by
Pages: 72
Pages: 72
A Tempus Institute Story.
Should he change the past for love?
As an agent for the Tempus Institute, Jason Adams’ task is to observe the past, not change it. But when he’s sent to 21st-century Wellington, New Zealand, during the last week of aspiring songwriter Sean Henderson’s life, Jason finds he can’t just watch from a distance. He and Sean quickly become friends and then lovers, and when the song that's haunted Jason for years connects them in a way he never anticipated, he'll risk changing history for the chance of sharing a future with Sean.
Author’s note: This story was originally published in 2012 by another publisher. This edition has some added content, and uses UK/NZ spelling to reflect its setting.
Sean pulled his jacket tighter around himself as a shiver went through him. His old gran would have said someone had walked over his grave. “Who the hell are you, Jason, and what’s so secret that you can’t be honest about where you’re from?”
“No one special.” Jason bit his lip then looked out to sea. The crests of the waves were almost white, closer to a dirty grey, as though hiding secrets of their own. “I’m not asking for anything from you, Sean, and I promise I don’t mean you any harm. I just thought… I’m only here for a few days and I’d rather not spend them alone. That’s all, and all it’s ever going to be.”
Something about Jason tugged at Sean. He moved closer, his instincts winning out over his better judgment. Whatever Jason was involved in, whatever this assignment was, it was eating at him. He sounded as though he could do with a friend. Sean could do that. In fact, it might be just what he needed too.
READ MORE“Okay.” He took a deep breath. “I like you, Jason. I’m probably crazy, but there’s something about you that screams at me that I want to get to know you better.”
“Yeah, okay.” Jason smiled wanly. He reached out and tentatively took Sean’s hand in his. “I can’t tell you the specifics of my assignment, or about this article I’m writing, but I won’t lie to you, not anymore.”
Sean nodded and squeezed Jason’s hand, the skin-to-skin contact a welcome warmth. “Where are you from, Jason?” Surely the question wouldn’t conflict with the rest of Jason’s whole need-to-know thing?
“Here,” Jason said softly. “Not some other country like I told you, but here.”
“Here?” Sean raised one eyebrow. He couldn’t help but glance out towards the harbour again. “But you just said you never thought you’d see the sea. You can’t live around here and claim to never have seen it. We’re in a small country surrounded by water.” He shrugged. “Ruth’s lived here since the sixties. She says this beach looks much the same now as it always has and that it’s just the suburb itself that’s changed. Petone used to be all secondhand shops. Now it’s cafés and the like.”
“I guess a kid’s memory of a place is different from the reality of it so it wasn’t quite what I expected.” Jason’s eyes glazed over. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’m not very good at explaining myself, am I?”
“I thought you were a travel writer,” Sean teased, regretting the words when Jason bit his lip and turned away.
“Yeah, well, I never said I was a good one,” he murmured.
COLLAPSE“Slow Dreaming” is a short story that involves the Tempus Institute that deals in time travel. Jason Adams works for the institute and his mission is short term and only to observe. Unfortunately for Jason, his assignment is an inspiring musician, Sean Henderson.
Jason finds himself enamored with Sean and knows that there can never be anything between them. But even knowing Jason can only stay a short time, he and Sean become involved. When time starts to runout, Jason has to make decisions, reveal his secret and disrupt time, not knowing what the consequences will be.
Anne Barwell writes a story that reflects various emotions: sadness, worry, love and “what if’s” and melds it with time travel. There’s also a little bit of suspense, too. As far as, Jason and Sean they are a very compatible and sweet as a couple. From the start you know that Jason and Sean have a magical connection. Although this is a quick read the author gives the reader many thoughts to ponder.
I have read other novels by Anne Barwell and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the “Echoes Rising” series. “Slow Dreaming” is a little different from what I usually read and I tried not to read more into the story. This is just one of those stories to sit back, relax and enjoy!