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  Will it always be this way? This sharing of sensation, of passion? Will I always be able to hold you in my mind?

  Always. Whenever you want me, I'll be here. Part of you. Always part of you.

  * * * * *

  “Jenna and Garan will be home Wednesday night, so they'll make it in time for the wedding this weekend. Jenna you already know from your time, but I can't wait for you to meet Garan. He's a trip and a half, an arrogant son of a bitch if ever I knew one.”

  Carly sprawled naked across Tim's lean body. She'd felt completely sated just moments ago after a long morning of lovemaking, but there was something about the way his toe was rubbing the back of her calf, the soft caress of his fingers along the side of her breast, the gentle link of his thoughts mingling with hers…he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, then gently pinched the turgid flesh and she gasped.

  Sated never lasted with Tim. Her nipple stood at attention and once again she felt the sweet rush of desire coursing through her veins. Carly nuzzled his chest then licked the smooth skin. “An arrogant son of a bitch? And I'm supposed to like this guy?”

  “You can't help yourself. He's so head over heels in love with Jenna…” Tim's voice trailed off into quiet laughter. “Garan used to scare the crap out of me, but he's all bluster and show when Jenna's around. He gives the term 'pussy whipped' an entirely new definition.”

  “Hmmm, pussy whipped. I like that idea. If I'm going to be the older woman in this soon-to-be marital relationship, I think I'll demand full obedience. You may address me as Mistress Carly. I think I like the sound of that, don't you?”

  She raised herself up and away from his chest and smiled down at him. The twinkle in his blue eyes was pure devilment. With her budding powers of telepathy strengthened by their link from the night before, she knew exactly what he was thinking—the image of his dark red hand print on her snow-white butt filled her mind with the clarity of a three dimensional photograph.

  “That's not quite what I had in mind,” she said, shoving away from him.

  He grabbed her wrist, swung his legs over the side of the bed and flipped Carly over his knees. She squirmed and giggled and managed to position herself perfectly. The flat of his hand came down harder than she expected. She jumped at the contact, but before she had time to say anything, he swatted her again…and again, his wide palm finding a most amazing rhythm.

  “Ouch…that hurts!” Except it didn't really, at least not as much as it should have. She squirmed against his legs, against the heat where his hand steadily smacked her heated butt, against the growing agitation between her legs.

  She felt him rising under her belly, his cock hard and thick, and the spanking took on a new rhythm as he stopped every few swats to rub her buttocks, soothing the tingling flesh with his touch, then slipping his fingers down the crease between her legs, teasing her clit, spreading the moisture that gathered there, so slick and hot.

  She was close, so close to coming, but he pulled his fingers away from her, leaving her hanging by a thread. Carly wriggled against his lap in a vain attempt to ease the torment, and he swatted her again, hard and fast until her flesh burned and her breath exploded, ragged and harsh.

  She was desperate, so desperate for release. Each slap against her buttocks brought a new rush of desire, until she screamed in frustration, bucking her hips, laughing and crying while he simply drove her insane.

  Suddenly, the spanking stopped. “Had enough?” Chuckling like an evil despot, Tim let his fingers drift idly across her overly sensitized skin, barely dipping between her legs but avoiding the one spot she wanted him to touch. “Willing to admit I'm in charge?”

  “You are making me crazy!” She tried to break free, but he held her tightly across his lap, his fingertips still making those lazy circles, teasing her swollen labia, quickly flicking her clit, dragging the moisture from front to back without ever coming close to taking her over the edge. Laughing, squirming, she fought his gentle control, but no matter how much she struggled, he held her too tight to break free.

  “Only because you made me crazy. Two weeks of crazy! Do you have any idea how I suffered? My gods, woman, I was ready to come over and steal you away in the dark of night. You will never, ever, put me through anything like that again. Do you understand?”

  “I… I'll think about it.” She giggled, daring him, anticipating, shivering with excitement.

  He growled in mock displeasure and followed it with another swat. The next hard smack with the flat of his palm sent a combination of pleasure and pain rocking through her body. Before she had time to react, Tim lifted her off his lap, bent her over the edge of the bed and drove into her from behind.

  Hot, wet and ready, she grabbed at the tumbled blankets and climaxed with his first hard thrust. His love poured over her, filling her mind, her heart as completely as he filled her body.

  She came once more when Tim cried out with his own release. He fell forward, wrapping his arms around Carly, pressing his body over hers. He nuzzled the sensitive skin behind her ear and kissed her. She felt him inside her, felt the hot rush of seed and the final pulsing of his climax.

  A flicker of surprise, elation, then remorse filtered through her thoughts.

  I forgot to use a condom.

  I know. She smiled into the blankets, loving the weight of him resting on her, loving even more the thought of his child. You didn't use one last night, either. I'm only forty-five. I can still give you a child if you want.

  What do you want?

  For once in her life, Carly knew exactly what she wanted. Tim Riley and, if the gods and goddesses of this new world agreed, she wanted Tim's child.

  I gave up on ever being a mother because I never met a man I wanted as my child's father. At least, not until I met you. I'm not too old…

  No, my love. You are not too old. You're perfect.

  We're perfect. It just took me awhile to figure it out.

  She felt him growing hard and solid within her once again. To think she'd been stupid enough to believe she could give this man up? “I guess you're never too old to learn, my love.”

  “Or too young.” He nipped her shoulder and loved her once again.

  Epilogue

  “You weren't kidding when you said he was arrogant, but he's most definitely a pussycat. I really like him.” Carly pushed her lacy veil back from her eyes and sipped champagne as she watched Garan, the huge lion of Mirat, carry a plate of fruit across the room to his mate.

  Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

  She couldn't wipe the grin off her face. Didn't want to. Would she ever grow accustomed to this new Earth? Huge, upright lions intermingled with humans, dancing, talking, laughing. The occasional glass of champagne or hors d'oeuvres occasionally floated from plate to person, and the conversations flowed on in the minds of her guests as much as they were spoken out loud.

  Her telepathy was improving. She and Jenna were working on the many nuances of astral projection. Since the link, Tim had learned to stay tapped in to her mind, no matter how far apart they were, without affecting her blocks and shields. It essentially protected her from unwanted intrusion but allowed him to share his abilities—and his constant love—with Carly.

  Loving Tim was amazing. Telekinesis was definitely a hoot.

  No, she would never, ever grow tired of all the surprises ahead.

  Tim's fingers wrapped tightly around hers. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the gold ring he'd just placed on her finger. “Any regrets?”

  Carly stroked the long, silky black hair flowing freely over his shoulders and looked into his brilliant blue eyes. She studied the face she loved more than any other, and shook her head. “None. You've given me love, a new life, a whole new world. I lost nothing. I gained everything. Not many women have their fantasies turned to reality.”

  “Not many men, either.” He leaned closer and kissed her very gently on the mouth. She tasted him, the sweet effervescence of his kiss as intoxicating as
any champagne. The night couldn't come soon enough.

  Familiar voices pulled her regretfully away from Tim's mouth.

  “Congratulations, you two.” Malachi and Sheyna raised their glasses of champagne in a toast. Mal took a swallow, then suddenly stopped and blinked in surprise. He stared blankly into space a moment, then smiled brightly. “Tim, I need to talk to you. I keep having this precog…”

  “Oh, no you don't.” Tim held up his hand, fingers crossed as if to ward off evil. Carly covered her eyes in mock terror.

  Sheyna just shook her head. “Come along, dear.” She grabbed Malachi by the arm. Protesting, laughing, he followed her across the room.

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  Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

  www.ellorascave.com