A Paradox of Fates

by Rebecca Hefner

  She shook her head.

  “Here,” he said, grasping her hands and drawing them to his shaft. “Make a circle with your thumb and forefinger and roll it on.” She followed his instruction, causing him to hiss out a breath as her fingers worked the thin layer of protection over him.

  Finally, he was sheathed and raring to go. His cock stood proud, searching for the warmth of her core. She inched closer to him and hesitantly placed one knee on the bed beside him.

  “I like where this is going,” he rasped, loving how tentative she was. She was so strong and stubborn for her team, but here, in the small hotel room, she was shy and curious. “Don’t stop, duchess. Put your other knee on the bed and ride me. I think you’ll like it that way.”

  She obeyed, her knee resting on his other side as she placed her arms around his neck. Lifting his face, his lips searched for hers. They found them, soft and supple, his tongue plundering the depths of her mouth as she loomed over him. Moving his hand to her center, he found her still wet. Gathering her silken juices on his finger, he dragged it up to the nub barely hidden by her swollen folds.

  She broke the kiss, staring into him as he circled his finger around her clit. Her hand trailed down his chest to the base of his shaft, and he groaned when she encircled it with her fingers. Positioning her opening over the head of his straining cock, she gently began to ease down.

  His hips worked into her—slowly, so he didn’t hurt her—as her body gradually adjusted to him. Glazed amber eyes stared into his soul, and he thought he might drown in them if he didn’t look away. But he couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried, for she had bewitched him beyond rational thought.

  Hunter moved his hands to the sweet mounds of her ass, clenching one in each hand and pulling the lips of her sex apart with the tips of his fingers so she could ease further onto him. Each slow slide was torture on the most magnificent scale, and he wondered if any man had ever died of pleasure when making love to a woman who consumed him. If not, Hunter might be the first. Lainey was every dream he’d ever had rolled into this one fantasy that just so happened to be real.

  When he was fully sheathed in her tight channel, his hands encircled the globes of her bottom. “I’m going to move you over me, okay?” She nodded, clutching his shoulders. “Hold on tight. It might get rough.”

  He began spearing his shaft into her wet folds, clenching her ass as he jerked her up and down. The muscles in his arms strained as he lifted her, over and over, forcing his hips into the juncture of her thighs. She rode him passionately, bucking and gyrating, squeezing every nerve ending in his cock with her swollen walls. Blood surged to his shaft, causing him to grow blind with desire, his breathing so labored he thought his lungs might burst from his chest.

  The sounds of their skin slapping together, sweat-soaked and sticky, echoed in his ears, and he fought like hell not to come.

  “God, I want to fuck you forever. How do you feel so good?”

  She purred, the sound visceral as she clutched his hair. “You’re so deep inside me.”

  He clenched his teeth, struggling to draw out the pleasure. “Damn it. Hold on.” Grasping her tight, he flipped her around, throwing her to the bed before he maneuvered atop her flushed body. Lifting her leg, he held it high behind her knee. “Tell me if you want me to stop.”

  “Never—”

  Her words were cut short when he impaled her, hard and deep, pulling back out before surging again. His hips began a maddening pace, moving back and forth so fast he thought his legs might give out. Her breasts jiggled in an uneven motion, making his mouth water as he watched her moan. Lifting her hands above her head, she surrendered completely, her body open and limp, letting him take her hard and fast.

  His balls slapped against the smooth skin of her ass, beginning to tingle as he felt the orgasm form. “Fuck, I’m going to explode inside you,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Those gorgeous dripping-maple eyes opened above her cherry red lips, gaping and wet. She uttered one word, and he was lost.

  “Hunter.”

  His body snapped, the orgasm releasing like a bolt of lightning, up his engorged shaft and into her sweet body. Sheathed by the condom, he emptied himself, calling her name as he quaked and shuddered. Her arms surrounded him, hugging him close, and he collapsed over her, burying his face in her neck as he spurted into her. Slow and sure, his tense body eventually relaxed, and he twined his fingers in her hair. Nuzzling a path with the tip of his nose from her neck, across her jaw, and eventually to her lips, his gaze found hers.

  Open-eyed, he kissed her, gentle and lazy, as she stared back with emotion-filled eyes. Lifting his hand, he brushed her hair from her forehead.

  “Lainey,” he whispered against her lips.

  “That’s Dr. Randolph to you,” was her silken reply.

  Overcome with laughter, he rested his forehead against hers, so thankful he’d finally lain with the woman who’d consumed his thoughts for six long years.

  “Are we the best at sex of anyone who’s ever lived?” he joked.

  “Most likely, although we’ll need to experiment many times to formulate a solid hypothesis.”

  “God, I love science,” he said, pecking her on the lips. Easing away from her, he withdrew, already anticipating the next time he’d be inside her sweet warmth. Giving her a wink, he headed to the bathroom to dispose of the condom and wash up.

  When he returned to the bed, she took his place in the bathroom and returned a few minutes later. He’d already situated himself under the covers and reached for her. Taking his hand, she let him pull her into bed. Loving how she snuggled into his side, he stroked her hair while her cheek rested on his chest.

  “I’m not good at sleeping with other people,” she said, yawning before continuing. “I find it uncomfortable.”

  “Well, if you want to roll away, I won’t be offended. I actually enjoy a good cuddle after sex.”

  “I swear to god,” she mumbled into his chest, “you’re way too romantic for a soldier. It hurts my practical brain.”

  The deep chuckle rumbled through his chest. “I’m just an idealist. You should know that by now.”

  He stroked her thick hair, reveling in her palm against his heart and her silken leg thrown over his thighs. Her breathing evened out, and he glanced down at her.

  “Lainey?” he whispered softly.

  It was too late. The woman who professed not to like cuddling was dead asleep against his pecs. Smiling, he shut off the bedside lamp and held her in the darkness before giving in to his own exhaustion.

  Chapter 25

  Lainey awoke to Hunter dressing in the soft light that filtered through the curtains. “Already making a getaway?” she asked.

  He smiled, tugging his shirt over his head and sitting on the side of the bed. “No way, lady. You’re stuck with me.” He palmed her cheek. “I’m going to head next door and shower. After that, we need to find you a laptop and formulate next steps.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Luke will know.”

  Hunter chuckled, smoothing the pad of his thumb across the lip she’d just indented with her teeth. “Luke will know,” he said. “Does that bother you?”

  She blinked, realizing it didn’t. “No. I just don’t want him to think we’re focused on anything but finding Sara and the others.”

  “He knows. You’ve dedicated your whole life to keeping them safe, Lainey.” Lowering, he placed a peck on her lips. “It’s okay for you to have the best sex of your life once in a while, with the sexiest man you’ve ever seen.”

  Lainey rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Go away. I need to shower.”

  His smooth grin would’ve singed her underwear off if she were wearing any. “See you in a bit, duchess.” Aligning his lips with her ear, he said in his silken tone, “I think you’re pretty sexy too.”

  She pushed him away, laughing as he rose and headed for the door. Once there, he gave her a wink and left, ensuring the door clicked behind him.


  Groaning, Lainey pulled the covers over her head. She’d definitely had some great sex last night. With Hunter. Holy shit.

  While she showered, she allowed herself to be happy, doing her best to forgive herself for taking a few hours of enjoyment when her team was missing. Once dressed, she met Hunter and Luke in the restaurant of the hotel lobby.

  “Hey,” she said, sliding in the open booth across from them. “How did you sleep, Luke?”

  “Honestly, not great,” Luke said, his expression worried. “I hate being stuck here when Sara’s so far away. Although, I can’t wait to reunite with her and show her everything about the year 2035. It’s freaking unbelievable.”

  “Everything’s so bright,” Hunter said. “I never imagined the night sky could be so illuminated. These people don’t understand how amazing it is to have technology and electricity at their fingertips.”

  “Uber and cell phones are just the beginning, guys,” Luke said, grinning. “Not to diss Marie, because I love her cooking, but you can get chips with barbeque and cheese flavoring right out of a machine in the lobby. They also have these things called Skittles, which taste like heaven on your tongue.”

  “Dad told me so many stories about this era, trying to prepare me. It’s still a shock though,” Lainey said. “I’m sure we’ll discover a thousand new things every day that will blow our minds. In the meantime, any ideas on where I can get a cheap laptop?”

  “Yes, but I’d like to say something first,” Luke said, his grin sincere and knowing. “Just to air things out, I’m happy for you and Hunter. I always wanted you to find what Sara and I have. I figured I should get it out in the open, so you don’t feel weird.”

  “Thanks,” she said, gaze traveling to Hunter, who looked completely normal and unaffected.

  Unfazed, he slid a toothpick between his teeth, giving her a glib wink. When had the annoying habit become sexual? Lainey didn’t know, but Hunter’s tongue around a toothpick did all sorts of things to her insides.

  Returning her gaze to Luke, she cleared her throat. “I don’t feel weird. Now, let’s get crackin’. We’ve got some people to find.”

  In a stroke of fate, there was an electronics store two blocks from the hotel. Lainey purchased a functional yet basic laptop and returned to the restaurant. Using the hotel Wi-Fi, her fingers tapped furiously over the keys.

  “How do you know how to use that thing?” Hunter asked.

  “My father salvaged several laptops in faraday cages before the EMPs were detonated,” she said, her eyes never leaving the screen. “He knew it would be imperative that if he solved time travel, whoever traveled back would need to understand the technology of 2035. Voila,” she said, turning the laptop so they could peruse the screen. “Look who I found.”

  “Is that Nelson?” Luke asked.

  “Yep. Our own Dr. Nelson Longwood. He lived in D.C. before moving to Australia in 2036. He and my father are research partners. If anyone can help me find the others, it’s Nelson.”

  “Wouldn’t it be better if we just approached Lewis?” Hunter asked.

  “No,” Lainey said, shaking her head. “He’s too closely related to me. Approaching a relative in a different timeline can throw the entire space-time continuum off-balance. It’s better if I make contact with Nelson.”

  “Okay then, we’ll start there in regard to finding the rest of the team. In the meantime, what do we do about Puss in Boots’ arrival today?” Hunter asked.

  “We need to observe it but put parameters in place so Victor’s men can’t take us into custody. No one needs to go to prison today. I’ll be damned if anything Luke wrote in his letter comes true.”

  “Thank you, Lainey,” Luke said, encircling her wrist and giving it a squeeze.

  “Absolutely. Let’s get to it. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

  * * * *

  Hours later, the three of them stood in the shadows of the narrow alley, watching the spot where Lainey was certain Puss in Boots would appear. Footsteps echoed on the pavement, the sounds stark as they traveled down the passageway.

  A gust of wind lifted some of the scattered trash lying against the curb, and the man whose footsteps they’d heard stopped before the small whirlwind. A dark orb appeared, and the pet carrier a few seconds later, the wormhole closing behind it.

  The man lifted the cat from the carrier, slowly rotating it and studying it. Wanting to see more, Lainey stepped forward. Hunter grabbed her wrist, his eyes warning her to be careful. She nodded and stretched her head to observe the dark-haired man.

  “You’ll hurt your neck if you keep straining like that, Dr. Randolph,” the man said, his deep voice calm and laced with a latent cruelty. “It would be easier if you just showed yourself now.”

  Terror coursed through her body as she realized he was already one step ahead of her. How many times had they met at this very spot? How many conversations had she already had with him?

  Determined to find out, she forged ahead, stepping into the alley. Hunter grabbed her wrist again, and she turned to face him.

  “No, Hunter,” she said, gently disengaging. “We can’t run from them anymore. I have to figure this out, and you have to let me.”

  Hunter’s gray eyes were solemn as he released her wrist. “Luke and I won’t let anything happen to you. We’re right here.”

  She nodded, so thankful Hunter was on this journey with her. No matter the circumstances or her shock when she’d realized Lewis had secretly recruited him, she now knew her father had chosen the right man to travel with her through time. Lainey had never felt safer with anyone than with Hunter, except perhaps Cyrus. Filing that away for her scientific mind to dissect later, she turned to face the man who was entwined with her destiny.

  “Hello, Victor,” she said, stepping onto the paved stones of the alley.

  “Hello, Elaine.” He held Puss in Boots in his long, coat-clad arms, stroking him like an evil genius from the old James Bond movies Lewis had loved. Dark hair, pronounced eyebrows, and austere features mimicked Eli’s, proving beyond a doubt that they were father and son.

  “Don’t worry,” he said, the smirk on his face causing her to grit her teeth. “I won’t shoot you. Hunter and Luke are behind you, and you’re safe. For now.”

  “We’ve put parameters in place to ensure our safety that have nothing to do with you,” she said, chin lifting. “The local police have been tipped off that a possible assault will occur in this alleyway in”—she lifted her wrist to examine her watch—“exactly four minutes. I suggest you speak quickly, before they show up.”

  Victor’s lips quirked. “You’re always so cunning, Elaine, I’ll give you that, but your fundamental flaw is that you don’t realize the truth.”

  “And what is the truth?” she asked, lifting her hands. “Tell me.”

  His fingers stroked the feline’s fur. “You’re playing a different game than we are, my dear. You’re not even on the same field. It’s sad, really.” His gaze lowered to Puss in Boots. Giving him one last rub, he lowered him to the ground. Straightening, he wiped his hands on his coat. “The New Establishment is all-powerful, Elaine. We control every inch of space-time and know every move you’re going to make before you can even anticipate it. I’m sorry,”—his shoulders shrugged—“but you’re going to fail every time.”

  “I’d rather fail than ever give in to an evil regime who doesn’t believe in democracy and freedom!”

  “Democracy,” Victor scoffed. “Democracy is a notion of unevolved men, Elaine. We’re past that now. Humans are weak creatures. Only the best among us should rule. This is how it was for thousands of years, and this is how it will be again.”

  Lainey struggled to understand his cryptic words. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Science eliminated natural selection, Elaine. With the advent of vaccines and modern medicine, weaker people who should’ve been exterminated were allowed to thrive. The New Establishment does not accept that all are equal. We believe in
Darwinism and the idea that the weakest among us should be allowed to perish if they can’t survive on their own. Your grandfather supports our cause and will ensure the world is restored to order. Your father, in his own way, will help when he detonates the EMPs. Lewis thought it best to destroy power and electricity so it didn’t fall into the hands of the New Establishment, but in the end, he created a world in our image, where only the strong survived. I’m incredibly thankful to him.”

  “My father wanted nothing more than to save this planet,” Lainey said through gritted teeth. “And he and I firmly believe all humans are created equal and deserve the same opportunities to thrive.”

  “Yes,” Victor said. “It is our fundamental disagreement and the reason why we’re stuck in this endless loop. Only your determination to stop us has prevented us from succeeding. You now understand that we’ve had this conversation countless times, each one of them slightly different. I can only imagine the first time I walked down this alley and found Puss in Boots, knowing nothing of what I know now. The cycle is maddening.” Showing a sliver of weakness, he rubbed his eyes.

  “But it has to end,” he continued, his dark gaze cemented to hers. “We are committed to stopping you, no matter the cost. You’ll continue to create new timelines, and we’ll always be one step ahead. Eventually, we’ll find the upper hand that exterminates you. Once that is done, the New Establishment will reign over its people. People who deserve to live and prosper on this planet.”

  “You’re insane,” Lainey breathed.

  “Perhaps,” he said, giving an absent shrug. “It doesn’t really matter anymore. I see the end so clearly. You and the people you love so dearly will drown in a pool of their own blood. If you know what’s good for you, I suggest you find Dr. Longwood and have him send you back to 2075. Return to the day when Hunter arrived on your doorstep and destroy the Sphere. Live out the rest of your life with your family at the hub. Eli will seize it, but he will ensure you don’t suffer. He will let you grow old and die there, if you dedicate your life to supplying the New Establishment with power and knowledge. It’s the best outcome your life can have from this point forward. Otherwise, your family from the hub will perish. You must already wonder what happened to them. I can sense your fear that they’re dead. They aren’t yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”