Free Forgotten Time (Ravenhurst Series, #1) A New Adult Time Travel Romance by Lorraine Beaumont

drink?”
    “Yes, that would be wonderful,” she squeaked out in a too-shrill voice, before clearing her throat. “Thank you.” Taking the offered chair, she placed her shaking hands in the folds of her gown, trying to hide her nervousness.
    He crossed over to the side table and poured two hefty splashes of scotch into a pair of glasses. He took longer than necessary. His mind kept conjuring images of her body, the way it looked in the sun. Damn, apparently he had gone too long without a woman. He shook his head, silently vowing to remedy that soon and walked back over to her. He handed her the glass, while offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
    “Thank you,” she said, drinking too large a gulp of the fiery liquid. It burned all the way down to her stomach. She tried to stifle the urge to cough it up, which only made her eyes tear up. Exhaling a breath, she discovered it burned all the way out as well. Good grief, this was strong stuff!
    He smiled at her; he couldn’t stop himself. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it out to her.
    Katherine grabbed the neatly folded, white linen handkerchief, nodding her head in his general direction as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She caught him staring at her over the rim of his glass. “I am so sorry, I had no idea it was so strong,” she coughed out as she tried to hand the handkerchief back.
    He refused.
    Katherine held it tightly in her hand while attempting to act demure and sophisticated, but failed miserably.
    “Are there any leftover guests from the party? Or am I the only one who overstayed their welcome?” She forced out a laugh, hoping he would reassure her that was not the case.
    “Party?” he asked. “What party are you speaking of?”
    “The one that was held here last night,” she countered, “For the Preservation Ball?” Her voice raised an octave.
    “There was no party here last night, or any other night in the recent past… well… at least, not since you left,” he said, in a barely audible voice.
    “What? I never left. I am still here. What are you talking about?” Katherine asked, feeling more shaken by the moment. What in the hell was this man speaking of?
    “I am talking about when you left me standing at the altar,” he said. His annoyance was very clear as he looked at her in disbelief. “Come now, do you really expect me to believe you cannot remember?” he commented snidely, anger flashing in his eyes.
    “I did no such thing,” she argued. She took a breath, unsure why she was suddenly so angry. It must have been his crappy tone. “With your attitude, I can see why, though.” She mumbled rudely under her breath.
    “I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Sebastian asked not sure if he heard her right.
    Katherine immediately regretted her words. “Listen, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but, as I said, I came here last night with a friend. I guess he decided to leave me here so he could go off with this other girl,” she explained easily.
    It all became painfully clear to Sebastian. He was right; she was with another, used and tossed aside. And now, what was he supposed to do? Marry her? If he refused, he would lose everything. He took another hefty swig of his drink. His jaw clenched as if something or someone was inflicting great pain.
    Katherine started to feel sorry for him. She stood and reached out to touch his arm. “I am sure he will be back for me soon, so try not to worry overmuch. I’ll be gone before you know it,” she added soothingly.
    “Like hell you will!” he roared. His cold, rage-filled eyes burned into her.
    Katherine took a reflexive step back, grabbing hold of the chair.
    “You made your bed. You came back to me, whether by your own design or someone else’s, and I do not give a damn either way. You are going to marry me and after that, I could care less what you do. Do you understand?”
    She was suddenly very afraid. She shook her head in submission. Had she not