by J. M. Powers
His gaze focused on her mouth. Were there remains of the chocolate bar she ate earlier still at the corners? She licked her lips and he took a step closer. Who knew temptation felt so...warm? No. Steamy. Definitely steamy.
“Tex doesn’t know you and he’ll...” Sage forgot what she was going to say when he raised that damn eyebrow again. “He’ll, um...”
“Bite me,” he reminded.
“Okay.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at her gaffe. “I mean—just stay here. I can get my own damn dog.”
“As ye wish.” The sun filtered through the leaves, brightening his chiseled features. He gestured for her to go on.
She didn’t move. Tex’s barks sounded farther than she wished to hike. Or maybe she just wanted to stay here. Yeah, hang out with an armed man. Oddly, she felt safe just the same. It made no sense. “Actually, I should just let Tex chase that rabbit. He always comes back eventually.”
“He hunts for ye?”
“Hunts?” She shook her head. “Though once he brought back a head of a possum, but it was half rotted.” Shut up. Just stop talking. “So anyway... He’ll be back shortly.”
“I see.” He crossed his arms. His muscles twitched with the movement. Her gaze darted away.
“I just didn’t want him rolling on a dead animal. He stinks so bad when he does that.” Why couldn’t she shut up? And now she was talking about dead animals. No wonder she didn’t have a boyfriend anymore.
Cade’s sudden laugh filled the forest.
“I’m glad I amuse you.” She rubbed the raw spot on her wrist and winced, more at her rambling than the pain.
“Let me tend it.” He took her hand.
Something in her quivered at his touch, every receptor in her body prickling to attention. What the hell was that? She yanked her hand away. “It’s fine.”
His smile faded. “Did ye feel—”
She changed the subject. “Was that barking?” A part of her wanted his touch again, but the shock of it startled her. Sage cupped her shaking hands around her mouth. “Tex, get back here!” She waited several moments then shrugged. “Can’t help but love that idiot dog.”
“Tex. Come. Now!” She jumped at Cade’s shout.
Tex bounded through the trees toward them, his tongue hanging from the side of his mouth. Traitor.
“Show off.” She placed her hands on her hips. “How the hell did you do that? He never listens to me.”
Cade shrugged. “Mayhap ‘tis a man’s command that makes the cur obey.”
“Mayhap? ‘Tis?” She rolled her eyes when Tex ducked, butt in the air, daring her to grab the leash. “I’ve heard of staying in character, but you really overdo it.” That was a bit smart-assed, but his comment was chauvinistic. Still, she felt bad. “Is Surrey the name of an actor’s retreat or something?”
He tilted his head, seemingly waiting for her to go on.
“Well, is it?” He still didn’t answer. Why was he staring at her as if she was the weird one? She giggled. Damn her nervous habit. “What?”
“I see ye are not from these parts.”
“Actually, I live a mile from here. You’re the one who’s lost.” She snatched at Tex’s leash, but he darted away. “Use that man command and get him back here.” Her smile disappeared at his worried expression. “You okay?”
He raked his fingers through his ebony hair. “Ye are correct. I am lost. Yet Surrey must be nearby.”
“Hey, don’t worry.” Sage touched his arm. Heat seeped into her fingertips and traveled up her arm. By the way his head shot up, she knew he felt it too. She’d heard of this sort of...connection. Her best friend swooned each time she talked about how her husband could make her insides molten, but damn. This was a volcanic eruption.
“Shit.” She removed her hand, but the after effect still resonated within her. Showered in the sensation, yet oddly chilled without the warmth of his touch, an involuntary shiver ran through her. “Who the hell are you?” she whispered.
“C-Cade. Sir Cade—of Surrey.” His eyes clouded. “Damnation, woman, are ye a witch?”
Despite the seriousness of the moment, she couldn’t help but smile. “A witch? Um, definitely not. I think it’s you.” She braced herself. “Watch.” As soon as she laced her fingers through his, he sucked in a breath.
Her eyelids twitched then closed, and she fell into the depths. The pulse of pleasure, like a bubble of air in a pond, slowly rose and popped at the surface of her mind then rippled. It felt...right.
“Pray thee! Ye must cease this.” Cade slipped from her grasp, his eyes wide.
She gasped at the sudden disconnection. “I didn’t do...whatever that was.”
He took several steps back, his eyes nearly black with...was that fury? “Ye harbor power over my...emotions.”
Oh, that wasn’t fury she imagined, but passion.
“I—” What could she say? It was as if there was an electric current pulsing through him. One that singed the very core of her and made her quake with need. Her heart quickened at the thought of his fingers running over her body, searing her with his touch. She had no doubt it could ignite into something truly magical. Kiss him, a voice inside her urged. Surprised by the thought, she almost followed through. Who was this strange man with electrifying hands?
“Is Surrey a planet?” she blurted. “Are you an alien?” The shock created stupidity, the only explanation for her ignorant remark. “I mean, where is Surrey?”
He tilted his head, a crooked smile conflicting with his furrowed brow. “I dare not ask what an alien is. Or a planet for that matter. But, I assure ye, Surrey is here in England.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. “Oh, Cade.” She took his hand, but he snatched it away. She eyed the muscles straining against his shirt when he ran his hand over his face. She wanted to rip his friggin’ clothes off. “You’re in New York.”
“York, England?”
Shit, the hope in his eyes was painful. She hated to snuff it out. “No. Upstate New York.” His blank stare made her continue. “Have you heard of Grand Island?” Still nothing. “In between Niagara Falls and Buffalo?”
He slumped to the forest floor. “Hell’s teeth,” he whispered. “’Tis not a place I have ever heard of.”
“Well, the island is tiny, but surely you’ve heard of Niagara Falls?” Her giggle cut short at the shake of his head. “Oh shit.” She sat beside him. “You’re teasing me, right?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “I jest not.”
A thought gnawed at the edge of her mind. A weird, outlandish thought. “Okay.” She opened her mouth, clamped it shut, then tried again. “Now let me get this straight. You’re from England.”
“Aye.” He propped his elbows on his knees and cradled his face.
“And you’ve never heard of New York?” Her words sounded wooden, even to her own ears.
“Or the place of falls.” His hair draped over his face. She wanted to brush it aside to see if he was smiling. Messing with her. Anything to ease her racing heart.
“What curse is this? Ye swear ye are not a—”
“I’m not a witch, Cade.”
He muttered something, but she couldn’t make out his words over Tex crashing through the underbrush. She grabbed the leash and scrunched her nose. “Ugh, you stink.” The dog responded with a yap and leaned into her while she scratched him behind his ears. Cade didn’t even look up.
“Hey, we can figure this out.”
He raised his head. “We?”
Oddly enough, she wished to kiss the worry from his eyes, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Yeah. I was the one to find you.” She shrugged and nudged him. “Finders keepers and all.”
He chuckled and patted Tex. Both Cade and Sage jumped at the dog’s piercing howl.
He snatched his hand away and stood. “I hurt him! Ye speak the truth, ‘tis my touch. God’s eyes, did ye curse me?”
She jumped up. “No! I don�
�t know why your touch—” She nearly confessed how it made her want to kiss him, run her fingers through that dark hair, find out what lay beneath his strange clothes. Made her want to make love to him. Discover him. And herself. “Listen.” She paused, hoping he wouldn’t deem her a nut case. “I think have this figured out.”
Tex barked and ran in circles, wrapping the leash around their ankles.
“The poor cur, I have driven Tex mad with my touch.”
“Get a grip,” she said, trying to free their legs. “He’s fine.”
His eyes widened. “This is natural behavior? Running about like a fool for nay apparent reason?”
“It is for Tex.” She plopped on her bottom to untangle the leash, dismayed at the crack of her sunglasses. For once she appreciated her dog’s idiocy because it interrupted what she was about to say. Cade already suspected she was a witch. If she told him what was on her mind it would no doubt freak him out even more.
He seemed to read her thoughts. “What is thy explanation?” He offered to help her up, then jerked his hand away the moment she was on her feet.
“Wait, don’t move.” Entranced, she ran her finger along his palm. An odd waver distorted the air around it.
He sucked in a breath. “Sage, ye know not what ye toy with.”
She peered up at him from behind her lashes. “Oh?” She tickled his wrist with her fingertips. Her whole arm vibrated from the inside out. “I think I do.”
He shook his head. “I feel...” His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow.
“I feel it too.” She brought his hand to the bare skin above her tank top. The force of the emitting tremors to each breast made her moan in ecstasy. It felt as if she’d been lifted from the ground, but she could see she hadn’t moved. Oh, but the warm, heady feeling seeped from her chest to her stomach...and below.
He snatched her wrist and pulled her into his arms. The heat of passion pulsated and shot tiny jolts throughout her whole body. Sage knew she wasn’t one to make herself so available, but something about Cade erased any residual trust issues. And it scared the crap out of her. She barely knew this guy, yet felt the oddest connection.
“I want you.” There. She said it.
“Ye are a wicked maiden.” His breath heaved with each punctuated word.
Wicked or not, reasoning evaporated and her body took over. Tex’s tail thumped the ground in rhythm with her rapid heartbeat. Time staggered with anticipation And then Cade’s lips met hers.
Chapter Two
Cade’s body felt liquefied, as if shimmering water cascaded into his veins and carried him into rolling rapids. Imaginings of Sage lying in his arms, crying out this name, flooded his mind. Defiantly dismissing the images, he relished the feel of their tongues and bodies discovering each other. He could not stop, and realized he did not wish to. She was a stranger, different from any woman he’d known. She cursed like a rough warrior, yet had the most innocent air about her. How could it be? He must stop this. Nevertheless, his heart knew it was too late the moment he’d awoken in the tree and saw her. When she’d told him to leave, tightness had filled his chest.
Hell’s teeth!
Sage was a kindred soul—the one he had always wanted but ceased to believe in due to failed attempts at love. Mayhap this was simply a dream. One he did not wish to wake from. Ever. Thoughts of a life with this woman shattered his fortress. He wanted her in every aspect: mind, body, and soul. All these thoughts spun in the few moments of their kiss. Their magical, jolting, melting, fascinating kiss.
She gasped when he pulled back. Her eyes wide and lips swollen from his kisses, this woman took his breath. Gods, she was beautiful. Did she think him too forward? He studied her expression, captured by those blue eyes, questioning her. Did she feel the same? Sage answered by twisting her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and drawing him back into another kiss. This time the visions were clear. The taste of her body sweet as he imagined, the luxury of a dream drawing him into the lullaby of comfort in her arms. Aye, this was a vision granted by fate. A dream of what was to come if their hearts were given free rein. He envisioned her in his arms, sunlight shining through the chamber window and filtering through the hangings on his canopied bed, highlighting each curve of her naked body. His hand tracing each part of her until she moaned his name. Professing his love as he took her fully upon silken covers.
The dream faded the scents and sounds of the woodland returning. He did not know how he came to be here, but somehow he felt it was to meet this woman. Whereabouts be damned, for now he would enjoy the softness of her body against his, relish the way she whimpered when he backed her against the tree. Her body trembled, which shook his whole world. Never had he felt so complete.
‘Twas as if magic pulsed in the air, cradling their bodies, sweeping them in its embrace.
Chapter Three
Sage slowly opened her eyes, ready to tell him how she felt, no matter the consequence. Damn all doubt, damn all sensibility. This was the connection she read about in romance books and always hoped was more than fictional dreams of the author. A chill blasted through her, shooting her eyes wide open. A cry of disbelief escaped her throat.
The nature reserve, the warmth of summer, the smell of the damp leaves on the ground, the sound of wildlife no longer surrounded them. Instead, she heard the clatter of...hooves? Was that a horse that just passed? Was she dreaming? Had she fallen in the woods and hit her head? That must be it. But that didn’t explain the cold—the bitter chill biting her skin was too real.
“What... Where... How...? Well, crap!” She couldn’t put a sentence together.
She scanned her surroundings. They stood at the mouth of an alley, the echoes of laughter fading on the other side of the lane. In front of her lay a village. Snow softened roughhewn buildings, breath froze in front of peoples’ faces and lingered in the air. A toothless man selling an assortment of trinkets from a cart looked up at her. A woman, dressed as if she came out of a storybook—a medieval fairytale—turned from the cart to see what caught his attention. The scenes flashed before her, none making sense. A man crossed the narrow, slushy street, his cape fluttering in the wind. She squinted through the flakes to watch him approach and caught his intense gaze. He didn’t take his eyes off her once. Why was he staring her like that?
“Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.” She tugged Cade’s sleeve. “What just happened? Who the hell is he?” Despite the smile on his face, the man and his unflinching stare still looked menacing. “Tell me this isn’t real.”
“Fear not, he is my friend.” He ran his hand up her back. “And this is reality.”
Tears stung her eyes. She trembled violently as she stepped back. “No! Don’t tell me this is that damn Surrey place.”
“Aye. It is Surrey.”
“Shit. Oh hell, damn, and crap.”
Cade looked up as the man stopped in front of them. “Good morrow, my friend.”
“Greetings, Cade. Ah, I see ye found her.”
“I know not what ye speak of.” Cade glanced at her then back to the man. “We must talk.”
The tall, well-built stranger bowed before her and offered his cape. “Ye must be chilled. Come now, there is a fire blazing just over there.” He pointed down the lane.
Sage gritted her teeth to keep from chattering and shook her head. She wasn’t going anywhere but home.
The man wrapped the cape around her, concern apparent by his expression. “Do ye fare well?”
She nodded, though nothing was well.
“She is stunned. As am I,” Cade said. “What happened?”
The man didn’t answer, but instead leaned a bit closer to her, his friendly eyes observing her. “I know ‘tis quite a shock.”
“W-who are you?” It took all she had not to run. Bravery seemed the only option. The heat of confused tears burned her eyes and she blinked them back.
“I am Wren. We shall talk soon enough.” He grinned at Cade. “Welcome back. I was not certain it
would work, but now that I see it has, my debt is paid. “
Before she or Cade could say a word, Wren strode away.
Questions shot like bottle rockets in her mind, each one overlapping the next then fizzing out without completion. Wasn’t certain what would work? Who the hell was that guy? And why the hell would he say—Oh never mind that cape guy. A thought splintered her senses.
“You’re a...” Her earlier deductions about where he was from sent her into overload. He wasn’t the victim of a prank or an alien, but a—dammit she was right! The most outlandish thought she dismissed in the woods was the only one that made sense now. “Holy shit!” She lowered her voice when several villagers looked her way. “You’re a damn time-traveler.”
“Oddly enough, ‘tis a fair deduction.”
“A fair deduction?” She slapped her forehead. “Doesn’t this freak you out?”
“Freak me out?” He lifted his hand then dropped it. “I am not sure what that means.”
“I’m not sure what anything means!” Her mind was reeling. The winter air stung her lungs with each staggered breath. “How did this happen?” She delivered what she hoped was a menacing squint, but she heard pleading in her voice. “Are you responsible for this?” God, please say no.
He frowned. “I do not know...” His eyes darted over her shoulder. “Wren!”
Sage turned to see Wren waving, a grin spread across his face. “Meet me come morn. For now, enjoy the gift.”
The woman by the cart looked directly at them, as did the old man she was conversing with. In fact, when Sage looked around, everyone seemed to be staring at them. Sage nudged Cade away from the breezy mouth of the alley and clutched Wren’s cape. At least it blocked some of the cold. “Take me home.”
The woman pointed their way. Now what? Cade muttered something when she started toward them. The older man stormed away, shouting over his shoulder, “Dare not bother Sir Cade. Get back to work!”
