Only in Time (A Mystique Antiques Novella) (15 page)

Clenching his teeth, he fought the urge to growl. Why did she keep avoiding his questions? She’d come here for a reason. Whatever the reason, she needed to say what was on her mind.

“Ally, why are you here? I know it’s not to ask about my flight.”

“I, um…” The air fell silent between them as she shook her head.

Jonah curled his fingers over her shoulder, urging her to face him. She did, willingly. Her big brown eyes roamed his face before falling to his chest. Then she released a long sigh.

“I had the strangest thing happen to me tonight. I don’t know how to explain it without sounding like an escapee from the mental ward, but I swear to you, Jonah, I didn’t imagine any of it.”

The more her lips moved, the more his mind spun with questions. “Tell me what happened. I’ll see if I can help you figure it out.”

Her eyes widened at the suggestion before she moved away from him. She didn’t stop until her fingers gripped the bar. Long wavy locks swayed from side to side as she shook her head. “Do you think it’s possible to travel through time? Because that’s what this is about.”

“Time travel? As in, going to the future?” He tried to hide the humor in his voice. She was serious in what she was saying. Laughing at her would break her heart.

Making his way across the sitting room, he stepped up to the bar, counting the seconds until she looked at him again.

“Not into the future. More like the past.”

“Are you sure it was time travel and not just a memory resurfacing?”

As she stroked the edge of the bar, her shoulders jiggled from the chuckle escaping her lips. “It can’t be a memory when I was never part of the original conversation. You know the one I’m talking about, don’t you? It took place between you and my mother, six years ago. In fact, you and my mom had a couple conversations you kept from me.”

Jonah’s eyes fluttered shut. “Wow… For a second, you had me going. This isn’t about time travel, Ally. Your mother told you about those conversations.”

“No, she didn’t.” The crack in her voice had his eyes darting back to hers. “My mom did stop by, earlier. She gave me a letter my dad wrote her. The same one you read the night I left for New York. But we didn’t discuss you.”

The words were like a punch in the gut. She wouldn’t have known about that if she hadn’t talked to her mother. Why did she insist on pretending like she’d witnessed the conversation?

“I hope your mom came clean with you. About everything. It’s the main reason I stopped by to see her after I left your office. I know we can’t salvage anything between us, but I think you can with your mother. She does love you.”

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me.” Her eyes began to water as she stared into his. They matched perfectly with her trembling lips. “I swear to you, my mom didn’t tell me anything. I watched the whole thing unfold with my own eyes, Jonah. My stupid watch transported me back in time.”

Had she hit the bottle before coming to see him?

“Ally… What you’re saying is impossible. Time travel doesn’t exist. Did you fall asleep when you got home? Perhaps you dreamed the whole thing.”

“No!” she pushed away from the bar, storming across the carpeted floor until she reached the window. “How could I dream about something I knew nothing about? I saw the argument between you and my mother. The first one happened on my porch, when she threatened to tell me that you had a thing for Cassie. Then again the night I left for New York. The same night you stopped her from driving drunk.”

“Impossible.” The edge of the bar pressed into his back as he leaned against it. “Why can’t you be honest and admit that your mother told you all of this?”

“Because she didn’t. I watched you tell her how much you loved me. Saw how much pain filled your eyes when she made her threats.” She pressed her head against the window, letting her shoulders slump. “If my mom had told me, how would I know that you stood at the train station with my itinerary clenched in your hand. Or the fact that tears steamed down your face when you finally left the station. Did you tell that to my mom?”

No. He hadn’t. But he had told someone else.

“Theo. You talked to my brother, didn’t you? He’s the only person that saw me after I left the station.”

Turning away from the window, she tossed a glance over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at him. “I haven’t seen or talked to your brother since the last time I was here.”

The pain of that memory affected her as much as it did him. The way she avoided his eyes said as much. Did she really expect him to believe she’d traveled back in time? That she’d witnessed everything he’d confessed to her earlier?

Pushing off the bar, his feet brushed against the carpet with each step. He didn’t stop until he reached the edge of the coffee table not far from where she stood. “You’re telling me that a watch transported you back in time to witness all this and now you believe me?”

“Yes,” The hardness in her eyes faded the longer they stared at each other. “Okay. So hearing it come from your mouth isn’t as convincing.”

He gave her a slight nod, fighting back a laugh. While he didn’t find any of this humorous, he didn’t know how else to react. Covering his eyes, he did his best to massage the tension from his temples. “Forget the fact that what you’re claiming makes you sound like a lunatic. I’m kinda hurt that you’d believe a watch over me? Maybe that makes me just as crazy.”

“It doesn’t make either of us crazy. This watch came to me for a reason, Jonah. To right the wrongs that kept us apart.”

“And now that the wrongs are righted, where do we go from here?” The gruffness in his voice reverberated around them, causing Ally to wince. “Knowing the truth doesn’t change anything. Your life is here in Savannah. Mine is in L.A. Long distance relationships don’t work. Not even for the people who try to make them.”

“Are you saying I wouldn’t try?”

“I’m saying that I don’t know if I want to. My God, I’ve stood by and watched you walk out of my life twice. Six years ago because I was a coward. And six hours ago, because I wasn’t. This isn’t going to work.”

“I…I see.” She pressed her lips together, shifting her focus to the floor. “I, um…I better go.” Stepping from the window, she swept past him, stopping just shy of the chair. It took her a moment to meet his eyes with her tear filled ones. “You know, you were right? About what you said to my dad the first time you met him. You did make me laugh. And smile.”

All the blood drained from Jonah’s face. Ally didn’t know about the conversation he had with her father. He’d forgotten it himself. Now every word played through his mind.

Had her father told her about the conversation, she would have mentioned it before. She told Jonah everything else about her dad. That only meant one thing. The story about the watch had to be true. She knew too many details about everything else.

Footsteps sounded in his ears, drawing his attention back to Ally. Her retreating figure sent an icy chill down his spine. A few more steps and she would be free. She’d walk out of his life once more, this time for good.

He tried to call her name, but his words caught in his throat. Maybe it was for the best. He needed to let her go. Needed to accept the fact that she’d be better off without him.

* * *

Ally knew she’d made a mistake coming to Jonah’s suite. She’d hurt him with her earlier words. Now he couldn’t forgive her. Not that she deserved his forgiveness after ordering him out of her life.

Unable to form any more words, she gathered what dignity she had left and hurried across the floor. There was no point in staying. He didn’t want to work things out. Had said as much.

Choking back the tears, she reached the door. The brass knob pressed into her palm as she squeezed it. Then strong arms crushed hers, pulling her against a broad chest. The warmth of Jonah’s body drew out the fear and the anger eating away at her soul. And she wept.

Jonah squeezed her closer, the heat of his breath caressing her ears. “I can’t do this, Ally.” Raw emotion cracked in his voice. Then he pressed his face into her neck, mumbling against her skin. “I can’t lie to you or myself, anymore. I don’t want you to go.”

“Jonah…

He spun her around to face him, cupping her cheeks in his hands. “I didn’t think I’d get over you before. I’m not sure I did. If you walk out that door, I won’t recover this time.”

“But you said this wouldn’t work. We live on opposite sides of the country.”

“We’ll find a way, Ally. I’ll do whatever it takes. I have to.” His green eyes roamed her face, burning bright with desire. “I’ve loved you for so long, I don’t know how to love anyone else. If you feel the same—”

“I do,” she whispered, brushing his lips with her finger. “You know I do, Jonah.”

“Ally…” He released the breath he’d been holding. Longing swelled in his eyes, and his lips when they swept across hers. “Stay with me, Ally.”

She couldn’t have argued, even if she’d wanted. The weight of his body pinned her to the door. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip, drawing it between his as a moan slipped out.

The fire in his eyes engulfed her when he pulled away, the crook in his mouth hinting to his approval of the sound. Then his hands caressed her legs, scorching her skin as they slid up her skirt. They left a trail of gooseflesh in their wake. Especially when he cupped her bottom, lifting her against the door.

Wrapping her body against his, their lips met again, teasing, parting, melding. The room began to shift as they turned. Then the coolness of the door left her back. She loved the feel of his arms crushing her body to his. They held her tighter with each step he took. She didn’t know where they were headed, nor did she care. She only had one desire. To end a six-year-old ache.

Long strides brought them to another door. She caught a glimpse of it closing behind them before uncurling her body from his. Her fingers moved to the bottom of his shirt, fumbling with the edge. She needed to slow down. They had all night. She could savor every moment if she wanted to. And she would once he was buried inside her.

A few tugs later, his shirt hit the floor, followed by her blouse and bra.

They didn’t stop there. Spinning in a circle, he worked her skirt past her hips. It tumbled to the floor as a zipper growled to life. Then jeans plopped against the carpet.

Jonah’s hands went back to her waist. The heat of his mouth left hers as he licked a path down her neck, suckling a little section here and there. She wanted him to go further. Even arched her body into his, gasping when he gave her the thing she craved. His mouth on her breast.

 He drew her nipple between his lips. One flick of his tongue sent a thousand spasms through her body. Her cries filled the air, as did the sound of cotton ripping. Jonah tugged on her panties again. The delicate material snapped on either side of her hips, sending the only barrier between them to the floor.

Wet warmth pooled between her thighs. She wanted him to lose control, to give in to the primal part of him and please her beyond comprehension.

He pulled away for a moment, running his eyes over her naked flesh. Heat burned her cheeks. She’d never been so vulnerable around him. Body and soul bared, she hoped he liked what he saw. God knows she was enjoying every rock hard inch of him.

The smile he gave her settled her heart. He pulled her back against him, locking his eyes with hers. “You’re more beautiful than I imagined.”

Her heart fluttered at the words. For the first time in years, she felt wanted. And she succumbed to the want.

Falling onto the bed, he pulled her with him, laughing when they bumped heads. But the laughter faded. Desire returned. And in one swift motion, he pressed her to the bed.

Cradling him between her thighs, their lips met once more, drawing out slow, sensual kisses. He held her hips, teasing her swollen flesh with his tip. She wanted to die. The way her belly fluttered each time he pulsed against her. She rocked her hips up to his, but he pulled away. If he didn’t satisfy the ache consuming her, she’d lose her mind.

“Jonah,” she whispered. “Please…” He had her in such a daze she couldn’t form a sentence.

The need built deeper within, forcing a moan from her lips. The sound had been his undoing. A surge of fire engulfed her with every inch he plunged. She rocked her hips against his, crying out as he filled her. Unable to move, she clenched the length of him, losing herself in the spasms that worked through her body. Then he rocked his hips with hers, each thrust building the sweetest sensation deep within her. She wanted more of it. More of him. And Jonah happily obliged.