CHAPTER 1

England,

November 1872

About three weeks into their mission.

He had gone too long without sex, Dariux reflected morosely while tapping his fingers on the table. It was just a normal physiological response. His conscience scoffed, unimpressed, pointing out that three weeks did not qualify as “too long,” and that he had gone without it for much longer than that without feeling this prickling, uncomfortable awareness that now plagued him.

Or maybe it was this accursed mission, all the probing into feelings and emotions, that had him so out of sorts. How was a man supposed to stay unmoved while studying and scanning people for feelings of love and arousal all day, and then spending all night analyzing them with his attractive colleague?

Attractive? Of course not! She was not his type at all. She was too short, her breasts were too small, and her hips too slim. Her hair was red. He liked his partners generously endowed, tall, and blond. The mere fact that he was objectifying her by cataloging her features was proof of his unbalanced state.

Yes, it was all this mission’s fault. There. He dared his conscience to refute that. This time, his conscience remained gratifyingly silent, and he relaxed a little.

But only a little. The sounds of splashing water coming from behind the screen reminded him all too well that she was taking a bath, naked. Her body glistening and wet... Hell and damnation! He had to stop these lurid imaginings. That’s what had got him into this awkward state of arousal.

It was not as if he had not seen her naked before. He had. Many times. During the weeks of preparation before this mission, they had trained together every day. After those intense sessions, they had retired to the lockers and taken showers together while discussing many high-minded topics as the scientists they were, without ever feeling self-aware of their nakedness.

It was not as if the human body was an object of morbid titillation in their time. Humans had moved beyond animalistic desire and disorderly passion. If she only knew where his mind had wandered, she would look down on him. Think of him as an unevolved barbarian. She was a respected colleague and his investigation partner, and he would do well to keep that in mind.

Just then, his esteemed colleague stepped out from behind the screen, wearing a bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her head.

“You bathed already? That was fast,” she remarked, noticing his wet hair.

He had had to make it fast, to make sure he got dressed before she caught him naked and sporting a rampant erection. That would have been embarrassing.

He only grunted his assent, then pointed to the table. “They delivered the food while you were in the bath. Looks edible enough. I already analyzed it for microbes. It’s safe to eat.”

“Good. I must admit, I’m famished. The meal bars we ate during the day were not satisfying.”

Just like the masturbation he had just indulged in while bathing had not satisfied him. Crap! He was in a fine estate. This night was going to be uncomfortable. Until now, they had kept their own private rooms, but this inn was full, and they had only been able to book one bedroom. Thank goodness they would be moving on tomorrow. With any luck, the next inn would have plenty of room.

Blissfully unaware of the direction of his thoughts, she took her place at the table and started heaping food onto her plate. It always amazed him how someone so small and slim could consume so much food.

He sat down across from her and filled his plate, too. The simple country fare comprised lamb, potatoes, bread, cheese, and some apple tarts for dessert, all accompanied by a decent wine. Not bad for such primitive environments. He was accustomed to more sophisticated meals, full of complex, multilayered flavors. His parbot, Elena, was an excellent cook, with advanced programming in over one hundred types of cuisines. It surprised him to realize he was enjoying this simple meal as much, if not more, than the elaborate feasts Elena prepared.

Maybe it had something to do with the energetic sprite sitting across from him, demolishing almost as much food as he was. He had never realized how erotic watching a woman eat with gusto could be. The little hums and sighs that escaped her mouth as she tasted the food. The quick darts of her pink tongue over her plump bottom lip. The delicate ripple of her neck as she swallowed. His lurid mind noted and cataloged every small nuance.

How had he never noticed those details before? Elena never ate, of course. His parbot sat at the table with him and entertained him with excellent conversation while handing him plates of food and refilling his cup. It was her job to please him, and she performed it well. She was the latest generation and boasted the most advanced technology, designed to satisfy in every regard. He had believed her to be human-like in every sense. Now he was discovering all the ways she was lacking.

Maybe an update, or a complete redesign, was in order. No, he was being ridiculous. What did it matter, anyway? She made his life easier, and he couldn’t wait to finish this mission and return home to his comfortable lifestyle.

“So what do you think of the duke and the girl from the twenty-first?” Kalli asked, referring to the woman they had accidentally transported back in time during their time travel, and who had been taken in by the Duke of Avondale.

He shrugged. “They seem to get along well.”

“More than well. According to the readings we took yesterday, they are falling in love.”

“How do you figure?”

“Heightened body temperature, faster heartbeat. Hormonal activity—”

“I know, I know. But how do we know it is the real deal and not simply desire? The readings are similar.”

“Yeah, you are right. But there’s something more. Something intangible that we haven’t been able to measure yet, but I can sense.”

“That is not very scientific, Doctor. We can’t put that in the investigation findings.”

“We need to get more readings. I’m just saying I think we are on the right path. We should continue to monitor them. So far, they are the best prospects we’ve got.”

“I’m not sure I like that. She is not from here any more than we are. It was an unfortunate accident that she got dragged along. Who knows what consequences that could have on the timeline? We were supposed to observe and interfere as little as possible. Remember the goal? Phantom footprint.”

Her chuckle was husky and sensual. It curled through his lower belly and sent another shot of lust to his cock. Fuck.

“Yeah, well... I think that goal went out to space the moment we dragged a woman from another century back with us. We are leaving a footprint the size of a dinosaur’s.”

He laughed at that. By the stars, but he liked her. She could always make him laugh.

“I guess we could continue to monitor them. But from afar. We have to be careful not to let them see us. They are looking for answers. I believe they have a person investigating around and asking questions. I wouldn’t want to mess with the duke. He already knows too much, and he is powerful. If he finds us before we are ready to depart, he could create obstacles that would force us to abort the mission. We must be very stealthy.”

“Agreed. Are you going to eat that last tart?” She pointed at the morsel.

“You can have it,” he said, pushing the plate towards her.

Her smile was wide and innocent, like a child, as she grabbed the sweet and bit into it. Her dainty pink tongue darted out to lick some fruit from her lips, and his insides did a somersault at the sight. What on earth was happening to him? Never had he experienced such an involuntary response. He could control his lust, couldn’t he?