She didn’t want to think of someone actually filling that tub while she was in the bedroom engaged in sexual activities with Sednar and Radnor. It was embarrassing.
She supposed she should be grateful there seemed to be a separate entrance to this room so they didn’t have to troop through the bedroom. And wouldn’t that have been fun? Not.
Radnor lowered her into the tub. The hot water surrounded her, seeping into her sore muscles, soothing her tattered nerves. Now that hormones and adrenaline were no longer pumping through her, she was feeling some of her bruises and the stiffness left from the fight with Michael.
“Bathe.” Sednar set a towel and a cloth on a low wooden table that sat next to the tub. “When you are done, you will eat.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Unless you want help washing your back.”
Roxanne wanted time alone. Needed it to regain what little of her wits remained.
She shook her head. He looked disappointed, but inclined his head. “As you wish.”
Radnor leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, another one on her nose, before dropping a quick one on her lips. “Everything will be fine, Roxanne. We will take care of you.”
He straightened and stared down at her. He was totally naked, his cock fully erect again. Her gaze flew from his shaft to his face. She could feel her cheeks getting hot.
He shook his head. “I would love to fuck you. To bury my cock in your moist heat.
To feel the welcome of your soft body as it took mine within it.” He wrapped his hand around his shaft and pumped. His cock head was damp and dark. “But it’s your choice.
It’s up to you to say yes or no.”
The longer she was around these men, the less she wanted to say no. She swallowed hard and said nothing. Radnor sighed and released his cock. He motioned to a small bench just beside the door. “There are clean clothes when you’re done.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. He was halfway to the door and turned toward her when she spoke. “For everything.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “It’s my pleasure.” Then he was gone and she was alone with her thoughts.
Picking up a cloth, she dipped it in the water and slapped it over her face. Oh god, what had she done? Had the best sex of your life, a voice in the back of her head insisted.
That was the problem. Radnor and Sednar had somehow found a way to slip past her defenses. No, that wasn’t true. She’d lowered her defenses and invited them in.
Roxanne pulled the cloth away from her face, picked up the bar of soap from the ledge next to the tub and began to wash. As she carefully scrubbed every inch of her skin, she put her thoughts in order.
She’d had sex, kind of. Not intercourse, but there was no denying she’d had an orgasm. There was also no denying she’d sucked both men’s cocks and loved every second of it. She’d discovered a part of herself she hadn’t realized existed—a woman who enjoyed sex, the giving and receiving that came with it.
Maybe it was this place, but she didn’t feel like herself. She stilled and the cloth she was holding slipped away and sank into the water. Michael wasn’t here. She was safe.
That’s what had made her feel so free, so alive.
She shivered and grabbed the cloth and finished washing. “You can’t stay,” she whispered aloud.
Why not?
She wished the voice in the back of her head would stop saying things like that.
“Because,” she muttered. Not exactly a stellar reason. This world wasn’t hers. She had no place here.
What place did she have back home?
It was all so confusing. She had no idea about this place beyond a quick glimpse of the courtyard before she fainted, or rather, passed out due to everything she’d been through. That sounded better than saying she fainted.
Clean from head to toe, she stood and let the water cascade down her body. She shivered as her nipples peaked. Her skin felt oversensitized and she ached between her thighs. No doubt about it, she might have had the mother of all orgasms, but she still wasn’t satisfied. She had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn’t feel satisfied until she’d had both men, felt their thick cocks buried in her slick, heated passage.
Roxanne stepped out of the tub and dragged the towel over her tender flesh.
Ignoring the throbbing between her thighs, she padded to the bench and picked up the clothing that had been left for her. She shook out the first piece. A skirt. She shrugged, dropped the towel and tugged it on. There was a drawstring at the waist, which she tightened. The next item of clothing was a tunic that fell to her hips. Both were made from a soft, supple fabric. She couldn’t tell if it was cotton, linen or wool. Or maybe a combination of several of them. Whatever it was, it was comfortable and loose, which was nice considering she was feeling sore and slightly bruised.
She pulled up the skirt and examined her legs. A few dark marks marred her skin.
It was the same with her arms. Overall, she felt better than she expected. She gingerly touched her forehead. Even her head felt pretty good.
It felt strange not to be wearing any underwear, but she had no idea where her panties and bra were. And she wasn’t about to go looking for them. Not with Radnor and Sednar sitting in the next room. She’d search for them when the men were no longer around. Until then, she’d have to get used to walking around without underwear. She took a few practice steps and almost groaned. The fabric brushed lightly against her breasts, her bottom and her thighs, a teasing, torturous caress.
“Nothing you can do about it now,” she told herself as she smoothed the fabric over her legs.
She spied a comb on the bench. Grabbing it, she combed her hair, grateful it wasn’t long any more. The shorter style was much easier to deal with. There was no mirror and she was just as glad there wasn’t. She had no desire to see what she looked like at the moment. She was clean and safe. That was all that mattered.
Roxanne thought about her job and her stomach dropped. Would she even have one by the time she got back? She chewed on her bottom lip. She was supposed to be off—she stopped and thought—tomorrow. She’d miss today’s shift. If what Radnor had said was true, she’d be able to go home late tomorrow. She’d call Joe and plead with him if she had to, telling him she was ill. She’d never missed a shift before. Hopefully that would count for something. Her apartment would be fine. Unless Michael had trashed it.
Would the tapestry return her to the exact moment she left or would time have passed back home as well? It was all too confusing.
She couldn’t think about that. Not now. There was nothing she could do about it.
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten in quite some time. Life went on no matter what. Dropping the comb back onto the bench, she picked up the damp towel and hung it on a wooden peg. She returned to the tub long enough to pull out the wooden plug at the bottom. The water slowly began to drain.
There was nothing else to keep her in here, nothing except nerves. She took a deep breath, drew her courage around her, opened the door and strode back into the bedroom.
Both men were waiting for her and stood when she entered. They were dressed, thankfully. She didn’t think she could eat with two naked men sitting next to her. Not that the vests they wore covered much of their chests, but it was better than nothing.
Their skin and the ends of their hair were damp. They looked as though they’d washed while she was lolling in the tub.
“Hi.” She didn’t know what else to say. Felt slightly awkward now that they weren’t in bed, which was silly.
“Come and eat.” Sednar held out a chair. It was a command, but he punctuated it with a smile. She was quickly learning that was his way. But his tone left no doubt that he expected to be obeyed.
She arched a brow at him and padded over, her bare feet making a slapping sound against the cool stone. She shivered as the cold seeped through the soles of her feet and into her body.
Without saying a word, Radnor scowled, turned
on his heel and strode to the door.
He yanked it open and disappeared. Roxanne swallowed her disappointment and offered Sednar a half-hearted smile as he seated her.
“There is bread, cheese, fruit, meat and stew. We weren’t sure what you’d like.” Her gaze went to the table in front of her and her eyes widened. It was filled with platters and bowls of food. They’d obviously gone to a lot of trouble.
“Thank you.” Even though her stomach was protesting, she wasn’t really hungry.
But she knew she had to eat to keep up her strength. She took a piece of the bread, some cheese and something that resembled an apple and began to eat. Sednar poured something from a wooden jug into a cup and handed it to her. She sniffed it.
“It’s cider.” He poured a cup for himself and drank. “There is water if the cider is not to your liking.”
She sipped and then drank a bit more. The drink was tart, with a hint of sweetness, yet refreshing. “It’s good. Thank you.”
Radnor stalked back into the room, something held in his hands. He came around the side of the table and abruptly went down on one knee beside her, dropping the bundle he carried onto the floor beside him. Her hand was shaking so she set her cup back on the table.
He reached beneath the table and drew her left foot onto his thigh. He brushed off the bottom and then reached for whatever it was he’d brought with him. Shoes. He’d brought her shoes. Or rather, soft, supple leather boots that went to just below her knee and were tied in place with leather straps.
His hands were gentle, yet sure, as he tied the straps and then reached for her other foot. He’d seen her shiver and had immediately gone to find her something to wear on her bare feet. They’d taken care of her, fed her and clothed her. Her heart ached at their generosity.
When Radnor was done, he grunted and stood. Giving her a nod, he went to his seat, grabbed a piece of bread and some cheese and began to eat. Roxanne picked up her cup and took a sip of cider, knowing in that one gesture, she’d surely lost a piece of her heart to the massive, taciturn man seated beside her.
Chapter Eight
Roxanne ate a little of the bread and cheese. Her stomach was in knots and she knew it was impossible for her to eat any more. She pushed her plate away. It had been hard to eat with both men watching her every move. Oh, they weren’t overt about it, but she could see them watching her out of the corners of their eyes.
Sednar frowned. “You did not eat much.”
It sounded like an accusation, but it made her smile. “I’m not really hungry.” He persisted. “If the food is not to your liking, I can get you something else.” For all his commanding airs, Sednar was a good man. He didn’t get angry with her for not eating what he offered. His only concern was for her. “The food is wonderful.
Truly,” she added when his frown deepened. “My stomach is just upset from everything that’s happened.” That was nothing less than the truth.
Sednar sighed. “As you wish. If you get hungry, you have only to let one of us know and we will find you something to eat.”
“Thank you.” She was touched by his genuine concern.
Radnor shoved back from the table, his chair scraping against the stone floor. “If you are finished, we would like to show you our home.” Roxanne found she was very curious about both men and the stone fortress they called home. Her glimpse of the outside had only whetted her appetite for more knowledge. “I’d like that.” She pushed her chair away and stood, shaking out the skirt.
It fell halfway between her knees and ankles, but her legs were totally covered because of the boots Radnor had procured for her. It felt very strange and oddly erotic to be completely dressed, yet to feel half naked due to her lack of underwear.
She glanced at the bed. The covers had been pulled up, showing no signs of their earlier sexual activities. She sighed, not seeing her clothing anywhere. She’d have to leave it for now and look later.
Radnor stood beside her, waiting patiently. “Lead on,” she told him.
He reached down and took her hand in his, thick fingers twining with her smaller ones. Their palms touched as he guided her out of the room and down a short hallway to a set of stairs. It was a very intimate sensation to be walking hand in hand with him.
Sednar followed close behind them.
Radnor’s voice was deep as he began to tell her about his home. “Craddocks have been on this land for generations. The original tower itself was built about twelve generations ago, as far as we can tell, and has been added to since.”
She couldn’t imagine having a family history that went back that far. She placed her free hand on the cool stone, trying to imagine all the people before her who must have touched the exact same spot.
“It is not as large as some family lands,” Sednar continued, “but it is prime land.” Roxanne could hear the pride in his voice, but she could also hear an underlying defensiveness as well and wondered about it.
They led her through the great hall, which was surprisingly sunny in spite of the thick stone walls. Windows were cut high on the walls, allowing light while maintaining security. It seemed her first impression of the building was correct. It was a fortress, built to protect those who lived within.
Men and a few women scurried about doing everyday chores. None of them spoke to the brothers. Indeed, they seemed to be doing their best to avoid their gazes. Roxanne frowned as a man darted furtive glances over his shoulder as he stoked the fire in the hearth of the great hall.
The room was huge, but sparse. A heavy wooden table sat on a dais at the head of the room with two large chairs placed so whoever sat there would have a perfect view of the entire room. Like the table, the chairs were simply constructed. Sturdy and functional. Four smaller tables sat perpendicular to the larger one with long benches on either side. All were empty at the moment.
“This way.” Sednar strode in front of her and Radnor, leading them toward a stone archway and a set of stairs. They went down the narrow, winding steps. She had to release Radnor’s hand and walk in front of him. The stairwell here was too narrow for the two of them to easily walk side by side. The smells emanating from below told her they were headed for the kitchen.
As they stepped into the room, all activity ceased. An older woman was busy, bent over a table, kneading dough. A man turned a spit over a cookfire. Several younger men and one young woman were peeling and cleaning vegetables and fruit, some of which appeared familiar and some that did not.
The older woman straightened and hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron before giving a small curtsy. “My lords.” Her gaze flitted to Roxanne and then back down to the floor. “I hope the food was to your liking.”
Roxanne could hear the underlying tremor in the woman’s voice and hurried to reassure her. “It was wonderful. Thank you.”
The woman offered her a quick smile of gratitude. She clutched her apron in her hands and waited.
“This is Tamma. She is in charge of the kitchens.” Radnor made the introduction.
Roxanne stuck out her hand on impulse. “Pleased to meet you, Tamma.” The other woman stared at Roxanne’s hand as if she wasn’t quite certain what to do with it. Her gaze jerked to Sednar. He gave a small incline of his head. Tamma reached out and took Roxanne’s hand, giving it a small shake before releasing it.
Not quite sure what to think, Roxanne settled on giving the rest of them a smile as Sednar introduced them. The atmosphere in the kitchen was tense and she was glad when they moved on.
The men took her on a tour of the rest of the castle, pointing out things of interest as they went. It was fascinating to see how it all worked. There were storage rooms, weapons rooms and barracks for the men who were part of the guards of the keep. The sight of all those weapons of war—swords, crossbows, knives and others she wasn’t quite sure what they were—was a stark reminder that she wasn’t in her own world.
The family living quarters were on the top floor of the keep. The great hall was below it. Then c
ame the kitchens and storage rooms and finally the barracks and arsenal. The layout was functional. Yet the place had an air of oppression about it.
Roxanne blinked and reached up a hand to shade her eyes as they stepped through the huge metal and oak main door. The sun was bright and inviting as they went down the wide stone stairs and into the courtyard.
“The fields are off to the west. The grazing lands to the east.” Sednar pointed as he spoke. “We grow and raise what we need to survive. We fish in the river and lake beyond.”
From their higher vantage point, Roxanne could see the lake off to the west and estimated it at about a twenty-to thirty-minute walk. Not too far, especially on a beautiful day.
The courtyard was abuzz with noise and activity as everyone went about their daily work. A man pulled a cart filled with vegetables toward the back of the keep. Another man seemed to be building something out of wood. In the distance, she could hear the bang of metal on metal. As her gaze wandered, Radnor followed it and explained what she was seeing.
“Hamish is taking the yield of one of the fields to the storage bins in the keep. The land he farms is ours so he must give up a portion of his crop to us. Arron is a master builder. He is currently working on a chair.”
Unlike the chairs she’d seen in the keep, this one seemed to be ornate. The builder was currently carving the back of the seat. She couldn’t make out the design, but it seemed to be vines and flowers. Roxanne smiled to herself. Perhaps it was for Arron’s wife or sweetheart.
She stopped to watch him. “Your work is beautiful.” And it was. Close up, she could see just how intricate the carving was. Back home, he’d get a small fortune for a handcrafted piece like this.
The man nodded. “Thank you.” He glanced at Radnor and Sednar but said no more, going back to his work.
Roxanne sighed. They certainly weren’t a friendly bunch. Maybe it was something about her that put them off. The thought was rather depressing. It was probably as simple as the fact she was a stranger. At least that’s what she told herself.
Embroidered Fantasies t-5 Page 9
