CHAPTER 42
Beth didn't completely understand why Adam had to go out of town …
"You're going after Devan aren't you?" she asked when he didn't say where or why he was
leaving, only that it was important and that he would be back by her side as soon as he could
take care of this.
"I'll be back before the doctor releases you." He promised.
"You better be." She replied, glad to be rid of the I-V needle so she could turn to face him as he
lay beside her on the narrow bed.
"You know I'll be worried every second you're gone don't you?" she confided, looking at her
hands as she fingered the neck of his T-shirt.
"I don't want you to worry." He said, leaning forward to kiss her hairline. "I want you to rest and
take care of yourself … and get back your strength, so we can get you out of here … and I can
hold you in my arms in a proper bed." his voice rumbled in his throat, sending a shiver down
Beth's spine as their eyes met and she knew exactly what he was saying.
Their lips met and for the next few minutes nothing existed but the taste and feel of the other.
Beth clung to him, her soft hands sliding under the back of his shirt to run over the lean muscles
that rippled beneath them with his every movement. Adam groaned against her lips, relishing the
feel of her caress … wanting her more with every passing second.
Fisting his hand in the soft hair at the base of her neck, he gently tugged her head back … trailing
kisses down the tender column of her neck. Adam let out a soft laugh when he found the sweet
place just behind her ear that made her whimper with pleasure. He couldn't resist nibbling the
edge of her earlobe, the sound and feel of his breath in her ear causing her writhe against him.
He truly knew he'd found the first of many places he intended to seek out that would drive her
beyond passion when he felt her knee slip up over his thigh and her fingers dig into his shoulders
as she arched into him.
It took all his resistance to remember that at any moment a nurse could come in to check on Beth
… and what he wanted to do with her was not something he wanted interrupted once it began.
Drawing a ragged breath, he covered her mouth one more time before rolling as much on his
back as he could and easing her head to rest on his chest as he stroked her hair and back
absently.
For a long time neither said a word … but neither was ready to sleep yet either. The only lights in
the room were from the monitor, and the glow of the moon through the window.
"Adam?" Beth's voice broke the silence.
"Mmm hmmm" he replied, his finger sliding up and down the little eyelet ruffle along the strap of
her gown.
"When you get back … would it be ok … ok if I asked you some questions?" she asked
hesitantly, lifting her head and turning to look up into his face.
"You can ask me anything, anytime." He replied. "Anything in particular that you want to know?
… I mean … anything that won't wait till I get back?" He'd wondered how long it would be before
she'd feel comfortable enough with his immortality to ask questions … and he guessed that was
what this was about.
"I've got a lot of questions …" she told him honestly "More than I want to get into here … or
when I know you have to get up in just a few hours to catch your plane."
"Whenever you want … it's up to you."
She laid her head back down, only to make him smirk when she popped it up again in a matter of
seconds.
"Ye-e-e-s?" he asked, chuckling at her because she reminded him of a child with her honest
curiosity.
"One question … an easy one." She said, smiling at his amusement and waiting a second before
asking. "Joe said immortals weren't all created at the same time … that some were much older
than others … and some were fairly young … So I was wondering … how old are you?"
"That's a fair question … I guess simply saying I'm guilty of robbing the proverbial cradle isn't the
answer you're looking for?" he said with a wink … not wanting to shock her by answering too
quickly.
"Stop teasing me Adam …" she punched his shoulder lightly.
"Care to venture a guess?" he challenged … hoping that by making it a game she would ease
into the idea.
Beth's face turned serious as she studied him … as she thought long and hard.
"Well … if I didn't know better … I'd say you were about my age … "
"That old?" he feigned surprise
"You are impossible." She laughed before looking more deeply into his eyes.
"Well-ll" she began. "You're older than Richie … I am sure of that."
"Oh please … he's a baby, anyone could guess that … his driver's license is still the original for
God's sake."
"And you're older than Amanda … I can't decide whether she's fairly new at this or if she's
someone who refuses to grow up …"
"I plead the fifth … we won't discuss any woman's age. I'd never hear the end of it …"
"But I'm right aren't I?" she teased.
"Yes … yes I am older than Amanda … but you're stalling …"
"Ok … so that leaves Duncan … " she moved on. "He's a tough guess … He's fun and he has
this way of enjoying everything to it's fullest … unlike some people I know who resist anything
new …" she gave him a mischievous look. "But he's also … stable … And he seems to know so
many things … to read people so well … And then there is this old fashioned code that he can't
put aside … no matter how out of date it is … "
"Yes, MacLeod is the original Boy Scout and you're still stalling."
"Ok … ok … I'm guessing Duncan has been around quite awhile … at least 3 centuries?"
"Good guess … reasonably close … he's been around for 4 actually."
"Wow … the things he must have seen … all the changes … the discoveries …" she wondered
out loud. It was then that she realized Adam was studying her as carefully as she'd been
studying him a few moments before. She could see in his eyes that he was actually nervous
about answering this simple question … he was worried about her reaction. She knew her
reaction mattered very much to him … he needed her to accept both him and the years he'd been
on the earth and not be afraid of either.
She reached up and stroked his sharp jawline and traced his mouth lovingly with her finger before
reaching up to plant a small kiss there.
"Adam … no more guessing … tell me …" she asked simply.
"I can't answer you exactly … because honestly … I don't remember my early years." He
answered honestly. "But what I can tell you … is that my first memory is over 5,000 years old …"
he finished, watching her face with such intensity she almost looked away under the scrutiny …
almost.
Beth thought for several long seconds about what he'd said. She'd guessed from looking into his
eyes and seeing literally lifetimes of experience reflected in their stormy depths that he'd been
around for many centuries … but she hadn't prepared herself for this. But deep down, she knew
that as strange and unfathomable as it was for her … it really didn't matter … What mattered was
how she felt about Adam now … in this time … in this place.
She didn't want him to regret sharing anything with her … She only wanted him to see her love
and acceptance reflected when he looked into her eyes.
Beth took his hand and kissed the back of it as she looked up at him. "Then I guess … as long
as you overlook the fact that I spent more time studying English Literature instead of World
History … we'll never have to worry about those awkward silences couples have when they run
out of conversational topics." She smiled.
Adam let go a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, relieved by her complete acceptance.
"And what if I have other ideas for when we encounter those … awkward silences?" he asked as
their faces drifted closer together.
"Then I'll trust you to share those ideas." She replied as his lips captured hers passionately.
Beth didn't completely understand why Adam had to go out of town …
"You're going after Devan aren't you?" she asked when he didn't say where or why he was
leaving, only that it was important and that he would be back by her side as soon as he could
take care of this.
"I'll be back before the doctor releases you." He promised.
"You better be." She replied, glad to be rid of the I-V needle so she could turn to face him as he
lay beside her on the narrow bed.
"You know I'll be worried every second you're gone don't you?" she confided, looking at her
hands as she fingered the neck of his T-shirt.
"I don't want you to worry." He said, leaning forward to kiss her hairline. "I want you to rest and
take care of yourself … and get back your strength, so we can get you out of here … and I can
hold you in my arms in a proper bed." his voice rumbled in his throat, sending a shiver down
Beth's spine as their eyes met and she knew exactly what he was saying.
Their lips met and for the next few minutes nothing existed but the taste and feel of the other.
Beth clung to him, her soft hands sliding under the back of his shirt to run over the lean muscles
that rippled beneath them with his every movement. Adam groaned against her lips, relishing the
feel of her caress … wanting her more with every passing second.
Fisting his hand in the soft hair at the base of her neck, he gently tugged her head back … trailing
kisses down the tender column of her neck. Adam let out a soft laugh when he found the sweet
place just behind her ear that made her whimper with pleasure. He couldn't resist nibbling the
edge of her earlobe, the sound and feel of his breath in her ear causing her writhe against him.
He truly knew he'd found the first of many places he intended to seek out that would drive her
beyond passion when he felt her knee slip up over his thigh and her fingers dig into his shoulders
as she arched into him.
It took all his resistance to remember that at any moment a nurse could come in to check on Beth
… and what he wanted to do with her was not something he wanted interrupted once it began.
Drawing a ragged breath, he covered her mouth one more time before rolling as much on his
back as he could and easing her head to rest on his chest as he stroked her hair and back
absently.
For a long time neither said a word … but neither was ready to sleep yet either. The only lights in
the room were from the monitor, and the glow of the moon through the window.
"Adam?" Beth's voice broke the silence.
"Mmm hmmm" he replied, his finger sliding up and down the little eyelet ruffle along the strap of
her gown.
"When you get back … would it be ok … ok if I asked you some questions?" she asked
hesitantly, lifting her head and turning to look up into his face.
"You can ask me anything, anytime." He replied. "Anything in particular that you want to know?
… I mean … anything that won't wait till I get back?" He'd wondered how long it would be before
she'd feel comfortable enough with his immortality to ask questions … and he guessed that was
what this was about.
"I've got a lot of questions …" she told him honestly "More than I want to get into here … or
when I know you have to get up in just a few hours to catch your plane."
"Whenever you want … it's up to you."
She laid her head back down, only to make him smirk when she popped it up again in a matter of
seconds.
"Ye-e-e-s?" he asked, chuckling at her because she reminded him of a child with her honest
curiosity.
"One question … an easy one." She said, smiling at his amusement and waiting a second before
asking. "Joe said immortals weren't all created at the same time … that some were much older
than others … and some were fairly young … So I was wondering … how old are you?"
"That's a fair question … I guess simply saying I'm guilty of robbing the proverbial cradle isn't the
answer you're looking for?" he said with a wink … not wanting to shock her by answering too
quickly.
"Stop teasing me Adam …" she punched his shoulder lightly.
"Care to venture a guess?" he challenged … hoping that by making it a game she would ease
into the idea.
Beth's face turned serious as she studied him … as she thought long and hard.
"Well … if I didn't know better … I'd say you were about my age … "
"That old?" he feigned surprise
"You are impossible." She laughed before looking more deeply into his eyes.
"Well-ll" she began. "You're older than Richie … I am sure of that."
"Oh please … he's a baby, anyone could guess that … his driver's license is still the original for
God's sake."
"And you're older than Amanda … I can't decide whether she's fairly new at this or if she's
someone who refuses to grow up …"
"I plead the fifth … we won't discuss any woman's age. I'd never hear the end of it …"
"But I'm right aren't I?" she teased.
"Yes … yes I am older than Amanda … but you're stalling …"
"Ok … so that leaves Duncan … " she moved on. "He's a tough guess … He's fun and he has
this way of enjoying everything to it's fullest … unlike some people I know who resist anything
new …" she gave him a mischievous look. "But he's also … stable … And he seems to know so
many things … to read people so well … And then there is this old fashioned code that he can't
put aside … no matter how out of date it is … "
"Yes, MacLeod is the original Boy Scout and you're still stalling."
"Ok … ok … I'm guessing Duncan has been around quite awhile … at least 3 centuries?"
"Good guess … reasonably close … he's been around for 4 actually."
"Wow … the things he must have seen … all the changes … the discoveries …" she wondered
out loud. It was then that she realized Adam was studying her as carefully as she'd been
studying him a few moments before. She could see in his eyes that he was actually nervous
about answering this simple question … he was worried about her reaction. She knew her
reaction mattered very much to him … he needed her to accept both him and the years he'd been
on the earth and not be afraid of either.
She reached up and stroked his sharp jawline and traced his mouth lovingly with her finger before
reaching up to plant a small kiss there.
"Adam … no more guessing … tell me …" she asked simply.
"I can't answer you exactly … because honestly … I don't remember my early years." He
answered honestly. "But what I can tell you … is that my first memory is over 5,000 years old …"
he finished, watching her face with such intensity she almost looked away under the scrutiny …
almost.
Beth thought for several long seconds about what he'd said. She'd guessed from looking into his
eyes and seeing literally lifetimes of experience reflected in their stormy depths that he'd been
around for many centuries … but she hadn't prepared herself for this. But deep down, she knew
that as strange and unfathomable as it was for her … it really didn't matter … What mattered was
how she felt about Adam now … in this time … in this place.
She didn't want him to regret sharing anything with her … She only wanted him to see her love
and acceptance reflected when he looked into her eyes.
Beth took his hand and kissed the back of it as she looked up at him. "Then I guess … as long
as you overlook the fact that I spent more time studying English Literature instead of World
History … we'll never have to worry about those awkward silences couples have when they run
out of conversational topics." She smiled.
Adam let go a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, relieved by her complete acceptance.
"And what if I have other ideas for when we encounter those … awkward silences?" he asked as
their faces drifted closer together.
"Then I'll trust you to share those ideas." She replied as his lips captured hers passionately.