Magic's Muse Page 8

  “He showed me his workshop, Tomas. He has quite the talent with wood and wants me to do some carvings for him. There is a good possibility that they may fetch a fair price.”

  “Is this something you want to do?” Tomas took a grateful sip of coffee but didn’t take his eyes off Cathal. A lock of Cathal’s hair fell forward onto his face, and Tomas brushed it back. Cathal leaned into the touch, enjoying the comfortable closeness between them.

  “Yes, it is.” The more he’d thought about it, the more he’d decided it was, and not just because of the income it might provide. He’d never been one to sit around and allow others to work while he did not. It had driven the servants to distraction on many occasions, not to mention the disapproval of others at court. “I do have some resources of my own, love. I’ve already told you that. It’s just that I can’t access them at the moment.” He was also prepared to find a job on a nearby farm if necessary, but unfortunately that would not be possible unless the leash that bound him was severed. Donovan’s offer meant he could work without having to worry about that.

  “Yeah, I know.” Tomas shook his head. “And we’re not at the point where you need to be concerned about doing that yet.” He glanced at his laptop and sighed. “It’s going to be a while before this is anywhere near ready to submit to my publisher. It isn’t anything like my last two novels. I hope they want it.” His room was paid in advance for another few months yet, and he’d written a few articles for a magazine the previous year, which had supplemented his income.

  “If they don’t someone else will, of that I am certain.” Cathal smiled. He removed the pencil from behind Tomas’s ear and placed it on the desk. He’d chewed the end of it again. “What I’ve read of it so far is very good, and I’m not just saying that because I love you.”

  “That’s good to know.” Tomas threaded his fingers through Cathal’s hair, playing with it. Cathal had suggested shortening the length, as it was longer than what he’d observed to be the norm in this world, but Tomas would have none of it. He liked it the way it was, so unless it was something Cathal really wanted to do, there was no need for it to be cut. Apparently there was a wider variety now in what was considered fashionable than there was the previous time he’d visited. He’d worn it longer then too, and no one had commented, although he’d noticed the sideways looks he and Christian had received because of their dress and manner of speech.

  “Can I read what you’ve written today?” Cathal was keen to see how the story was progressing. It was very different being able to read something as it was written, rather than having to wait until it was finished. It reminded him of when he was a child and his mother would tell them a story by the fire each night, careful to leave it in such a place so they’d want more.

  “Of course.” Tomas leaned over and tapped several keys on his laptop. A whirring sound filled the room, and the printer began to spit out pieces of paper covered in writing. He’d shown Cathal how the machine worked earlier that morning. With every visit to this world, it seemed as though the devices they used became smaller and could do so much more. There were still so many new things to learn about and discover. Even the technology with which he thought he was familiar had changed, although he hadn’t had the opportunity to ask as many questions as he’d like. Taking things apart to find out more had gotten him into trouble ninety years ago, and he wasn’t about to test the theory that it might again.

  Cathal got up from Tomas’s lap and retrieved the papers once the machine had done its work. He flopped down on the bed, already beginning to read what was written on them and losing himself in the words. “Oh, you’ve written the kiss!” This was what he and Tomas had role played, and the last time he’d seen it had been as handwritten notes in Tomas’s journal. Now Tomas was “taking dictation again,” he’d reverted to using his laptop instead of writing longhand, as he said it was faster and easier to edit later.

  “And more.” Tomas didn’t move from his chair but instead watched Cathal read, chuckling at the way in which he devoured the new material.

  “Deimos isn’t as good at keeping secrets as he thinks, is he?” It was very apparent, the more Cathal read, that Deimos was not of this world. His speech slipped into more of an old-fashioned pattern on several occasions. He also seemed unaware of some of the things of which Mark spoke, but that was understandable, as Cathal hadn’t heard of some of them either. What was 3D, and who was Harry Potter? How could so much have happened in this world in such a short time?

  “Neither were you, my love.” Tomas stretched his arms out and took another sip of coffee. “I didn’t realize just how much at the time, but as they say, hindsight is twenty-twenty.”

  Cathal looked up in surprise. “I might have told you more than I should when we first met, but I was still careful.” He’d hated having to keep so many secrets from Tomas, but he could hardly have told him that he was from another world and had lived in the inn over ninety years ago. He frowned, remembering the shock when he’d realized just how long it had been since he and Christian had first met Alice. It was so difficult to keep track of the time difference with his infrequent visits through the portal. He’d known time was passing, and that Christian’s son, Wynne, had grown and had a daughter of his own, but the visits to this world after meeting Libby were not as often. His uncle, the king, grew suspicious of his nephew’s activities and had begun having him watched.

  “I found that very frustrating.” Tomas sighed. “I knew there was such a lot you weren’t telling me, but I only really pushed for it once I got angry enough to do so.” He held his hand up to stop Cathal interrupting. “I know you wanted to keep me safe, but this whole issue you have with a relationship being equal? It’s not when you do stuff like that.”

  “I’m not keeping secrets now,” Cathal pointed out quietly. This was a conversation that kept repeating itself in some shape and form. “I know I was wrong, but I didn’t know you as well as I do now, or how angry it would make you. I was foolish to expect you to just accept that I had a good reason why I could not tell you what you wanted to know. I was falling in love with you, and that terrified me.” He’d never felt like that toward someone before. “I kept remembering how Christian had lost Alice, and I didn’t want that to happen to us. I thought if I could keep you safe, then it wouldn’t happen, but I was going to tell you everything. I promise. I couldn’t leave you not knowing.”

  Alice had known. At least she’d had that, even if she’d never got Christian back.

  He bit his lip, unable to stop the shiver the thought invoked even now. The Falcons had intervened before Tomas had gotten the explanation he deserved, leaving him confused and unsure what to believe.

  The sheets of paper fell from Cathal’s hand to scatter over the bed. He didn’t move to pick them up. Deimos and Mark could have the future Tomas wanted for them. Why couldn’t reality be like that? In many ways Tomas’s novel was a retelling of what he and Cathal had experienced, just as Wynne’s novel, In Hidden Places, was what had happened to Alice and Christian.

  Tomas put down his coffee cup and walked over to the bed, taking Cathal into his arms. “It’s not going to happen to us, Cat.” He held Cathal close. “I’m not her, love, and I’m not going to just wait for you to come back if that happens.”

  “You didn’t last time.” Cathal kissed Tomas softly. Tomas had come after him, not thinking of the consequences. He’d argued that it was better to have a short time together than a lifetime apart. He was right but… Cathal closed his eyes, remembering the relief he’d felt at seeing Tomas again, and the horror that had come with the realization that Tomas was bound and held at knifepoint by one of Deryn’s men. All he’d wanted was to keep Tomas safe, but instead he’d nearly cost Tomas his life.

  A light touch, Tomas’s lips against his, returned Cathal to the present, and the reminder that, for the moment, they were both safe. He took a deep breath, anchoring himself in the strong presence of his beloved before continuing.

  “Af
ter the Falcons took me, that first night before you came, I had nightmares about finally getting back to your world and finding your grave. You’d waited for me like Alice had waited for Christian, and died an old man, lonely and alone.” His grip on Tomas tightened. “I felt selfish wanting you with me, and yet I couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing you again.”

  “If that’s selfish, then both of us are.” Tomas’s fingers brushed the tears away from Cathal’s eyes. “I’ve got a few ideas about that one. I had time to think while I was waiting for you to wake up yesterday.”

  “We’re going around in circles talking about this.” It seemed as though it always came up in their conversation, no matter what else they were talking about. Cathal had promised Tomas that he would focus on their future, not the past, but he couldn’t rid himself of his fears. He’d had them for so long; it would take more than a few days to work through them.

  “I know, and we need to do something about that.” Tomas cupped Cathal’s chin and tipped his head up so they were facing. “I hate seeing you unhappy, and you’re still having nightmares, love, even though they don’t wake you. I thought that might be the cause of them.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Apparently it’s the way we work through stuff that’s bugging us, or so Kathleen spent several years telling me.” At the mention of his sister’s name, a curtain suddenly came over Tomas’s expression and his emotions. He gathered up the pages that were the rough draft of his novel and leaned over to place them on the floor by the bed.

  “What’s wrong?” Cathal knew his betrothed well enough to know that particular combination was never a good sign. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No, but I probably should. Can we lie down? I want to hold you while we talk.” They were both still working through so much, but considering what had happened over the past few weeks, it was no wonder. Although they’d only known each other less than a month, it felt like a lot longer at times, yet they still had so much to learn about how being in a relationship worked. Neither of them was experienced in such matters.

  “I’ll hold you for as long as you need and want, my love.” They could talk about Tomas’s ideas later. Cathal would make sure they did.

  Tomas managed a shaky laugh. “I’d say forever, but I don’t think that’s very practical.”

  “Forever can be as long as you want it to be.” Cathal lowered them onto the bed so that they were lying down and in each other’s arms. “I’m not the only one who is adjusting to changes. I keep forgetting that. Have you still not managed to speak to your sister?”

  “I’ve spoken to her.” Tomas had tried since their return to get hold of his sister to let her know that he was safe, but to no avail. His friend Ethan was coming to see him this weekend, and had sounded relieved at the news, but it seemed odd that Kathleen would not be here as soon as possible. From what Cathal gathered, Tomas and Kathleen were close, and were the only family each other possessed, as their parents had died when they were children. “I finally got through to her earlier today. Apparently her phone has been out of order and has only just been repaired.”

  “Apparently?” Cathal raised an eyebrow at Tomas’s words. “Don’t you believe it was?”

  “Of course I do.” Tomas looked away, his response belying his words, which were spoken far too quickly.

  “It still troubles you, though, doesn’t it?” Cathal slipped his fingers under Tomas’s shirt. The hair on his chest was sparse. It was the same light color as that on his head, but there was enough of it for Cathal to run his fingers through. His skin was warm under Cathal’s hand. Tomas curled in closer, his eyes half closing, and let out a not quite sigh.

  “This isn’t like her. I know it’s unreasonable to believe that she would drop everything and just come here to make sure I was okay, but to tell me she wouldn’t be here until after the weekend….” Tomas made a frustrated noise. “She sounded concerned, and I know she is, but what the hell could this appointment be that she couldn’t put it off?”

  “It may be something that she wants to tell you herself,” Cathal suggested. “I have not much experience of the telephone, but it seems to me to be a little impersonal.”

  “She sounded tired, Cat.” Tomas’s eyes opened abruptly, panic in his voice. “What if she’s sick, or worse? She didn’t even answer the phone when I rang. Grant did, and that’s not usual. Why would he be there unless something is wrong?”

  “Grant is a friend?” It wasn’t a name Tomas had mentioned before, and yet by the way he spoke, it was someone with whom he was familiar. Cathal wrapped his legs around Tomas and pulled the blankets over them. The temperature was dropping, and he did not want to let go of Tomas while he was upset.

  “Her boyfriend, I guess.” Tomas shrugged. “I really never took much notice.” He shook his head. “God, that really does make me sound like a self-centered idiot, doesn’t it? I’m freaking out because my sister isn’t dropping everything to come and see me, and yet I haven’t taken the time to find out how serious she is about this guy.”

  “You’ve had other things on your mind.” Tomas had been away from this world for six weeks, and focused on finding out what had happened to Cathal before that. He wasn’t being fair to himself.

  Tomas shrugged again, resting his head on Cathal’s chest. Cathal threaded his fingers through the thick strands of Tomas’s hair, stroking it. “She’s known Grant for a couple of years at least, Cat. I know I tend to get wrapped up with my own little corner of the world. She’s told me that on occasion, and so has Ethan. Neither of them pulls punches, however much I don’t want to hear what they have to say.”

  “Sometimes what we don’t want to hear is what we need to.” Cathal spoke the words softly, knowing them to be true. Christian and Will had always done that for him. Much of what they’d said in the past he hadn’t wanted to hear, but he always took heed of what was said, considering it before deciding whether he would act on it or not.

  “Even Heidi and Donovan told me I needed to get my head out of my arse when we first met.”

  Although it wasn’t the correct response, Cathal couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is that position even physically possible? I know you’re wonderfully flexible in bed, but I cannot visualize it.”

  The comment earned him a lazy swat on the side of one buttock. “I’m going to pretend you’re unfamiliar with that saying and that wasn’t a bad joke.”

  “My jokes aren’t that bad!” Cathal rolled them more onto their sides to give Tomas more access. “But if you want to keep your hand there, I’m not about to stop you.”

  “You’re still wearing your clothes, and as much as I love the way those jeans cling to your arse, I prefer the feel of that part of you with nothing on it.”

  Cathal raised an eyebrow. For some reason talking like this in bed seemed to always lead to more lovemaking, although it was also the time they spoke the most openly with each other. “Are you trying to get me to take my clothes off?”

  “If you have to ask, then I’m losing my touch.” Tomas kissed Cathal hard. Cathal parted his lips, stroking Tomas’s tongue with his own. When they broke the kiss both were breathing heavily.

  “There is nothing wrong with your touch, my love.” Cathal hesitated, feeling a little daring but not sure what Tomas’s response would be.

  “I can hear you thinking from here.” Tomas propped himself up on one elbow when Cathal pulled away. “Whatever it is, Cat, I’m sure it’s fine.” He frowned. “You do want to make love, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do, very much so.” Cathal slipped off the bed. He felt himself grow red. “I was wondering… umm… would you like me to undress for you so that you can watch?”

  “God, yes!” Tomas licked his lips and looked Cathal up and down, already undressing him with his eyes. “I would love that.” He arched his hips off the bed and undid his own jeans, already sliding them down but not taking his eyes off Cathal.

  “I wasn’t planning to u
ndress that quickly.” Cathal began to undo the top buttons of his shirt, deliberately taking his time.

  “I know that, but I wanted to be ready for you.” Tomas sat up and took off his T-shirt, muscles flexing when he pulled it over his head. His skin was lightly tanned, and for someone who claimed he didn’t exercise much, his build resembled that of a herald. He’d chuckled at that, saying that he didn’t run much either, although he might be persuaded to for the right reasons.

  Tomas’s boxers joined his jeans on the floor. Cathal got a tantalizing glimpse of one bare hip and thigh before the blankets were pulled up to just above Tomas’s groin. Cathal let his eyes travel across Tomas’s flat stomach and down to the almost red hair peeking out from under the blanket, teasing to what lay beneath. God, how he wanted to touch Tomas, right there, right now.

  “You are, my love. You definitely are.” Cathal swallowed but forced himself not to speed up his own actions. He undid the last button of his shirt, letting it slide from his shoulders to the floor. The undergarment he wore beneath only needed pulling over his head. He did not understand why Tomas did not feel the need to wear one, as this world’s clothing was not as warm as his own. The belt from his jeans came next, followed by the button fly. The denim material eased down over his hips slowly. He stepped out of them and then removed his socks, very aware of Tomas’s eyes on him.

  Tomas’s breath hitched. “You’re so beautiful, Cat. When we’re together I want to touch you, to be with you. You look and feel so good.” He gestured for Cathal to come closer. “Do you remember the first time we kissed at the inn?” He looked at the boxers Cathal still wore, reached out and traced the outline of Cathal’s hard cock through the cotton material. Cathal moaned softly, pushing into his hand. “The undergarments you wore then drove me crazy. I couldn’t work out how to undo the laces.”

  “I prefer these. They’re easier to remove.” Cathal could take a hint. Tomas wanted him, and now. “Do you want to finish?”