by Mae Clair
“Ari.”
Her mother said something to her and her attention shifted. From the corner of her eye, she saw Rick approach Caleb, slipping a hand around his elbow, speaking quietly. Caleb listened intently a moment before nodding. Together, the two men left the room.
“…Such a lovely ceremony,” her mother was saying, but Arianna’s mind was already stumbling over the exchange she’d witnessed. Caleb hadn’t seemed concerned so much as curious. Hopefully, Rick craved nothing more than a father-son moment away from the festivities and noise.
She smiled at her mother. “I’m so glad you and Dad could make it.”
In the next instant, Wyn scooped her into his arms for an impromptu dance and she didn’t have the presence of mind to think of anything else.
* * * *
Caleb sat on the bed, unbuttoning the bottom of his overcoat. He’d dispensed with his dress sword and gloves after the ceremony, but hadn’t bothered shedding his heavy jacket.
“Nothing is wrong, is it?” he asked his father.
Rick had wanted to speak privately, away from the crowd. With the overflow of guests extending into the dining room and kitchen, the only place Caleb could think of was the rear bedroom. Rick had said little as they’d walked down the hall, his silence companionable and comfortable.
“No. I wanted to give you something.” He closed the door, blocking out the soft din of voices and laughter. Reaching into his jacket, he withdrew a fat envelope. “Call it a wedding gift.”
Wondering what his father was up to, Caleb took the packet and slipped his thumb under the crease. The document inside was several pages long, stapled and held together in a parchment binder, culminated by several signatures, a stamp, and an embossed seal. He skimmed the text, full of phrases like transfer of funds, as so noted in Appendix A, and of sound mind and body.
“I don’t understand.” Cold apprehension swept over him. His time with his father was limited, but he’d chosen not to dwell on that, especially today. “Is this a will?”
“No.” Rick grinned. “It’s an order of transfer. I’m gifting you with my wealth.”
“What?”
“Don’t you get it?” Rick took a step closer to the bed. “I know when I go back in time, but can’t take what I’ve made with me. I always meant for everything I built in the past to belong to you and Charles. Charles had the benefit of that. Now I can do the same for you. Here, in the present.”
Caleb shook his head, rattled by the idea. “Father, I don’t want–”
“Will you listen to yourself?” Rick cut him off, more forceful than before. “Think for a minute. You just got married. You have no job and no source of income. I’m a fucking millionaire, Caleb! You think I’m going to let the banks and the State suck up what I’ve worked hard to earn? What good is it to me if I’m no longer here?”
“I…” He stumbled over the words, unable to explain why it didn’t feel right.
Rick sat beside him. “I’ve made arrangements with my attorneys to transfer everything to you by the end of next week. It’s something I’ve been working on since I found out who you were. I want everything finalized and legal before I go. There are several documents you’ll need to sign, unavoidable I’m afraid, and there are two things I’m keeping. I’ve made arrangements to sell my business to a competitor, the profits of which you’ll see. A development business wouldn’t do you any good, but with the funds I’m leaving you, and what you’ll obtain from the sale, you’ll have the financial means to do whatever you want in this century. You don’t have to work, but if you decide to pursue something, you’ll have the resources available to be a success. The other thing I’m keeping is my house. At least temporarily.”
Caleb folded the document. He knew he should feel elated. Rick had solved one of the biggest obstacles he faced, but he didn’t want the solution at the cost of losing his father. And it felt unnatural to be handed a brass ring. All of his life he’d worked to obtain what he wanted, earning his position in the world. Unable to express his feelings, he searched for something to say. “How did you convince your attorneys you weren’t insane, leaving everything to a virtual stranger?”
“I told them I’d embraced a minimalist religion, taken a strict vow of poverty and was joining a cloister. Atonement for all the frivolous living I’ve done. I’m not kidding. I wouldn’t be the first eccentric millionaire to ditch everything.”
“They believed that?”
Rick shrugged. “Who knows? I told them you were a distant relative, and they didn’t question it. All they care about is getting their fee. Once the transfer is final, they’ll be sniffing at your door, wanting to represent you in any future legal matters. Good guys, but they’re not stupid. They go where the cash is.”
Caleb dropped his eyes, studying the folded sheaf of paper. “Father, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Rick hooked an arm around his shoulder. “I’m happy I can do this for you. I’m not going to be here much longer–”
“Don’t say that.”
“We both know it’s true. I know you’re having a hard time with this, but you need to be happy for me. You just married the woman you love. I’m going to do the same. I’ll be in the past with your mother, with you. It’s full circle. That I can pass my wealth to you in the present and know you’ll be provided for, that you’ll have a solid start in this century, is comforting for me. Do you understand?”
He nodded, still looking down. “Thank you.” The words stuck in his throat. He drew an uneven breath, knowing they were inadequate to express what he was feeling, but that Rick understood. “Would you do something for me?”
“Anything. You know that.”
Caleb reached into his pocket, withdrawing the small medallion his mother had given him. He rarely carried it anymore, fearful he would lose it, but it had brought her presence close on his wedding day. He turned it over with his thumb, watching the light flash off the words God go with thee.
“Do you remember this?”
“It was your mother’s.”
“She gave it to me right before Bull Run. I promised to return it to her at the end of the war.” He shifted on the bed, turning to face Rick. “Take it back to her. Let her know I’m safe, that it protected me. Tell her that I love her, and that I miss her.”
Rick pressed his lips together, nodding to check emotion. He closed a hand over Caleb’s, then took the medallion. “You’re going to be okay. Between Arianna and Wyn, I have faith you’re in good hands. If you ever forget that, I want you to have this.” He withdrew a pocket watch, suspended on a golden fob. Antique in design, it was exquisitely crafted, bearing two crossed muskets on the cover. “I thought you’d prefer something old fashioned over a watch for your wrist.” He passed it to Caleb. “Open it.”
Caleb hesitated, then pressed the release, his chest tightening as the watch chimed softly, announcing the half-hour. The face bore Roman numerals in black, but the script on the inside captured his attention and brought a lump to his throat: For my son. Past, Present, Always.
Caleb kept his head bowed, his normally rigid emotions tenuous. He drew an uneven breath. “I’ll cherish it always.” He raised his head, unable to mask his feelings, knowing the emotion was written on his face. “I don’t have anything to give you.”
Rick smiled, squeezing his shoulder. “Don’t give it another thought. You’ve far surpassed that already, son.”
* * * *
“Kiss me again.” Arianna had no objection to being held in Caleb’s arms after he’d carried her across the threshold of their honeymoon suite. The Carriage House Inn was everything she could have wanted in a Victorian-style bed and breakfast. Quaint, tucked away on eleven sprawling acres just outside of Sagehill, it had six bedroom suites, a dining room with intimate table settings and a lazily meandering stream fording the rear of the property.
By the time she and Caleb had changed out of their wedding clothes and checked in, it was
close to eleven o’clock. He’d carted their bags upstairs, opening the door only wide enough to flick on the wall switch and nudge the luggage inside. She’d tried to peer over his shoulder, wondering what he was up to, when he’d scooped her into his arms and carried her over the threshold.
“You’re traditional to a fault.” She pulled his head down for a second kiss, reveling in the knowledge she was married. Wedded. In the arms of her husband. A little over two months ago she’d been finishing up the school year, a romantic relationship the furthest thing from her mind. If someone had told her she’d be married before the summer was over, she’d have pointed them to an asylum.
Caleb’s mouth closed over hers, sending her thoughts scattering. “Traditional, hmm? What if I’m not having traditional thoughts? Do you have any idea what I want to do to you, Mrs. DeCardian?”
A tiny thrill raced through her. “Something decadent, I hope.” She loved getting a reaction from him. The rise of his eyebrow told her she’d struck a nerve.
“As long as I can take my time about it.” Setting her feet on the floor, he stared down on her, locking his hands on either side of her waist.
She felt the press of his wedding ring against her side. Across three centuries and unbelievable obstacles, she’d found the man of her dreams. “We have all night.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
The glow from a bedside hurricane lamp glinted off the surface of his eyes with the brilliance of moonlight on water. Bending closer, he kissed her again, melding their bodies together. All evening she’d thought of him, of this moment in his arms. Sometimes the last two months felt like a fairytale, but there was nothing make-believe about the escalating beat of her heart or the weakness of her knees.
In the back of her mind she registered the flowery scent of roses. A vase brimming with pink buds had been set on a massive cherry dresser, an ice bucket with chilled champagne nearby. The king-sized bed was sumptuously dressed in cranberry, orchid and white, with airy curtains of lace draping a four-poster canopy. As inviting as the bed looked, Arianna had other ideas.
She closed her eyes and tipped her head back, encouraging the hot passage of his lips on her throat. “Did you know the bathroom has a two-person Jacuzzi? I remember reading about it online.”
He digested the information as he nibbled her neck. “You mean one of those infernal contraptions that spray water?”
“Yes. Come on.” Taking his hand, she tugged him toward the bathroom. One of the things she’d liked best about the Carriage House Inn was that while the ambiance and decor were strictly Victorian, the upgrades were modern.
The bath was nearly half the size of the bedroom, set with an antique style dressing table, glass-enclosed shower and an oversized whirlpool tub. Pink-veined ceramic tile blended with splashes of cranberry and gold, all complimented by overflowing baskets of artificial greens.
Arianna felt for the light switch, delighted when she realized it was on a dimmer. Turning it to the lowest setting, she bent over the tub and started the water. The soft glow from several recessed lights bathed the Jacuzzi in an amber tint like candlelight.
“What are you doing?” Caleb asked.
“I want a bath.” Turning away coyly, she began to unbutton her blouse. “With you.”
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind.”
“I bet you’ll like it. I think you should get the champagne.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
He left to do as she requested, sliding the ice bucket and two glasses onto the edge of the Jacuzzi when he returned. The water climbed rapidly, its surface jeweled with the flush of muted light.
Stepping nearer, Caleb closed his hands on her shoulders. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her ear, indicating the tub. “Wyn has one of those contraptions in his bedroom. It shoots jets of water. He says it’s relaxing.”
“Like an underground spring.” Arianna was almost through with the buttons when he took over. The light graze of his fingers sent a shockwave of sensation coiling deep into her belly. Enchanted by the touch, she leaned against him, arching her body to invite the exploration of his hands.
She wanted everything slow and languorous, but he was already driving her wild. He swept the hair from her neck, teasing her throat with his lips and tongue as he stroked her nipples to rigid peaks. His touch was feather-light, maddeningly insubstantial through the light blue silk of her bra. She moaned, quivering with the spreading warmth of desire.
“I like when you do that.” His fingers tracked lower, across her navel to the waistband of her slacks.
She’d chosen something summery and light. White linen to go with her Laura Ashley blouse. He undid the button and she drew a shuddery breath, trembling in anticipation as he eased down her zipper. He’d grown aroused, the male hardness of him pressed into her the small of her back. His fingers slipped beneath her panties and it was all she could do to think clearly. His touch was electric.
“Caleb. Kiss me.”
“Like this?” He turned her gently, tipping her chin up until he could seal his mouth over hers. Once, then again, the touch of his lips growing hungrier with each exquisite kiss.
Golden heat flooded her, rushing to her toes. She raised one arm, twisting to loop it around his neck as he bent forward to shut off the water.
“The bath is full.”
“Help me out of my clothes.” She wanted the heat of his body melded with hers. She’d packed a slinky jade negligee, but it would keep for another night. At the rate they were going, they wouldn’t be wearing anything until checkout. Minutes later, their clothes in a pile on the floor, Caleb eased her into the curve of the tub. The water was warm and delicious, wrapping their bodies in a silken cocoon. He loomed above her, nudging a leg between her thighs, cupping her waist to tug her snugly against him.
She smiled up at him, enraptured by the way bands of light and shadow played across his wet skin. “I always wanted to make love in a Jacuzzi.”
Bending, he sucked at her bottom lip. “So I’m your first?”
She giggled, enjoying the twist to the question, and borrowed his formal pattern of speech. “I feel appropriately virginal. But I thought it was improper for a gentleman to ask such a question of his lady.”
“You’re right. It must be these damn jets of water that have me behaving so reprehensively.” Looking down, he slipped his hand between her thighs. “I’ll ask something else instead.”
Arianna gave a small gasp at the pressure of his fingers.
“Do you like that?”
“God, yes.” Her eyes feathered shut as a wave of pleasure crashed over her. His mouth found hers, gently nipping, moisture and heat sealing them briefly before he pulled away.
“Do you love me, Annie?”
“Forever.” The stroke of his hand had her near senseless. Shifting, she pressed into him, inviting greater intimacy. She loved the feel of his body, muscle and sinew, how his shoulders tapered to the deliciously lean vee of his waist. Her heart felt tight, swollen with love. Moaning against his mouth, she slipped her hand beneath the water to cup and fondle him.
He dropped his head to her shoulder and groaned. “If you keep that up, I’m going to hit the four time mark.”
She smiled at their running joke. “Round two is on the bed.”
He raised his head. “And three?”
“The shower. Don’t ask about four. I’ll come up with something.”
Caleb laughed. “You’re indecent, but I love you anyway.”
Arianna gave a small gasp as he entered her, surrendering to the buffeting waves of sensation that followed. The stroke of his hands and the heat of his lips made the symphony of their bodies sing sweeter. She felt a joining she hadn’t experienced before, heart to heart, gloriously golden and gilded with the purity of something new. The love of a husband for his wife, a wife for her husband. She couldn’t kiss him enough, love him enough, surrender enough. When the crest came, it was staggerin
g, leaving her limp and sated in his arms.
Caleb cuddled her close, kissing her gently on the brow. “Should I warm the water? Are you cold?”
“How can I be cold after that?” She snuggled against him, fingering a strand of his hair. The edges were wet like her own, but the platinum had turned to deeper brass with the touch of water. “So what do you think of this infernal contraption now?”
Caleb raised a single brow, giving the matter serious thought. “I suppose you’ll suffice. God forbid I’d have married someone like Daphne.”
“Caleb!” With a squeal of mock outrage, she thumped him on the chest. It still came as a surprise when he was playful, he did it so rarely. “I was talking about the Jacuzzi.”
“I know that, sweetheart.” He grinned down on her, kissing her lightly. “I’m not ready to give up my morning showers, but it does have entertaining uses, now that you’ve educated me.”
“That’s what teachers do.” Her eyes twinkled. “And a shower is third on the list. After the champagne, of course.”
“Then I think I should wrap you in a towel and take you to bed.”
Arianna locked her arms around his neck and scooted against him. “I’m all yours, Colonel.”
Chapter 32
Caleb downed a swig of hazelnut coffee and grimaced. He’d had no idea what he was in for when he’d allowed Arianna to talk him into a milder brew.
You’ll like it, she’d promised. It’s flavored. And decaffeinated. All that caffeine you drink isn’t good for you.
Sometimes, she sounded like Wyn. They hadn’t even been married twenty-four hours, and he was already changing his morning ritual for her. Not that it was a bad thing, given how she’d transformed his night. Those feelings aside, the damn flowery coffee had to go.
“It’s beautiful here.” Arianna said, oblivious to his thoughts. She looked around at the small tables clustered into the dining room of the Carriage House. Most were partially shielded by cloth screens or groupings of plants, creating cozy intimacy for day or night. After sleeping late, they’d descended for breakfast, one of only three couples in the dining room.