Aran squeezed her fingers and she looked into his eyes and for that moment, the room and the people in it went away. It was just her and Aran.
“I’ve loved you forever,” he said. “Marry me forever.”
Jesse shivered. “It really can be forever, can’t it?”
Aran’s smile was heated. “For far longer than most people get to have, we can have each other, yes.”
Jesse drew in a trembling breath. “Then, yes.” She said quickly, “I would have said yes, anyway, but forever makes it far better.”
Aran brought her face to his and kissed her. “Any way is fine by me, Captain Hall.”
Only then did Jesse hear the tinking of spoons against glasses and the clapping around the table.
Jesse moved out into the cool evening air, for even though it was December in southern Spain, it could still be warm, especially in a closed room. She headed for the balcony with its grand stone balustrades and the view of the mountains.
She was not the first there. The silhouette of three people standing close together brought her to a halt. Judging by the size of the biggest of the three, it was Veris, Brody and Taylor.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” Jesse said, backing away, as the three of them separated.
“You can’t sneak up on us, remember?” Taylor said. “Don’t go away, Jesse. Come here.”
Jesse moved reluctantly over to the balustrade. “I just wanted to breathe air and think for a moment.”
“So did we,” Brody said. “It’s been a hell of an evening.”
Jesse turned to face them, even though she couldn’t really see them in the dark. She knew they could see her perfectly. “Do you mind?” she asked, her throat tightening and her heart pounding. She picked out Veris’ tall silhouette as she said it.
Taylor touched Jesse’s arm. “I was there on the timescape. I know what you mean to each other. How could I mind?”
Jesse could feel her cheeks heat.
Brody rested his arm around Taylor’s waist. “I’ve learned not to argue with my wife. She’s always right.” He paused. “Aran long ago stopped needing our blessing, Jesse. You’ve never needed it. Which is why you’re perfect for him. You’re your own person and that scares Aran enough that he’ll never risk losing you.”
“But I’d like your blessing anyway,” Jesse said.
Brody glanced over his shoulder. “I think she’s talking about you, big guy.”
Veris’ big shadow moved. He came over to the balustrade where Jesse stood and at this angle, the porch light illuminated one blue eye and the high cheek bone. “You used to be afraid of me.”
“I…” She cleared her throat. “I guess, yes. Once.”
“But not anymore.”
“Oh, you still terrify me when you’re in Northman mode, but most people scatter when you start frothing at the mouth.” She shrugged.
Veris’ eye narrowed and she knew he was silently laughing. “As far as I’m concerned, Jesse, you’ve been a part of this family since you arrived in your dress uniform with your arm in a sling. You’re just making it official. Which means I get to call you something I could never say aloud before.” He leaned and touched his lips to her forehead. “Daughter,” he breathed.
Jesse felt stupidly, dizzyingly happy. “Thank you,” she breathed.
“Are you manhandling my fiancé, Far?” Aran said. He moved across the balcony, slid Jesse away from Veris and wrapped his arms around her from behind so they could look at the three of them. Aran was hot against her back.
Veris didn’t move away or spout denials. “I think it’s time you dropped the Far and Athair, Aran. We all look too close in age, these days, for it to be publicly acknowledged.”
Jesse didn’t need to look around to know that Aran was shaking his head. “Never,” he said flatly. “Not while it’s just us, Far.”
Veris dropped his gaze to his toes and Jesse realized with a start that he was marshalling his reaction. Then he raised his chin and she caught her breath, for his eyes were glittering.
Brody made a rough sound in his throat and wrapped his arms around Veris and kissed his cheek. “Marshmallow,” he said, his voice rough.
Taylor moved so that she was standing beside them, completing a tight little circle. “They’ll never say it, so I must. Thank you, Jesse, for saving Aran. You brought him back to us, and we can never thank you enough for that gift.”
Aran’s arms tightened around her. “Ditto,” he breathed, kissing the top of her head.
Jesse sighed.
“And,” Taylor said, in a more normal voice. “Have you thought about a date for the wedding, at all?”
Jesse glanced up at Aran. He smiled.
“November 11,” they said together.
“Which one?” all three replied back.
_____
The Next Book in the Kiss Across Time series
The next book in this series, Kiss Across the Universe, will be out in 2021.
In the meantime, try more vampire time travel ménage stories from the Beloved Bloody Time series.
Bannockburn Binding, Book 1, Beloved Bloody Time series.
Time is theirs to keep. But it comes with a price
In the early 23rd Century, vampires learned how to travel back in time, and created a time-tsunami that threatened life as we know it, until they corrected their mistake. They created the Chronometric Conservation Agency, which is tasked with preserving history and therefore protecting humanity’s future. The Touring arm of the Agency offers trips back into the real past, with vampire guides, called travelers.
When Natalia (Tally) Marta, vampire and traveler, takes her client to visit the siege of Stirling Castle in 1314, she is caught and held hostage for ransom by Robert MacKenzie, a Bruce clansman. Rob finds himself drawn to the wilful, stubborn and very different English lady he has captured and the relationship becomes an intimate, highly-charged sexual pairing. Swiftly, Tally and Rob realize their bond is more than sexual, that the emotions stirring their hearts are true.
Christian Lee Hamilton, vampire, one of the last true southern gentlemen, and Tally’s ex-lover, knows the 1314 time marker enough to jump back and help Tally return home. His arrival at Bannockburn adds complications, for Christian finds himself drawn to Rob MacKenzie as much as Tally is. But neither of them can stay in the past forever. To do so means certain death.
___
Amazon Best Seller – Top 100 (#5)
#1 Amazon Time Travel Romance Bestseller
#1 Amazon Fantasy Romance Bestseller
Reviewers’ Top Pick —The Romance Reviews
Nominated Erotic Paranormal Book of the Year 2011—The Romance Reviews
Reviewers’ Top Pick: Oh wow, is this a great read! I simply couldn’t put this down once I started. OMG! I didn’t see this resolution coming. —The Romance Reviews
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About the Author
en nominated for five CAPAs including Favorite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year. Tracy won the award in 2012, and a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
Other books by Tracy Cooper-Posey
For reviews, excerpts, and more about each title, visit Tracy’s site and click on the cover you are interested in: http://tracycooperposey.com/books-by-thumbnail/
Scandalous Scions
(Historical Romance Series – Spin off)
Rose of Ebony
Soul of Sin
Valor of Love
Marriage of Lies
Scandalous Scions One (Boxed Set)
Mask of Nobility
Law of Attraction
Veil of Honor
Scandalous Scions Two (Boxed Set)
Season of Denial
Rules of Engagement
Degree of Solitude
Ashes of Pride
Risk of Ruin
Year of Folly
Queen of Hearts
Scandalous Families – The Victorians
(Historical Romance Series – Spin off)
His Parisian Mistress
Her Rebellious Prince
Their Foreign Affair
Once and Future Hearts
(Ancient Historical Romance—Arthurian)
Born of No Man
Dragon Kin
Pendragon Rises
War Duke of Britain
High King of Britain
Battle of Mount Badon
Abduction of Guenivere
Downfall of Cornwall
Vengeance of Arthur
Grace of Lancelot
The Grail and Glory
Camlann
Kiss Across Time Series
(Paranormal Time Travel)
Kiss Across Time
Kiss Across Swords
Time Kissed Moments
Kiss Across Chains
Kiss Across Time Box One (Boxed Set)
Kiss Across Deserts
Kiss Across Kingdoms
Time and Tyra Again
Kiss Across Seas
Kiss Across Time Box Two (Boxed Set)
Kiss Across Worlds
Time and Remembrance
Kiss Across Tomorrow
More Time Kissed Moments
Kiss Across Blades
Project Kobra
(Romantic Spy Thrillers)
Hunting The Kobra
Inside Man
Heart Strike
Blood Knot Series
(Urban Fantasy Paranormal Series)
Blood Knot
Southampton Swindle
Broken Promise
Vale
Amor Meus
Blood Stone
Blood Unleashed
Blood Drive
Blood Revealed
Blood Ascendant
Flesh + Blood (Boxed Set)
Vistaria Has Fallen
Vistaria Has Fallen
Prisoner of War
Hostage Crisis
Freedom Fighters
Casualties of War
V-Day
The Vistaria Affair (Boxed Set)
Romantic Thrillers Series
Fatal Wild Child
Dead Again
Dead Double
Terror Stash
Thrilling Affair (Boxed Set)
Beloved Bloody Time Series
(Paranormal Futuristic Time Travel)
Bannockburn Binding
Wait
Byzantine Heartbreak
Viennese Agreement
Romani Armada
Spartan Resistance
Celtic Crossing
Beloved Bloody Time Series Boxed Set
Scandalous Sirens
(Historical Romance Series)
Forbidden
Dangerous Beauty
Perilous Princess
Go-get-‘em Women
(Short Romantic Suspense Series)
The Royal Talisman
Delly’s Last Night
Vivian’s Return
Ningaloo Nights
The Sherlock Holmes Series
(Romantic Suspense/Mystery)
Chronicles of the Lost Years
The Case of the Reluctant Agent
Sherlock Boxed In
The Kine Prophecies
(Epic Norse Fantasy Romance)
The Branded Rose Prophecy
The Stonebrood Saga
(Gargoyle Paranormal Series)
Carson’s Night
Beauty’s Beasts
Harvest of Holidays
Unbearable
Sabrina’s Clan
Pay The Ferryman
Hearts of Stone (Boxed Set)
Destiny’s Trinities
(Urban Fantasy Romance Series)
Beth’s Acceptance
Mia’s Return
Sera’s Gift
The First Trinity
Cora’s Secret
Zoe’s Blockade
Octavia’s War
The Second Trinity
Terra’s Victory
Destiny’s Trinities (Boxed Set)
Interspace Origins
(Science Fiction Romance Series)
Faring Soul
Varkan Rise
Cat and Company
Interspace Origins (Boxed Set)
Short Paranormals
Solstice Surrender
Eva’s Last Dance
Three Taps, Then….
The Well of Rnomath
Jewells of Tomorrow
(Historical Romantic Suspense)
Diana By The Moon
Heart of Vengeance
The Endurance
(Science Fiction Romance Series)
5,001
Greyson’s Doom
Yesterday’s Legacy
Promissory Note
Quiver and Crave
Xenogenesis
Junkyard Heroes
Evangeliya
Skinwalker’s Bane
Contemporary Romances
Lucifer’s Lover
An Inconvenient Lover
Contemporary Romances Boxed Set
Non-Fiction Titles
Reading Order
(Non-Fiction, Reference)
Reading Order Perpetual
Copyright Information
This is an original publication of Tracy Cooper-Posey
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2020 by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Text design by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Cover design by Dar Albert
http://WickedSmartDesigns
Edited by Mr. Intensity, Mark Posey
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
FIRST EDITION: November 2020
Cooper-Posey, Tracy
Kiss Across Chaos/Tracy Cooper-Posey—1st Ed.
Romance—F
iction
Paranormal – Fiction