Somewhat anxiously, her gaze darted to the plastic shopping bag hanging off the bathroom door knob. Inside the bag was a home pregnancy kit, a purchase she’d never thought she’d ever have to make. Despite the fact that Darlene had assured her that there was a “baby on board,” she needed incontrovertible proof. However, before she shared the good news with Gideon, she had to first tell him about her past-life regression and her soul connection to Sarah MacAllister.
Admittedly, she’d yet to figure out how to spin the news that Gideon’s dearly departed wife had a new lease on life. Space stations and cruise missiles had thrown him a real curve ball. She had no idea how he’d react to karmic wheels and multiple past lives. The man was, after all, a card-carrying Methodist.
Reincarnation wasn’t the only newsflash she had for Gideon. Because her divorce from Richard Bragg would be finalized in just a few days time, she absolutely had to come clean about her marital status. A confession long overdue, it was one that she was already dreading. Gideon haled from an era in which divorce was unthinkable. The few brave souls who did seek divorce during the nineteenth century had been shunned by polite society, condemned to spend the rest of their lives as persona non grata.
Somehow she had to convince Gideon that divorce no longer had a scandalous taint attached to it. That rather than stay in an unhappy or abusive marriage, spouses now had the freedom to sever their marital ties, and that no one thought less of them for doing so. She just had to make him understand that—
Oh God, what was that?
Panic-stricken, Jessica sat upright in the tub, the sponge clutched to her chest. Holding her breath, she listened attentively, certain that she’d heard a footfall in the downstairs foyer. Since Buster was outside, that eliminated her Maine Coon cat from the suspect pool.
What if my nasty, anonymous caller has decided to take his harassment to the next level? In the last three days, there’d been numerous calls. In fact her phone bully had recently begun to angrily hiss the word “Bitch!” before hanging up.
What was to stop him from entering the house and accosting her? As near as she could tell, the answer to that was nothing.
When she suddenly heard a loud creak on the staircase, Jessica frantically searched the bathroom for a weapon with which to defend herself. While she didn’t see anything weapon-worthy, there was some hair spray in the armoire. If she aimed it directly at the goon’s face, it should stop him long enough for her to make an escape. And though it was a good plan, she would’ve liked it a whole lot better if she were wearing some clothing.
Trying to make as little noise as possible, Jessica slid out of the tub. Frothy, white bubbles clung to her body, a garb of sorts. Too scared now to be embarrassed, she opened the armoire.
Crappola! Where’s my can of hair spray?
Jessica bit back a groan of despair, her plan shot to hell.
Hearing footsteps approach the closed bathroom door, she knew that she had only a few seconds to come up with Plan B. Desperate, she grabbed her curling iron and held it over her head. Prepared to launch her attack, she held her breath and waited.
Like a scene from a bad horror flick, the bathroom door slowly creaked open. Her heart pounding madly, Jessica waited until the intruder stepped across the threshold before she threw her makeshift weapon as hard as she could.
“Take that, you—Gideon! What are you doing here?”
Possessed of quick reflexes, Gideon raised his arm to rebuff the blow, and the curling iron harmlessly bounced off his forearm. “Unless you’ve forgotten, I live here,” he said in response to her shrieked query. “Moreover, I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
“Yes, I’m… er, delighted,” Jessica stammered, still trying to catch her breath. “But why didn’t you call and let me know that you’d be arriving earlier than expected?”
“I did call. Several times, in fact,” Gideon said pointedly as he picked up the curling iron and set it on a nearby shelf. “For whatever reason, I kept getting your automated greeting, instructing me to leave a message. Which I did, I might add.”
“Oh… I, um, turned off the ringer so that—” she wouldn’t have to deal with her harassing cell phone bully. While it wasn’t the homecoming that she’d envisioned, Jessica impulsively threw herself into Gideon’s arms. “Welcome home! I’m thrilled to see you.”
“Words to warm my heart,” Gideon murmured in her ear as he held her in a fiercely tight embrace, the kind of body-smashing hug that left her weak-kneed and warm-hearted. Even though they’d exchanged calls nearly every day, there was something to be said for bodily contact.
When Gideon finally pulled away from her, his gaze appreciatively swept the length of Jessica’s wet body. “I see that I’ve caught you unawares.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
With a courtly sweep of the arm, he gestured toward the bathtub. “Far be it for me to interrupt a lady’s bath.” Then, with a suggestive twinkle in his eyes, he said, “Perhaps you need some assistance?”
Jessica returned the smile, her pulse immediately kicking up a few notches.
“Now that you mention it, I probably could use a hand,” she murmured as she smoothed her palm over Gideon’s flannel-covered chest, the blue plaid turning his eyes an electric shade of cerulean. “Although, as a matter of principle, I refuse to be the only naked person in the room.”
“I wouldn’t dream of coming between a lady and her principles.”
While Gideon undressed, Jessica climbed back into the tub, the warm water erasing the goose bumps that had sprouted all over her body. As she caught sight of Gideon wrapping a towel around his bare hips, she opened her mouth to protest, only to think better of it at the last minute. For the time being, she decided to let her Victorian lover keep his modesty. She’d have that towel off of him soon enough.
Grabbing a stool from the corner, Gideon placed it next to the porcelain tub. As he seated himself, Jessica caught an enticing glimpse of a firmly muscled thigh. Automatically, she extended a hand in his direction. After four weeks of intense longing, she couldn’t wait to touch him.
“And here I’d mistaken you for a lady,” Gideon teased as he placed her straying hand back into the water.
“Can I help it if I’m feeling a bit frisky? It has been four long weeks. If you know what I mean,” she added with flirtatious wink.
“I know exactly what you mean. Which is why I intend to savor our reunion.”
“Personally, I think you’re being a bit of spoilsport.” Reclining against the back of the tub, Jessica arched her back, impudently thrusting her breasts into the air. Savor that, big guy.
Gideon reached for the bath sponge. “Very pretty,” he complimented with a wry grin as he took hold of Jessica’s right wrist and commenced to wash her arm.
“So how did you enjoy your four-week stint with J.W. Malone?” she asked, as streams of frothy soap sluiced off her arm and splattered onto the surface of the water.
“If you must know, J.W. has taught me a great deal about modern-day society.”
Rolling her eyes, Jessica said, “I’m almost afraid to ask what you’ve learned.”
In no apparent hurry to answer, Gideon moved the sponge over the length of her other arm, lavishing it with an inordinate amount of attention. After a considerable pause, he finally said, “J. W. has a penchant for speaking at great length, and in fine detail, about ‘buns of steel’, ‘hotties’, and ‘awesome ta-tas’. Not wishing to appear uninformed, I oftentimes remained silent throughout his colorful soliloquies. But now I put the question to you: What is an awesome ta-ta?”
Jessica bit back a smile. “Not is, are. And surely a man who’s as imaginative as you can figure that one out.”
Clearly up to the challenge, Gideon slid his hand under the water to cup Jessica’s derriere.
Giggling, she shook her head and said, “Nope. Guess again.”
Clearly enjoying the game, Gideon slowly moved his hand across her abdomen, coming to a halt a
t her bosom. Grinning broadly, he palmed a soapy breast.
“Bingo,” Jessica exclaimed, her breath catching in her throat when Gideon gently tweaked her nipple. “And if J.W. ever asks you to go with him to an exotic dance club, you are to flat out refuse the invitation.”
“Well, I, um…”
Jessica twisted around in the tub so that she could face Gideon, the sudden movement causing bathwater to splash onto the floor. “That lowlife took you to a topless bar, didn’t he?”
Given the reddish stain on Gideon’s cheekbones, she could see that he was acutely embarrassed.
“All I can say in my defense is that I have no desire to ever return.”
“Good answer,” Jessica said, resettling herself in the tub. “Just wait until I get my hands on J.W.”
“In light of the fact that he considers you a ‘hometown hottie,’ that may not be such a good idea,” Gideon advised as he slowly dragged the sponge across her chest.
Jessica gasped softly; the wonderful, tingly sensation of having her breasts thoroughly washed was pleasure taken to the nth degree.
“I take it that you are enjoying your bath?” Gideon inquired.
Not in the mood to play coy, she said, “I’d enjoy it more if you were in this tub with me.”
Gideon slowly sponged her hardened nipples. “Is that an invitation?”
“Actually, it’s an order. And an adamant order, at that,” she added.
As Gideon rose to his feet, Jessica grabbed hold of the towel still wrapped around his waist. It only took one good tug for her to yank it from his body. With an impish smirk, she purposefully cast her gaze upon her lover’s blatant arousal. “Very pretty.”
As he lowered himself into the bathwater, Gideon said, “I have never been thusly complimented.”
Scooting to make room for him, she smiled and said, “There’s a first for everything.”
Despite the fact that the ancient clawfoot tub was commodious by modern standards, Gideon still had trouble situating his 6’4” frame. Jessica quickly remedied the problem by cinching her legs around his waist.
“Now that we’re entwined like sardines in a can, what do you propose we do?” Gideon asked, a seductive glimmer in his blue eyes.
“Hmm, good question.” Tilting her head to one side, Jessica assumed an air of mock contemplation. “Well, for starters, we can always do this.” Placing her hands on Gideon’s shoulders, she leaned forward and nibbled on his lower lip. As he shuddered against her, she slid a hand across his pectoral muscles, thrilled to feel the pounding of his heart against her palm.
With a hand braced on the back of her head, Gideon returned the kiss, his tongue nudging between her lips as he explored the inner recesses and outer contours of her mouth. In the next instant, a spasm of pleasure shot through Jessica as she felt Gideon’s hardened desire insistently throb against her lower belly. At that moment she felt a yearning so palpable, so exhilarating, it almost had material substance.
“A most propitious beginning,” Gideon said once the kiss had ended. “But I think we can do better.” Reaching for the sponge that bobbed on the surface of the water, he nestled it at the juncture between her legs. In tortuous slow-motion, he then moved it back and forth, causing Jessica to whimper softly. In no time at all, whimpering gave way to a lusty moan, pleasure transmuting into a full-bodied passion.
“How about we skip the preliminaries and just rush ahead to the finale?” she suggested, having fantasized about this moment for the last four weeks.
“We are of like mind, sweet lady.”
Putting his hands on her hips, Gideon eased Jessica upward, enabling her to position above him. That done, he lowered her back down, completely embedding himself in her body. She shuddered, savoring the feel of having him inside of her, the most intimate bond that she could share with him.
In that sweet, glorious moment, Jessica had never felt so cherished. So desired. We are fated to be together. And though she’d lived thirty-one years, she now knew that her life truly began on the stormy night when Gideon MacAllister mysteriously arrived at Highland House.
“Ride me, Jessica. Ride me as fast and furious as you can,” Gideon whispered, suddenly tightening his hold on her bottom.
Breathlessly nodding, she did just that, holding onto the edge of the tub as she pumped her hips up and down, her own pleasure heightened with each deep, guttural groan that she elicited from him. In those passion-laden moments, neither took heed of the fact that waves of bathwater noisily sloshed over the rim of the tub.
All too quickly, Jessica reached her peak. Throwing her head back, she opened her mouth and moaned, the moment too primal, too visceral for words. Firmly clasping her to his hips, Gideon incoherently grunted, his body shaking as he climaxed. Unable to speak, Jessica collapsed against his chest with a soft splash.
With a gentle hand, Gideon brushed aside the wet hair from Jessica’s face before he placed a finger under her chin, urging her to look at him.
“It’s good to be home,” he said with a tender smile.
* * *
Her stomach in knots, Jessica snatched a wool sweater and hurriedly pulled it on. When she’d seen Gideon step outside a few minutes earlier, she had decided the time was finally right to tell him about her past life regression and her connection to Sarah.
Exiting the house, she made her way toward the pasture fence where Gideon stood watching Blaze frolic in a nearby field. The horse was clearly happy to see him after his prolonged absence.
As she gazed toward the western horizon, Jessica noticed that the late-day sun hung low in the sky. The days were getting shorter. Soon the low-riding orb would make its way down the backside of the mountain, disappearing from view altogether. Weather-wise, they were in the throes of Indian summer, the mild temperature a pleasant respite from the usual November chill.
With each footstep that she took, Jessica could hear the crunch of brittle leaves—the mighty oaks and maples had lost their foliage several weeks ago. It bespoke of a death that wasn’t really a death. Spring would, after all, usher in a glorious rebirth of all that had gone before.
As with nature, so it was with the human soul.
Still grappling with the idea of reincarnation, she found it mind-boggling that the whole of Sarah MacAllister’s life was stored in that vast mainframe known as her subconscious mind. And though she’d spent an inordinate amount of time pondering the significance of Sarah’s death, she couldn’t figure out why—if Draygan could bring Gideon across the boundaries of time—the wily dragon hadn’t sent Gideon back in time so that he could save Sarah from the fire. Why bring him forward to the twenty-first century? Truth be told, she didn’t need to be saved.
But she did need to be loved. Now more than ever.
Smiling, Jessica placed a hand over her still-flat belly. About to embark on a life-altering, miraculous journey, maybe she had no business wondering why Gideon traveled forward rather than backward through time. Maybe she should instead focus on what color she was going to paint the baby’s room.
I’m really and truly going to have a baby, she marveled, having gotten a positive result a short while ago when she took the home pregnancy test.
Admittedly nervous, Jessica wiped her clammy hands against her denim jeans as she approached the pasture fence. At hearing her footfall, Gideon turned, welcoming her with a warm smile.
Sidling next to him, she said, “Since you didn’t suffer a single headache or spell while you were in Shepherdstown, I was wondering how you’re feeling now that you’ve returned to Highland House.”
“I’m pleased to report that I feel as fit as the proverbial fiddle,” Gideon informed her.
“Good news, indeed.” Hopefully, Draygan would keep his distance.
Turning around, Gideon leaned his back against the top rail of the fence. “Have I told you how much I enjoy living in the twenty-first century?”
Surprised by the abrupt change in topic, Jessica swiped the back of her hand across
her brow, wiping at imaginary beads of sweat. “Phew! What a relief. Because if you weren’t happy—” Hit with a sudden change of heart, she waved away the errant thought, not wanting to toss a negative vibe into the universe.
As they watched the sunset in companionable silence, Jessica had a strong, intuitive feeling that she’d known Gideon MacAllister throughout the ages, in other times and other places.
Taking a deep breath, Gideon stared at the western horizon, the sky just beginning to turn a vibrant shade of salmon pink. “This is a century full of promise and possibility. But it’s also one in which the past is clearly cherished.” Pausing briefly, he tore his gaze from the sunset so that he could look at Jessica directly. “During my tenure in Shepherdstown, I came to realize that there’s a growing demand for historic restoration.”
“Which means that you can put your knowledge of the nineteenth century to good use,” she said, surmising where the conversation was headed.
“Moreover, I’m convinced that if I pursue this avenue, it will enable me to secure a financially stable future.” Gideon spared a quick glance at the house. “You did say something about a new roof, did you not?”
“I did.” Having delayed the inevitable long enough, Jessica took a deep, fortifying breath, about to open a very big can of squiggly worms. “We need to talk about Sarah’s death,” she announced without fanfare.
Almost immediately, a ghostly specter of grief flashed across Gideon’s face before he hid it behind an impenetrable stone mask.
“Don’t do that. Don’t emotionally retreat on me,” Jessica implored, convinced that their future happiness hinged on getting everything out into the open. “That’s how this whole tragic business got started in the first place.”
“If it’s a tragedy you want, then perhaps you should know that after the fire, I used to seek my death in battle with open arms. Rather naively, I thought that if I died, I could, at long last, beg Sarah’s forgiveness.” Gideon’s lips twisted in a mordant smile. “A futile desire given that what I did to Sarah is as unforgivable in the heavenly realm as it is here on earth.”
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