“Wait here.” I pointed to a huge boulder where she might sit and then approached the teepee.
Once I stood at his door, I called inside, “Marcellious. It’s me, Olivia. Can I speak with you for a moment?”
“You’re hardly the one I’m expecting, but if you must,” he said.
I lifted the door flap and entered.
Everything looked perfect for Emily. The bison furs had been arranged just so, and a fire burned brightly. Even Marcellious appeared eager-eyed and boyish—something I’d never seen on his face.
“What do you want, Olivia? Make it quick,” he said, sliding into his usual snarky demeanor with me.
“Emily’s scared. She’s never been with a man before.”
“Now, why did you think I wouldn’t assume that was so?” He glared at me. “Of course, I’ll be gentle with her. Coming from a different century, I suppose you had already experienced being with a man on your wedding night to Roman.”
“Times are different in the twenty-first century. People are free to explore with one another. And, yes, I had the misfortune of experiencing sex with a complete idiot—a lying, betraying asshole.” My cheeks reddened. “But this isn’t about me—it’s about you. I know the kind of depravity you’re capable of.”
“I’ve changed,” he said, his features wooden. “I vow to be good to my new wife. Do you think I don’t realize the gift I’ve been given at having a second chance at love? I’m not going to throw it away.”
“Good. Make sure of it. Because if you don’t, I’ll kill you with my own two hands,” I said, finding a glimmer of the old, fierce Olivia.
Instead of being offended, Marcellious threw back his head and laughed. “Always a pleasure, Olivia. Now please go fetch my wife so I can show her what I’m capable of as a kind and loving husband.”
A wicked twinkle danced in his eyes, hinting at primal pleasures.
“You’ve been warned,” I said, blushing.
“I have. But there was no need. Now, go!” He pointed at the door.
Outside the teepee, night had descended, and I had to pause to let my eyes adjust to the gloom. I found Emily hunched over her knees, nibbling her nails.
“He’s ready for you,” I said, extending my hand to her.
She grabbed it and rose to stand. “Is he?”
The eagerness in her eyes almost cast its own light.
“Absolutely. Marcellious promises to be gentle and kind and so much more,” I said, remembering the wicked twinkle in his eyes. I shook the image of Marcellious’ grin from my head and led her to her wedding chamber. Before she slipped inside, I hugged her tightly. “Have a wonderful night, and I’ll see you at dawn.”
We kissed one another’s cheeks, and then I headed toward my teepee.
Once inside, I lit a fire and meandered around the space, gathering all my belongings for tomorrow’s journey. It didn’t take much time to pack as I owned so little. Unlike in the twenty-first century, I understood the need to only possess essential items and nothing more.
When that was done, I lay down, gathering the bison furs around me and burying my face beneath the thick hides. The grief and fear in my body smothered me as I lay there, clotting my brain with dark thoughts. So much tragedy had occurred over these past two years. Since being thrust into the past, I have ridden an endless roller coaster of extreme highs and lows. It was markedly changed from life in Seattle, where I drove a cool car, had nice clothes, and trained people to defend themselves.
Now, every day was a fight for survival peppered with unexpected joy and heart-wrenching tragedy.
As fatigue captured my brain, I recalled straddling Roman, his thick cock buried inside me as we made love, creating new life and hope for the future. Then, I drifted to sleep, riding a waterfall of blood. My baby bobbed next to me, disappearing beneath the crimson when I tried to reach for it.
Amara surfaced, her face streaked with red.
“Oh, Amara,” I cried out in my dream. “How I wish you were here to comfort me. You were the only real mother I ever had.”
I tried to pull her toward me, but she disappeared into a scarlet whirlpool.
My tragic dreams continued throughout the night. Then, in the early pre-dawn, I dreamt of Roman and I in a different time, a home filled with children running about. My hair was black and long, unlike the flame-colored hair I now possessed. My clothing was unlike anything I’d seen before. And Roman and I were happy.
I lingered in this dream until the flute-like morning song of a bird announcing his territory called me back to life on Earth.
