The Sun Gods Woman Read online

  “I’m sorry, Frank. This weekend is out of the question. I have research time scheduled at the Pendrake Facility. Why don’t I call you next week sometime…”

  Like maybe never.

  “You got research time?” Frank’s voice nearly screeched as he tumbled out of bed and discarded his condom.

  That was another thing Annie decided she really disliked about him. He was up and off right afterwards. Not that she wanted him to cuddle her anyway, but still…

  “Yes, Frank, I got research time.” She couldn’t keep a little bit of satisfaction from creeping into her voice.

  “But…but you’re a…”

  “A what, Frank?” she said sweetly.

  “A writer, for god’s sake.”

  Oh boy. He’d just put the very final period on their relationship. Perhaps even their friendship. Hell, he’d be lucky if she didn’t hire someone to ”off” him. Where did the Sopranos hang out?

  “I am, indeed, Frank. And as of this moment, I am the writer you are no longer seeing. Good night. I believe you can find your way out.”

  She unfolded her legs from the tangled sheets and stalked, defiantly naked, into her bathroom. The door closed behind her with a firm click.

  Her last image of Frank was of a guy who’d just been whacked in the nuts and goosed up the ass at the same time. It was quite delightful.

  * * * * *

  The alarm was shrieking loudly as Annie reached over and gave it the usual thump.

  Something was different. Oh yeah, it was dark.

  This wasn’t eleven o’clock in the morning, it was eleven o’clock at night, and it was the night of her most exciting research opportunity.

  Leaping out of bed, Annie rushed through her shower, and hurried into the kitchen. She had a big date with a computer. She grinned widely at the coffee pot as it sang to her, its bubbles and popples making lovely music to her ears.

  A copy of her latest novel lay on the kitchen table, the large print shrieking at her that it was from ”Best-selling writer Anne Lynden”. She still got a kick out of seeing that, even though this was her fourth novel to make it to the Holy Grail of writers—the New York Times best-seller list.

  It had been that string of successes that had given her the courage to apply for a chance to use the Pendrake Merlin facility. To actually see things happening in the early nineteenth century would be of inestimable value to her as a writer. To peek in at an evening at Almacks—well, she just drooled at the thought.

  It was still a surprise to her when her request had come back marked “Approved”, and now here she was, readying herself for the drive out to the lab. And the chance to see the machine that had haunted her dreams for the last five years.

  Well, okay, it wasn’t so much the machine that had haunted her dreams, it was more the man that had disappeared. But that was simply a minor detail.

  Annie looked at the packet from the lab and re-read the instructions, even though she knew them by heart.

  “Please arrive promptly, time is scheduled very carefully. Make sure you bring all necessary recording devices (check batteries first, we are not your local corner store), and notebooks. You will find two tablets enclosed, please take them with a glass of water one hour prior to viewing. They will suppress any stray emotions that might cause an unwanted reaction from the viewing system. Thank you for your cooperation.”

  The two pink pills lay on her palm. Annie knew that they were very important and she would not be allowed anywhere near the viewer if she hadn’t taken them. A breath test would confirm that she’d ingested the weak tranquilizer.

  These were the pills that would keep the machine from going nuts and eating her. Or so it was said.

  At least no one had disappeared since that stunning night five years ago when the most delicious man she’d ever seen had ”poofed” out of existence right in front of her eyes.

  Annie well remembered the panic and confusion that had struck the conference room as the cheering crowd realized that their hero had disappeared before their very eyes.

  It had been hushed up, of course. Men in dark suits had ”interviewed”—read de-briefed—everyone who had been present, herself included. This had been followed by a strong suggestion that her story downplay the facts of Dr. Pendrake’s disappearance.

  She didn’t need any urging. She had felt saddened, depressed and discouraged that Kyle Pendrake had vanished. In fact, this had led her to start her first novel—her emotions poured out through the words onto the paper and had led to her new career as a writer.

  Then, a couple of years ago, the Pendrake Labs had announced that their “viewer” was ready for use, and since then it had been booked solid with no further misadventures. Apparently, these tranquilizers had been the key. Restrain the emotions, restrain the machine. That was how it was supposed to work, anyway.

  And here she was, bag packed with microcassette recorders, digital cameras, and even good old pencil and paper. And a tin of breath mints. After all, one never knew…

  * * * * *

  The Pendrake Facility was quite impressive.

  Long, low, glass-roofed buildings welcomed visitors who entered via a beautifully landscaped courtyard.

  Plants were everywhere, inside and out, and Annie felt more like she was entering a spa than a research facility.

  Her reception was cordial, and before she knew it, her reservations had been confirmed, her ID validated, and she was respectfully ushered into the control room of the viewer itself.

  “Hi Merlin,” she whispered.

  The door closed behind the technician and Annie seated herself in the comfortable leather chair that faced an impressive control panel. MERLIN himself was sitting quietly on a rather bland table, with his umbilical connections leading to a very large wall-mounted flat panel screen.

  She began her run-through of the procedures, opening her notebooks, assembling her recording devices, and preparing for the exciting adventure ahead.

  She was forty minutes early.

  * * * * *

  “Don’t sweat it, baby. There’s nobody due for another forty minutes yet…”

  Mark Everton, Senior Technician at Pendrake Laboratories, ran his hands over Kimmy Johnson’s luscious body. It had taken him all of three months to get her where he wanted her, on a night shift, alone with him, in the Merlin Room.

  They’d chatted, had a couple of dates, shared a hot kiss or two, and tonight—yeah, tonight Mark was going to get lucky.

  “So what happened next, Mark?” Kimmy’s big blue eyes gazed up at Mark as she waited for him to continue his story.

  His fingers tripped down the front zipper of her lab jumpsuit.

  “There was nothing left of him but a pile of clothes…” he whispered dramatically.

  Kimmy gasped. Whether it was from hearing his story, or from the fact that his hands were now inside her suit and kneading her breasts was another matter.

  Mark didn’t particularly care because she had really quite remarkable breasts.

  She shivered under his attentions, and moved her hips close to his, grinding her pelvis against his erection.

  He was already hard and my god, she was making him even more ready. He eased her suit over her shoulders and revealed her magnificent breasts, which were skimpily covered in something lacy. The lights were low, so Mark couldn’t see exactly what it was, but that was okay because he didn’t really care. All he needed to know was—back or front fastening?

  “Are you sure, Mark?”

  Kimmy’s hands rested on Mark’s seconds before he popped the clasp.

  “Honey, there’s no one here. I made sure of that. I’ve wanted this for so long, do you think I’d chance any mistakes? I want to touch you so bad, Kimmy…”

  Suiting words to action, he released her breasts from their lacy confinement, sighing with happiness as they filled his hands to overflowing.

  Kimmy moaned, and reached for his zipper.

  Mark groaned as she found it and whippe
d it down, freeing his cock to the cool air of the lab.

  “Mark,” she giggled. “No undies?”

  “A guy can hope, can’t he?” chuckled Mark.

  Kimmy lowered her hands as Mark nibbled and suckled his way across her breasts.

  “Oooh Mark. Is this for me?” Her hands stroked him firmly, pulling slightly and flicking the head.

  God, he liked that. He liked that a lot.

  With a quick shrug his jumpsuit was on the floor, and he pressed his naked body up against Kimmy as he pushed her clothing away as well.

  Her juices were running, she was hot as hell, and Mark couldn’t wait to get all that fire round his cock.

  His fingers slipped down, rubbing and caressing and pushing her clit, bringing little cries and gasps of pleasure to her throat. His touch grew more forceful and her hips started an involuntary thrust of their own.

  Mark lifted Kimmy up, seating her on the low table that was behind her. He was a man who believed in doing a thorough job of preparation when it came to seduction, which is why he was considered so successful at it. And, as he’d thought, this particular table was just the right height for some lovely hot cunt to open wide and suck him right in.

  Moving between Kimmy’s outspread thighs, Mark teased her clit with the head of his cock, driving them both wild.

  Moaning out loud now, Kimmy ran frantic hands across her nipples and then down over Mark, reaching for his buttocks and driving her nails into the solid flesh she found there.

  “Do you want this, baby?” he growled, rubbing his cock against her once again.

  “Please Mark, oh please…”

  “Please what, honey?” he teased, pushing a little way in and then pulling back.

  Her legs rose up behind him to lock him to her.

  He took advantage and slid his cock between her folds, urging her to lean backwards slightly. He could almost push his way into her ass, and the mere thought of that sensation brought a shiver of anticipation through him.

  He slid through her moistness and his cock swelled to impossible dimensions as he felt her slick and throbbing cunt against him.

  “Touch me everywhere, Mark,” she whispered, eyes closed and head thrown back.

  Taking her at her word, Mark lowered his head and sucked powerfully at one enlarged nipple. His hands busied themselves with her clit and her anus, and within seconds she was a writhing sobbing squealing mass of desire that wanted nothing more in the entire world than to be fucked. Now!

  Mark held off as long as he could, but he was weakening. His balls clenched tightly and he released the nipple so that he could watch the shadows between them as he finally slid his cock inside her.

  They both froze for a moment, relishing the sensation of being finally joined together.

  * * * * *

  In front of the control panel, Annie Lynden was busily typing in her destination codes. She’d already entered her ID, password, social security number, and an assortment of other coded information that told Merlin she was actually who she said she was.

  Apparently he had believed her as he was now humming contentedly.

  She turned, having caught a slight sound. Listening, she tried to hear it again, but there was nothing.

  Focusing back on her project, she ran down the checklist again. There were several pages of detailed instructions, and it took her quite a bit of time to make sure all was as it should be.

  Damn it, there was that sound again. Almost like a moan.

  Annie half turned in the chair, and didn’t notice Merlin or the fact that he was looking a little more perky than he had ten minutes ago. In fact, if she had bothered to look closely, she might have even noticed that he was glowing.

  A definite moan came from the shadows at the back of the lab.

  “That’s it,” muttered Annie. “I’ll be damned if I’m waiting any longer for this viewing time. I don’t care who’s back there, I’m going ahead.”

  She turned back to her keyboard and entered the final sequence of numbers destined to open a channel to the year 1810.

  Looking up at the screen anxiously, she completely missed the fact that Merlin was now looking like Tinkerbell on steroids.

  The screen flickered and began to lighten.

  Images appeared, but they didn’t look much like London in the Regency. There seemed to be a very bright sky, desert sands perhaps, a palm tree or two…what the hell was this?

  Annie frowned.

  Behind the rack of electronics equipment, Kimmy gave a final sob and came violently as Mark thrust into her one last time to achieve the most monumental climax he could remember having in his entire life.

  Merlin screamed his joy and latched onto the nearest living thing.

  Annie disappeared.

  Chapter 2

  It had to be the worst hangover she’d ever had. Annie Lynden’s head was throbbing to the point of agony, and her stomach was upside down and threatening to come out of her ears if she moved.

  She was scared to moan, the sound might kill her.

  Suddenly a gentle hand laid a cool soft cloth on her forehead. Thank god. She must be in a hospital. Her addled thoughts worked through the equation…MERLIN, the lab, some kind of explosion and—hospital.

  Relaxing, she sighed with pleasure as the cloth stroked its way across her face and down her neck onto her naked breasts.

  Whoa. Naked breasts?

  What the hell kind of hospital was this? Very carefully, she raised one eyelid. She shut it again just as carefully.

  There was a half naked woman next to her bed.

  This was really weird.

  Annie thought for a few moments, and decided to risk both eyelids this time.

  Bad move.

  There were other women near her bed and they were completely naked.

  A moan seemed appropriate at this point.

  “Relax, Noble One, all will be well.” The cloth resumed its soothing trek over her body, and Annie clenched her eyes shut against the absurdity of it all.

  “I know you are awake and probably feeling quite dreadful, but if you could just sip some water, you’d do much better.”

  An arm worked its way behind her and raised her slightly, and a cool cup pressed against her lips. In spite of her reservations, Annie drank, hesitantly at first, and then thirstily as the cold water slipped down her parched throat.

  She lay back and finally opened her eyes.

  “I’m heavily medicated, aren’t I?”

  It was the only option she could imagine as she gazed slowly around her. Her headache was receding, but it felt lousy enough to completely preclude the possibility that she was dead. Dead people didn’t get thumping migraines.

  Nor did they open their eyes onto a scene right out of a Hollywood epic.

  Tall pillars soared to the ceiling of the room in which Annie lay. Mosaic tiles decorated just about everything, and a breeze was blowing gently across her bed. A warm breeze that smelled—different.

  She turned her head and gasped.

  There was no window next to her, just an opening in the wall framed by long panels of gauzy fabric. But it wasn’t the lack of a window that stopped Annie’s heart for a moment or two.

  It was the scene beyond that froze her in her tracks.

  “Oh shiiiiitttt…” she breathed.

  All tan and gold and brown, a huge ziggurat dominated the horizon, its steps covered with lush foliage. Decorations sparkled and glittered from the walls, and there seemed to be a lot of people walking up and down the enormous staircase leading to the entrance.

  Palm trees surrounded it and were scattered all over the gardens nearby. Her view outside was framed by a shrub with some kind of brilliant white flower on it and a man leading a camel strolled down the street outside the house. The heat of the day made the distant views shimmer, the sky was cloudless, and Annie had never seen anything that looked less like her home.

  “Where the hell am I?”

  A low chuckle greeted her wo
rds. “Welcome to Sumer, Noble One.”

  “I’m not your Noble One,” answered Annie, saying the first thing that came into her mind.

  “Indeed you are. What else would you call yourself? We found you on the very center point of the Circle of the Moon, you have hair the color of moonlight, and eyes that rival the sky in the moments after sunset. Your arrival has been foretold for many years in our legends. How can you doubt that you are the daughter of the Moon Goddess, sent to help us in our time of need?”

  Annie closed her eyes, digesting this speech. Nope, didn’t compute. Waaaay too far out. She had to be on some really heavy dope.

  “My name is not ‘Noble One’,” she said, quietly but firmly. “My name is Annie Lynden. Or it was until a short time ago.”

  “Welcome Annilin,” said the woman.

  Annie sighed.

  “I have to face this. I really have to face this. It’s probably a drug-induced fantasy, but I have to face it. The only other answer is that I’ve been…thrown back…in time…” Her voice trailed off as she put two and two together and came up with about four thousand. Years, that is.

  Goddamned friggin’ Merlin…he’d sent her back through time to Sumer. Not the Regency, where she could have coped quite nicely, thank you. She could probably have handled the French Revolution, or even the court at Versailles. But ancient Sumer? What in blazes did she know about ancient Sumer? She’d taken one lousy course in Sumerian culture and that was only because the guy she’d been in lust with at the time had signed up for it.

  This, to make the mental understatement of all time, was not good.

  She opened her eyes and took stock of her situation.

  Beside her bed was a woman, looking down at her with concern in her eyes and a drinking vessel with water in it clasped between her hands.

  Seeing Annie’s gaze, she smiled.

  “I am Enshilla, servant of the Moon Goddess. These are my handmaidens…” She waved elegant hands at several young women who were fluttering about at the far end of the room. It appeared that fashion was not a problem in Sumer—no one bothered to wear much of anything.