Everything In Its Time
Praise for Dee Davis:
“Dee Davis has penned a classic tale of soul mates who defy the boundaries of time. Definitely a keeper!” -- Romantic Times - 4 1/2 Stars, RT Top Pick
“One of the better time travel romances I have read in a long time and an auspicious debut for Dee Davis.” -- All About Romance
“Not since Jude Deveraux's A Knight in Shining Armor have I enjoyed a time travel as much as this one. Well Done, Ms. Davis!!!!” --Romancing the Celtic Soul
“Dee Davis’ first novel is a delightfully intelligent story mixing the present day with fifteenth-century Scotland, offering readers a steamy love story wrapped in a beautifully interwoven plot. Time travel romance doesn’t get much better than this.” -- The Romance Reader - Four Hearts
Everything In Its Time
Dee Davis
Everything In Its Time is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
Copyright 2000 by Dee Davis Oberwetter
All rights reserved.
Originally published as a mass market paperback in the United States by Penguin Putnam, Inc. in 2000
Cover design: Frauke Spanuth, Croco Design
http://www.deedavis.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
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Table of Contents
Also by Dee Davis
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
About Dee Davis
Also by Dee Davis:
Romantic Suspense
Dark Of The Night
Dancing In The Dark
Midnight Rain
Just Breathe
After Twilight
Eye Of The Storm
Chain Reaction
Still of the Night (Novella)
Last Chance Series:
Endgame
Enigma
Exposure
A-Tac Series:
Dark Deceptions
Dangerous Desires
Desperate Deeds
Daring (novella)
Deep Disclosure
Deadly Dance
Double Danger
Women’s Fiction
A Match Made on Madison
Setup In Soho
Time Travels
The Promise
Wild Highland Rose
Anthologies
Hell with the Ladies (Marcus)
Hell on Heels (Jezebel)
Silent Night (Still of the Night)
THEIR HEARTS BEAT FASTER...
Their gazes met and held. Katherine drew in a breath that was almost a sob. Pressing a trembling hand to her breast, she stood.
"You're here..." Her words trailed off, a mere whisper.
Iain crossed the room, his eyes never breaking contact with hers. She moved toward him as well, slowly, like a sleepwalker. She licked her lips nervously, her hands mindlessly clenching and unclenching. Time seemed to stop. She was drawn to the green of his eyes, the only color in all his darkness.
They met in the center of the room. She reached with trembling hands to touch him. His chest felt solid beneath her fingers. She let out the breath she had been holding. He was real.
He moved, his mouth covering hers, hard and demanding. His arms closed around her. She was soft and yielding. He pulled her tighter into his embrace. Even with the passing of years, she felt right there, as though he had held her through countless nights instead of just one...
To Martha for giving me a chance,
to Barbara for believing in me,
to Julia and Kathleen for listening to me,
to Jim and Paula for reading my manuscripts,
to Lexie and Robert for loving me,
and to my Mevlyn—dreams can come true.
Prologue
DUNCREAG, SCOTLAND
KATHERINE STRUGGLED TO consciousness with a sigh. The room was dark except for a soft orange glow emanating from the fireplace. Coals, she thought sleepily. Stretching, she listened for a noise, something that might have awakened her. The room was quiet.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she surveyed her hotel room. It was fairly large, nice in an antiquated sort of way. It had been late when she'd arrived. So late, in fact, that she had hardly noticed her surroundings. Bed had been her first priority. Now awake, she sat up, pulling the covers with her.
Pale moonlight spilled in through the window's archway, making its small diamond panes glitter. The room was certainly charming by moonlight. The beams danced along the walls creating intricate patterns of light and dark, complimented by the glow coming from the fireplace. She frowned. Surely there hadn't been a fireplace? Instead, she remembered there being a rusty-looking radiator in the corner. Of course, she had been exhausted when she'd arrived. Maybe she'd just imagined it.
What she needed right now was a glass of water. Cautiously, she stuck a foot out of the pile of blankets. The room was cold. She glanced at the fireplace and wondered if poking it would revive the dying fire. She'd been a Girl Scout, but that was years ago and besides, she had never really mastered the art of fire making.
With a groan, she left the warm comfort of the bed. The stone floor felt icy under her bare feet. Odd—she would have sworn there was carpeting. Padding over to the fireplace, she grabbed what looked to be a poker and prodded randomly at the glowing coals. They scattered and dimmed slightly. Okay, so she wasn't a fire builder. Giving up, she dropped the poker with a clatter. Where was the bathroom?
There was a large ornately carved door on the adjacent wall that obviously served as the entrance. Rejecting it, Katherine spotted a second door next to the fireplace. It was set into the wall under a stone archway that echoed the style of the larger arch over the window.
With a sleepy yawn, she stepped into the recess, waiting a minute for her eyes to adjust to the deeper shadows of the alcove. She squinted at the door. It was made of heavy wooden planks with iron hinges, a hammered metal ring serving as a doorknob. All in all, it was a heck of a door, especially for a bathroom.
Katherine's sleep-clouded mind struggled again with the vague sense that the room was different from what she remembered. She certainly hadn't noticed this door or its accompanying stone archway. In fact, now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure she remembered the window's being set into an arch either. She frowned. Obviously her exhaustion had dimmed her powers of perception. With a mental shrug, she pushed
the heavy door open.
The room beyond was darker than her room. Moonlight seeped around the corners of some sort of drapery hanging from a window. The dim light kept the room from being pitch black, but still relegated its contents to deep shadow. She took a hesitant step into the room. There was carpeting here, at least. Her toes curled into the warmth. She tried to figure out where she was. She wasn't in the hallway or the bathroom. Biting her lower lip, she ran her fingers through her long hair, absently combing out the tangles. Confused and uncertain, she wondered if she was dreaming.
Slowly, cautiously, she stepped farther into the room. If this was indeed a dream, she was safe from harm; and, dream or not, her curiosity was aroused. She made out the shape of a bed within the shadows. A bedroom. In her hurry to sleep, she must have overlooked the connecting door last night. With cautious steps, she crossed to the foot of the big bed. She reached out to touch a bedpost, stopping in mid-motion when she heard a noise. Heart pounding, she looked into the blackness of the bed itself. Was someone there? It was simply too dark to see. She strained into the darkness, listening intently. Silence surrounded her.
She let out her breath with a whoosh and laughed at herself. Of course there was nobody in here. This room must be a part of her own, the second room in a suite. If not, the adjoining door would have been locked, wouldn't it? Calmed by the fact, she moved around to the side of the bed.
"If you're going to invade my chamber, why no' join me in the bed?"
Katherine froze. The dark voice was warm, like brandy or whisky. It filled her, caressing her with its smoky resonance. She peered into the shadows, trying to find its source. Faltering, she took a step back, her eyes locking on the dark shape moving within the confines of the bed. Her heart was pounding again.
"Excuse me, I—"
The sound of her voice sent a shiver chasing down Iain's spine. What manner of bewitchment was this? He'd seen her for only a moment, illuminated by the moonlight filtering in from the adjoining room. It had silvered her long hair and caressed the soft curves of her body. But then she had moved, disappearing into the shadows. He'd thought her a figment of his imagination. The last vestiges of a fantasy. But now she stood by his bed. A living, breathing thing. His body tightened, responding to her nearness, to the sound of her voice. He needed to touch her. To assure himself that this wasn't a dream.
Katherine swallowed and took another step backward, but before she could retreat, he was standing in front of her, his strong arms encircling her waist. She sucked in a breath, inhaling the spicy scent of male. With a start, she realized she was pressed against hard muscle and velvet skin. Even as she thought to be afraid, she felt a curious warmth spreading through her body, an aching, tingling feeling. She looked up, trying to see his face. It was shadowed in darkness, but she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek, see the white of his teeth as he smiled. She opened her mouth to speak, but her words died as his mouth found hers. He brushed her lips with his and then tugged softly at her lower lip. She tensed, thinking to push him away, but her body rebelled at the thought, and of their own volition, her lips opened to his kiss. It began as a curious exploration, slow and invading, but as their tongues met, sparks ignited and the kiss deepened.
Iain's arms tightened around her. She was so soft. Her hair felt like silk where it brushed against his skin. He had only meant to touch her, to see if she was real. He had wanted to stop her retreat. But the feel of her breasts against his chest had stirred a longing deep within him, a hunger that increased in magnitude as the kiss they shared deepened. His hands, with a will of their own, traced the line of her shoulders and back, reaching down to cup her buttocks and pull her closer against the hardness of his groin. He felt her hands on his face. Then they moved to tangle in his hair.
Katherine pressed even closer to him, a whimper escaping from deep in her throat. She felt the hard muscles of his chest and arms and the harder bulge that pulsed against her thigh. This was crazy. She should be afraid, or incensed, or something. Instead she was on fire. She couldn't get enough of him. Dream lover. The thought ran through her mind even as she pushed it away.
Iain wanted more. Still kissing her, his hand found the soft swelling of her breast. He cupped it gently, feeling it react to his touch. She arched against him. He growled low in his throat and bent to touch her with his tongue. He circled the rosy crest through the fabric of her night shift, feeling the nipple harden into a tiny taut bud. She moaned, trying to push her breast into his mouth. He smiled slightly and greedily began to suck, drawing in more of it. He felt the ache in his groin grow deeper, hot fire singing through his veins. God's blood, he needed her—wanted her. Without moving his mouth, he swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
Katherine knew she should move, say something, but the fire inside her was spreading too fast and the bed was so cool and soft. In contrast, he was all hardness and heat. He moved against her, his body touching hers. She ran her hands down his back, massaging, pressing. Her heart slammed in her chest. She felt him kissing the pulse at her throat. Again she wondered what madness had overtaken her. She felt his hand on the inside of her thigh, warm and strong. Where was her nightgown? She struggled to remember.
Suddenly, his fingers found her. All rational thought fled as she rocked with sensation. Never had she felt like this. She moved against his hand. He stroked her slowly. She wanted more, but wasn't sure exactly what it was that she wanted. She felt a long finger slide deep inside her, moving in and out, in and out. His mouth again found her breast. She felt wild as the fire continued to spread and an inner throbbing seemed to overwhelm all her senses.
Iain struggled to hold on to his control, but she was so hot, so wet. He wanted her as he had never wanted a woman before. She was a vision, an angel, his angel. His lips moved back to hers. He kissed her almost savagely. She returned his passion with her mouth and her hands. He felt her quiver deep inside and knew a moment of deep satisfaction when her body contracted around his thrusting fingers.
Katherine's thoughts spun out of control. The world seemed to splinter into color and light. It felt so good. His fingers were magic. He was taking her higher and higher. She strained, wanting more. She shuddered with pleasure and suddenly her body exploded, overwhelming her. He shifted. His hand was gone, replaced by something bigger and stronger. Instinctively, she moved her legs apart, wanting more, wanting him.
Iain tangled his hands in her hair. He felt the heat of her and took a deep breath. He wanted to plunge into her, deep inside her, feel her surround him. She moved her legs, shifting to open for him. With a small cry, she lifted to him. He pushed into her with one strong stroke. He felt resistance and vaguely wondered at the sensation, but his need was great and he had to have her. She felt so tight, surrounding him with her heat. He held still, deep within her, allowing her to adjust to the feel of him. He strained with the effort to hold back. Slowly, he began to move again.
Katherine's eyes were wide, her heart pounding. She felt him moving deep within her. At first, there had been pain, but now... now it was pain edged with a fierce pleasure. She began to rock against him, feeling the motion, striving for a rhythm. He pulled away and she cried out, but just as quickly he was back, deep inside. She felt the sensations building again, stronger this time. She met his thrusts with her open, welcoming body and the fire began to grow again inside her.
Iain felt all control slip away as he climbed higher and higher, taking her with him in a dance older than time. He shattered into a million joyous pieces. He felt her shudders and knew that she, too, had found this magical place. Tightening his arms around her, he held her, even as she held him, safe in the circle of what must surely be love.
*****
Katherine's eyes flickered opened. She stretched, content in the warmth of the bed. Slowly she turned her head to look at the man sleeping next to her. The room was growing lighter with the hint of the coming dawn. She could make out the hard angles and planes of his face. Even
in sleep, his strong features held a certain sensuality. His cheeks and chin were dark with the stubble of his beard. His long hair tangled about his shoulders, shining blue-black, soft and satiny. His arm, thrown possessively around her waist, was powerfully muscled. A scar, puckered and red, ran across his upper arm. Long healed, it served as a reminder of what must have been a painful wound. She could feel the strength and warmth of his thigh against her own. His breathing was even. He slept deeply.
She reached out to touch him, her fingers brushing gently across his cheek. He was incredible. Reluctantly, she pulled back and rolled away, untangling herself from his arms. She stood quietly by the bed, watching him sleep. She knew she should be mortified. She had given herself to a stranger. She ought to feel embarrassed or ashamed, but right now all she could feel was the heat of the magic they had created. Still, her logical mind knew that with dawn the magic would end and the beauty of last night would become tainted by reality. Better to leave now, she thought, and let the memory remain intact, a moment outside of time.
With a sigh, she drank in the sight of him, memorizing his powerful features. The word "warrior" popped into her mind. It was an apt description of the man. Yet she knew that, despite appearances, there was gentleness in his strong hands and in the firm curve of his lips. With a last quick look, she turned to go. Her foot touched the soft silk of her nightgown. She slid it over her head, and resolutely walked to her room. Crawling into bed, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
*****
Iain sat up, staring at the door connecting his chamber with hers. She was gone. He had pretended to sleep, but it had taken all of his willpower to keep from reaching for her as she moved away. Now, he sat in frustration, staring at the closed door. He wanted her still. He felt his body stir and tighten. Remembering the passion of last night, he closed his eyes, savoring the memory. He had been her first.