Caveman 3: A Time Travel Romance

Chapter One

November 28, 2012

A blanket of fur surrounded me, while the man I had made love to snored lightly. Sleeping on my side felt better, because the baby had grown so big in my belly. This took some of the pressure off my back. The dampness between my thighs reminded me of what Marro and I had done not that long ago, the reunion complete. He had found me … and I remained lost in time, yet exactly where I belonged.

Gazing at his profile, I admired the scruffy, bearded face and the curve of a prominent chin. Not wanting to wake him, I stayed as quiet as possible, indulging in the moment. Pattahunda and Chief Gausto brought us to the winter cave, where we assembled huts and made fires. The shelter was not entirely closed in, but it kept the worst of the elements at bay. I did not think I would ever see Marro again. We all thought he perished with his people after the volcano erupted.

After having been mauled by a saber-toothed tiger, Gundre succumbed to his injuries, leaving me alone with Punda. Fate had not been kind to me, and I assumed I’d be a single mother. I had prepared myself for this eventuality, but Marro found me. He was here now … with me … in my bed. Although I loved Gundre, I had feelings for Marro as well, and, if I were honest, they were far stronger than anything I had ever encountered. I never wanted to fall in love with a caveman, let alone two, but I had.

You’re not sleeping? asked a gruff, manly voice.

I didn’t mean to wake you.

I can feel your attention.

I’m sorry. I spoke their language perfectly, having worked hard to learn it. I have to use the bathroom.

Shall I go with you?

No, just sleep. I’m sorry.

He turned, draping an arm around me. You’ve no reason to be sorry, Janet. You may wake me whenever you wish. I need never sleep again. I’ve never felt happier to be with anyone. A hand drifted down my back. "You’re large with my child. You’re going to be my wife. You are my wife. I declare you such. I never want to be separated from you again."

Feelings I hadn’t dared to hope for washed over me, constricting my throat. I feel the same. You’re my husband. His fingers pressed into my buttocks, gripping me firmly.

I am. Remarkably, he was hard again. Our lips met, a languid kiss stealing my breath with each inhalation. A seeking hand slid between my thighs. You’re wet.

That’s from you. It’s your fault. I shivered with pleasure, because he grazed a swollen and sensitive place. Really? Again?

I’ll have you whenever I want you, woman, he murmured huskily.

I adored the possessive tenor in his voice, never having felt more alive or wanted. He caressed me intimately, until I began to throb, my body begging for more. Shifting, I leaned over him. He had taken me twice already, both times from behind, because of my baby belly, but I would commandeer this round. Straddling his hips, I grasped him, feeling the heat of the organ, controlling it in my hand, although it jerked for freedom. I impaled myself a moment later, the sensation delicious and wicked.

You look beautiful with my son in your belly. An appreciative gaze raked over me.

I’ll laugh if it’s a girl.

I’ll breed you until you give me a son.

I moved, thrusting back and forth. Although it was quite dark, some light remained from one or more of the fires, our hut not having a door. In shadow, I still saw him clearly, his eyes half-closed, his jaw relaxed. A lazy, yet interested expression gleamed in his eyes, while he grasped my hips. I had gained some weight during the pregnancy, my breasts having filled out even more, the heavy masses jiggling with the motion of my body. Prior to crash-landing in the past, I had been a curvy girl, having ample hips and ass and spectacularly large tits. I now felt more like myself, preferring the curves to lean muscle, but it would all end once I gave birth.

Tossing my head back, long, dark hair fell over his thighs. Oh … God …

Who is God? You say this often.

He’s … oh … I sounded breathless. The father in the sky.

"And you think of him while I'm inside you?" He seemed amused, his lips twitching.

Not exactly. I slapped him lightly across the chest, feeling the firmness of his pectoral muscles. It’s used as an expression, if something is pleasurable. I murmured, Or bad.

Marro stood taller than most, his physique that of a bodybuilder, his prowess in hunting legendary. It was said he once killed a mastodon singlehandedly. I didn’t doubt it. These were some of the stories that people spoke of around the campfire in the evening, after we had eaten and before we prepared for bed.

Is this good for you? he asked.

Yes, I breathed, having nearly brought myself to the edge. And you?

Use me in any way you wish, Janet.

A shudder rippled through me, centering in my core and fanning out to every cell in my body. Just yesterday I had been alone. Having lost Gundre, I never expected to feel this way again. So much had happened these past months … now I carried a baby, and I had been reunited with the father. If I had learned anything since the crash, each and every moment of life was precious. In could be snatched away in a heartbeat. It was to be treasured. I had never felt so connected with anyone before, but it was hard to make sense out of what Marro and I shared. I wouldn’t even try. He was mine … for however long or short circumstances allowed.

My fingers dug into his belly, squeezing. Marro! I cried, my body inundated with pleasure, the large belly hardening. All the muscles in this region tensed at once. Oh, yes! Oh, God … yes! Due to the size of my stomach, I could not fall on top of him, lying on my side instead.

Have I pleased you well, woman?

Yes, I giggled.

You’ve taken your pleasure. There’s little doubt of that.

You told me to use you.

I did indeed. He reached for me, touching my belly. You mate like a man.

Stunned he had said that, I asked, What do you mean?

You’re unabashed. You seek your own pleasure. It brings me joy to see it. He stroked a breast, capturing a nipple.

I leaned over him, my hand resting near his navel. Is that wrong? Don’t women enjoy their men?

Some do. My wife never did.

I’m sorry. I kissed his chest. I like this … especially with you.

You enjoyed Gundre.

I did.

I was jealous.

He said you took his first wife too.

Yes, but only out of curiosity. I didn’t enjoy her as much.

You’re terrible, Marro.

No, I’m chief. I do as I wish.

He might find some other woman of interest in the future, which bothered me, but I lived in the moment. Worrying about something that hadn’t happened yet was a waste of time. My hand drifted lower, encircling his manhood, which felt moist. The musky aroma of sex lingered in the air, my own scent teasing me. Scooting nearer to his thighs, I took him in my mouth, which elicited a gasp from deep within his throat. My tongue flicked out to wet him, drawing circles over the tip.

A hand threaded through my hair. Janet …

Does this please you?

It does.

Should I continue?

I’d … like it if you did.

I administered to him, hearing moans of pleasure, teasing and sucking, until he groaned raggedly, tensing. A burst of fluid squirted, catching my hair and face, the taste salty.

Ahhh … he rasped, falling onto the fur behind his back.

Exhausted, I rested my cheek against his belly, listening to the sounds of the cave, the wind howling through the open space. I still needed to use the bathroom, but I was reluctant to get up and go outside into the wintry night. Closing my eyes, I slept for a while, warm and comfortable in the arms of my prehistoric lover. When I woke, Marro was fast asleep, his breathing deep and even. With great reluctance, I withdrew from him, grasping another fur and wrapping it around my shoulders. I quickly tied fur to my feet, using leather straps. I walked soundlessly past smoldering cooking fires and huts, hoping I wouldn’t wake anyone. Our tribe had grown with Marro’s arrival; twenty extra people shared the small huts, but more would be constructed to accommodate them.

Once outside, I wandered along a ledge, using the moon as a guide, the light reflecting off the snow. The stars sparkled brightly, unhindered by pollution. I found the latrine a moment later, the smell strong here. Squatting over one of the holes, I shivered, hastening to finish my business in the brisk air. My feet felt the cold, despite their furry coverings, the snow deep in places. On the way back to the cave, I walked along near the edge on a small path. We had made a home here on the side of a mountain, where we glimpsed the world below, the view spanning hundreds of miles in all directions.

A bright flash of light shone in the distance, catching my eye, the object gliding smoothly through the air. I stopped to watch, wondering if it might be a meteorite or a fragment of a comet that had fallen to earth. The ball of light flew lower into the valley, not far from where we were, and then the sound of a large boom rang out. Whatever it was had crashed. I did not see the impact, because it had disappeared from my sight.

Returning to the cave, I waded through the huts towards where Marro and I slept. Punda had gone to bed with Tashna and her family, giving the chief and I privacy for a proper reunion. I crawled into the furs, snuggling closely with Marro, his arm going around me.

Sleep wife, he murmured tiredly.

I had not seen him for months, having run away from the Tribe of Three Rivers the night of the volcano. My loyalty then had been with Gundre, who had rescued me after we first crashed. Marro wanted me to stay with him, and he would have forced me, had it not been for the violent eruption of the mountain. Gundre and I had taken that opportunity to escape, but memories of my time there lingered. Then I discovered the pregnancy. After Gundre’s death, I truly thought I would be alone forever. I never imagined I would see Marro again. I thought he had died. That had brought such pain.

After all the grief and misery, something good had finally materialized. I hoped whatever just crashed in the valley below did not disrupt my happiness. Perhaps, it was a meteor after all.

Chapter Two

August 16, 2016

Needing to settle my affairs, I flew to New York to speak to the head of my department, which happened to be Professor Stephen Pine. I’d had an affair with him more than a year ago, a lapse of judgment on my part, and, realizing my error, I had backed away. Since he was my boss, it had been awkward working together again, but we managed to remain friends and behave professionally, whether we were in the classroom or on a dig somewhere.

The campus was nearly deserted this time of year, everyone on summer break, which made parking easy. Grabbing my purse, I strolled down a paved lane towards a large, round waterfall. A handful of people sat in front of the Oceanography and Meteorology building, while others walked or rode bikes. I made a beeline for the anthropology building, the buzz of my phone capturing my attention. I glanced at the text.

I miss you.

It was from Brian. I hadn’t been gone a day. Miss you too. About to meet Stephen, I typed.

Lonely here.

I rolled my eyes, smiling. You’ll survive.

Barely.

Taking the steps, I climbed to the third floor, finding the faculty offices; Stephen’s was the largest on the end. I knocked on the door. Hello?

Who is it?

Me. Entering the room, I envied the wall of windows, which brought in natural light. An older, grey-haired man sat behind a large mahogany desk, a laptop opened before him.

He smiled. I’ve been expecting you, Professor Sandhurst. Close the door.

Wow, so formal. I pushed it shut behind me. I’m tendering my resignation.

A frown appeared. Why in the hell would you do that?

Because I put in for a position at Denver University. I need to work closer to home.

It’s not nearly as prestigious, Amy. I wanted to speak to you about a rumor I overheard. They want you at Harvard.

I blinked, feeling slightly stunned. Um …

What do you mean working closer to home? You live here from what I recall.

I took a leather chair before the desk. I do. I’m getting my stuff. I’m moving to Colorado.

To be with this Brian guy?

Brian Lutz.

Who was Janet Delgrange’s fiancé?

Yes.

He sat back, eyeing me as if I’d grown horns. Is this your attempt to get away from me? I thought we’d moved on from that, Amy. Things went rather smoothly in Guatemala. Maybe I was wrong thinking we could work together.

That has nothing to do with it. It’s not about … us. I’m over that.

I miss you.

I closed my eyes, wishing he hadn’t said that. It’s over. It’s done. I’ve found someone new. Brian and I hit it off. We have a lot in common, you know. Janet’s disappearance brought us together.

Why the hell would you want to go to Colorado? It’s career suicide. You’re one of the most sought-after professors on the planet. You could write your own ticket. You’re giving up an incredible opportunity. You realize how much funding Harvard receives, don’t you? You’d be on a dig every summer. He sat forward. Guatemala was small potatoes compared to what they’re doing.

I’m sure it’s fabulous. Was I really going to turn this down? I felt a ridiculous amount of peace about the decision I had made, which confused the issue further, because it didn’t make any sense.

You’re an integral part of the department, Amy. I can’t believe you’d throw it all away. You should at least look at the offer. Go speak to Professor Burdoff. Please stop and think, before you do something rash.

I stared at him, slightly flabbergasted by what I had heard. I’ll … I don’t know, Stephen. I’m really happy. I want to stay with Brian. I’m not expecting you to understand. Look, that’s not what I came here to discuss anyhow. There are some other … issues.

"I’ll send you the paperwork. Look it over. Think long and hard, and make the right decision."

I ignored that. Did you know Cactus Hill is closed to the public? William told me the government took it over. Do you know anything about that?

I told you that would happen.

What the hell’s going on?

It’s a matter of national security.

Is that what they told you?

It was in a memo. They cleared the site. No unauthorized personnel in or out. It’s totally off-limits.

Why aren’t you more pissed about this? I sat forward, wondering if I should tell him about my encounter with the stranger in the grocery store. Are you a part of this, Stephen?

A part of what? he asked mildly, his look bland.

Clovis 1? He blinked rapidly and then began to cough, reaching for a cup of coffee. He had the worst poker face in history. You are, aren’t you? You know exactly what they’re doing, don’t you?

Apparently, you do too.

Are they bugging my phone and computer?

That, I wouldn’t know about.

Are we under surveillance now?

He got to his feet. No. No, we aren’t, and I'm late for a meeting. It was so nice of you to stop by, Professor Sandhurst. It was good seeing you again. I’ll send those documents to you as soon as I receive them. The hiring package is quite impressive. He moved towards the door, motioning for me to come. Thank you so much, Amy. I’m sure we’ll talk again.

I found myself in the hallway, staring at him. What the hell is going on?

Let’s walk. He stood a foot taller, his thin frame encased in a long-sleeved shirt and grey trousers. Yes, we’re being monitored. How the hell do know about Clovis 1?

We stood