Everyone decided to turn in early since the morrow would be the big day we’d waited for. Today was supposed to have been that day considering we were scheduled to travel back in time after dinner, but due to the day’s events with Slade Vale and our change in plans with the family coming along, we’d come to the unanimous decision that tonight we’d all get a good night’s rest and wait until morning to make the journey.

Seeking a moment alone with my wife, I lingered with her, watching the others go. I wanted to show her a little of the castle that would soon be her home, considering that my Wedlove would be crowded with guests for the Autumn Festival, and I wouldn’t be able to show her around with any hope of privacy right away.

The hour passed, and we’d spent that time touring the ground floor, viewing maybe a quarter of it. But it grew late, and we made our way back up the great hall. Walking slowly, I watched Elz as she drank it all in. The castle smelled of cleanliness and beeswax, with every visible surface polished and reflecting the shadowing light spread throughout the space.

A look of wonder danced on her face, and she said, “It’s all so exquisite. There isn’t a thing I’m not in awe of.” She looked at me. “Have you ever gone into a home and wondered who lived there in times past and what they might have been like? Or maybe you’ve smoothed your hand over an antique piece of furniture and wondered to whom it might have belonged and if that owner had felt emotionally attached to the piece?”

I smiled. “Yes, darling. Appreciating history as I do, I can say I’ve done both on occasion.”

We began to climb the wide steps of the main staircase, and Elz ran her hand along the smooth surface of the well-worn, perfectly polished, dark oak handrail. “I have, too. But what’s really freaking me out is that the answer in this case is you and I. And our son and grandchildren and so on, up until Jarrett.” She looked at me, laughing.

“That is freaky, Elz.” I shared in her laughter, using her lingo as I so often did.

We reached the second-floor landing, and I pulled her into an embrace while studying our surroundings. “Where all do you suppose we’ve made love in this large home, cara?”

She laughed. “Devon? Is that all you ever think about?”

I gave her an innocent smile. “Hey, you brought it up.”

“Me? And how did I do that?”

“With your question, of course,” I said, attempting to sound serious, then turned and pointed down the way to a long fainting couch along a walled section of the hallway. “Take that piece of furniture, for instance. You can rest assured it has some very fond memories affiliated with it as we speak, Elz. You see—I am going to feel emotionally attached to that piece. I know for a fact that once we go back to my time, I will have my way with you there some evening while everyone else is downstairs at dinner.”

Her mouth dropped as she stared at the piece. I was sure she was imagining the event described. “Devon, you wouldn’t! What would we do if someone discovered us?”

I ignored her question for the moment. “Which would mean, Elz, that even though we have no memory of it yet, it has still already taken place, since everything we will ever do in my time will be in the past according to this time. So, there you are, darling, you now know some of the history of this home and of that antique piece of furniture in particular. Should we check it for stains?”

“Ah! Devon!” She laughed and playfully nudged my arm.

“Now. As for your questions.” I raised a brow. “Don’t think for a moment I wouldn’t do it because I would. In fact, I can guarantee you that I did. And if we were discovered, which we may well have been, I assure you that I whipped my head out from beneath your skirts and asked the ill-fated discoverer for a little privacy.”

She raised her chin, fighting her laughter. “Fine. While we’re at it, I, too, have a confession. When you and I were touring the castle, you showed me the billiards room. There’s something you should know about the billiard table, amante. I am going to feel emotionally attached to that table because I know that we have already engaged in some real stick-and-ball action during some grand event with the ballroom packed full of guests right down the hallway.”

I kicked back in a roar of laughter as she struggled to keep her stern expression. I said, “My word, darling, how can I top that? Stick-and-ball action, indeed.”

She broke against the hilarity of it all, and we went on to our assigned suite, laughing the whole way.

 

 

After a healthy bout of lovemaking in the shower, Elz and I headed for the bed. She crawled over to sit on the other side as I slipped in next to her. She took a bottle of lotion from the bedside table and squirted some into her palm, gliding the dense liquid over her smoothly shaved legs. The scent lingered in the air around me, and I felt my cravings stir as I watched her hands glide along her supple skin.

She slowed her motion. “Devon?”

“Hmmm?” I was kissing her shoulder.

“Did you notice Jarrett at dinner?”

I knew where the conversation was going, so I stopped and slowly leaned back, resting my head on my arm. “You mean the way he carried on with Jaymi?”

“Yes. I’ve never seen him act so forward with her before. I mean, he always flirted and all, but he’s acting, well…rude, almost aggressive. I’m getting worried about both of them. Jaymi’s in love with him, you know.”

I drew a breath. “I suspected as much, but I wasn’t sure. Did she tell you that, or are you just assuming?”

She set the lotion back on the table and snuggled in beside me. I moved my arm from beneath my head and pull her near.

“She told me. But his treatment of her is really hurtful. Do you think he loves her, too? If he does, why is he treating her with such disrespect?”

“I know he loves her, darling, but he’s like I used to be—afraid of trusting someone with his heart. Jarrett doesn’t like not being in control of every aspect of his life. You’ve seen what a scheduled existence he lives. Well, that is his way of feeling in total control.”

“So, what is it then? Does he believe if he doesn’t admit he loves her, it won’t be true?”

“I know it sounds silly, but that’s exactly right. It’s like someone who refuses to go to the doctor when they know something is wrong. They think what they don’t know can’t hurt them.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and Elz snuggled closer to me. “Have you tried to talk to him about it?”

“Yes, I have.” I turned on my side to face her, aligning our bodies and draping a leg over her hip. “And he’s very stubborn.”

“Maybe you should talk to him again tomorrow morning before we cross time. He might lose her if he isn’t careful.”

“That’s a good idea. Consider it done.”

“I hope you can help him, Devon. I want them both to be happy.”

“As do I.” I kissed the top of her head. “But we should stop worrying about them and try to get some rest. Tomorrow is a very important day.”

She snuggled her cheek against my chest. “Tell me again what you have planned, Devon.”

“All right. My plan is to take us to 1829 not at the time I left in June, but at the Autumn Festival in October. I feel this is best for three reasons. First, it allows us to skip over the hotter summer months, which I think would be wise since you are all habituated to the luxury of air conditioning. I want your first memories of my world to be pleasant ones. Second, it would be more believable to my family and the rest of England to suppose I met you much earlier. Aware of how I’ve always been about love and marriage, they need to believe we had time to fall in love during my supposed stay in Paris before returning to Wedlove to be married. And third, at the Autumn Festival, which I assume you and your family will enjoy, I can introduce you to the whole of England right away.”

She yawned. “That sounds divine.”

“Good. Now, kiss me, darling, and bid me sweet dreams so tomorrow will come.”

Our lips met with a loud crack of thunder and the room flashing with eerie brightness. Elz jumped, and I tightened my hold. The strike had been right outside our window. She relaxed and spread warm kisses from my chest, to my neck, and then back to my mouth. “I love you, baby. Sweet dreams.”

“I’ll dream always and only of you, Elz. My love for you is ever growing.”

She smiled and snuggled back into my warmth.

The first drops of rain tapped in sporadic rhythm on the window, announcing their arrival, and we drifted off, sharing what would be our last night in the twenty-first century…for a while, anyway.

 

 

Morning broke, but the weather didn’t. Rain continued to pelt the large windows of beveled and stained glass at twenty-first century Wedlove.

“Today you’ll come away with me, cara.” My fingers tightened around my wife’s spread thighs, holding her steady. My eyes were riveted on Elz laid out on the bed beneath me as I rocked slowly against her, upright, with my knees sunk into the mattress. “You do realize the next time I sink into this soft flesh of yours will be two centuries ago?”

She heaved a breath, unable to respond, and squeezed the sheets, as she always did just before orgasm.

The excitement of it shot through me and I dropped her hips to the bed, leaning over her and driving in fast and hard. I felt her flesh tighten around mine and I thrust deep, sensations exploding within me as my seed fired into her. I shoved my hand between us to perform a motion that drove Elz crazy every time, and kept her body milking mine. I watched my wife turn her head into the pillow, my name tearing from her throat, which drove me crazy every time.

 

 

Everyone was preparing to go down to breakfast, including Jarrett, who I knew had already completed his rain-or-shine, five-mile run and would be showered and dressed.

I knocked at his door—a strange thing since it was also my door. I thought of how this set of rooms had originally been the master’s chambers and belonged to Sedwic and Adelynn Phoenix, the first duke and duchess of Wedlove. This was a piece of information I’d discovered after finding Sedwic’s diary in the hidden panel within the headboard of my bed. Faramond had relayed to me later that Sedwic and Adelynn had remodeled two adjoining suites in another wing, declaring the new set of rooms to be the master’s chambers. They’d moved there, leaving this set of rooms available to the heir for the sole purpose of ensuring I be the one to find the diary and use the wall of Solomon. I remembered the strong sensation that swept me upon opening the diary—I’d felt as though it had been meant that I be the one to find it. That seemed such a long time ago now. It was thrilling to think I’d be using the mirror to take Elz home with me this very day.

Jarrett didn’t answer the door, so I let myself in to find him coming from the bedchamber to join everyone downstairs.

Startled to see me, he slowed. “Hello, Devon. What are you doing? Coming to make sure I know my way to the dining room?”

Thinking of the last time I broached this subject with Jarrett, when we were in Florida, I let out an uneasy laugh. “No, no, nothing like that.” I paused, rubbing my hand over my chin. Lightning flashed, and a clap of thunder shook the water-soaked windowpanes.

“Good grief, Devon, what has you so bewildered?” There was humor in Jarrett’s voice. “It’s not like you to be at a loss for words. You’re not afraid of a little rain are you?”

My head popped up in exaggerated defense. “Of course not.” Remembering how I teased Elz last night, I decided to take the same approach and use Jarrett’s statement to mock him, in hopes that it would keep his mind-set open. “But I am at a loss for words, and it’s your fault.”

“My fault? You’re blaming your loss of words on me?” He laughed. “I’m not your schoolmaster. How is that my fault?”

Rain continued to form winding rivers down the medieval depictions in the stained glass windows behind Jarrett’s head.

“Because you don’t make me feel free to talk to you, and I don’t want you angry with me.”

“Oh, come on, Devon, you and I have talked of a great many things. How could you think that? Just say what’s on your mind. I’ll listen.”

“Well, all right, I will. I’ll just come right out with it.”

“As well you should.” His tone was mocking.

I frowned, but began slowly pacing, searching for the right words, wanting to truly get through to Jarrett.

With the long pause, Jarrett scowled. “Oh, for the love of God, would you just spit it out? We’ll be late for breakfast.”

Damn! I had hoped to get this right because I truly wanted to help Jarrett, but it seemed I was only irritating him by wasting time. Out with it!

I cleared my throat. “All right then, fine. I think there is something you should know that concerns the social behavior of the men and women of my time.” I began pacing once more as I continued. “Men are very…different than they are here in this century. In fact, if a man sees a woman he is highly attracted to, and he feels the two of them would make a good match, he might ask for her hand even before courting her, or as you say here, before dating her. This is due to the fact that those in our class rarely marry for love, and therefore, base the match on other appealing factors.”

Jarrett laughed. “Is this a father-son sort of talk? You’re worried I might ruin some young lady, and so you’re trying to tell me how to court the women of your time? Is that it?”

What? ... Of all the dense-headed…! I stopped pacing and fixed him with a frustrated glare. “No, Jarrett, I’m not trying to tell you how to court the women of my time. I’m trying to tell you how the men of my time are going to court Jaymi.”

If I had tossed gasoline on the fire of jealousy in Jarrett’s heart, it could’ve blazed no greater a flame than the inferno those words ignited in him. Through tightly clenched teeth, Jarrett said, “No one is going to court Jaymi.”

“They will, Jarrett. They will swarm a woman of her beauty if she is not spoken for. You’re in love with her—I know you are, so why don’t you lay claim to her before you lose her to some other man?”

His hands curled into fists at the maddening thought. “First of all, no other man better touch her. Second, I’ve been trying to lay claim to Jaymi, but she’ll have no part of me.”

Jarrett glanced at the door, and I knew it was to make certain it was fully closed—I was sure he recalled our last conversation concerning Jaymi, which she overheard. Seeing that it was secure, he looked back at me, his green eyes flashing.

“And third, I am not in love with her, Devon. As I told you before, there is a difference between being in love with a woman and wanting her in your bed. I want Jaymi in my bed. Nothing more.”

Jarrett’s attitude was really beginning to piss me off. I matched his angry tone. “I want Elz in my bed, too, Jarrett, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love her. In fact, that’s why I want her there so badly. And if you would only admit it, that’s why you want Jaymi in your bed as well.”

“You’re wrong, Devon. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I love Jaymi as a friend, but I’m not in love with her, dammit. I’ll marry Celeste.”

“Ohhh, please, Jarrett.” My eyes rolled. “Enough with the Celeste nonsense already. You’re not in love with the girl. You can’t marry her—you’re a Phoenix.”

“I most certainly am in love with her and I’ll marry anyone I choose.”

“In love with her, my arse. Get real, Jarrett. You don’t even plan to see her before we leave today. Your craving for Celeste Wyndham is about as intense as your craving to drink a full glass of pungent vinegar.”

Jarrett scowled—jaw clenching. “You have no idea what my cravings are.”

I threw my hands in the air. “All right, if you’re so in love with Celeste and so certain you’re not in love with Jaymi, prove it.” I pointed toward the doorway leading to the bedchamber where Solomon’s wall stood just within sight. “Call your true love to you through the glass.”

I saw terror in his eyes. It turned to fury. “I don’t have to prove a damn thing to you.”

“Not to me, Jarrett. To yourself.”

Jarrett turned and stormed toward the door that led to the hallway. “This conversation is finished. It’s a dead subject, do you hear? Don’t bring it up again.” As if in sync with Jarrett’s rage, a bolt of lightning flashed through the dim room just as the door slammed behind him.

Although there was no one there to hear me, I shoved my hand through my hair and growled over my defeat, “Grrr! Okay, have it your way, you stubborn mule. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Or had I just growled over Jarrett’s defeat? As much as I wanted to help him, I knew it was impossible—Jarrett didn’t want my help.

After a moment, I turned to look once more at the extraordinary Wall of Solomon just beyond the doors. I thought of the implausible abilities it wielded and forced my concerns about Jarrett and Jaymi to the back of my mind. I focused instead on the fact that today I would call upon those abilities of the glass and take Elz home with me, where we’d embark upon our future in the past.

Eager to do just that, I allowed a smile to chase away my frustration and I, too, headed down to breakfast.