by Rebecca York
As she gasped in shock, he stepped back and tore at his shirt, ripping it off and tossing it onto the floor. He sent her blouse and bra after it, then pulled her close, sealing her body to his.
She gasped again at the feel of her naked breasts against his hair-roughened chest.
His hands grasped her shoulders, swaying her torso against his, and she heard a rumble of approval in his throat.
Her own hands went to the button at the top of her slacks. She fumbled it undone, then lowered her zipper, pulling off her pants and panties as he held her in his arms. Next she tackled his jeans, tearing them off almost as quickly as she’d dispatched her own slacks.
He laughed softly. “Are you in a hurry?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he answered.
Wrapping his arms around her, he took her down to the surface of the rug.
She closed her eyes so that she could focus on the physical sensation, expecting him to come down on top of her. But he rolled to his side, cradling her in his arms. He had been a whirlwind of motion. Now he lay perfectly still, just holding her.
She felt the tension in him and also in herself.
She took a breath of the air. It was different than it had been only moments ago.
“I smell smoke,” she whispered, a zing of alarm dancing through her.
“From the fire.”
“Fire?” Her eyes blinked open, and she tried to figure out what she was seeing.
“To keep us warm.”
She lifted her head and looked around. The room had been dark, except for the illumination from the hallway.
She remembered coming down the corridor to get here. But now the light seemed different. It had a strange, flickering quality. When she took a second look, she gasped.
As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw that the modern surroundings had disappeared. Instead of a room in a Victorian house, they were somewhere else.
It couldn’t be possible. But it was. They were in a cave, and the red and gold, shifting light came from a wood fire, the smoke rising up and escaping through a hole in the roof.
Lifting her head, she stared at the stone walls that were painted with drawings of men and animals. Not the primitive cave paintings she associated with archaeology expeditions. But quite sophisticated works of art.
Outside, the wind howled and ruffled the curtain of animal skin that blocked what she assumed was the entrance.
She moved her hand against the surface below them. It wasn’t a rug any more. Instead they were lying on animal skins, shaggy pelts from some beast she didn’t recognize.
In a panic, she tried to push away from the man who held her in his arms, but his hands tightened on her shoulders.
“What have you done?” she demanded. “Where are we?”
“Another place.”
“But how?”
“I am not sure. I wanted to be here with you, and it happened.”
She tried to take that in. The explanation made no sense, but when had anything passed the sanity test since the mist had shot out of the box and Luke had fallen to the floor?”
Raising her head, she stared at the man who lay beside her on the animal pelts. “Who are you?”
“The same man who was kissing you a few minutes ago.”
“Luke?”
“Yes,” he answered, but she wasn’t sure she believed him. Or—if he was Luke, he was Zabastian, too.
“Are we going to get stuck here?” she asked.
“It would be a good place to hide.”
“But are we stuck?” she pressed.
“No,” he answered, but she had the feeling that he wasn’t focused on their location. He was a man who wanted a woman. And he was determined to make it happen.
While the complexities of their situation spun in her mind, he cupped the back of her head and brought her mouth back to his.
A little while ago, their kiss had been frantic. This kiss was different. It was persuasive, almost sweet, as though he was trying to woo her and gentle her at the same time.
His lips moved over hers, his teeth gently nipping and teasing. Then his lips sipped from her, making her focus on the man, not the surroundings.
She didn’t forget about the cave. But now it felt right for her to be here—making love with him.
His hands stroked down her ribs, then reached to tease the sides of her breasts, bringing her quickly back to the level of arousal where she had been a few minutes earlier.
When she moaned, he drank in the sound as his hands found the hard points of her nipples, teasing and inciting her.
“Luke,” she whispered.
He made a grating sound deep in his throat, and she wondered if he was pleased with the name she had spoken.
She had known Luke Garner for a month. She had known Zabastian for seven hours. And in that short time, she had found out he was bold, ruthless and reckless.
And a skillful lover.
She’d known men who took what they wanted from a woman and thought very little about their partner’s needs.
This man had focused his total attention on her pleasure, and that couldn’t help surprising her—after some of the things he’d said about women.
As he bent to suck one pebble-hard nipple into his mouth, his hands slid over her body, finding places she had never considered as erogenous zones. He rolled her to her back and circled her navel with the pad of his thumb in a way that made her blood simmer, then slid his fingers to the point of her hip bone, finding sensitive nerve endings.
He knew the secrets of the human body, knew how to incite and soothe at the same time, keeping her balanced on a knife edge of arousal.
She wanted to beg him to slide his hand lower and dip into the aching place between her legs. But she knew it wouldn’t do her any good to ask. He was going to take his own sweet time exploring the secrets of her body.
She was almost out of her mind with desire when he finally glided one hand into the wet heat of her sex, stroking her there, bringing her to a peak of need.
“Please,” she begged.
He raised his head, looking down at her in the warm light, his gaze burning into her.
Then he rose above her, his erection sliding against her throbbing body, raising her to another level of need.
She cried out when he entered her, stretching her and filling her.
His gaze was still on her, watching her face as he rolled her to her side so that he could caress her with his hand while he moved in and out of her.
She heard his breathing turn harsh. Her own breath sawed in and out of her lungs as she clung to his shoulders, her hips moving in concert with his.
She sensed his need and also the discipline that came from deep within him.
She had never felt more connected to anyone—physically and emotionally.
And as her pleasure built, she knew he was holding back, waiting for her to reach the highest peak and tumble over before he allowed himself to follow her.
When his fingers stroked against her clit, she came undone, orgasm exploding through her. He followed her into the white heat of pleasure, his shout of satisfaction echoing against the walls of the cave.
She collapsed against the primitive bed, struggling to catch her breath, stunned by the strength of her reaction to this man.
He stroked the damp hair back from her face, then cradled her sweat-slick body in his embrace.
What was he feeling now? She wanted to ask him where the two of them stood after that frantic coupling, yet she couldn’t dredge up the words. She didn’t want to hear that, for him, it had just been a meaningless joining, when it had been so much more for her.
And what would it prove if she asked and he answered? She knew from experience that men didn’t necessarily tell women the truth. More than that, what could she expect from someone whose name she couldn’t even be sure of.
Whom had she slept with? Luke and the warrior?
She shivered.
&nbs
p; “What?”
Unable to ask any of the questions that churned in her mind, she whispered. “I’m cold.”
“Of course. I’m sorry.” He stroked a finger along her sweat-slick arm, then moved so that he could pull one of the pelts from underneath them and spread it over their naked bodies, fur side down, so that it was like a soft comforter against her skin.
In the warmth under the covering, she snuggled against him. His hand stroked over her forehead, making her drowsy, and she closed her eyes.
oOo
The gentle stroking of his fingers had helped Olivia sleep. As she nestled trustingly in his arms, he had a moment to catch his breath for the first time since the wild ride had begun.
The sex had been mind-blowing.
Is it always like that for you? Luke asked the man who had come blasting into his body.
No.
Luke considered the answer, then dug below the surface of the warrior’s mind. I guess it would be good after a three-hundred-year dry spell.
He felt the warrior’s throat—his own throat—tighten.
That is none of your business.
Um, you’ve made it my business.
It was weird to be having a silent argument with himself and feel his blood pressure climb.
He knew that the warrior was struggling to get control of his emotions. He was using some kind of yoga breathing or something, and Luke focused on the technique, which was quite effective.
When the warrior spoke again, his inner voice was calmer. Few women have . . . the capacity to let themselves fully enjoy the pleasures of the body.
Maybe where you come from. Here, women are as free as men to enjoy sex.
Women can never be as free. They must worry about getting pregnant.
We have ways to prevent it. She can take a pill tomorrow that will keep her safe from that.
But you have . . . diseases that people can catch by having sexual relations. Those diseases have always been with us.
I don’t have one, Luke snapped. And neither does she.
You love her, the warrior said suddenly.
Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know her that well.
You know her well enough to fall in love.
That’s . . . crazy.
Is it?
Luke considered the statement. Was that why it had been so hard for him to keep up the sham that he was just a computer repair guy? Was that why he was so . . . miserable about lying to her?
I won her for you, the warrior said smugly.
Yeah. I guess your caveman tactics worked.
Inside his head, the other man chuckled. Call it the direct approach.
Luke contained his annoyance, then asked. So where do the two of us go from here?
We return the box to its rightful owners.
Easier said than done.
We must do it.
Or die trying? Luke asked.
Yes.
And I get to die along with you?
We will not fail.
Luke sighed inwardly. He’d taken a covert assignment and gotten a lot more than he bargained for.
You would defend her with your life, would you not? The warrior asked.
Yes.
The box is more important than the woman.
That depends on your point of view.
The box is more important than any one person or any relationship. Zabastian said that with a finality that sent a shiver over Luke’s skin.
You believe me? the warrior asked.
I understand that’s what you believe.
It was still strange to be holding the internal conversation, but Luke was coming to terms with the spirit of the man who was sharing his body. And Zabastian was making accommodations, too.
I am enjoying your body, the warrior said. You keep your muscles and your heart in excellent working order. It is a good thing when a man honors his physical self.
I try to stay in shape. Luke heaved in a breath. You’ll eventually leave me, right?
One way or the other. Dead or alive.
Luke wanted to shout out a protest. He knew it wasn’t going to do him any good. More than that, he had taken too much of the warrior’s personality inside himself to object. Absorbed too many of his values.
And if he survived, he knew he would never be the same.
Will I remember you? Luke asked.
I do not know. I never stay around to find out.
The woman in his arms stirred. She would wake up soon. It was tempting to use the hypnotic technique again to give her more time to rest.
Or more time for you to hold her?
And you.
I do not mind admitting that I like this. But we must stick to business.
You call making love business?
The warrior growled something deep in his throat, and Olivia stirred.
oOo
Olivia didn’t know how long she had slept. But when her eyes opened again, Luke was holding her in his arms, his gaze focused on the skin that closed the door.
“You didn’t sleep?”
“It is better if I do not.”
“Is it dangerous here?”
He looked toward the curtain that shielded the door of the cave. “This place is well hidden. But this is also a dangerous time.”
She sat up, dragging the fur along with her so that her breasts were covered. “Dangerous how? Do we have men with guns chasing us down? Like the guys back in the twenty-first century.”
He climbed out of the bed and began picking up the clothing scattered around the floor. Apparently the items had followed them to the cave.
He was completely naked, and completely casual about walking around in front of her.
Accepting the opportunity he’d handed her, she took a good look at him. Luke Garner obviously took good care of his body.
But it was Zabastian who spoke to her. “Men in this time are armed with knives. With a knife, you have to get in closer to your enemy.”
She winced. “Back here—they were after the box?”
“Yes.”
He handed her the apparel she’d discarded so hastily, and she put on her bra and shirt without getting out of bed. Until that moment, she’d forgotten that the shirt buttons had scattered across the floor. Looking down to hide her flush, she pulled the front panels over the cups of her bra, then tied the tails of the shirt in a knot at her waist. That would have to do until she could borrow something from the people who lived . . . in the house where Luke had taken her.
Her chest tightened as she glanced around the cave.
“What?”
Obviously, the internal twinge had been accompanied by a look of alarm.
“Can we get back . . . where we belong?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I’ll lead you back.”
“And if you got killed—would I be stuck here?” she blurted, then immediately regretted the question.
He looked thoughtful. “I do not know.”
“Maybe we’d better leave.” She grabbed her pants and stood up, turning her back as she pulled them on.
“You have a nice ass,” he murmured.
“Thanks!”
“But then, I knew that from stroking you.”
She pulled on her pants and worked the zipper before turning to face him.
He pulled on the jeans he’d worn to work, not bothering with the shirt he’d torn.
oOo
As Olivia watched him, she couldn’t stop herself from saying, “You certainly know how to be subtle.”
“I do not have time for subtle.”
The clipped words made her focus on something that had been circling around in her mind. Something she wanted to know. Or did she?
She swallowed, then asked, “How did Luke end up at my office?”
He kept his gaze steady. “He came to fix the computer.”
“Yes, but before that—when I held the box, I had an odd feeling—like it was connecting with my
mind.” She kept her gaze fixed on him. “Did you find out about Luke from me? Did you arrange for the computer to break so he’d show up?”
“You think I could do that?”
She raised her chin. “When you were in the box, you’d have to have a way to know what was going on in the outside world. I think you were using me.”
His face hardened. “It’s not what you think.”
Recognizing Luke was speaking, she asked, “Then what?”
He swallowed hard. “I work for an outfit called Decorah Security. We knew the shipment was coming in—and we knew the box was dangerous. I was assigned to watch out for the shipment.”
She caught her breath. “So you were lying to me since we first met.”
“Decorah made an agreement to get me the job of fixing the Peterbalm computers.”
“And break them—so you could keep coming by?”
“Yes,” he clipped out.
She glared at him. “I see.”
“It was to protect you.”
“So you say.”
“What does that mean?”
“What do you know about the box?”
“My boss, Frank Decorah knows it has powers that must be protected.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
oOo
Interesting. I did not pick up on that before, Zabastian said inside Luke’s head. And you don’t know the source of his knowledge?
No.
He is dangerous.
No. He’s a good guy, Luke shot back.
So you think.
Olivia was speaking again. “Why should I trust you now?”
“Because we’re in a shitload of trouble. And we need Decorah Security to get us out of it.”
You will not contact them. I forbid it.”
We’ll see about that.”
Zabastian broke off the argument, as though his edict was final. Reaching down, he pulled on his shoes and tightened the laces.
When he straightened he addressed Olivia. “Come on. We can’t stay here.”
oOo
“Wait a minute.”
Olivia moved quickly across the cave.
Frigid air was seeping in around the edge of the curtain, and she felt goose bumps pepper her skin. Not just from the cold.
When she pulled the flap aside with her free hand, she gasped as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.