Unstitched

by Jacquie Underdown

  Lucas frowned so deep. ‘You want me to leave?’

  I nodded, unable to trust myself if I spoke.

  ‘Fine,’ he said, throwing his hands up in front of him. ‘If you decide that I’m telling the truth then you know where to find me.’

  ‘Okay,’ I said, unable to look him in the eye.

  He grabbed his wallet and keys and left.

  I raced into my room. I needed to get out of here. Do something, anything. I grabbed my bag, rummaging through it to check that my apartment keys were in there. My hand brushed over my book. It was like hot wax on my fingers. I pulled it out. The Time Traveler’s Wife. I remembered the conversation I had with Lucas — he’d pinpointed the inaccuracies of the author’s explanation for time travel, as though he knew the right answer. My mind swung to the message he left me that first night I met him. How the hell did he know way back then that I was going to fall in love with him, and believe that our love was timeless and recurrent?

  I shuddered and sat on my bed. Could he be telling the truth? Could he really be from the future? Was it any more far-fetched than my original explanation of countless lifetimes as lovers?

  No. It wasn’t really. If anything, it explained everything perfectly.

  I lurched to my feet and ran for my mobile that was out on the kitchen bench. I grabbed it and quickly pressed Lucas’s number. He answered immediately.

  ‘I believe you,’ I said, my heart thumping, my breaths shallow. ‘I believe you,’ I said again when I was met with silence.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said.

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m on my way back up to get you. There’s something I want to show you.’

  Chapter 20

  Anthea

  Lucas’s study was practically empty, aside from two walls lined with bare bookshelves and an imposing timber desk and leather chair that sat a little off-centre towards the back of the room. He gestured I take a seat while he pulled open the top desk drawer. He reached inside for a black box no bigger than the size of a die.

  Lucas held it up between his thumb and forefinger.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘A book. Of sorts.’

  My brows lowered. ‘Right. That’s clearly obvious.’

  He laughed and sat the cube on the desk in front of us.

  ‘I’m going to show you some things. It’s not a good idea to show you too much of the future, but if it helps you understand this all a little more…’

  I nodded.

  ‘If it gets too much, I’ll gladly turn it off.’

  My eyes widened, but again I nodded.

  ‘Activate nine, nine, two, three, one,’ he said in a strong voice, his attention focusing on the innocuous looking contraption. A thin green light emanated from the centre of the cube.

  ‘Menu,’ said Lucas.

  The beam of light materialised into a life-size, three-dimensional woman’s head, complete with full colour and clarity.

  I pushed my chair back and gasped. She was so lifelike, as though I could run my finger down her soft skin, through her long black hair.

  He bent down and kissed the top of my head. ‘It’s only a play of lights.’ He pushed his hands through the woman’s head and the lights swayed, warping her face.

  ‘It’s unbelievably realistic.’

  He nodded. ‘Compared to anything out of this time period.’

  ‘Do all the women look like this in 927?’

  ‘Like what?’ he asked.

  I peered at the woman’s sharp, symmetrical features, gorgeous glowing green eyes and sumptuous black hair. ‘So beautiful.’

  He smiled and turned back to look at the head. ‘I’ve never really taken notice.’

  I scoffed. ‘So you walk around day in day out with sexy goddess-like creatures and you expect me to believe you don’t notice?’

  Lucas laughed. ‘The complete obsession with bodies the present population contends with is long gone, well before my time. It might be hard for you to understand that because it’s so ingrained into your current culture, but how a person appears is in no way a priority in the future.’

  I scowled at him. ‘You tell me all the time that I’m beautiful.’

  He laughed again. ‘I still know when someone’s aesthetically pleasing.’

  ‘So, do you think she,’ I nodded towards the head, ‘is aesthetically pleasing?’

  ‘No,’ he said emphatically. He spun my chair until I was facing him and crouched between my legs so we were at eye level. ‘Because she’s not you. You’re the only one that pleases me. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had to come a thousand years into the past to be with you.’

  Good point. I smiled and lowered my eyes bashfully. ‘Hard to argue with logic.’

  He grinned and kissed me. ‘Now, let’s get on with this, shall we?’

  He stood and faced me forwards again. ‘Search subject, Anthea Lewis,’ he said to the woman.

  I flinched when the head spoke in the same smooth accent as Lucas’s — voice low and sexy.

  ‘Subject, Anthea Lewis, found. Seven entries,’ the head said.

  ‘Show earliest entry.’

  The head silently disappeared and was replaced with an image of me and my first-ever boyfriend, Marcus, in complete colour and 3D.

  I threw my hand over my mouth to cover my raspy breath. ‘That’s me at my high school formal.’

  He nodded, smiling smugly. ‘Information.’

  The woman’s voice narrated, ‘Anthea Lewis and Marcus Manwell attend high school formal. First published in Daily News, 16 December, 2008.’

  I was gaping, my eyes round.

  ‘This HDC contains images of every published article from every source since around 1985.’

  ‘HDC?’

  ‘Historical Data Collection.’

  I pointed to the image. ‘I remember getting that photo taken. I have that picture at home somewhere. This is amazing.’

  He smiled. ‘I wanted to show you this, so you could see how I found you.’ He looked at the photo and said, ‘Cross reference Marcus Manwell, Synergy.’

  The woman’s head appeared again. ‘Subject, Marcus Manwell, Synergy, found nine hundred and twenty-four thousand entries.’

  ‘Why does Marcus have so many entries?’

  ‘I’ll show you. Biographical article, Rolling Stones magazine.’

  The head morphed into rotating pictures of Marcus. Marcus playing his guitar on a stage at Wembley Stadium, Marcus draped between two sexy groupies on a red leather couch, Marcus bowing to Prince William.

  ‘What is this?’

  ‘Marcus becomes a famous artist in the future, Anthy.’

  ‘Oh, my God. What? In a band?’

  ‘Yes. A band called Synergy.’

  I couldn’t control my laughter. He was really kind of geeky in high school. ‘Wow. He was always into his music.’

  The images kept flashing — Marcus on his wedding day; Marcus holding a newborn baby in his arms; and then another picture of me and Marcus, our arms around each other, smiling at the camera.

  ‘That photo was taken the day he left for university,’ I said.

  ‘Information — current image,’ said Lucas to the cube.

  The woman’s voice narrated, ‘Marcus Manwell, lead singer of popular rock group Synergy with high school sweetheart, Anthea Lewis. First published, Rolling Stones Magazine, 19 February 2017.’

  I clapped my hands and shrieked with laughter. ‘Holy shit! This is freakin’ amazing.’

  ‘I thought you’d like it,’ he said.

  ‘But how does this explain how you found me?’

  ‘I’ve studied music history quite extensively and was researching Synergy when I came across this image by sheer chance. As soon as I saw you, I knew who you were.’

  I shook my head and giggled. ‘So you find a picture of me from 2008 while you’re in the year 927 and this made you want to travel back through time to be with me?’

  ‘Yes.’

 
‘This is incredible. How did it all happen?’

  ‘I ran further searches on you and I was able to pinpoint where you lived, where you worked, and what time period you were living in. After locating you, I travelled here to see that I was right about you.’

  ‘You did?’

  He nodded. ‘My first trip here was New Year’s Eve nearly three years ago.’ He turned to the HDC and said, ‘Anthea Lewis, 31 December, 2011, New Year’s Eve ball.’ The image in front of us changed instantly to me dressed in a blue chiffon ball gown.

  I sighed. ‘I remember that night so well. It was an amazing ball. It was also the night Rachel and Brendt got together, not that it seems like such a good thing now, considering their current situation.’ I peered at the picture again. ‘So you were at that ball as well?’

  ‘I knew where you would be, all I had to do was turn up and see if you were who I thought you were.’

  ‘Did I talk to you?’

  He smiled and nodded. ‘I spotted you from across the room. You were dancing with who I now know to be Brendt. And as he held you in his arms, I was consumed by the first ever pang of jealousy I’ve felt this lifetime.’

  I grinned. ‘You were jealous?’

  ‘Let’s just say, there were some serious primitive emotions raging through my body.’

  I giggled.

  ‘I knew then you were who I’d been searching for. Against all my good judgement, because I was completely underprepared, I came over and tapped Brendt on the shoulder so I could cut in on his dance. I took your hand in mine. Touching you felt better than I could’ve believed. But when you looked up at me with your most beautiful brown eyes, smiling, I had to blink back tears.’

  I nodded as memories flooded back. ‘I remember you. You looked stunning and I was so flustered to be dancing with you. But then I looked into your eyes and could see such pain and sadness in them.’

  He lowered his head. ‘It’s tough being apart from the one you love.’

  ‘Yes, it is.’

  He smoothed his finger down my cheek and pressed his lips to mine. ‘I love you so much, Anthea.’

  ‘I love you too.’

  ‘Nothing was going to keep me away from you after that night. Nothing.’

  I pushed to my feet and wrapped my arms around him. ‘Thank you. For everything you’ve done to get here.’

  ‘I did it for both of us.’

  I nodded. ‘I know. I see now, after these incredible lengths, that you were suffering too.’

  He cupped my face with his big gentle hands. ‘We’re together now. Telling you the truth was the last hurdle.’

  ‘Have I passed?’

  He grinned and kissed me again. ‘You’ve done so well. Better than I predicted, considering I told you earlier than I would’ve liked.’

  I stepped away from him and looked up into his loving eyes. My heart was beating hard. ‘You’ve sacrificed so much — living away from your family and friends. You said how difficult it is coping with the cultural differences of our times.’ My voice was trembling.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked quickly.

  ‘I’m scared it’s going to be too difficult for you. That you’re not going to be able to stay.’ My bottom lip trembled.

  ‘Anthy, don’t,’ he said shaking his head. ‘I’ll never leave you. Nothing is worse, or harder, than not having you in my life. Nothing. Do you understand me?’

  I nodded quickly. ‘Promise me.’

  He pulled me into his arms again, his chest heaving. ‘I promise. I promise.’

  I pushed my face into his chest, drew my arms tighter around him. ‘God I love you, Lucas.’

  ‘I know, baby. I love you too. I’ve done so much to get here. I’m not going to turn away now. Not ever.’

  Chapter 21

  Lucas

  Tears tumbled down Anthea’s cheeks. She wiped at them with the back of her hand as she fetched garlic from the fridge.

  ‘Are those onions giving you a hard time?’ I teased as I chopped tomatoes for the salad we were having with dinner. Rachel was on her way back from Cairns and Anthea wanted to do something nice for her return. Catch was: she couldn’t cook. So that’s where I came into it.

  ‘You’re so funny,’ she said sarcastically, her lips scowling in that gorgeous way that made my heart quiver. At the bench, Anthea crushed garlic with the back of her knife and chopped it finely, just as I had instructed. ‘So what do I do now?’

  I scraped pieces of chopped tomato from the chopping board into the large salad bowl and wiped my hands on a tea towel. Enough was enough, that tight skirt Anthea was wearing, which hugged her arse so her two perfect cheeks teased me all afternoon, was undoing me. The twenty-first century was going crazy on my libido. I ached to run my hands over that arse, amongst other parts of her body. My cock swelled at the thought.

  I stepped so I stood behind her and pressed against her body, my cock right between those perfectly rounded cheeks. Pleasure pierced the head of my dick and splintered to my limbs. I had to bite on my bottom lip to stifle a groan. I found her earlobe with my lips, her thighs with my hands. Slowly, my fingers crept up her thighs and I yanked her skirt up to her waist, revealing her firm arse barely covered by her pale pink, lace knickers. She was utterly gorgeous. I rolled my pelvis against her again and smoothed my hands over her flat stomach, muscles jerking under my fingers as I slipped down the front of her underwear and dipped a finger into her slick, silky centre.

  A groan and a gushed exhale hissed from between my teeth against her ear. She relaxed against me and her head lolled forward as I circled over her swollen clit.

  ‘That’s not how you make pasta,’ she breathed.

  ‘No, it’s not,’ I whispered against her ear, then pulled her knickers down to her ankles and they pooled on the floor at her feet. I gripped her waist, spun her and heaved her onto the bench.

  ‘Open your legs,’ I said, unbuttoning my jeans and sliding down the zip. Anthea’s lips curled as she pushed her thighs apart, deliciously wide. In perfect view for me. My veins were zinging, my cock so tight against my briefs. I freed my erection, underwear and jeans still high on my thighs. But I couldn’t wait. Not with Anthea. She melted my composure, ignited my carnal desire. I stood between her thighs, cock poised at her entrance. I could smell her wanting.

  ‘The girls will be home soon,’ she said feebly, breathless.

  I pushed deep and her tight walls gripped me. I closed my eyes, breathed in. ‘Well, let’s hope we’re finished in time then.’

  ***

  Anthea

  Legs still draped around Lucas’s taut waist, my body was vibrating, almost singing, as he leant down, chest heaving and kissed me.

  ‘I love you,’ he said, eyes penetrating.

  I pressed his hand against my cheek. ‘I love you too.’

  ‘Can we make pasta like this all the time?’ he asked with a cheeky smirk.

  I breathed out a wistful gush of air and closed my eyes. ‘Oh, yeah.’

  There was noise in the foyer, a soft mumble of voices, footsteps. My heart jolted, my eyes flew open wider as I looked up at Lucas. ‘They’re home.’

  Lucas grinned and helped me off the bench. I found my knickers and threaded my legs into them, pulled them up and then my skirt down frantically. Lucas did the same with his jeans. I could hear the girls clearly now, their footsteps loud against the tiles. I madly tucked my blouse back in, while Lucas fumbled with his jeans button.

  ‘Rachel,’ I said, a little too high-pitched, as she rounded the corner into the kitchen. I darted to her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. ‘It’s so good to see you.’ My words were too fast.

  Rachel smiled then narrowed her eyes. ‘It’s good to be home. Is everything okay? You look flustered.’

  I pressed my hands to my cheeks and giggled. ‘Cooking does that to me.’

  Lucas stepped out from behind, perfectly calm, but his cheeks were noticeably flushed. He kissed Rachel’s cheek. ‘Hi, Rachel. How are
you?’

  She shrugged. ‘I’ve been better.’

  He smiled sympathetically.

  Roslyn strolled into the kitchen and took a stool. ‘So, guys, what ya been up to?’

  ‘Chopping some onions, crushing some garlic,’ I said.

  She looked from me to Lucas, one eyebrow arched, and nodded. My face was burning, so I turned away and pulled a frying pan out of the kitchen cupboard. ‘Um, Rach, if you want to go and shower or whatever, this will still be another half-hour or so.’

  ‘Yeah. I might do that.’

  Hoping that the colour in my cheeks had returned to normal, I spun back to face the girls again. ‘I’ll get a bottle of red breathing for us.’

  Rachel rubbed her hands together and smiled. ‘That sounds good.’

  When Rachel left, Roslyn leant over the bench, picked at a piece of tomato and popped it into her mouth. ‘I’ve asked Matt to come over tonight, if that’s alright?’

  ‘The more the merrier. We have plenty,’ I said, then lowered my voice to a whisper and leant closer to Roslyn across the bench. ‘How is Rachel, really?’

  Hushing her voice as well. ‘She’s okay.’

  ‘Has she heard from Brendt?’

  She shook her head. ‘Not at all. I think she said she might give him a call tonight, to talk it through properly.’

  ‘Fair enough.’

  Roslyn nodded, pushed her stool back and stood. ‘I’m gonna ring Matt. See how far away he is.’

  ‘Sure.’

  When Roslyn had left the room, I turned to Lucas. Blustery laughs exploded from our lips. He cuddled me to his chest and whispered in my ear, ‘That was too close.’

  ‘I know. Can you imagine if they actually caught us?’ I cringed at the thought. ‘I would’ve died from embarrassment.’

  He winked. ‘It would’ve been worth it.’

  ***

  On my way to bed, I stopped by Rachel’s room. I tapped my knuckles lightly against her door. ‘Hey, Rach, can I come in?’

  She mumbled a reply and I opened the door. She was on her bed, cross-legged, half-a-dozen tissues scattered around. Her eyes were red and puffy. It broke my heart to see her like this. I strained a sympathetic smile, sat on the bed next to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. ‘I’m so sorry about all of this.’