That’s what I thought.” Her mouth curved into a smile. “One Mississippi.” She stepped closer to him and took hold of his wrists.

  “What’s a Mississippi?” Cade got out, knowing this was a mistake, but unable to pull free of her tender grip.

  “It’s a state, a river, and a dice game.” She flattened his palms against the lush mounds of her chest and Cade surrendered with a groan. She had the most beautiful breasts he’d ever seen. He could come just from the feel of them. His power sparked across her nipples, jolting them into tight points.

  “Two Mississippi.” Her head went back on a sigh as he squeezed her flesh.

  “Addy.” The weight of her breasts had his hands lighting brighter than ever before. Her fingers slid between his, moving his hands, and the top of his head nearly blew off. The power sizzled across her skin and her cheeks flushed in pleasure.

  “Three Mississippi.” Her eyes closed, her voice going dreamy. “Oh, yes…” Addy’s body rocked against his, apparently content to spend the next seven seconds right where she was.

  Cade cracked.

  He needed more. He needed everything. Dragging her closer, his mouth slanted across hers. Addy gave a soft cry against his lips, as he spun her around and lowered her back against the sleeping bag. Oh gods, she was warm and sweet and just what he’d always dreamed of.

  He raised his head. “Four Missa-sippy.” He murmured.

  She looked dazzled. “Wow.”

  Cade didn’t recognize that word, but he knew it meant she was pleased. Emboldened, he pressed farther. His right palm left her breast and slipped downward, settling in the damp folds of her body. Green eyes met his in surprise. Cade didn’t pull back, but he did stop to give her time to refuse.

  She was going to refuse. Obviously. Not even a lady as daring as Addy would allow a Voltyn to go this far. And, no matter how she denied it, the woman was a lady. She probably wouldn’t even let a human touch her under these circumstances. She was going to say no.

  Instead, she beamed up at him with mischief and joy. “Wow.” She whispered again.

  Adeline wanted him.

  Cade let out a shaky breath of relief and wonder. She actually wanted him, in the light of day and with their eyes meeting. Not as some forbidden sexual encounter in an anonymous room, but like he mattered to her. It had to be some cosmic mistake, but he wasn’t going to question his good fortune.

  “Five Missa-sippy.” He told her and deepened his touch.

  Beautiful, gentle hands dug into his shoulders. “Please, please, please.” One glowing finger eased inside of her, her body drenching his palm, and she gasped. “Oh Cade. Oh yes.”

  Something wasn’t right. She was so tight. It jangled in the back of his mind, but he was too far gone to pay attention. “Six Missa-sippy.” Her head was thrown back, exposing the curve of her throat and he licked his way down the graceful column. “I knew you’d tasted this this good.” He stayed up at nights imagining it, in fact. Gods, her skin was so fucking soft.

  “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop. Your power is vibrating and…” She bit down on her lower lip as he rubbed his fingers together, sending out small sparks. “Ooooh. Forget everything I said about your carpentry skills. You are amazing with your hands.”

  Cade’s mouth curved and he pushed the shiny hair back from her awed face. “Seven Missa-sippy.” He kissed his way south, savoring the lush bounty of her breasts. No one could be so perfect. It just didn’t seem possible. “Gods, I love your skin.”

  “You do?”

  “I could drown in it and die happy.” His teeth grazed her nipple.

  “Don’t die until you finish this.” Addy gasped, arching into his mouth and hand. “Your electricity is so deep. You’re so deep, Cade. Please, don’t stop.” She gave a moan that raced through his blood like fire. “Please.”

  The breathless “please” had him groaning. “I know you’re close. Don’t worry. I’m not going to stop.” Not if a thousand armed humans showed up to drag him away.

  Addy looked desperate. “But, we’re only at eight Mississippi. There’s no way you can finish me off so fast.”

  “I’m a Voltyn.” For once, he didn’t say it like a curse. “I have some ‘extra-specialness’ remember?” Cade had never tried to control his powers before. Mostly, he just wanted to hide, repress, or extinguish them. But, the “electricity” was about to give him something magical, if he could just figure out how to use it. He needed to be careful with her. So careful, because she was so delicate. But, if he could just deliver a small jolt to the perfect spot…

  Adeline gave a shriek of pleasure and Cade suddenly loved his heritage. “Nine Missa-sippy.”

  “Cade.”

  He caressed her body, reveling in her cries. “Say it, again.” He could listen to her exotic accent dance over his name forever. “Who am I?”

  “Cade. Cade Westin.”

  “That’s right.” He dipped his head to kiss her. “Now, tell me what you want me to do to you, lady.”

  “Take me. Please.” She begged. Her hand came up to cradle his cheek, so their eyes connected. “Please, Cade. Say ten.”

  Whenever she said “please,” he gave in and they both knew it. Cade turned his lips into her palm, his teeth grazing her skin and then kissing the small mark he’d made. “Ten Missa-sippy.” He agreed and sent more energy zinging through his fingers.

  “Oh yesssss…” Adeline convulsed, her lips parting in a wordless scream and Cade felt a smile spread across his face. In that moment, everything he’d ever wanted was safely held in his
arms.

  She truly was a miracle.

  Addy went limp against him as he milked the last aftershocks from her body. “Wow.” She whispered again and snuggled closer to Cade. “Ten seconds. Holy shit. You really just did that in ten seconds.”

  “Give or take.” He nuzzled her temple.

  Every other time he’d been with a human, the entire process made him feel dirty and depressed. But touching Addy was like being cleansed. She didn’t try to push him away or immediately start making excuses for her lapse in judgment. Instead, she grinned, perfectly content to lie beneath him. Trusting him.

  Addy leaned up to kiss him soundly, even as she struggled for breath. She fit against Cade’s body like she’d been made for him. “I didn’t expect that.” She sounded dazed. “I really didn’t.”

  “You should see what I can do when I have a full minute.”

  “That’s definitely flirting.” She laughed and Cade suddenly understood exactly what the word “wow” meant. Everything he’d ever believed about Voltyn not possessing feelings was garbage. What he felt for Adeline was real and vast and filled every part of him. Cade closed his eyes against her hair.

  Nynan.

  “I mean, I waited twenty-eight years to try this with another person and you just accomplished that in ten seconds.” She continued happily. “I just can’t believe it.”

  The jangling in the back of his head returned. The knowledge that something wasn’t normal. That there was a barrier, where he’d never felt one before. Cade hesitated. It was stupid and impossible, but he still he heard himself asking the question. “Adeline,” he braced himself, “you’re not a virgin, are you?”

  Silence.

  Cade winced. He’d known she was too tight. “You’re still a godsdamn virgin?”

  “A little bit.” Addy muttered and squiggled free of his hold, like she was feeling embarrassed.

  “A little bit?” Cade got to his feet and ran a hand through his hair. “How can you be ‘a little bit’ virginal?”

  “Well, I mean technically, I haven’t slept with anyone. But…”

  “Shit!” He cut her off with a frustrated growl and started pacing around the room.