Evolving Man, page 7
Gareth tried to picture her drawing water from the village well, feeding pigs, sweeping out the hearth or tanning hides with the other women. None of these pictures would come into focus. A shadow of doubt about his plan crept into his mind. Women were often taken as spoils of war and eventually settled into village life, but somehow he knew Chrissy was too different. Taking her home with him would be like forcing a dove to live among starlings.
“There’s a café across from the park just up ahead,” she panted as she ran. “We can stop there for brunch.” She slowed from a jog to a trot to a walk.
Gareth kept pace with her.
She put two fingers on her pulse then looked at a gadget on her wrist. When she wiped her forearm across her sweaty forehead, the scent of her body wafted to Gareth, making him hard.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the smooth black path into the trees. “Come.”
“What? I—”
He cut off her words with a kiss, lifting her and pressing her back against a wide, gray tree trunk. His tongue plunged into her mouth, finding hers and stroking it. His hands cupped her bottom and pulled her tight against him.
Chrissy made a small, soft sound and her arms went around his neck, holding on tight.
Gareth moved his mouth from her lips to her throat, licking up and down the long, white column, tasting delicious salt. He squeezed the soft mound of her breast through the gray fabric of her top.
Arching into his hand, she quivered as his tongue licked the hollow of her throat. “Oh, no. Not here,” she murmured.
He moved his head down until his mouth enveloped her tit, wetting the material and making her nipple bead sharply. He sucked hard, pulling the bud into his mouth and rolling his tongue over it.
She gasped. Her hands plunged into his hair and held his head.
He didn’t know if she was trying to force him away or pull him closer.
“Stop,” she begged weakly.
He raised his head to kiss her mouth again and pressed his erection into her crotch, rubbing against her.
They kissed desperately, feverishly for several more minutes under the sheltering tree, then Chrissy pulled away with a gasp and pushed hard on his chest. “Enough! Seriously. Let’s go get breakfast.”
Gareth chuckled and put her down, setting her gently back on her feet, then followed her back to the jogging path.
The place Chrissy took him was clean and brightly lit. There were only a few customers sitting at small tables. It was nothing like the dark, crowded alehouse at home. As Chrissy ordered food, he looked around for the source of the soft music playing in the room, but could find no musicians.
She led him outdoors to a table where they ate the foods she’d chosen for them. Gareth found the eggs delicious. They were spiced with herbs he didn’t recognize and sprinkled with some kind of cheese. The toasted bread was delicate and crisp, nothing like the hearty brown loaves he was used to. He tasted the bright yellow juice Chrissy recommended and found it both tart and sweet at the same time. It was like sunshine in his mouth.
He finished all of his food quickly and she ordered more for him. Gareth continued to eat long after Chrissy had finished and sat sipping her cup of the bitter beverage called “cawfee”.
“So, Gareth, tell me about yourself. What is your village called? How many people live there? What do you do for a living?”
“My town is Cuildwen. Between the village and surrounding farms there are…” He calculated. “Over two hundred people. I own a forge.”
“So you’re a blacksmith and a warrior.”
Gareth bit into a piece of crisp bacon. “The people in my village are mostly farmers and craftsmen. When we’re attacked, someone must defend. I’ve had experience in warfare and so I lead.”
“What about your family, parents, siblings? Do you have a…wife or girlfriend?”
A slow smile crept across his face and he answered her last question first. “No. I have no woman in my life.”
Chrissy’s gaze dropped from his and a pretty pink flush colored her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “Tell me about your family.”
“My mother died giving birth to my youngest brother. Father drowned while fishing. There were ten of us children. Some are grown and married with families of their own. Two of my brothers died as infants, and Alian, Morgrav and Cyrrga died last year from an illness that swept the village. The younger children are being raised by my aunts and older sisters.”
“I’m sorry.” Chrissy’s voice was soft. “It must have been very hard to lose so much of your family like that.”
Gareth grunted. There was nothing he could say about the bleak years when one after another of his family members had slipped away. “I didn’t want to stay in the village and live the same life my parents had, so I left the village and traveled, for a while. I learned to fight as a mercenary, helping whoever paid me, and when I returned home after a number of years, it fell to me to organize the men to stand against the invaders from the north.”
“There were no government forces to fight off the invaders?”
He shook his head, looking surprised at the idea.
“So, every village for itself.”
“Yes.” Gareth frowned. “Who protects your lands?”
“National armed forces. They’re paid soldiers serving the entire country.”
“Mercenaries,” he clarified.
“I guess, but not exactly like that, either. A lot has changed in the world since your time.”
“Tell me.” Gareth put his fork down, laced his hands together and leaned forward eager to learn.
Chrissy inhaled. “I hardly know where to begin there’s so much to cover. Here’s the short version. People discovered new lands, new technology and invented things to make life easier, but humans still make stupid mistakes, fall in love, have families, fight each other, live and die just like always. There are still wars over land and religion.” She gestured at the tall buildings rising around them. “Despite appearances, it’s the same old world.”
He nodded. It was kind of comforting to hear. “What about your family? Is it large?”
“No. Just my parents and me, plus a few aunts, uncles and cousins. Being an only child made me kind of the total focus of their attention, especially my mom. I think she felt since she only had one canvas to work on, she’d better make the painting perfect.”
He shook his head, understanding the words but not her meaning.
“Hypercritical. I can never please her no matter what I do. Took me a long time to realize it, but I finally did and now I don’t try.” She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “We have a truce, but not the warmest relationship.”
Gareth didn’t know what to say. He’d never heard anyone talk about their feelings about their parents. A family was part of who you were and there was nothing more to say about it. Uncomfortable at her openness, he changed the subject. “You are an unmarried woman, yet you don’t live with your parents. Are you and your friends widows?”
Her laughter was genuine this time. “No. Many single women live on their own nowadays. It’s not necessary to have a man to, uh, take care of us anymore. We hold jobs of our own, earn our own money, make our own way in the world.”
“That is good.”
“Huh. I thought you’d think a woman’s place was in the home. Maybe you’re not such a barbarian after all.”
He could tell from her tone she was teasing, but he didn’t quite understand the joke. “I have seen old women forced to live on the charity of others when they outlived their spouses and even their sons. I always thought they should be able to earn enough from weaving or washing or baking to keep them comfortably.” Gareth looked deeply into her eyes and, although he smiled, he was serious as he said, “Perhaps you will come back with me and show the women in my village a new way to do things.”
Chrissy shook her head. “No, Gareth. You must know it’s not possible for me to go home with you. I couldn’t live that way, not knowing everything I know. It would be too hard. I don’t have any of the necessary skills to survive in your world.”
He frowned. “But you would want to be with me if you could?”
“Well,” she hesitated and the flush crept into her cheeks again. “We only spent one night together. That hardly makes a relationship. I don’t even know you.”
His heart ached as if someone had kicked him in the chest. He stared down at his syrup-smeared plate for a moment then looked back up at her. “But, Chrissy, I know you. I know we’re meant to be together.”
“We… We had a fantastic time together last night,” she stammered. “Of course I’m in lust with you, but love… That’s another thing altogether. I just couldn’t say that so soon.”
Gareth felt the food he’d eaten settle in his stomach like lead. His feeling for this woman was so strong, he’d been certain she felt it, too. He shrugged. “Never mind. We will not speak of it. Let’s go now. I wish to see your city and some of the other things man has made.” He pointed at a skyscraper in the distance. “There must be many stairs to get to the top of that building. I would like to climb them and see the view.” He glanced at Chrissy and she looked relieved he’d dropped the subject.
“All right.” She smiled. “I’m gonna show you some amazing things today.”
Lila woke with a snort. Her eyes flew open and her mouth snapped shut. Her tongue was fuzzy from sleeping with her mouth wide open. From the sun pouring through the window, she guessed it was noon or later. She licked her dry lips then remembered her guest and rolled to her side to see if Zach was awake.
He lay sprawled on the makeshift pallet, but the cushions and covers had been knocked all over the place and he was half-on, half-off them. He slept on his back with one arm flung above his head, T-shirt riding up almost to his chest.
Lila got another good and uninterrupted view of his torso. It was damn fine.
The trail of light brown hair that led from his navel to the waistband of his jeans begged to be traced. Lila’s fingers itched to do it then to keep right on going, unsnapping and unzipping his fly to find out if Zach had on the tighty-whiteys she imagined he wore.
She dragged her gaze away from the bulge in his crotch and up to his sleeping face.
Lush eyelashes swept across his pale cheeks. His straight nose jutted over a sweet, soft mouth, relaxed in repose.
Lila longed to kiss him awake and see the surprise register in his eyes when he opened them to find her hovering over him. She craved to plunge her hands into his silky, white-boy hair, to feel the sandy blond locks slip between her fingers. Her pussy grew wet from just thinking about it.
She sat up, shrugging the naughty thoughts from her mind and slipped out of bed. Stepping over Zach’s prone body, she padded downstairs to the bathroom.
She was a little alarmed to find the rest of the house empty. Lila knew Taylor was at work, but had no idea where Chrissy had taken Gareth. Stupid girl hadn’t even left a note. She started back upstairs to see if Zach was awake, only to find him descending to the first floor.
“Hey.” He raised a hand in a morning welcome. “Slept like a baby last night.”
“Me, too. I didn’t think I’d be able to with everything going on.” She gestured at the empty living room. “Unfortunately, Chrissy’s taken off with our time traveler and you and I can’t do any more work until the parts arrive, so I don’t know exactly what to do.”
Zach came down the last few steps. “We could eat brunch and take a walk to clear our heads. It’s a beautiful, sunny afternoon.”
Lila glanced at the bright sunshine pouring through the living room window. A walk in the park sounded wonderful. “Someone has to be here to sign for the package. We can’t really leave.”
“We’ll track it online. Might not have even left the warehouse yet. We’ll keep our walk short.” Zach’s eyes were guileless and pleading.
Lila was beginning to wonder if his geek image was an act and he wasn’t a bit of a player underneath. He sure knew how to charm her into agreement. “All right. A short walk. You check the shipping. I’ll make something to eat.”
Zach bounded back upstairs like a Great Dane.
Lila smiled as she noticed he was wearing one black sock and one brown. The nerd thing was definitely for real.
A short meal and long discussion of fractals later, Lila and Zach left the house to walk in the nearby park.
“How’s your dissertation coming along?” Lila looked up at the leaf-laced branches overhead and tried to ignore her crazy impulse to hold Zach’s hand as they strolled.
“Don’t remind me. I’m stalled. My workload is crazy this year. I’m teaching two of Professor Donnelly’s classes and substituting for him in his other classes every time he’s drunk, which is about every other day.”
“Professors.” Lila shook her head, smiling. “How I miss the academic life. Wish I could get a grant for my work and chuck the lab job.”
“I can’t wait to be finished with school, get into a research lab and start putting theory into practice like you have. The work you’ve done is…amazing.”
“And dangerous.” She stopped to look at a couple of kids feeding the ducks at the edge of the pond. “I was so set on using this technology to improve the world, I closed my eyes to the possible negatives. Besides the issue of interfering with time, there’s also the possibility the government could find some way to misuse it.”
Zach led the way to a bench facing the pond and they sat. “I thought of that, too, but didn’t want to say anything. Maybe I’m paranoid from watching too many movies where the military fucks things up, but you’ve got to be careful who you share your discovery with.”
“I know.” Lila squinted against the sun glinting off the water. “I should probably destroy it after I send Gareth back.” Her heart clenched as she thought of the countless wasted hours she’d devoted to her dream. “But, God, it hurts to let it go.” Tears prickled her eyes and she was embarrassed to feel her lip trembling. The weight of Zach’s arm slipped around her shoulders, warm and heavy, making her feel strangely secure.
“Don’t do anything right away. Think about it for a while.” He held her tight against his side, his body angled toward hers.
Lila looked up into Zach’s eyes. She could see he wanted to kiss her.
He inclined his head, his left hand reaching up to cup the side of her face.
Lila leaned toward him, drawn as if by an invisible magnet. Then she suddenly realized what she was doing, pulled back and turned away.
Zach dropped his hand from her cheek and removed his arm from her shoulders. “Why not?” he said simply.
“I’m sorry. We’re friends, but I’m not interested in you like that. You’re not…”
“Not your type? Which part is the problem? Too skinny, too geeky, too white or all of the above?”
“No. It’s not like that,” she protested, although yesterday she would’ve answered yes to all of the above. “It’s just I have a certain kind of guy I’m attracted to and—”
“I’m not it. Got it.” Zach rose from the bench abruptly then extended a hand to help Lila to her feet.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated as he drew her to her feet.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m supposed to be here to help you, not hit on you.” He stepped close to her invading her personal space and looking deep into her eyes. “But don’t think academic means sexless. I may not be chockfull of muscles like our friend Conan the Barbarian, but muscles don’t make a man. And despite what you say, I think you’re interested in me, too.”
Lila opened her mouth to argue.
Zach bent his head and kissed her firmly, stopping her words. His lips were warm and yielding, but the kiss was hard and masterful.
She responded automatically, her mouth parting under his. She rested her hands against his chest and felt his heart beating strongly beneath her palms.
After kissing her for one long, breathless moment, he straightened and let her go without trying to take it further.
Her lips vibrated with energy and her body craved more contact. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his T-shirt, unwilling to let go.
“Still sure I’m not your type?” Zach’s voice was low and seductive. He cocked an eyebrow at Lila then disengaged her grip on his shirt and turned away from her. Without a backward glance, he headed up the path. “We should probably get back in case that package arrives.”
Chapter Five
Zach made a conscious effort to saunter casually along the walk. He couldn’t hold back the grin that stretched his mouth, but since Lila was behind him, she couldn’t see it. Score one for the boy! He’d left her shaken and breathless. Before he turned away, he saw it in her wide brown eyes and open mouth.
Zach didn’t know what had given him the balls to just lay one on her like that, but it made him feel empowered. This must be what men like Gareth felt like all the time, never bumbling over words or tripping on their own feet, always in control of the situation. Zach felt as cool as James Bond.
Lila caught up with him and he wiped the smile off his face.
They walked silently, side by side back to her house.
It was a good thing they’d returned. The FedEx truck was about to pull away from the curb. Lila ran and flagged it down then signed for the package of crucial components.
Up in Lila’s workroom, Zach began to second-guess the kiss and his cocky confidence oozed away. The silence between them remained awkward and strained, the kiss unacknowledged. Their encounter hung in the air, spoiling the easy banter they’d enjoyed before, making conversation stilted as they worked on the project.
“No, like this.” Lila leaned over to demonstrate something.
Zach breathed in her perfumed skin and watched her slender brown hands move delicately over the reconstruction. “Okay.”
