Now and Forever:: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE NOVEL (RAVENHURST SERIES Book 5)

by Lorraine Beaumont

  “Oh, Lucian,” she sobbed, looking at his handsome face, a bitter residue in her mouth.

  “Come on baby, don’t cry.” He stepped forward and stroked her face, wiping her tear stained cheeks with his thumbs. “I hope these are tears of happiness?”

  Sniffing loudly, she shook her head and tried to stop but when she looked at him again, she began to cry anew.

  “Baby you are starting to give me a complex.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “What is there to understand,” he asked his brow creasing—the pang of uncertainty hitting him square in the chest. “You do love me too…right?”

  “Yes,” she cried.

  Relief washed over him but it was short lived.

  “You…you…said, you couldn’t …that you wouldn’t ever…Oh my God?” She looked upward. “What have I done?”

  Lucian staggered backward, feeling like he had been suckered punched in his gut. It all became crystal-clear. “You didn’t?” he said, barely audible. “Baby please, tell me you didn’t tell them where I am…did you?” He gave her a pleading look.

  Her silence was all the affirmation he needed.

  He looked around the small cabin, a place that had been his sanctuary for longer than he cared to admit and now it was closing in on him. He always liked that it was small, open, the simplicity of the place. Now it was too small, too open. There was no place to hide. The familiar feeling of fear crept inside the very place he had sought refuge when he was younger, when he was scared. Now he was terrified to be here. “How long?” he asked.

  Lifting her hands helplessly in the air, she shook her head.

  “Cecily how long?” he yelled, frantic now, grabbing his leather jacket up and tossing it on.

  “I don’t know!”

  “I don’t have the fucking money Cecily!” he railed, pacing now. “They will kill me.”

  “No Lucian, they said they only wanted to talk to you,” she wailed, sobbing uncontrollably, her words barely coherent. “They promised.”

  “And you believed them?”

  She nodded mutely.

  “What was all this then?” He said pointing to the spot where they just made love.

  “I wanted to…I wanted…to say…” she tried to speak but the words kept clogging in her throat.

  “What? That you loved me too?” he scoffed. “No. It wasn’t that, was it? You decided to give me a goodbye fuck before you put the last nail in my coffin?”

  She didn’t answer, but her expression was the only answer he needed.

  He slammed his hand on the table, making her flinch.

  “Well I hope the money is worth it…I hope it feeds that conscience of yours for the rest of your fucking life.” He reached out and yanked the door open.

  “Lucian…I love…” She reached out toward him.

  “Don’t…” He lifted his hand to stay her. “Don’t you fucking dare …” He leveled her with a look full of loathing. Then turned on his heel and headed outside into the darkness.

  “Lucian!” She jumped off the chair, stumbling outside, but he was already gone.

  Time will tell

  THE PASTRAVENHURST

  JAYCE walked outside through the thick mists swirling across an otherwise empty bailey. An eerie silence hung in the air. He stopped in front of the stockade where the prisoners were held earlier but that too was now empty. “What in the bloody hell is going on?” he asked aloud. The wood was broken on the edge. It was not a normal sight. The other knights of the keep were surprisingly absent from their daily duties and so was everyone else. The bailey was quiet as a tomb. Something unnatural was afoot.

  A raven swooped down and landed on the wood, cawing loudly. Jayce gave it a wide berth and looked down across the worn path toward the stables. He squinted against the fading sun his eyes scanning the bailey.

  Gaitland walked up. “Where is everyone?”

  Jayce started and turned toward Gaitland. He shook his head. “I do not know.”

  Gaitland stoked his chin in thought. “I don’t give credence to the unnaturalness that seems to have descended upon the keep but…”

  “I know,” Jayce agreed without letting him finish. He felt it too, something was about to happen, something bad. He could feel it in his bones. “Hell’s teeth!”

  “Have you seen Morrigan?” Gaitland asked, looking warily over his shoulder, as if she may materialize out of the mists snaking down from the heavens above.

  “Not since I put her to bed last night.”

  “You what?” said Gaitland, gaping in shock, his eyes widening.

  Jayce gave him an empty stare.

  “Y-you and Morrigan?” he sputtered out, finally finding his voice.

  “God no!” answered Jayce, remembering how she had fallen into his arms last night in a dead faint. “I merely walked her back to her room.”

  “You did?” Gaitland lifted his brow, giving him a probing look.

  “Listen, she passed out and I put her in bed. That’s all.”

  “You made her pass out?”

  “NO!”

  “Then what did?”

  “Damned if I know.”

  “Something is definitely going on here.” Gaitland felt a shiver of unease slide up his spine.

  “I agree…but what?” Jayce said, eyeing the bird that was still perched on the stockade like he was listening to everything they were saying.

  Gaitland shook his head, obviously not having any answers either. “What is with that bird?” He lifted his chin, staring at the bird.

  Jayce looked over too. “I don’t know.”

  “I feel like it is listening to us.”

  “Me too,” Jayce agreed readily.

  Gaitland stepped closer to the bird and cocked his head to the side. He waved his arms in the air. “Shoo bird.”

  The bird merely mimicked him cocking its sleek head to the side and then cawed loudly, flapping his wings.

  “That bird is giving me the creeps.”

  “It’s just a bird,” said Jayce, although he felt the same way. “Have you seen Darias?”

  Gaitland picked at his jagged nail. “No, I have not.”

  Jayce cut his eyes toward Gaitland. “What do you know?”

  “Nothing,” he said absently, biting the edge of his thumb, chewing on his nail.

  Jayce let out an exaggerated sigh. “Why do I feel like you aren’t telling me something?”

  He dropped his hand. “Fine,” he sighed and raked a hand through his sandy blonde hair. “Darias is gone.”

  “What do you mean he is gone?” He narrowed his eyes.

  “He went after the girl.”

  “And you let him?”

  “Yes.” Gaitland frowned. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Because he is acting like a corpse…that’s why,” Jayce exclaimed.

  “That is the very reason I let him go. I was hoping he would find the piece of himself that is missing.” He absently rubbed the back of his neck. “I think if anyone could make him remember who he once was, it would be that girl.”

  “What if she is the one that is making him that way?”

  Gaitland shook his head adamantly. “I don’t think so.”

  Jayce breathed in a lungful of air. “I hope you are right.”

  Me too, Gaitland thought. The wind picked up strength and still the bird did not move. He walked down the path toward the stables. “I am going to take a ride. You want to come?”

  Jayce exhaled, looking around at the empty bailey then up at the under bellies of several gray clouds, pressing down on them. “I think a storm is coming.”

  Gaitland looked up. “I think so too but I don’t think it has to do with the weather.”

  “What are you saying?” asked Jayce, turning toward him.

  “It’s just a gut feeling.” When Jayce shot him a questioning look, he elaborated, “Since I was almost trampled the other day I have tended to listen to my gut.”

  “The horse was
spooked.”

  “Yes, I know. But my question to you is…who spooked it?”

  Jayce turned thoughtful for a moment. “Who do you think spooked it?”

  “You want to truth?”

  “That would be a good place to start.”

  “Morrigan,” he said her name quietly but it still made him feel uneasy.

  “Why would she do that?”

  “I think she was pissed at me for not letting her see Darias when he was closeted away with the girl. After that night, strange things have been happening to me.”

  “Surely you are imagining things. She is merely a woman.”

  “Not just any woman,” Gaitland muttered.

  “What was that?” Jayce lifted his hand to his ear.

  “I think she is a witch.”

  “Hells teeth man!” he scoffed. “You have been around Milford too much, you sound just like him.”

  “Mayhap he is right.”

  “She is just a girl.”

  “You are taken with her…aren’t you?”

  “No.” Jayce said but it lacked conviction.

  “Jayce look out!” Gaitland yelled.

  The raven flew straight at him, squawking crazily. Jayce ducked just in time. The long curved talons on the bird’s feet barely missed scratching his eyes out. “Bloody Hell!” he yelled, ducking once more.

  Surprisingly, Gaitland found he was not a target for the crazed bird. It was as if Jayce and Jayce alone had pissed the animal off and he was now paying the consequences. It was unsettling and damned odd.

  After a few more passes, the bird flew up and landed on the stables.

  “What the bloody hell was that?”

  “I think you pissed off that bird.” Gaitland shrugged.

  “That is ridiculous.”

  “Is it?” He lifted his brows, widening his eyes. “Told you something unnatural was afoot,” he said, giving the bird a wary glance.

  Jayce raked his hands over his face. “I will go with you if only to prove you are wrong.”

  “All right, but I am betting I am more right than wrong, at least in this instance.”

  Following Gaitland to the stables, Jayce looked up often to see where the bird was.

  Gaitland stopped abruptly.

  Jayce ran into his back, pushing him forward.

  “Bloody hell Gaitland!” he exclaimed, balancing himself. “Why did you just stop?”

  Gaitland ignored him and knelt down.

  “Morrigan!” gasped Jayce. He dropped down at her side, gathering her still form in his arms. Lines of blood trailed down the sides of her pale face. “What have you done?”

  “I did not do anything,” Gaitland argued.

  “Then who did?”

  “I told you something was going on. We have to find your brother. I have a feeling he needs us.”

  “What of her?” Jayce asked, clearly conflicted.

  Gaitland shook his head. “I don’t think there is much to do for her now.” He lifted his hand and did the sign of the cross.

  Jayce gapped at him in disbelief. “You think she is dead?”

  “What do you think?”

  Jayce lowered his head to her chest. “I hear her heart beating, it is faint though.” In one fluid motion, he lifted her limp body into his arms, carrying her across the bailey into the keep.

  “MILFORD!” he yelled.

  A little of this a lot of that

  THE PRESENTRAVENHURST

  ONCE Reed had made Raven see stars twice, they decided to take a break and regroup later to seek out the treasure.

  Now she was up to her shoulders in a hot bath bubble bath. Her body feeling a bit tender, but well loved. She rested her neck against the rim of the tub, and closed her eyes. Smiling, she amended her earlier declaration about movie sex. It may have started out a “B” movie but it definitely ended up being a “Blockbuster.”

  The door slammed open, startling Raven and pulling her from her reverie. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub onto the floor as she twisted around.

  “Raven,” Reed huffed, clearly out of breath, his chest heaving.

  “What’s wrong?” She leaned forward holding onto the edge of the tub, trying to block his view of her body. He obviously showered and changed since she last saw him. He was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans, a simple t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers. She didn’t know why that bothered her so much, but it did.

  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that after the lights came back on, Reed had made another one of his hasty exits, but not before he hit her mouth in one of his famous hit and run kisses.

  “I need you to come with me.”

  “Right now?” she squeaked. The water was so soothing she clearly was not ready to get out of the tub.

  “Yes, now.” He leaned over, picking up a towel and tossed it over to her.

  Raven clutched the towel. “Now?” she repeated.

  “Yes…unless you want me to join you?” He smiled and waggled his brows at her.

  An image of him climbing into the tub with her briefly entered her mind. She bit her lip.

  “Raven, stop looking at me like that,” he warned, his dick was getting hard all over again.

  Feigning innocence, she asked, “Why?”

  Reed groaned, waffling on the threshold. “Because we don’t have time for that now,” he scolded. “After though, I plan on having my fill of you…understand?”

  Raven smiled widely, and nodded her head.

  “Good,” he said, then took a step forward, and peeked into the tub.

  “Reed!” she squeaked and tried to cover her body with the towel.

  “Later, he said and lifted his brow giving her one of his sexy looks. “ We have a date,” he promised and with that, he turned and walked out of the bath.

  Raven couldn’t stop smiling while she rinsed off quickly. Climbing from the tub, she dried off and wrapped the towel under her arms. The tiles were damp under her feet. When she entered her room, Reed was standing near the hearth his back to her—his broad muscular shoulders straining against his shirt. Her knees buckled at the sight and she nearly fell but caught herself on the bureau.

  “So what is all the urgency about?”

  Reed turned around and gaped at her. He didn’t know why she was having such an effect on him. Hell, he slept with plenty of woman. But something about the girl standing in front of him now made him want to do things. Things he normally wouldn’t even think about and she was his wife too. Without thinking, he walked up to her and yanked her body against his own. He slid his hand down over the towel to the rounded curve of her sweet ass, her body still warm from the bath. He kissed her, almost savagely, sucking on her pillowy lips. Then just as quickly, he released her.

  Raven stood there stupidly blinking, her breath rushing from her chest. She lifted her fingers to her lips. After a moment she asked, “What did you do that for?”

  “Because wife…I can.” He gave her a slow wicked grin lifting his brow as if he was daring her to contradict him.

  Like that was going to happen. “Alrighty then,” she breathed, fanning her heated face. “Would you like another? Or can I get dressed now?”

  Reed laughed. “Cheeky woman,” he said grinning. “Get dressed,” he instructed and walked over to the door and pulled it open. “Meet me in the library, once you are dressed, all right?”

  “Okay.”

  With one last lingering look and a, “Hmm, Mmm,” he walked from the room, closing the door silently behind him.

  Raven practically floated across the room and fell backward onto the bed. “Wow.”

  Fifteen minutes later, she stood in front of the strange mirror with the keys. She turned and looked at her butt.

  “Not too bad Raven,” she said, and turned back around. Her glowing reflection stared back at her in the mirror. She was wearing her favorite (hug her butt in the right places) jeans and an old cotton t-shirt of Marvin the Martian, trying to mimic Reeds laid back look, but she wo
re her bright red Uggs, not sneakers. After applying some mascara, a bit of dusting powder and a swipe of venom gloss to her lips, she was ready to go and meet Reed. Walking across the room, she stopped at her suitcase and pulled a scrunchie onto her wrist, grabbed a black hoodie out of her bag, then headed out to meet Reed in the library.

  Reed paced back in forth in the library, glancing at the clock on the mantel often. Once he made up his mind to find the treasure, he had been antsy to do just that ever since. “Come on Raven,” he said, running a nervous hand over his face. Until they were going to be on their way he was reluctant to take out the map he had hidden. A niggling sense of unease kept him from getting it any sooner. It was more of a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

  The entire day had felt a bit off. Maybe it was what happened with Raven earlier. He looked down at his desk, envisioning what had transpired between them only a few short hours ago. He reached down and adjusted himself, getting turned on all over again…just from thinking about it. “Damn.”

  Raven made it down the creepy hall and stairs in record time. Once at the bottom, she gave the ugly gargoyle that always seemed to be sneering at her a wide berth and tiptoed over to the library door, thankful for once, she didn’t sound like a cow clomping in a china shop. She watched Reed, pace and then stop, swiping his hand over his face. Even from where she stood, she could see how his t-shirt clung to his muscular torso. Dreamily she sighed audibly.

  Reed started at the noise, dropping his hand. “Damnit Raven!”

  She jumped. “What?” she yelled back. Her heart thumped erratically in her chest.

  “Sorry.” Reed shook his head. “I didn’t hear you,” he said as though that explained everything.

  “I was trying to be quiet.”

  “Why?”

  “Why not?” she asked and lifted her hands helplessly in the air. Apparently, there was no pleasing the man.

  “You are never quiet,” he snapped.

  “Well Reed, there is a first time for everything you know,” she snapped back.

  A slow grin crept across his face and he lifted his brow. “Why yes, yes there is.”

  The implication behind his words made warmth spread over her face, making her flush. “Stop that.”

  “What?” he asked innocently.

  “Oh, um…” Suddenly flustered she pulled at her jacket sleeve to give her something to do.