Shards of Time by Fox Beckman

Author:Fox Beckman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, urban fantasy, interracial, gay, nonbinary, time travel, witch, vampires
Publisher: NineStar Press
Published: 2023-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

THE SUN RISES much too quickly through the bay window. They watch it dawn together in silence, limbs entangled.

With a determined shift of their shoulders, Cayenne takes Ravi’s chin between thumb and forefinger. “Here is what we are going to do, my sweet. We are going to get up, get dressed, and go to brunch.”

“Brunch?”

“Yes.”

“There’s food here. We keep it stocked.”

“Ah, darling, this is not just any brunch. We are going to have a very gay brunch! I know a place that does a fabulous drag bingo and serves bottomless mimosas. I, for one, intend to dress for the occasion.” They toss their bed-mussed hair and grin.

Ravi blinks. “You want us to…”

Cayenne sneaks a quick kiss, stalling his protest. “And you and I, mon beau, we can be as obvious as we damn well please. We can even—un tel scandale—hold hands if you so fancy! Because I’m going to rewind the entire day right back to here, right now, at this very moment.” Their smile is bright with promise, a sunrise of their own. “Today there are no rules, darling. Nothing will count. My gift to you.”

It takes Ravi a moment to absorb the full implications; this whole last day of July enjoyed to the fullest, then rewritten. Anything goes. No consequences, no chance of being caught, of being found out. A day to be a normal person, just for one day, to live like somebody else.

Ravi has to take a deep breath, but not to quell his nerves. Excitement wells up in him almost like adrenaline, the sheer amount of possibilities on offer making him a little lightheaded. “No rules?”

“As free as birds, my dearest. And then I’ll reset us again, and we can spend today anyway you like, and then I’ll rewind us again. And we…” They swallow, forehead pressed to his, red hair feathering through his coal black. “We just keep doing it as long as we can. Oui?”

Another sliver of time, another oasis. Living a life inside the hourglass. Leisurely, Ravi rolls onto Cayenne with a kiss he draws out long and unhurried and wonderful.

“Haan,” he whispers. “Yes.”

*

MIMOSAS DEFINITELY MAKE the list of acceptable cocktails. Ravi’s already on his second glass, crowded up in the corner booth against Cayenne’s side with an arm slung over their shoulders, and nobody cares. It’s amazing.

The stage show is loud and boisterous, all sorts of folks in a rainbow of configurations laughing and singing along. Cayenne offers him a morsel of fruit, and Ravi eats it straight from their fingers with a boundless thrill. The best part of the whole experience might be Cayenne’s delighted smile, happiness beaming from their every pore.

“Look at you,” they murmur in his ear. “You are stunning like this.” They creep a hand across his knee.

Ravi ducks his head, flushing, and nudges their shoulder. “Come on, take it easy on me. Even though this is getting reset, I’m suppressing a lifetime of instinct, here.” Cayenne squeezes his thigh once and mercifully pulls their hands above the table.

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