Page 74 of Awakened By Time

Chapter 21

As they layawake in bed, curled in each other’s arms, Zeke couldn’t believe how right it felt. He hadn’t come here to find a wife, as he’d said many times over the past weeks, but somehow that’s exactly what had happened. He was at peace, something he thought he had been before, but now he realized had all been an act. An act he played out each and every day. He fooled himself into thinking he had everything he needed. All he ever thought about was the studio, his work and his students. He never thought about his own life and about what the next step would be for him. He ignored the loneliness and solitude. To be truthful, he never thought about it until Sara was suddenly gone from his life. His sister had become his entire world and without her he couldn’t imagine what his life would be like. Coming here to this time and meeting Brenna showed him that there was more in store for him. As much as he loved Sara and wanted her to be nearby, he understood that he needed to go outside of himself and make his own life, and it was becoming more and more possible with the wife he hadn’t known he wanted.

He gazed down at Brenna as her head lay on his chest, his arms enveloping her. He never wanted to let go. Love was what had been missing from his life and he did love Brenna. He realized then that he’d never said the words and she deserved to hear them. He wanted her to know. He wanted everyone to know.

“Brenna…”

“Mmmm…”

“I love you.” His voice was soft, but she heard him.

Her head sprang up and propping herself on her elbow, she gazed into his eyes. The happiness he saw there showed itself in the sparkle of happy tears. “You do?” she asked.

“I do. I don’t know when it happened or how, but I do love you and I hope you’ll come with me to San Francisco. I don’t believe I could leave without you by my side.”

“Aye. I’ll come with ye. I’ve hoped ye’d ask me. Yer me husband and I love ye, too.”

Her trembling lips kissed his again and again. Zeke gently flipped her onto her back so that he could gaze down at her loveliness. She was so beautiful to him. He hoped she knew, but decided it best to tell her. He didn’t want to go without saying what he was feeling ever again. “Brenna, you are the beauty I need in my life. Not just the kind of beauty you look at, because you are very much that, but the beauty that makes everyday a worthwhile adventure. The beauty that makes everything shine a little brighter and keeps me wanting to know where this life is taking me. I know it’s someplace good and I know I want to go there with you.”

“I can hardly speak. Me heart is so full of love for ye. I wish to be wherever ye are. I wish to go with ye on all yer journeys.”

Their lips met again and they shared sweet, passionate kisses. They’d truly made their pledge to each other. Unlike at their handfasting, now it meant something to them both.

“I’m so excited. Can we tell everyone?” she asked.

“We should probably wait until the morning,” he laughed.

“Aye. I can hardly wait. I wish to throw back the shutters and shout it to the world.”

“I think I can occupy your mind until then,” Zeke teased as he climbed atop her, laying kisses in the crook of her neck and causing her to wriggle beneath him. This was exactly the response he wanted. Brenna was an eager partner and for a young woman who’d never been with a man, she was a quick study. She already knew the things that drove him mad with wanting her and she used them liberally, but this time when they made love, it was all about being intimate and sharing the knowledge that they cherished each other. It was a slow, sensual dance that brought them both joy and pleasure. Each touch of his hand was met with silky, satiny skin. Each touch of her lips sent shivers of delight through his body. When he finally entered her, it was with the knowledge that they belonged to each other. Slowly he let their passion build, easing himself in and out as she matched his moves, stroke for stroke, until they skyrocketed breathlessly into the heavens together.

“I love you, Brenna,” Zeke said.

“I love you, Zeke,” came Brenna’s answer.

Nothing in this world would hold them back. They’d made their vows to one another and sealed them with their love. They would be together as husband and wife from the sixteenth century to the twenty-first.

* * *

As Brenna layawake in Zeke’s arms, his slow steady breathing was calming to her. She felt safe with him. She knew he’d love her and take care of her just as she would him. More than that, she knew that she had entered into a partnership with this man. One where she would be heard and not ignored. She would be respected and not taken advantage of. Most importantly she would be loved and not replaced.

“Zeke, tell me of San Francisco. Do ye live in a castle?”

“No. I’m not that important.”

“Aye ye are. Yer important to me.”

Zeke kissed the top of her head. “Thank you. I live in the home Jenna used to live in. It’s very different from what you’re used to, but I know you’ll love it. And if you don’t, we’ll find a place you do love.”

“I’m sure I’ll want to stay there. Helene lived there. Did she like it?”

“She did,” Zeke responded. “Do you like cats?”

“Aye. There are always cats around the castle.”

“Milly… that’s my cat’s name, is an indoor cat.”

“Indoor cat,” she repeated.