Resurrection Read online

  Yes!

  Her state of relaxed bliss was short-lived. Almost instantly he picked up the aftershocks of demand, of need.

  I want you inside me. Fuck me. Now.

  It was as clear to him as if she had already said the words out loud. He knew what she wanted from him, but he would make her verbalise it. She must ask him.

  "Say it, Janey. Tell me what you need."

  "I... Please."

  "Say it. Use the words you've heard me say if you have none of your own."

  "I want that... inside. Now."

  "What do you want inside you, Jane?"

  "Your... your cock, Sir. I want you to take me, with your cock."

  Ah, she was so fucking perfect. A little coy, perhaps, but still perfect.

  Ged unfastened his jeans quickly and freed his straining erection. He took a moment to roll her fully onto her front, then lifted her hips from the bed enough to be able to position the head of his cock at her entrance. She was no virgin, but still this seemed to Ged as though it was their first time. He entered her with care, inch by reverent, gentle inch, taking his time as he allowed her to stretch and reshape around him. When he was fully seated, buried to the hilt within her tight, hot cunt, he paused to savour the moment.

  Jane wriggled beneath him, squeezing her inner muscles tighter. Demanding, beautiful little slut.

  His fangs dropped as he leaned forward to kiss her shoulder, then the back of her neck where the fall of her hair had revealed the bare skin. She mewled in frustrated desire, but still he refused to be hurried. He scraped his extended canines across her exposed neck, and adored the way she shivered beneath him. She knew, understood her vulnerability, but she trusted him.

  He slipped a hand beneath her, reaching for her clit again. This time he stroked the engorged little nubbin with his finger as she squirmed and writhed. Only when he knew she was moments away from her second orgasm did he draw back his cock, almost completely out of her, then he drove it deep.

  Jane obliged him by coming hard around his dick as he plunged in and out of her, the waves of her arousal and release pulsing through him as he reached for his own climax. He had known this first time between them would be fast, explosive, and so it was. He might have drawn it out, but he chose not to.

  He had waited centuries for this moment. He wouldn't delay it a moment longer.

  *****

  "Now I know."

  "Mmm, know what?" Ged lay on his back as Jane snuggled into his side. She had been asleep, her low, even breathing betraying her exhaustion. She'd awakened a few minutes earlier, but these were the first words she had said to him.

  "Now I know what I had been yearning for."

  "I'm sorry. I was a dickhead back then. Blame it on my youth."

  "I am not entirely sure I know what a dickhead is, but I suspect it is not something you might aspire to."

  "No, it isn't. I'll do better from now on."

  "That is excellent news, Sir. And I do not believe I ever considered you to be a dickhead or anything similar. You were a good husband to me."

  He hugged her closer. "We both know that's not entirely true."

  "I had much to thank our Dear Lady for. You did not set me aside when I failed to bear you sons."

  He shifted fast, rolling her onto her back and leaning over her. He ignored her flinching as her tender bottom pressed against the mattress. She stared up at him, her uneasy gaze shifting between his eyes and his still elongated fangs.

  "I would never have let you go. Why would you imagine I might?"

  "My mother said... she thought you might prefer to take a wife who was fertile."

  "Your mother was a vicious bitch. I should never have allowed her to move in with us. I would certainly have turned her out and locked my portcullis behind her if I’d had the first idea what rubbish she was filling your head with."

  Jane giggled, despite the fangs hovering but inches from her tender throat. "And I would have tossed the keys into the lake, to make quite sure she could never get back in."

  "I thought you wanted her there. That was the only reason I allowed it. Why did you never say?"

  "I suppose it was because I believed I had no choice. I did not, not really. She could always bully me."

  "I know that she bullied you into marrying me, and along with my own selfish stupidity that was at the root of so much that was amiss between us. We've started to discuss that and I intend to come back to it at some stage soon. For now, though, hear this, and know that I'm telling you the truth. I adored you. I loved you, I was in awe of you. If we had had children I would have been delighted by that, but whatever happened, I would never have let you go."

  "I... I see. I had not realised, I mean… I thought..."

  "I know what you thought, but you were fucking wrong. So was your bitch of a mother. You were the most precious thing I possessed. You were mine, and I should have taken better care of you."

  "I am still yours. Or perhaps that should be, I am yours once again."

  He leaned down to rub his nose against the end of hers. "So you are, Lady Jane. I think perhaps I shall fuck you again, just to emphasise the point."

  “I believe I know what is different.”

  Ged blinked, baffled by the sudden change of subject. Janey always had a convoluted way of thinking, he recalled. He would need to learn to keep up.

  “I beg your pardon? Out of all the fucking mayhem and change, you can pick out one thing that’s different. Do please share.”

  “You are taking notice of me, Sir.”

  “Yes. And?”

  “You did not do so before. You did not speak to me when we were…” She hesitated, chewing on her lower lip as she obviously sought for the words she required.

  “When I fucked you before?”

  “Yes, Sir. That. You would just come to my chamber, do what was needed, and leave. You never spoke to me, never knew how I felt. What I wanted.”

  “I thought I did. I got it wrong.”

  “And now, you have it right.”

  “You were my wife. You still are. You’ve been generous in your assessment of my performance as a husband, but now I’m your Dominant as well. So know this, little Janey, as long as you submit to me you can expect my undivided attention. I’m going to know everything that happens in your body and in here too.” He stroked her temple, bringing her gaze to meet his. “I’ll look into your eyes and I’ll see your response. I’ll own it, all of it. All of you. Every shiver, every gasp, every moan. Every ripple of pain and every tremble of pleasure. I’ll make it my business to know. I’ll hurt you while you scream for more. I’ll make you come while you beg me to stop. You’re mine now, to do with as I please, and it pleases me to please you. So, little sub, does that sound like the sort of husband you might prefer?”

  “Why are you calling me that?”

  “Calling you what?”

  “Sub. What does that mean?”

  He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. “I apologise, I should have explained. Sub is short for submissive. As my submissive you accept my dominance, allow me to be in control. That’s what I want from you.”

  “You have always had that. I was ever an obedient wife. Well, except for that one time, with the duke.”

  “No, this is different. I’m referring more specifically to what happens between us sexually. I’m a Dominant, which means I require to be in absolute control when I fuck you. In the bedroom you’ll submit to me, absolutely. You’ll obey my instructions and allow me to do as I choose to you.”

  “Of course I will. I am your wife.”

  “If you submit, it has to be because you choose to, not because you believe you must. This has nothing at all to do with wifely duty. It’s about trusting me and handing over control. Do you think you could do that, Janey?”

  “Will you hurt me?”

  “Sometimes, but as your Dom—short for Dominant—it would be my responsibility to take care of you, to make sure you’re never injured either physically
or emotionally.”

  “Can you do that?” breathed Jane. “Can you really be sure?”

  “Oh yes, you will have my undivided attention because I intend to be very sure. And, I think you’ll love what I have in mind for you.”

  She gazed up at him, the slate grey of her eyes deepening in her arousal. His cock swelled and hardened as his fangs started to descend again. She really was the most delicious little creature.

  “So do I, Sir.”

  Jane smiled back up at him, and spread her legs.

  *****

  Several hours later Ged was alone in his kitchen, watching the dawn break over the eastern horizon. His mobile whirred on the table. The caller display showed James' face grinning up at him. He tapped to accept the call.

  "Ged? How are you?" It was Serena's dulcet tone.

  Ged was pleased, he'd been hoping to hear from her before much longer. "I'm well. So is Jane. Do you have any news?

  "I do."

  "The carbon-dating?"

  "Not especially helpful. The fabrics are showing as less than a decade in age."

  Ged grimaced, though he had half expected that to be the case. "That may simply indicate that they were new when Jane acquired them, and they slipped through time unchanged, as she did."

  "Yes, my thoughts pretty much. So I started to wonder about the candlestick."

  "Did you have that carbon-dated? Does it work with metals?"

  "Not in the same way. I sent the artifact to a historian I know in the hope he might be able to date the style of its construction. He did better though."

  "Oh?"

  "The candlestick is made of an alloy of copper. Fred, my historian, took a sample of the metal and subjected it to some proper scientific testing." There was a rustle of papers as she seemed to be consulting her notes. Ged remained silent, waiting. "Ah, yes. Fred had the sample X-rayed. The technique's called fluorescent spectrometry and it identified all the component metals within the alloy, and their proportions. Your candlestick's made up of copper mainly, but with zinc, lead and tin too. You're a cheapskate, Ged. Did you have no decent silverware?"

  "It would seem not. Go on."

  "Right. Well, historically the precise composition of metals is very specific to a particular date and in many cases a location too. Your candlestick tallies exactly with the known metallurgic combinations for the North of England during the mid to late fifteenth century."

  "So, it is genuine?"

  "Did you doubt it?"

  "No, not really. But I'm happier knowing we have some independent evidence to corroborate what I suspect—correction—believe."

  "There's more, if you're interested."

  "Of course."

  "The candlestick wasn't buried when you found it?"

  "No. It was lying in the grass close to Janey."

  "In the open, exposed to the elements?"

  "Yes."

  "In that case it hadn't been there very long. There's no evidence at all of oxidation. Rusting. And there were traces of vinegar suggesting that the piece was fairly recently polished."

  Ged grinned to himself. Jane had been a stickler for her household duties and took immense pride in keeping Roseworth in pristine condition. It would stand to reason that her candlesticks would be rust-free and gleaming.

  "Thanks, Serena. That's very helpful."

  "You're welcome. Do you want the items back?"

  "Yes, if you would, please. Janey might like them as mementos." He wasn't at all certain about that, but it would give her the choice.

  "Right, I'll get them back to you. I also had a long conversation with Marta Roi. Remember, the witch who's an expert on time shifting?"

  "I remember. And?"

  "I told her about the candlestick. She was impressed.”

  “Right. And did this Marta tell you anything else that was useful?"

  "Yes, she did. Although there are lots of stories about time travelers, as we already knew, most of the accounts are just that. Stories, fantasies, without foundation. But there are a few instances where Marta believes the evidence holds up. Yours might be one, given the metallurgy results. In each serious example there are commonalities. The travelers are in the main women, and movement can be backwards or forwards in time. The phenomenon is invariability triggered by some intense experience, something which evokes strong emotion—fear, grief, anger—and often a near death incident. The time traveler has usually been in dire peril at the moment of shifting."

  "Well, that fits. Jane was drowning."

  "So I understand."

  "She'd just had some very bad news, and a shock. She'd learned that a dear friend had been killed, and when she came to my chamber to tell me about it I was with another woman. Or more accurately another woman was tied to my bed. Janey took one look and ran."

  "Right. Well, I guess that might do it." Serena's tone was dry.

  "Did Marta say anything about it happening in reverse? If Jane gets upset or scared, might she shift back again?"

  "She didn't say that, though I don't suppose anyone really knows."

  Ged thought he might know. He loathed what he'd done to Janey when he first met her and believed her to be a witch, though mercifully he'd come to his senses in time. Still, he was under no illusions about how deeply he'd scared her. She'd thought she was about to die. She'd been sure of it when she cowered at his feet and begged for her life. If she'd had the ability to shift, she would have done it then, to escape him. He was convinced of it.

  It was as though a weight lifted from him. His little Janey was back with him. And she was here to stay. In which case, they had to make plans.

  *****

  It was already after eight o'clock in the morning. The days were short at this time of year, though that sort of suited Ged. The sky was streaked with reds and oranges when he ended his conversation with Serena, a sure sign of bad weather to come. He glanced at his phone again, this time the weather app on his home screen. Snow was forecast. He and Jane might be holed up here for a while if the weather really closed in. He had plenty of supplies so he would be fine. She, on the other hand, would require food. And she would be needing plenty of it, since he intended for her to expend a fair bit of energy.

  He had not eaten human food himself, not really, since around the mid eighteen hundreds. He didn't require it for a healthy diet, and he really couldn't be bothered. His entire culinary repertoire nowadays extended as far as making a pot of black coffee, opening a bottle of fine red wine, and defrosting bagged blood in his microwave. Which reminded him...

  He retrieved a bag of A rhesus negative from his freezer—his preferred variation, though any type would do fine from a nutritional point of view, and shoved the clear plastic package into the small oven. Then he opened up his laptop and found Tesco online shopping. He wasn't sure what to buy, but given his limitations and Jane's absolute lack of twenty-first century kitchen skills, he went for a selection of heat and eat meals for one. He included several pizzas just to play safe, then he added milk to the list, some packs of cereals, bread and cheese as he knew those would be familiar to her, and as an afterthought a large bar of chocolate. He might try some of that himself, he'd heard it was very pleasant. He arranged for his purchases to be delivered later that day and hoped the weather held for a little while yet. Then he collected his blood from the microwave, snipped off the corner of the bag and poured the contents into a large wineglass.

  Many vampires took the stuff straight from the bag, and Ged would too, happily, if he was feeding on the move. He'd always felt more civilised drinking from a glass though, so that was his preference when in his own home.

  He considered downing his glass in one when he heard footsteps on the landing above and realised Jane was up and about. She would have to know soon enough, but perhaps he might... No, he decided. It might as well be now.

  He regarded her as she descended the stairs. She paused, hesitant, at the foot. She was wearing her leggings from yesterday, and a new sweater. He cou
ld see at a glance that she had not yet mastered the art of underwear, and his cock twitched in gleeful appreciation. The half full glass remained on the table before him. She eyed it, and he saw when realisation dawned.

  "I am disturbing you." She stepped back, clearly intending to afford him privacy to consume his blood alone.

  "No, you aren't. Can I get you a coffee? Or tea perhaps? I have other food on order, but for now that's the best I can offer you. If you're starving, we could go out..."

  "I am not hungry, thank you. But a drink would be pleasant."

  Ged stood and went to switch on the electric kettle. Jane followed him, watching closely.

  "Would you teach me how to use these items? It is not appropriate that you should perform services for me."

  He turned and leaned on the counter, his arms folded. "I will teach you, but because you need to know how to look after yourself, not because I don't want to 'perform services' as you put it. This is a different age we're in. You submit to me in the bedroom, but in all else we're equal."

  "But—"

  "Believe me. I am right in this. So, you want to know how to make a cup of coffee?"

  She nodded. "Yes, if you please, Sir."

  He gave her a wry grin, but decided not to quibble about her choice of address. They had a lot of ground to cover. Instead, he reached for the jar of instant coffee, and showed her where he kept mugs and spoons.

  Back at the kitchen table she wrapped her slender fingers around the steaming cup while he finished his own breakfast.

  "I could not help but notice that you did not share the food last night. Do you prefer... this?"

  He nodded. "It's all I need. Anything else I consume is by choice, rather than necessity."

  "Did you...? I mean, who was this...?" She pointed at the now empty glass. "Where did you obtain this from?"

  He would have laughed, but her anxious little face robbed the situation of any humour. She actually thought he'd gone out into the night and seized some hapless peasant whose lifeblood he could drain. Yet still she trusted him enough to share his home and his bed. Incredible.