Of Scars and Secrets (Time Walkers Tales Book 2)

14

Iwas curled up on the couch in the parlor with a book when the sound of his voice startled me. ”Hey.”

A whirlwind flooded my body as I looked up and laid eyes on him. He stood there, a perfect blend of rugged handsomeness and tiredness, emanating a magnetic energy. My heart raced, and I froze in place, unable to do anything more than stare stupefied at him. The warm glow of the fire highlighted the lines on his face and the weariness in his eyes, but it only made him more alluring in my eyes.

His dark hair brushed against his shoulders as he turned to face me. It was longer than I remembered, giving him a rough edge, and the intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine. Time stood still as we remained there, wordlessly taking each other in.

”Nicholas,” I breathed, my voice wavering.

”Sophia,” he whispered back. The spell was abruptly broken, and he closed the distance between us in the next instant. His strong arms enveloped me, drawing me close to his chest as if he feared I would vanish like a mirage. I wrapped my arms around him, clutching him, feeling the beat of his heart against mine.

My chest tightened as the reality of his presence sank into my bones. My heart thudded madly in my chest, and a heat warmed my fingertips.

”Gods, how I”ve missed you,” Nicholas murmured into my hair, his voice thick. ”Every second apart felt like an eternity.”

I nodded, unable to speak, afraid that words might break the fragile thread connecting us. Instead, I let myself be swallowed by the warmth of his embrace, savoring the feel of his body pressed against mine. It was as if our souls recognized each other, despite the chasm of time that separated us.

Just then, the door burst open and in strode Alec, a wide grin plastered on his face. At least, I suspected it was Alec. I was stunned, speechless. He was a man, full-grown, and a stunning one at that. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair loose and decidedly feral. In that instant, the tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a surge of excitement.

”Ah, Sophia!” Alec announced, his eyes twinkling with mischief. ”It’s good to see you! I have tales to share with you!”

We reluctantly pulled apart, and I couldn”t help but smile at the sight of Alec. Despite everything we had been through, his enthusiasm was infectious. I laughed when Alec pulled me from Nicholas and twirled me around in a bear hug, grinning from ear to ear.

“Alec, it can wait—” Nicholas said.

”Please, do share,” I urged, my curiosity piqued. Nicholas raised a brow, and I gave him a gentle smile in return to show him it was all right, I was ready to hear what Alec needed to share.

Alec plopped heavily down on the couch as if he had never left the place. He launched into a vivid recounting of his exploits with the Vikings, painting a picture of fierce battles and daring feats that left us hanging on his every word. He described the camaraderie he”d found among the warriors, the adrenaline that coursed through him during each skirmish, and the respect he”d earned from his comrades.

As Alec spoke, I couldn”t help but steal a glance at Nicholas. The pride in his eyes was palpable, almost tangible. It was clear that their bond ran deep. With every word Alec uttered, he stood taller, exuding confidence and maturity - a man in his own right. And as an observer of this moment, I felt privileged to be allowed into their world, even for just a fleeting moment. In that instant, the weight of their connection and my place within it washed over me like a warm embrace.

”…and then, can you believe it? The Yarl himself offered me his daughter”s hand in marriage! Of course, I did not marry her. I have no need of a wife,” Alec concluded, guffawing at the memory.

Nicholas chuckled, shaking his head in agreement. ”Only you, brother, could find yourself in such a predicament.”

”Indeed!” Alec agreed, his laughter ringing out like music. ”But I supposed I’ve talked enough. I am glad to see you again, Sophia. Were we gone very long? Did you even miss us?”

I mustered a smile, hoping it would satisfy Alec’s enthusiasm.

“It was only a few months for me. How long was it for you?” I asked.

Nicholas seemed to balk at that. His eyes were guarded when he shifted his gaze, a long moment before he returned his eyes to mine. I saw the aching there, and I felt a pang deep in my chest.

“It was fifteen years,” Nicholas said quietly.

His words echoed in my heart, reminding me of the precious time we had together. I clenched his hand in mine. And as Alec”s tales filled the room, weaving through the fabric of our shared history, I could barely wait to get Nicholas alone.

The air in the room was thick with joy and merriment as other members of the household joined us, as if laughter itself had taken on a physical form. Connor and Julius were stationed by the bar, their glasses clinking together in a toast to camaraderie. Alec”s voice rose above the din, his captivating storytelling holding everyone”s attention. Ronan, usually the life of the party, sat quietly in an armchair, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere. Despite sitting beside Nicholas, feeling the warmth of his body next to mine, I could not shake off my restlessness. No amount of conversation could distract me from it. The pent-up energy of months apart was rearing its ugly head, and I could barely contain it.

My eyes met Nicholas”s for a brief moment, knowing my thoughts were evident in the intensity of my gaze. I excused myself from the conversation, feigning a need to retrieve something from the study. Alec had been entertaining everyone with tales of his exploits for over an hour, and I was ashamed to admit I was growing weary. I was tense as a bow, strung tightly, and I needed release. As I turned to leave, my heart strummed madly inside my chest, knowing he would follow.

”Continue, Alec,” Nicholas encouraged, nodding to his brother. ”I will be back.” With that, he slipped away from the others and followed me into the quiet sanctuary of the study.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Nicholas locked it, and we were finally alone. The soft glow of candlelight flickered across the walls, casting dancing shadows. His piercing gaze met mine, a deep pool of desire that seemed to hold all the secrets of eternity within them.

He moved closer, his breath fanning across my face, tasting sweetly of whiskey when his mouth crashed down on mine. My body responded instinctively as his hands roamed over my curves, fingers trailing along the hem of my dress. I bowed upward, eager to meld into him, needing him everywhere, on every part of me.

”God how I’ve missed you,” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave lower, the raw carnality sending shivers over my skin. His deft fingers found their way underneath my dress, caressing the sensitive flesh on the inside of my thigh. To my utter dismay, he took his sweet time, drawing out each sensation to point where it was unbearable, my body arching towards him for more.

”Nicholas,” I gasped out. He hoisted me up onto the mahogany table without breaking our frenzied kiss. The cool surface pressed against the back of my bare thighs, a delicious contrast to his burning touch.

His lips trailed a path from my mouth down to my neck, sending shivers through every nerve in my body. His hot tongue probed at the sensitive spots behind my ear while his fingers skillfully unbuttoned his pants before freeing himself.

”I can’t wait,” he grunted out in a low growl that sent a ripple of anticipation straight to my belly.

”Don’t,” I responded breathlessly.

The sharp sting of our union made me suck in a gasp before it dissolved into waves of pleasure. Each time he moved, I lost my breath. He was relentless, the table creaking under our combined weight with each powerful thrust. He grunted out my name as moved, his hands gripping me without mercy.

”Don’t stop,” I begged, my nails digging into his flesh. I was raw, weak. I wanted every bit of him, every moment, every touch.

Afterward he pulled me against his chest, pressing soft kisses against my forehead as we slowly came back down from our high. ”I missed you,” he murmured against my hair, his voice throaty.

“I missed you too,” I admitted. I closed my eyes as he kissed me, his mouth seeming to need the connection of our flesh. It was all I needed for all of those long months. “Was it—was it really fifteen years for you?”

My heart ached knowing it had been so long for him, yet I refused to let my mind linger on what he may have done during that time apart. In this quiet and intimate corner of existence, it felt as though nothing could ever tear us apart again, and it was that notion that I chose to embrace.

He dipped his head, and I was not comforted when he finally raised his eyes to mine. “Yes,” he said quietly. “It’s true. You can see Alec’s grown.”

“And you?” I asked, hating myself for even saying the words, yet I was too full of emotion, too full of fire, and the words spilled out, nonetheless. “What happened to you—you were alone all that time?”

He kissed me hard then, grabbing my head in his hands. His lips were punishing, nearly bringing tears to my eyes, and since I was near bursting, I let the tears flow.

“Every night I dreamed of you,” he growled. “And there was no other for me, not in fifteen years. Not in an eternity. There will never be another for me. God damn you, look at me!”

I was shaking, but I raised my eyes to his. I let out a low sob, and he pulled me close, burying my head in his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry. I missed you so much,” I said.

“And I missed you. Every moment,” he replied.

He released me, and I slowly slid off the table. My dress fell back into place, and he fastened his pants. His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before we unlocked the door and stepped back into the world.

With a soft, barely audible click, the heavy wooden door opened, and we stepped out of the study, our faces carefully composed and serene. The intensity of our reunion still burned within me, yet I hid beneath a mask of normalcy as we rejoined the others.

”Ah, there you are,” Bash greeted us with a raised eyebrow, his gaze lingering on our linked arms. ”We were beginning to think got lost in the library.”

”Or perhaps Nicholas was showing Sophia his vast collection,” Genevieve chimed in playfully, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

”Indeed,” I replied smoothly, playing along with their banter. ”It”s quite a labyrinth in there. Thankfully, we had an excellent guide.” I squeezed Nicholas” arm, eliciting a wide grin from him.

”Perhaps next time, I will provide a map,” he quipped with a chuckle, eliciting laughter from our friends. The room thrummed with warmth, the banter of laughter infectious and welcome. Nicholas was in my arms again. He was home.

Meanwhile, Alec continued regaling the group with his tales of adventure among the Vikings, his enthusiasm irresistible. Chaos filled the room as he recounted how he”d accidentally set fire to a longship during a particularly chaotic battle, only for it to become a makeshift weapon against their enemies.

Connor gazed thoughtfully into the flames of the fireplace, joining Nicholas and myself in quiet contemplation. ”Remarkable,” Connor finally mused. ”It seems Alec has truly matured during his time away.”

”He’s done well,” Nicholas agreed, a proud smile gracing his features. ”He”s become like any red-blooded young Viking – full of spirit and ready for anything. He made quite a reputation for himself in the past.”

”Has his mind healed as well?” Connor asked, concern etched on his face.

”From what I”ve seen, yes,” Nicholas assured him, his voice filled with conviction. ”He is whole, hearty, and healthy. I have no doubt that he’ll adapt and make a good life for himself here, with us.”

As Alec”s animated storytelling continued, I couldn”t help but wonder exactly how he would adjust to the present day, after growing to manhood in a Viking village. But looking around at the family who surrounded us now, I felt hopeful for his future.

”Nicholas,” I whispered, leaning in close to him and brushing my hand against his arm, ”do you really think he’ll be okay?”

He looked down at me, his eyes soft. ”Yes,” he replied quietly. ”I truly believe he will.”

I let out a small sigh and leaned my head against his shoulder as we listened to Alec regale the group with yet another thrilling tale. In this moment, surrounded by the crackling fire and the presence of loved ones, it felt like everything could be perfect – or as close to perfect as our lives would allow.

As the evening drew on, I stole glances at Nicholas whenever I could. His piercing eyes seemed to draw me in, like a moth to a flame. Every time our gazes met, my heart skipped a beat and my cheeks flushed with warmth.

”Are you all right, Sophia?” Ronan”s concerned voice broke through my thoughts, his kind eyes never leaving my face.

”I”m fine,” I replied with a small smile, trying to hide my infatuation with Nicholas. It was inevitable that Ronan would get a read on me, as he always did. ”I”m just happy to have him home after so long.”

”Your eyes say otherwise, my dear,” he said knowingly. ”They seem...troubled?”

I hesitated before nodding. There was no lying to him. ”Aren’t you? The Keepers may have backed off, but that was before Nicholas returned.”

”If we abide by the laws, they have no cause to interfere,” Ronan reminded me with a reassuring smile. ”No one will ever know who Alec is except for us. I know it was difficult for you, but Nicholas did the right thing.”

I felt a surge of gratitude towards Ronan. I desperately needed his insight at that moment. Nicholas moved across the room to join us again, a question in his gaze.

”Ah, Nicholas,” Julius approached us. “You’re back.”

I contained my smile at Julius. If there was one thing we could all count on, that was the indifference Julius displayed in regards to most matters.

“Couldn’t just welcome him home, could you?” Ronan commented, taking a sip of his drink. Julius leveled a glare at the other immortal.

“Did you expect fireworks and balloons?” Julius shot back. He returned his attention to Nicholas, who regarded Julius with a smile. “Well, welcome home and all that frivolity, Nicholas. It must have been quite difficult for you spending so much time away.”

”It was,” Nicholas agreed, his smile fading somewhat and his fingers gently intertwining with mine. ”But knowing that it was only a few months for Sophia made it bearable.”

”Still, of course we’re glad to have you back home,” Julius softened his demeanor, nodding in understanding. ”For all of us.”

”Thank you, Julius,” Nicholas replied. ”It”s good to be back.”

Later, when finally, things winded down, we went to our room. The door clicked softly shut, a sound that seemed to reverberate in the charged silence. The curtains fluttered slightly in the gentle breeze, casting dancing shadows across the floor. As I turned to face Nicholas, his eyes bore into mine, reflecting the same intensity of emotion that surged through my veins. His gaze held me captive as I slowly closed the distance between us, drawn to him.

”Nicholas,” I breathed, my voice barely audible as I stood before him.

He breathed out, his warm breath caressing my ear and sending shivers down my spine. I did not object when he pulled me gently into the bed, keeping me captive against him. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer as if he never wanted to let me go.

”My love,” he murmured, his voice soft.

I whispered back, ”Let”s just stay like this forever.”

”Forever,” he echoed, his lips brushing against the strands of my hair. ”As long as I have you here, like this, nothing else matters.”

My heart thudded as I lay in the warm cocoon of Nicholas”s embrace, his strong arms wrapped protectively around me. I closed my eyes, trying to quiet the tumultuous thoughts that filled my mind. Despite the joy of our reunion, a lingering unease remained, gnawing at the edges of my consciousness like a persistent itch.

”Go to sleep,” Nicholas said, his voice a smooth velvet. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I shook my head, my chest tightening with anxiety. ”I”m afraid,” I admitted. ”If I close my eyes and fall asleep, I”ll wake up alone again, as if you were just a dream.”

He tightened his embrace even further, pressing a reassuring kiss to my forehead. ”I promise you, Sophia, I will never leave you again. Stop worrying. Everything’s going to be fine.”

”All right, if you insist,” I murmured, feeling a small measure of relief wash over me. But even as his words steadied me, I couldn”t ignore the nagging fear that still clawed at my heart like a vicious predator.

”I love you,” Nicholas whispered, his breath feather-light against my ear.

“I love you too,” I replied.

With a final, shuddering sigh, I surrendered to the comforting darkness of slumber, allowing it to claim me as I clung to the promise of our future like a lifeline in a stormy sea.