ALL IN GOOD TIME...(closed for heartofcourage)

[heartofcourage]

Grace kissed him with a sweetness that broke her heart as he said that he couldn’t take her with him and maybe one day they would meet again. She let her fingers clench his shirt tightly, desperately trying to keep him there as the other things that he said swirled through her head.

He was saying he was from the future. Of this, she had no reason not to believe him. Everything that she’d seen so far that day pointed to a strange fact and certainly that was it. Others might have called him evil, the devil, a witch, but by God, Grace believed him.

As she pulled away from his kiss, she had tears in her eyes, her hand raising to touch his cheek once more.

“Aaron, please do not make you decision about me now.” She said, hoping that perhaps she could change his mind after a night together. “Decide after we’re through.”

With that, she took his hand and led him from the great hall through winding halls to her chambers. Once there, she turned to bar the door, facing him for the first time with her heart racing. She knew being with this man was incredibly right and when she thought about her future, she wanted to weep at the injustice of it. She’d have a night of passion and then have to remember it for the rest of her life as a memory while she suffered married to a man she didn’t want.

“You mustn’t leave me behind unfulfilled.” She said softly as she turned and offered him her back, the line of ties that held her gown together apparent in the candle light. She looked over her shoulder at him, unpinning her hood and letting her hair cascade down her back as she silently waited for him.

[Ikely]

The kiss let him know that it was going to happen.

Seeing the tears in her eyes made him reach up and dab them away with his thumb.

“Aaron, please do not make you decision about me now. Decide after we’re through.”

So she had just said it was going to happen, but there was no way he was going to change his mind. He would not allow that. She would be killed if she returned to the future with him. They could not let her live.

He allowed himself to be led to her chambers.

Once inside, Grace barred the door then turned toward him.

“You mustn’t leave me behind unfulfilled.”

Aaron felt his cock move and swell at the thought.

She turned away from him while backing up to him. In the candle light, she was breathtaking to look at.

She released her hair.

Aaron moved up next to her, so close that he placed his rapidly growing bulge on her ass. He moved her long hair to over her left shoulder and he began kissing the right side of her neck. He nibbled softly at her ear then let an gentle exhale drift on to it.
He began to untie the back of the dress. Slowly, one at a time until the dress fell to a heap around her feet.

He pulled his shirt off and stepped back to her, his chest pressing against her back.
Her body was hot to the touch.

He turned her head to him and he began kissing her mouth, finding her tongue and sucking it into his mouth.

His left hand began squeezing her left breast, then pinching her nipple to make it hard. His right hand trailed along her stomach, the fingertips grazing he flesh.

He stepped away and looked at the image of the beautiful woman, shadows flickering on her naked body.

He pulled his boots off then dropped his pants, freeing his engorged erection.

He walked up to Grace and began the kiss again, his cock nestling in her crotch.

In one movement Aaron picked her and laid her on the center of the giant bed.

He crawled onto the bed then between her legs.

He grabbed her ankles and spread her legs open. He laid his member on the lips of her eager, moist quim. Aaron began sliding his hard-on up and down the outside of her pussy, feeling it dampen.

He began kissing and nibbling at her throat, then he sucked the nipple of the taut breast into his mouth. He bit down only slightly on it.

Aaron then sat up and took one of her wrists in each hand and placed them over her head and held them there

Looking into her eyes, he eased the tip of his raging erection into her slit.

He was committing his second policy violation in less than an hour.

He did not care anymore.

[heartofcourage]

Grace had never known a man to make such short work of a woman’s clothing, but she was surprised to find herself standing nude in a matter of moments save for her stockings and the jewels around her neck. She sighed all the while at the delightful feelings of his lips upon her neck and his teeth upon her ear.

As he pressed against her back, she gasped at the hot touch of his bare skin against hers and she reached behind her, letting her fingers trail over his muscular side before he turned her head and claimed her lips in another soul stealing kiss. Surely this man was wicked for the way he made her head spin with a simple touch of his lips.

The feel of his hand upon her breast was perhaps the best thing she’d felt in her life. The pressure of his fingers around her nipple had a low, hot moan escaping her lips and then he pulled away all too soon. She turned to watch him undress, her eyes taking in his generous manhood in all of its beauty.

Then, he stalked towards her, lifting her as if she weighed nothing and lay her in the center of her bed. She stared up at him in a haze as he crawled between her thighs and his strong hands spread her legs open. She willingly splayed them wide, her moist center clearly on display to him as he slide his cock between her legs with a maddening tempo.

Grace thrust her hips up towards him, encouraging him to enter her hot flesh, but was intent on teasing. A smile came to her lips as he began to seduce her with his hands and teeth. The kisses at her throat were intoxicating. The feel of his lips closing over her nipples caused a delightful shriek to leave her lips and the sting of his teeth on the hard nub made her moan hotly.

Then he gathered her wrists in his hands, holding them above her head so she was completely at his mercy. “Aaron.” She muttered in a hot whisper as he stared into her eyes and slowly slid his cock inside of her. She arched beneath him, her hips pushing upwards to met his upon his first thrust. Dear God in heaven how she wanted this man.

[Ikely]

Graces’ moans made his dick pulsate as his heart rate picked up.

When she whispered his name and arched her back, Aaron plunged the full length of his member all the way into her.

He leaned down to kiss her mouth, while slowly stroking in and out.

Aaron felt her body convulse under him.

He let go of her wrists and with his right hand, took her stocking covered left leg and brought it up and over the small of his back.

His fucking started to pick up speed.

The fingers of his left hand found hers and they laced together.

His breathing was picking up. He brought his right knee up to gain some leverage.

He heard the sound of their bodies making wet, slapping sounds as their fucking picked up.
Sweat began to bead on his brow but he was beyond caring about anything except pleasuring this woman.

Aaron continued deep stroking her, but now added an occasional corkscrew effect. He reached under to grab her ass cheeks and pull them apart. He thought he heard her gasp.

A crazy thought ran through his mind. Aaron remembered the sexy History professor from college talking to some of them prior to class beginning and mentioning how sex during this time period was usually the standard missionary position. The people of this time believed that any other position was sinful and wicked and could cause birth defects.

Aaron decided that when she had her first orgasm, he was going to find out how the good Lady Grace Winthrop liked being on top.

[heartofcourage]

Grace had never been stretched so intimately by a man before and Aaron seemed intent to make sure that she enjoyed every moment. He set a slow pace with his hips, his cock grinding in and out of her as his lips pressed against hers. She sighed, and allowed him to kiss her in the same soul stealing way that he had earlier. Her tongue battled against his, fighting for supremacy until she let him win the delicious battle.

She quivered underneath him, her hips rising to meet his. His pace was maddeningly slow, but soon he began to pick it up and she moaned in pleasure. She tugged on her wrists, her eyes begging him to release her so that she could touch him. When he did, she let her fingers trace over his sides, her nails scouring over his shoulders as he brought one of her legs up and over his hip. She squeezed against him with her thighs, encouraging the wild ride that he was now taking her on.

When his fingers laced through hers, she brought their hands to her lips, kissing the back of his hand before she sucked on his index finger, her eyes hot with lust as he pounded into her with a passion. The sounds of their coupling filled the room and she couldn’t help but cry out when he did wicked things with his hips.

Grace had never met a man like this before. He was driving her to insanity, she feared as she felt his free hand grasp her bottom and squeeze until she was moaning. As he pulled her cheeks apart and she felt cool air caress that forbidden area, she gasped. She looked at him with bright eyes full of the possibilities.

Grace clung to Aaron, holding him close to her body as she felt herself rising to that highest peak. She pressed her cheek against his neck, crying out against his ear as he ground against her wet clit and she was sent soaring over the edge.

“Aaron!” She cried out as she pulsed around his hard length, her eyes closing at the intense pleasure of it all.

[Ikely]

Everything about this act was so arousing for Aaron.

Her moans and whimpers, her wiggling and squirming underneath him and her raking her nails along his back just made his already raging cock swell even more. He thought that his dick had never been as hard as it was at that moment. It felt like it might explode.

As she sucked on his finger, he looked into her eyes and saw pure, carnal lust. She was highly sexually charged and that made Aaron just fuck her deeper and harder.

Under him, he felt Grace squirm and then whimper softly.

When she leaned up into him and rest her head on his shoulder, he knew that she was having her first searing orgasm of the night.

She called his name as he slammed his meat into her.

Without breaking the pace of his fucking, Aaron cupped the back of her head and held her tight, hot body against his. She squealed slightly and he felt the pussy begin to clench then release his cock. He whispered in her ear, “Cum for me, Grace.”

The orgasm erupted and her body seemed to undulate in his hands. Her breathing took on a pant as wave after wave of orgasm passed through her body.

Soon her breathing slowed to normal and Aaron took that time to lift her up, his cock never coming out of her still spasming quim, then he lay on his back with her on top.

She was lying very still on his chest and he gently moved his fingertips of his left hand up and down the hot skin of her back, while cupped her head with his right hand, soothing her after an intense orgasm.

When he felt that her body was ready, he slowly began sliding his throbbing member into and out of her pussy.

As the momentum picked up, he used his hands to push her up right so that she was now straddling his body.

“Now you are on top.” He whispered with a smile. He raked his fingertips across the protruding nipples of her tits.

The look on her face was priceless.

[heartofcourage]

Grace was panting against Aaron as he held her tightly, her body still pulsing around his as he murmured words in her ear that she could barely hear over the racing of her heart. She felt lips at her throat, teeth scraping that spot beneath her ear as he suddenly flipped them over and she was straddling his still hard cock.

Grace placed her hands on his hard chest to keep her balance, her eyes wide as she stared down at the picture they made. “I’ve never done this before.” She said in a soft voice that ended with a sigh as he ran his fingers over her hard nipples. She was shocked, unsure but incredibly wanting of the man beneath her.

She moved her hips slightly, grinding her wet and swollen flesh against his. A low moan erupted from her throat at the sensation and she couldn’t help but notice the wicked smile that split his lips as he watched her tentative movements.

“You are very wicked.” She said in a low voice as she bent her head down towards his chest and ran a tongue over his nipple, her teeth catching it as she nipped the flesh before soothing it with her tongue.

[Ikely]

Aaron thought she seemed hesitant at first with the reversal.

When Grace began moving her hips, she let out a low moan. She now understood she was in control of her own movement, her own pleasure.

When she looked down at Aaron he pursed his lips then smiled up at her.

“You are very wicked.”

She began moving her body up and down his shaft, steadily picking up speed.
Then Grace took over. She bent down and licked his nipples. When she nipped at his nipple, Aaron clinched his eyes shut and rolled his head back while arching his back. The soothing feeling of her tongue on his chest followed and the experience only caused Aaron to pump harder.

He liked that she was taking part in the act now.

Aaron reached around behind her and tickled her anus with his middle finger.
He felt her response. Then he felt his own building orgasm deep inside beginning to boil.

Aaron sat up and faced her as she wrapped the stocking covered legs around his waist.

He grabbed a handful of the silky hair and with a little bit of force, pulled her head back and sucked on the flesh of her neck. He ran his tongue over her throat, the he kissed her deeply.

His orgasm was intensifying and he knew it would not be long.

As he felt his cock swell inside of her, he knew he was very close now.

He rolled them over again.

He kissed her mouth and sucked her tongue.

“Oh God Grace…its going to happen!” Aaron said out loud.

Aaron straightened up and grabbed both of her ankles and spreading her legs.
His throbbing cock was now pistoning in and out of her, faster and faster.
He was staring into her eyes, her look was almost animalistic. He felt his balls tighten up and his cock swell even more with the impending orgasm.

Aaron threw his head back shut his eyes. His nostrils flared and a what could have been a snarl came across his mouth.

“OH GOD, GRACE!” was all he could get out before he growled and the first cum shot blasted out of him and deep into her.

[heartofcourage]

Grace had the delightful feeling of being in control of her own pleasure for once in her life. She bucked her hips over the hard length of him, moaning as she ground against him in a most delicious way. She gasped to feel his hand on her bottom, a finger stroking over that dark, forbidden place of hers as he pumped into her. She whimpered at the feel of his finger, her ass pressing back into it for more of the darkly delicious feeling.

Grace clung to Aaron as he sat up, his arms wrapping around her as she clung to his hard body. Her teeth nipped at his jaw, her legs squeezing around his waist as he pummeled her with a brutal pace.

His fingers tangled in her hair, jerking her head back until she gasped and he sucked on her neck, her pulse fluttering wildly as he traced his tongue over the column of her throat. Then his lips were upon hers, his tongue fighting against hers as she submitted to his desires.

Then he rolled them over, his fingers still tangled so tightly in her hair as he kissed her with a passion she didn’t know existed. She moaned, her wetness increasing with the sound of his gravelly voice telling her that he was almost there.

Her legs were spread wide as he pumped into her, his fingers wrapped in a tight grip around her ankles. The look on his face was amazing, the pain and pleasure of such an intense experienece mixed so apparently on his features. “Aaron.” She whimpered as he went fast and faster, the slapping of their flesh loud in the quiet room.

When he threw his head back, she watched the corded muscles in his neck tighten, a growl coming from his mouth as he cried out for her, the first burst of liquid heat shooting into her with a force she’d never known. She let out a cry, her head tipping back on the pillows as she joined him, her muscles rippling around him as she came yet again.

She felt the jerking motions of his cock in her, the blast of hot cum until he collapsed on top of her. She sighed at the weight of him covering her body, her fingers gently tracing over his muscular back as they both tried to catch their breath.

‘Kiss me, Aaron.” She whispered in his ear. “Kiss me and make me forget what must happen in the morning.”

[Ikely]

Aaron had never felt as intense, heated and copious an orgasm in his life as the one he just had. He could not explain it. Was it the fact that he was in serious violation of the number one rule he was required to work under?

It could be the fact that the woman who had just fucked him lived her life and died more than 400 years before he was ever born and that was just arousing as hell.

Or it could be that Grace was just a passionate lover. He knew from history that women of this era were told who to marry and they were not really allowed to or at least they were not supposed to derive pleasure from the act of intercourse. Maybe Grace had just released some pent up sexual energy that had been coursing through her body.

Either way, the liaison that they just finished had been torrid and intense and Aaron was spent.

As he lay his weight on her, his lips touching lightly on the side of her neck, he heard her.

‘Kiss me, Aaron. Kiss me and make me forget what must happen in the morning.”

Now he felt bad. There was no way she could return with him. She was stuck in her time period and there was nothing anyone could do to change that.

He found her hand and laced his fingers in hers. He gently kissed her neck then found her lips.

Her lips, soft and glistening, touched his. His bottom lip came off of hers and he took her top lip between his.

Their lips touched gently. Then Aaron took her head in his hands and began kissing her.

His tongue slipped into her mouth and touched the tip of hers.

The tongues then pressed together. He was stroking her side while she traced the muscles of his back.

He broke the kiss, and stared into her eyes, brushing the hair from her brow with his fingertips.

He did not know what to say.

“Grace, I really feel that we will see each other again. I do not know how or when, but I think it will happen.” He kissed her softly.

Aaron sat up. He ran his finger tip over her lips, and then dragged his fingers along her still heated body…over the nipples, down the flat of her stomach. He reached her slit and ran his middle finger up and down between the lips. Next his fingers moved down the inside of her thigh until they reached the stocking top.

“I have to get ready. I am going to find my target and accomplish my mission.” Aaron said climbing off of the bed.

He put the pants and shirt back on, but not the boots. He unbarred the door, trying to be quiet, and then stepped out in to the hall.

Before closing the door, he turned and looked back at Grace.

For an instant, as he gazed upon her naked body still lying on the bed, the shadows from the candles playing across her naked flesh, he thought about staying in this time.

Then he knew that the mission had to be accomplished and that other missions were awaiting.

He pursed his lips, nodded slightly, then backed out closing the door behind him.

[heartofcourage]

Grace was trying her best to keep it all together as Aaron kissed her like she’d asked. She wanted to cry, to beg like a child, but she didn’t. She simply accepted that what they had was special and it might never happen again.

She whimpered as she felt his fingers tracing back over her sensitive flesh, her body wanting him yet again after such a powerful orgasm. She watched him as he took in every part of her body, committing it to memory before he stood from the bed and began to gather his clothing.

She lay still, her body still as he placed it as she watched him dress and she felt the first tears grow thick on her lashes. Please, stay. Please, take me with you! Her eyes were begging and her heart breaking as he said that he had to go.

She sat up and watched him pause at the door, his eyes taking in the scene one more time.

“Aaron?” She called out softly as he turned to leave. She knew that he heard her but he simply kept walking away.

Grace’s heart shattered in that instant, her world yet again returning to a gloomy grey. She curled upon the sheets that still smells like him and she cried out her pain.





In the village, the Viscount listened to the stories that this strange man was telling him. He was well into his cups, a head full of liquor and a frown upon his face.

“You say he looks like a Spaniard?” He asked the man who enthusiastically said yes. “Well, I do believe, sir, that my sister might have helped him only this morning. Perhaps we might go back to the manor and ask her a few questions?”

Henry’s blood was boiling at the thought that his sister might have had anything to do with helping this madman that had appeared on his land. Grace had always been headstrong, but this time he was going to teach her a lesson that she never forgot.

[Ikely]

Aaron heard her call out his name just as the door closed.

He paused momentarily as he fought off the emotions that he was feeling.
He would have given anything in the world to take her back to his time. He thought it would have been really fun acclimating a 16th century beauty to 21st century America. He would take her to the mall and show her the bounty of his world and time. He would have to take her to a Georgia Bulldog football game and let her see. He wanted to take her on an airplane, and fly to Monte Carlo. They would enjoy good food and then they would fuck like rabbits in a hotel room overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. He would teach her to drive and let her take his BMW M3 out. It would be great or rather, it would have been great.

Aaron finally switched on. He was fully engaged with preparing for his mission. He quickly donned his uniform and assault boots. He threw on his armour with the SAPI, Small Arms Protective Insert, plates.

He had left his helmet in Ancient Egypt, so he put on a black University of Georgia ball cap with the image of Uga, the dog on the front. It was well worn having been to the SEC championship game as well as Khost Province, Afghanistan.

He ran a check of all his weapon systems and found them operating nominally.

He put the hard case on his back with the assault pack on top of that. He pulled on his tan Oakley assault gloves, with the carbon fiber knuckle plating and slung his sniper rifle. He did a bounce check for noise discipline and then he walked out in to the hall.

He passed Graces chamber. He immediately flashed back to the amazing sex that he had just completed.

He almost opened the door to look at her one last time, maybe kiss her one last time or say…something…to her one last time.

He knew he could not.

He let out a sigh, and then pushed out.

Once outside of the manor, his training kicked in and he went silent.

He was paralleling a road or trail going in the direction of the village when he heard noise.
A group of riders was moving down the trail towards the manor.

From his vantage point he saw it was Graces’ brother, the Viscount.

When Aaron saw who was also in the group with the Viscount, he turned around and headed back for the manor house.

Sokoloff was riding alongside the Viscount.

They were headed for the manor house…and Grace.

[heartofcourage]

When Grace’s tears subsided, she slipped from bed and slipped into a fresh bed gown. Sliding her wrap around her shoulders, she sighed deeply and thought about Aaron. How could she had been so foolish to ask him to take her with him? He never would have. It broke her heart to think about him going away forever, no matter what he professed about them meeting again in the future. She wished she believed that.

She made her way to the fire, stoking it up higher to warm her weary bones. She missed him already. She wished he’d come back through those doors and tell her that he had changed his mind about everything. She was being a dreamer and nothing good ever came from dreams and wishes.

She was startled when the door to her chamber burst open. She stood from her place beside the fire, watching as her brother stalked into the room followed closely by a man she’d never seen before. Her brother looked angry as his eyes searched for and found her.

“Henry, what’s wrong?” She asked, stepping towards him to touch his arm.

“Where is he?” He growled out, his hand catching her wrist in a brutally painful grip. “Where is the man?”

Grace yelped at the painful grip he held her wrist in, her eyes watering as her heart beat quickly in fear. “I…I don’t know what you speak of, brother.”

“Tell me, dear sister, where the guest is that you brought home with you.” His voice was low and dangerous and Grace felt her eyes sliding towards the other man in the room, the fear in her heart ratcheting up another beat.

“He’s gone.” Grace yelped again as she was yanked forward, pain racing through her arm as her brother dragged her behind him to the chamber that she had given to Aaron. He tossed her through the open door, causing her to land on her hands and knees in the now empty room. “Henry, please…”

“Do not speak, slut.” He said in that slow dangerous voice that had her shivering. “I have been incredibly lenient with you during our period of mourning, but no longer. Why do my servants tell me that you took him to your room? Why do they tell me that he practices witchcraft and might very well be the devil himself?”

Grace stared up at the two men, her lips quivering. “He isn’t the devil, Henry. He is a good man here to search for a man of evil.”

She trembled as the man beside Henry suddenly began to laugh and she felt cold as ice at the realization of who he was. This was the man that Aaron must be looking for. Oh dear Lord, please don’t let Aaron have gone far, she prayed as her brother circled around her.

“It is very disappointing to learn that my dear sister, my flesh and blood, would betray me in such a way. She’s nothing but a harlot.” Grace felt tears trace down her cheeks at her brother’s words. “Perhaps she’s a witch as well. A changeling. She’s much too headstrong to be of my blood.”

“Henry, please don’t…” Her words were cut off when he delivered a sharp blow to her cheek, silencing her as she trembled on the ground.

“My friend here tells me that I should put you to death. Perhaps I should.” Henry crouched down beside his sister, looking her in the eye with a glare of pure hatred. “But perhaps I should reward my friend first for providing me with such valuable information. Then, only then, dear sister, will I turn you over to the town to be tried as a witch.”

Henry stood then, glancing at Sokoloff and with a nod, he left the chamber, leaving the madman with the woman who he would no longer claim as his flesh and blood.

Grace glanced up at the other man, terror in her eyes. He looked menacing and he certainly wouldn’t be kind to her. She could run. She could bolt through the door and hope she made it from the manor before anyone noticed, but that was simply another day dream.

The man walked towards her, looming over her cowering figure. “Do not touch me.” She whispered, her voice quivering as he reached down for her. “Do not touch me!” She screamed at him as he grabbed her arm. “Aaron!” She shrieked in terror as he jerked her to her feet and begun to drag her to the bed.

[Ikely]

Aaron made it back to the manor. The group had arrived just a little before him. He saw the group just entering the building.

He cached his packs behind a tree then double checked the weapons. He flicked the safety off of the rifle. The weapon was hot.

Keeping to the shadows, he slipped in along the side of an out building. He cleared the area in front of the manor from his hide site. There were no guards or lookouts posted. That was going to make it easy for his entry into the house but it also let him know that all of the Viscounts men were on the inside.

Aaron did 2 sweeps around the perimeter of the manor and there were no people outside.
Aaron located a door that he remembered entered into the kitchen area.

He eased the door open and slipped inside, closing the door silently.

Aaron let the rifle hang from the sling and he pulled the Glock out of the thigh rig.

Aaron crouched down the quick peeked out the door to the hall. The right side was clear. He shifted his position then repeated the action and found the left side clear.
His first priority was to find Grace. He would make sure she was safe then he would get Sokoloff.

Keeping his pistol in close to his chest, Aaron moved in total silence down the hall.
As Aaron approached Graces’ chamber door, a guard came around a corner.

He stopped, his mouth open in total shock.

That pause cost the guard his life. Aaron punched the man in the face with the pistol. In one movement, he shoved the pistol back into the holster while grabbing the guard under the jaw with his left hand. Aaron then brought his right hand up while rotating around the man. Aaron snapped his neck and then laid the body down silently onto the floor.

Aaron switched to his fighting knife and proceeded in the direction the man came from.

Aaron had taken about 4 steps when he realized he was near Graces’ chamber.
He could hear loud talking coming from a chamber. That had to be his target.

Aaron stooped into a combat crouch as he made his way down the narrow hall.

The door suddenly came open out came the Viscount. He didn’t see Aaron because of the low light and the fact that he was intoxicated from the drink.

Aaron moved swiftly and silently.

He grabbed the man, who made a valiant attempt at defending himself. Unfortunately, he did not have the skills or the sobriety to do much of anything. Aaron drilled him in the jaw with a punch, still shocked the Viscount staggered back. Aaron grabbed his right hand as he was digging for a dagger in his belt. Aaron twisted the man’s wrist then stepped into the mans locked out elbow and spun him face first into the stone floor.

“Where is Grace?” Aaron hissed into the man’s ear while positioning the razor sharp Tanto against his throat.

“I will tell you nothing!” the Viscount was able to say.

Aaron took his blade and flicked it across the Viscounts right cheek, leaving a 3 inch cut on his face that soon began to bleed nicely. It would be a permanent scar.

“I would just as soon kill you as not, where is she?” Aaron said

With his face screwed up and feeling the burning sensation of the cut, he indicated that she was in the room.

That was when he heard Grace scream his name.

[heartofcourage]

Grace screamed as the mysterious man dragged her across the room and she soon felt the softness of a mattress beneath her. She squirmed up on to her elbows, meaning to escape while he was distracted, but she felt hard blow to her face, her world spinning as she lay dazed on the sheets. The man loomed over her and she struggled to bring him back into focus as she felt his hands touching her body through her nightclothes.

“No.” She whispered, struggling beneath him despite the pain in her head. “Aaron!” She screamed again, rewarded only with the man’s hands closing around her throat in a brutal grip.

“If you say his name again, I’ll kill you,” the man growled at her while Grace gasped for a breath of air. “Understood?” He shook her, watching the way that she looked up at him in fear with glee.

Grace clawed at the strong fingers cutting off her air, her eyes wild as she tried to nod her head. She would do anything to breathe again! Then, just as suddenly as they were there, the fingers left her throat and she sucked in a breath, coughing at the very action of it as she felt hands upon her gown again, ripping it apart to bare her naked curves to his eyes. She whimpered, her hands going to cover what she didn’t want him to see but she was only rewarded with her hands caught above her head and not in the sensual way Aaron had done earlier that evening.

Then, the door to the chamber burst open and she found herself being yanked from the surface of the bed. The man had his arm tightly around her throat, the sharp point of a knife she’d never seen pressed into her skin as she found herself looking at Aaron standing in the doorway with a look of fear.

Please, help me, her gaze told him as the man behind her began to speak.

[Ikely]

When she screamed his name again, he slung the door, paused 3 seconds, and then pushed through the threshold.

He saw Sokoloff had Grace naked, his arm wrapped around her throat, and the glint of the blade against her throat.

Aaron stowed the fighting knife and drew the pistol, pushing it out and getting good sight picture.

Aaron had the weapon lined up and was preparing to put 1 .40 caliber round through, what shooters call the Terminal “T”. The Terminal “T” was the area of Sokoloff’s head covering the eyebrows as the horizontal part of the “T”, down over his nose to his mouth as the vertical part of the "T".

Putting a round in this area would turn him off, like flipping a switch.

Aaron was taking the slack out of the trigger when there was a commotion behind him.

Just as he squeezed the trigger, he felt a tremendous force in the center of his back.
One of the Viscounts men had tried to drive a sword through Aaron’s body.
The armor SAPI plates easily deflected the thrust, forcing the point of the sword up and to the left until the point of the blade punched through the uniform blouse just over Aaron’s left shoulder.

The force caused Aaron’s round up and to the left. The projectile tore through Sokoloff’s right ear and then buried itself into the wall behind the target.

Sokoloff screamed and reached up to touch the mangled bloody flesh that had been his ear and he screamed what, to Aaron, sounded very feminine like.

Aaron saw that Grace was taking advantage of being released and was on the move.

Aaron spun to his right, effectively snatching the sword from his potential killer’s hand. He brought the Glock up and put a round through the man’s skull. He dropped to the floor, dead before he hit the ground. Now more men came in with their swords and hammers at the ready.

Aaron dropped to a knee and began shooting. Target acquisition, sight picture, breath, squeeze was the routine that Aaron had been practicing for many years now. The men of the 16th century were brave, that was for sure, but they did not stand a chance.

2 to the body, 1 to the head. That was repeated 4 times, then Aaron moved further into the room as the Viscounts men began to hesitate. Their comrade’s heads were exploding in a bloody mist and they had become slow to respond not wanting the same fate. This allowed Aaron to complete a tactical reload and with a fresh mag in the weapon, he went back to work.

When only one man remained, that man lowered his sword to the ground and put his hands up in the universal sign of surrender.

Aaron held his shooting position and when there were no more threats he yelled at the man, “Get the fuck out of here!” The man probably did not know the FUCK word but he did not waste any time getting out of the room.

Aaron spun around and found Grace curled up in the center of the bed. But Sokoloff was gone.

He went to Grace, “Are you all right?” Aaron asked.

When he was certain she was uninjured he turned around and asked, “Can you get this sword out of my back? It’s starting to piss me off.”

As Grace was trying to get the sword out, Aaron saw that the window was open and the curtains were ruffling in the breeze. It was going to be a manhunt now.

[heartofcourage]

Grace watched as Aaron put away his knife and drew that strange gun of his. The point of the knife dug deeper into her flesh and she whimpered as she felt a bead of blood course over her throat. She shivered, tears coming to her eyes as she thought that this might very well be her last moment on Earth.

She saw the man behind Aaron and opened her mouth to warn him but a sudden gunshot cut the word off as she screamed. The sound was deafening in the small space and suddenly Grace was free from the other man’s grip. He himself was screaming in pain and she quickly scuttled away, onto the bed where she curled herself into a ball and covered her ears to drown out the sound of screams and more gunfire.

She let out a terrified scream as she felt hands on her body, pulling her back upright before she realized it was Aaron. She clung to him in terror, making it difficult for him to check her for injury. Her face was beginning to show signs of bruising and her neck bore the angry red marks of fingertips but beyond that, she was fine.

He turned around and she saw the small dirk sticking out of his back. She raised a hesitant hand and pulled it from the armor that he wore before she launched herself back into his arms. Her naked body still trembled as he held her and she buried her face against his shoulder, sobbing at everything that had occurred.

“You can’t leave me, Aaron. They’ll kill me.” She finally told him through her tears. “My own brother will put me to death for being a witch. You have to take me with you.”

[Ikely]

Aaron hugged the trembling naked woman tight. The things she had said weighing heavily on him.

“Grace, I cannot take you with me…at least not yet. But I have a plan. You cannot stay in this time but if I send you say, 10 years, into the future. You will at least be safe. I can buy us some time that way. It is our only option.” Aaron had switched to his drill sergeant voice. It was a negotiation; this was how it was going to be.

He hurried her along and got her dressed and a bag with clothing and other items she would need.

They left the manor house and made their way to where Aaron left the equipment.

He opened the case, saying, “I am going to send you forward in time. I will tell my commanders that Sokoloff did it. They will want to get you back, but with him still on the lose, you being in the near future will be a low priority.”

Aaron tried not to look at her. He thought he might change his mind if he saw those beautiful eyes.

He had the computer open and was sending a tracking signal. The main frame back in the 21st century locked on. It was awaiting his signal to initiate the sequence.

Aaron turned to Grace. He gave her a bag of gold coins that he had lifted from one of the dead men in the room.

“Use this. I have programed it to send you 10 years in the future and you should appear in France, or at least close to France.”

He saw the tears streaming down her face.

He stepped up and kissed her gently on the lips.

“You be brave. I will come and find as soon as I am able.”

He stroked her face while staring into her eyes.

He attached the receiver unit to her wrap. Then made her lie on the ground.
He kissed her lips again and said, “Grace, do not move a bit. When you arrive, you may feel a little sick but it will pass. Good luck.”

Aaron stepped back to the computer and initiated the launch sequence.

He could not look over at her, it would break his heart.

He heard the sizzle of static electricity the sensed the blue glow. Then there was silence.

Aaron began banging away on the key board.

He sent a priority message to control.

The message advised that Target X-Ray had managed to get control of the system and had launched a period human into the future, apparently 10 years into the future. He advised them he was going after the target and then would move to recover the period human that had been sent forward.

He did not wait for a reply.

He packed his gear, checked his weapons, and then located Sokoloff’s trail.
The hunt was on.

But in his mind, all he could think about was, “Please, God, don’t let her be hurt.”

[heartofcourage]

Grace did what Aaron asked, letting him hurry her back to her room. She stood there numbly as he dressed her, a cloak about her shoulders and a bag of her belongings pressed into her hands. She didn’t really understand what he was saying. He wasn’t going to come with her? That didn’t make sense.

She held his hand tightly as they exited the house and hurried along to a space where Aaron had left his things. She listened to him talk, her heart racing as she simply tried to comprehend. Everything was so confusing and her mind was literally spinning with the pace of everything around her.

“Aaron, you can’t come with me?” She asked him, fear lacing her voice as he pressed a bag of gold into her hands. “France? Aaron, I need you with me.” She was begging, her nerve gone as she felt tears course down her cheeks as he continued on with his plan.

When he turned and looked at her, she sighed and kissed him back, her lips clinging to his as he stroked her cheek and asked her to be brave. She so desperately wanted to be brave and not cry, but she was terrified. He clipped something to her cloak and then held her gently as he lowered her to the ground. She kissed him one last time and then let out a sob as he moved away from her.

Don’t move, Grace. Don’t move. She kept repeating his words to herself over and over again as she clutched her belongings close, the feel of Aaron still on her lips as she waited for the moment to come. She heard a strange noise, the sizzling of the air around her almost like roasting meat. She let out a scared cry as everything around her melted away and she fell into darkness.

“Aaron!” She called out, her last words spoken to him in her own time period.

[Ikely]

It was done.

Aaron felt like a complete shit.

Sokoloff would be made to suffer for this, Aaron thought as he pushed out.

With his packs on and rifle at the ready he started jogging along the trail that Sokoloff had taken.

Aaron soon found a blood trail and he tracked Sokoloff to a village.
As Aaron walked purposefully through village, he was spotted by some of the men in the village. The look on his face and the strange looking belongings made the people stay away inside their hovels.

Aaron heard Sokoloff’s voice. He was pleading with someone to hide him out. When Aaron heard the sound of a door slam he turned the corner and presented his pistol.

Sokoloff was about 10 meters away.

He had fear in his eyes and the Enhanced Plasma Modulator in his hand.

Before Aaron could squeeze off his shot he perceived that Sokoloff had manipulated the device.

“Fuck!” Aaron thought, “Here we go again.” He dropped to the ground clutching his sniper rifle close to his body and the pistol still in his death grip.

The black orb came racing out of the darkness at an incredible rate of speed.
It washed over him and Aaron clenched his eyes shut.

There was no telling where they would end up.

[heartofcourage]

March 51 B.C.E
Nile Delta, Egypt

The sun was beating down hot during the afternoon, lines of heat evident as they rose from the stone walk ways and sand of the courtyard. It was peaceful this time of day, quiet. It was nice, especially after all the turmoil of the past few years.

The young woman walked alongside a decorative shallow pool, the gauzy material of her outfit brushing over the ground. The material showed off her golden skin, her dark hair pulled back in a twist of braids. Eyes lined with kohl were bright at the possibilities that her new life gave to her.

Her father was dead. She was now co-ruler of one of the greatest empires in the world. It was certainly a fantastic new era. She stood before the glistening pool, looking down at her reflection in the water as she considered the face before her. It was the same as always, slightly elongated nose, strong Macedonian features mixed with Egyptian touches. She had always been considered a beauty. She tried not to let it go to her head.

A soft thud behind her had her whipping around, her eyes searching for the source of the interruption. A man lay on the cool tiles beneath the shade of her canopy. She didn’t know where he came from nor what the strange clothing he wore was. Stepping closer, her hips swayed side to side, her sandals making little sound.

“Who are you?” She asked in her imperious voice, her eyebrow raised as she considered the man before her.

[Ikely]

Aaron felt the wave of nausea passing through his body. His stomach was rolling and his head was spinning.

Aaron managed to fight back the urge to throw up. He was able to get control of his body and he began running a “systems”check on himself.

Nothing was broken. That was good. He was not bleeding or expelling any other bodily fluids, which was always good.

“Who are you?” The voice sounded like they were in charge. She…was in charge.

Aaron rolled over onto his stomach and looked to his left.

He saw 2 very tanned feet, with short tapered toes, wearing very opulent gold sandals.
A gold strap wrapped over the top of the feet, just behind the toes, then wound itself up a what he was certain would have been very tanned and toned calf. The delicious looking leg, was covered by long dress that was just barely touching the ground.

Aaron came up on his 2 knees and stared into the face of the woman standing over him.

Her eyes were made up with large, blue semicircles over them and they had long lashes.

She had beautiful, long black hair weaved into twists of a braid. Her face would have made her fashion model in his time, but it was clear she was not from the 21st century

Aaron looked around at his surroundings.

“Fuck…Ancient Egypt again.” He muttered

[heartofcourage]

“Excuse me?” She said asked, her arms crossed over the gauzy fabric that covered her firm breasts. “Just how did you get in here?”

She had seen enough turmoil in the past few years that she was very careful with who guarded her palace. Those who intruded were usually up to no good and dispatched quickly. Men would pay a high price to drop an asp into a bed or poison a cup of wine. It was the game of kings, and as one now she was very well versed in it. After all, she had taken the head of her own sister as the price of royalty.

“Answer me or I’ll call the guards.” She said, her voice strong and forceful, her dark eyes staring down at him with a wisdom that was greater than her age.

[Ikely]

Aaron stood up to his full 6 foot height.

He stared at the woman. She looked very familiar but he did not know why.

She appeared to be royalty maybe and she did mention calling the guard.

She stood with her legs spread as far as the dress allowed and she was barking orders.

Yeah, she had to have some horse power around this place.

“Ma’am, I am a traveler who has come a long distance. I accidently wandered in and the heat of the day made me a bit ill.” Aaron waited for the response.

“I bring news of an evil man in the land. He is bad and will only bring harm to you and your people. I was sent to take him back to my land to be punished.”

Aaron looked into her seductive eyes and felt like she expected him to grovel at her tanned feet.

That wasn’t going to happen. He stared her right in the eyes.

Aaron asked, “If I could, I need to move along and hunt this man.”

Aaron did a quick check of his gear then walked towards a doorway.

“Just let me get out of here…” He was repeating to himself

[heartofcourage]

“Halt!” She called, hearing the alarming news that there might be someone in her land that wished to bring harm to her people. “You speak of evil. Who is this man?” She asked, walking closer to the strange man who had disturbed her peace.

She stood near him, taking in his features as she tried to figure out if he were telling the truth. She decided that he had an honest face, his eyes clear as he looked at her as if he were her equal.

“The rule of Cleopatra will not begin in such a horrible way.” She stated as she turned and walked towards an area where they could lounge and talk. “Please, sit.” She gestured to a bench across from where she reclined, looking at the man and waiting to see what he would do.

If he ran, she would have him imprisoned. If he stayed, well, she might find further things for him to do.