Chapter 11
Zane is staying.
When he returned to ask Eleanor for the owner’s name, she informed him that the Briggs house had been in a trust held by her family for over three hundred years, just waiting for the right descendant of Caleb to come back to town.
Zane is in the process of renovating the house, doing all the things he mentioned in those videos.
Eleanor also revealed that the Reading Room recognized him, knowing that because he was connected to me, the room allowed him access. The room had known before either of us that we were meant to be.
Abby had her twins, a boy and a girl, named Caleb and Ruth to honor their past, and is moving here when the babies are a little older. In the meantime, Zane is staying at the Tidal Inn. But he spends most nights at my house.
It is too fast.
And yet, it feels impossibly right.
Present Day
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, bathing the room in a magical light.
Mercy woke with Zane’s heavy arm curved around her waist possessively. Pleasure and warmth filled her. Sparkles shimmered around her head.
Zane’s breath puffed across her shoulder as he nuzzled the curve of her neck.
His erection brushed her butt, growing with each breath.
His hand began a quest to search out her erogenous zones, lingering touches as his fingertips plucked her nipples, then slid down her belly, circling her belly button before sliding his fingers into the curls.
Lightly, erotically, he strummed her clit, and she strained against the arm keeping her in place.
They played a mini tug of war. His arms were gentle shackles, holding her in an erotic restraint.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.
“Pleasuring you.” His morning voice was still rough with sleep but based on the very thick cock rubbing against her, he was very much awake. “Mapping out your body.”
Her heart stopped. He was touching her like he touched buildings, but with ever more reverence. The way she’d envied the bricks and wood of the house, he’d transferred that devotion to her body.
Her pothos plant on the windowsill began to unfurl its leaves.
“Let me turn and touch you, too.”
He loosened his hold, and she turned over.
He laughed when he saw the plant. “I’m going to have to make love to you in the garden of the house after I plant. It will be magnificent in no time.”
She flushed, staring up into his warm hazel gaze. Make love. His eyes held no recrimination, no scorn, only adoration. A soft smile quirked his crooked lips as he bent to kiss her.
Low in her belly, desire uncurled like the leaves of her pothos. A gust of wind lifted the curtains bringing the scent of lavender and rosemary.
“Going to have to get rid of all the candles.” Zane pressed open mouthed kisses along her collarbones as she threaded her fingers through his thick hair, holding his head to her chest. “Apparently, I set you on fire.”
“That you do.” She breathed in his scent, filling her lungs with his essence. Mercy let her legs fall open, silently urging him between them. He travelled his way down her body, kissing her ribs, her belly button, the indentation above her pubic bone. She wanted him where she could reach.
“What happens if I do this?” He sucked her clit into his mouth. Another gust of wind blew in, brushing over their bodies, and the wind chimes on her patio jingled. He chuckled.
“Let me touch you.”
“You’ll get a turn.” He lapped at her sex, tonguing her with gusto. But he was smiling the entire time, and her heart expanded.
She hadn’t known that she could laugh so much with a lover.
She wrapped her legs around his torso and when he moved, she squeezed and rolled so she was on top.
Mercy smoothed her palms over his sleek muscles, marvelling as his body hardened beneath the simple caress. “I love that this turns you on.” His cock pointed toward her like an arrow true. His desire scented the air.
“You, naked, turns me on.” He cupped her breasts and curled upright so he could suck a nipple into his mouth.
Mercy threw her head back, hands on his shoulders, and lifted on her knees. She teased him with the kiss of her nether lips, letting the head of his cock notch and slide against her entrance. But when she tried to seat his cock inside, he held her aloft.
“Come inside,” she whispered.
“Have to take my advantages where I can.”
“Zane,” she moaned.
He slid inside her. And it was as if she came home all over again. He fit her perfectly. Mercy began to rock against him. “Ride me.”
Zane grew impossibly harder inside her. His fingers gripped her hips, hanging on tightly, so he could catch her if she flew away. Mercy’s head went light, her orgasm gathering to blow the top of her head off.
Zane strained.
“You can let go.” She panted.
He rocked his hips up. “Not until you get there.”
The slow lazy seduction vanished. They pounded against each other. Every thrust of his hips took her higher, her orgasm slammed into her, and she flew over the edge of the cliff. Colored spots danced in her vision.
Zane groaned. Her body milked his cock, wringing every last drop from him.
Mercy collapsed on top of him, her heart pounding in unison with his. The thud of his heart banged against her chest.
Their bodies slick with sweat, they lay heaving, breath ragged, tangled together.
Mercy’s heart rate slowed as an incredible peace and contentment filled her heart.
“Meow.” Heka jumped up on the bed.
Mercy laughed and dropped her head to Zane’s shoulder. “At least he waited until we were done this time.”
He cupped her head in his hands, staring into her eyes. “Who said I’m done?”
She smiled. “Whatever you say, Mr. Bridges.”
“You ever consider that we were supposed to write this timeline? To correct the wrong that happened 333 years ago?” Zane wrapped his arms around her and tugged her down to lie on top of him.
She hadn’t ever looked at it that way. She tucked her head into the curve of his neck. “I like that idea,” she said softly.
“Me, too.” Zane ran his fingers through her hair.
“We’ve got a lot of time to make up for.” She thought about Mercy’s diary finding her now. “She was right.”
“Mercy?”
“She knew they would get their reckoning, and we would always find our way back to each other.”
Zane didn’t speak, just held them together tightly.
“We’re two halves of one soul.” Mercy held him back. “Just like she said. Always.”