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The streets were empty and candles were visible at the windows. Sunny ignored the tug of emotion when she saw the candlelight within the cottages, wishing that security were theirs, too. Like a mantra, she kept repeating her wish, to get them back to her time. She couldn’t face thinking about what would happen to her if it didn’t work. Cullen would be safe though and that thought made her stronger, because his life had now become as important as her own.
The storm had driven the people inside their homes, which meant they could pass by without confrontation. The market square was deserted. The only signs of the earlier crowds were the remnants of t
he traders. Discarded vegetables and chicken feathers littered the cobbles.
By the time they made it north of the hamlet, there was barely light enough to see the meadow, but she knew the direction well enough. Fox crossed her thoughts more than once as they raced to their destination, his presence lingering in the atmosphere around them.
When it happened, she battled a rising sense of panic.
When they reached the cottage, Cullen tugged gently on her hand. “Wait, the serving woman will leave shortly.”
They stayed under cover of the foliage.
“It’s my home, yet it looks different. It feels very strange.”
Cullen gave her a reassuring squeeze. “I hope I get to see it in your time too.”
“So do I,” she whispered.
A lantern appeared at the window closest to the door.
Sunny watched, enthralled, when the serving girl came out of the house, after her duties for the day were done, locking the door behind her.
She stared at the basket the girl had hanging over one arm, the embroidered shawl she wore over her shoulders and her strange, old-fashioned dress, austere and black. Seeing the girl come out of her home felt so odd and yet strangely emotional. Sunny had been given a magical glimpse into the history of the cottage, a glimpse she would always cherish.
“She’s locked the door. How will we get in?”
“Nathaniel keeps a key hidden under a rock.”
“Ah.” Was luck truly on their side, or was this part of some nefarious plan by Nathaniel Fox? She could only hope it was the former. A few minutes later, when they were sure the house was silent and empty, they made their way inside and back to the room where they’d met.
Once there, she turned to Cullen and allowed her gaze to absorb his handsome face, barely visible in the gloom. “Are you ready to try, to see if we can make our wishes collide again, here in this magical place?”
“Never more ready for anything.” He rested a kiss on her forehead.
“I don’t even know if this will work, but I have to say this, in case it does...this might be your last chance to back out. I feel you have to be really willing, and believe in the possibility we can travel through time, and not just thinking you’re humoring some half-wit and you’ll be back at the shore ready to jump on another ship in the morning.”
He laughed.
“Cullen. This is serious.”
“Yes, yes. I cannot help being happy at the prospect of being by your side a bit longer. I have everything to gain.” He took her in his arms and held her.
She couldn’t help smiling. “Just be sure you’re ready to try. Anything could happen. I suppose it might not work, but if it does, it’ll be a strange adventure, like this has been for me.”
He ran his hand down the length of her hair and then rested his fingers against her cheek, cupping her face. “I’m sure.”
His mouth touched hers, opening her lips with tender inquisitiveness, tasting her as he went, lifting her head with gentle nudges until she looked up at him. She trembled when he ran his hands over her and desire coursed through her body.
They lay on the bed in the growing darkness, holding each other and considering their fate. She prayed to deities she’d never previously thought worth praying to. Hypocrite, she told herself. But nothing was the same now, not beliefs or dreams, because something incredible had happened to her. Cullen wrapped her in his arms, and his hands were strong and possessive against her back.
“You said you wished for a wench, yes?”
He nodded.
“And I wished for the man I dreamt about every night to be real, to be there in my bed with me.”
He groaned and his hands squeezed her bottom so that she rested up close against his growing erection.
