Strands of Love

by N. J. Walters

  Sam licked her lips and put her hands on Jace’s chest. He was a little taller than his brother, a little wider, his features more rugged. There was no denying his strength. It was evident in every thick muscle in his arms and legs, the width of his shoulders and broadness of his chest. She traced the lines that delineated his abs, absorbing his heat and measuring his strength.

  Jace moved suddenly, reminding her that he might be big and muscular, but he was also very fast. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He dumped her on the mattress and stood back watching her as he shucked his boots, vest and pants. When he was as naked as she was, he loomed over her, his expression dark and grim.

  “Ask me?”

  She realized then how much she’d hurt his pride earlier. In spite of her unspoken invitation, he would not take her to bed until she invited him. He was aroused, his cock hard and ready, the thick veins that ran through his shaft pulsing in need, but he made no move toward her.

  “Be sure,” he added. “Once you say yes, I will not leave your bed while you are here.”

  Sam glanced toward Darian, who was still standing naked by the fire. He slowly nodded.

  She looked back at Jace and noted the pain in his gaze, the hurt, the expectation that even now she might reject him. She held out her hand. “Come to me.”

  If she was expecting him to jump into bed with her immediately, she was sadly mistaken. He put his hands on her thighs and shoved them wide. His fingers tightened and he gave a low growl of pleasure as he leaned inward. “I have to taste your pussy.”

  Sam had never met two men more earthy and plainspoken when it came to sex than Darian and Jace. She’d also never known two men who seemed to enjoy going down on a woman like they did.

  Jace ate her as though he was a starving man and she was a banquet. He tasted and teased, nipped and stroked. His tongue flicked the hard kernel of nerves at the apex of her thighs and she came halfway off the bed, her back arching into his touch. She almost came, but he stopped just before it could happen.

  She moaned, grabbed his hair and tried to pull him back where she wanted him. His low laugh of pleasure sent a shiver of desire rocketing through her. His tongue probed the opening of her slick channel, pressing inside. “Jace.” She cried his name, wanting more of him.

  She reached for him, wanting to stroke his cock, to learn his shape and size, but he kept just out of reach. Frustrated, she started to sit up, but the other side of the bed depressed and she fell back.

  Then she was lifted slightly, her shoulders supported by strong arms and a flat stomach. Darian was behind her, his thick shaft digging into her spine. He cupped her breasts and teased her nipples.

  Sam’s gaze flew back to Jace, wondering how he would react to Darian joining them in bed. He gave her a reassuring nod before diving between her spread thighs once again.

  The two men surrounded her. With Darian behind her and Jace between her spread thighs, she was totally vulnerable. They could do anything they wanted to her and she wouldn’t be able to stop them. She had a feeling no one in the castle would lift a finger to help her either. Jace and Darian were obviously in charge here.

  She should have been frightened out of her mind. Instead, she’d never felt safer in her entire life.

  Sam gave up thinking and reasoning. She shoved worry aside, losing herself in the heat the two men generated. She reached one hand behind her head and touched Darian’s face. He nuzzled his cheek against her palm. She stretched out her other hand toward Jace, pleased when he lifted his face into her touch.

  His lips were wet from her cream and the sensual sight sent a shudder of longing throughout her body. “Jace.”

  He licked his lips before kissing her inner thigh. “Hmm.”

  “Don’t wait.” She needed him and she needed him now.

  His entire body tensed as he knelt on the edge of the bed and lifted her thighs over his. His balls hung heavy between his legs and the top of his cock was damp. She wanted to touch him, to feel him pulsing between her palms, but there was no time.

  Later, she promised herself. Later, she would touch both of them, returning the pleasure they’d given her.

  Jace fitted the head of his cock to Sam’s slick opening and pushed his way inside. Her pussy was snug and he took his time, not wanting to hurt her by going too fast. He clenched his fists, shoving them into the bedding on either side of her waist to keep from ramming into her.

  He met Darian’s gaze and relaxed slightly when his brother nodded. She’d taken Darian earlier so she could take him too. He leaned forward, pushing his cock inward, sucking much needed air into his lungs, as her vaginal muscles rippled around him. He was breathing as though he’d run ten miles by the time he was fully seated.

  Sam reached for him and he leaned forward, pleased when she yanked his head down so she could kiss him. Her tongue teased his, rubbing it and then pulling back so he would chase it into her mouth.

  His balls were tight against his body and he knew he was running out of time. Sam had to come before he did. He needed her pleasure, needed her to know he’d always put her first.

  Jace tucked his hands beneath her, cupping the firm mounds of her ass. Then he began to move. Slowly at first, he rocked in and out of her. When she moaned into his mouth, he sat back and began to move faster.

  Darian stilled cupped her breasts and played with her nipples. They looked so pretty, a lovely shade of pink. Jace leaned down and lapped at one of the puckered tips before sucking the nipple into his mouth.

  Sam’s pussy clutched wildly at his shaft and, for a moment, Jace wasn’t sure he could hold back. Somehow he managed to keep from coming, but it was a close thing. He released her nipple and began to thrust heavily, loving the way her channel squeezed him on every stroke.

  “Come for me.” It was part plea, part command. Jace reached between their joined bodies and found her clit, stroking it with his thumb.

  Sam’s head jerked back against Darian’s chest. Her mouth opened and she screamed Jace’s name as she came. Her pussy spasmed and Jace couldn’t hold out any longer. He yelled, coming hard and long, emptying his seed into Sam. Maybe it was wrong of him, but he longed to give her a child, wanted that more than anything.

  He collapsed and his cock drove even deeper. Burying his face between her breasts, Jace struggled for breath and composure. Somehow, someway, this woman had taken his heart. And she was still determined to leave.

  He tightened his arms around her, wondering how he was ever going to let her go.

  Chapter Seven

  When Sam woke, the room was filled with light and she was alone in bed. She pushed herself up until she was in a seated position, grabbing the thick fur covering when it fell to her waist. She was naked and yesterday really had happened. Two gorgeous men had kidnapped her. Either that, or she’d been whisked away to an alternate world where it was okay for a woman to have two or more men as lovers. In fact, it was expected.

  She was getting a headache just thinking about it.

  “Two more days,” she muttered. If they were telling her the truth, then she’d be free to go in a little more than two more days. She shoved aside the tiny voice in the back of her head that whispered that staying here with Jace and Darian wasn’t such a bad thing. She had a life to get back to and a farm to save.

  Sam slid off the mattress and grabbed the thick robe lying across the trunk at the end of the bed. One of the men must have put it there for her. She felt her cheeks heating as she remembered last night. She’d really had sex with both brothers.

  She shoved her arms into the sleeves and belted the robe. It felt heavy against her sensitive skin. Her nipples were puckered and not because of the slight chill in the air. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten in quite some time. “Shower and clothes first, then food.”

  The stone floor was cold beneath her feet as she padded to the door in the corner, listening for a moment to make sure it wasn’t occupied before she pushed it
open. The wooden tub was filled with steaming water. She frowned, wondering how someone had managed that without waking her.

  Sam walked around the room and found a hidden door on the far end. What she’d thought was a decorative panel on the wall was really a door. There was no handle, but there was a slot built into the design that acted as one. She curled her fingers into the opening and pulled. The door opened easily. She looked out into the corridor but saw no one. She shut the door again.

  It seemed likely that the water elves had come that way. Still, she wasn’t about to cut off her nose to spite her face. But she wasn’t getting into a tub of water without finding some way to secure the door. No way did she want some stranger walking in on her when she was naked.

  The washstand wasn’t overly large, but it was sturdy. She put her hands on it and shoved. It slid easily over the floor and she kept going until it was in front of the hidden door. It wouldn’t stop anyone from getting in, but it would hinder them. More importantly, it would give her enough warning to jump out of the tub and grab the robe if someone tried.

  Satisfied the door was as secure as she could make it, Sam padded back to the tub and stuck her hand into the water. She nearly moaned aloud when the heat permeated her chilled skin. She was sweaty and sticky after everything that happened yesterday and dearly wanted to get clean. And since there was no shower, the bath would have to do.

  She slipped off the robe and draped it over a small stool that stood beside the tub. A washcloth, bar of soap and a towel sat on a ledge on the opposite side. Gripping the wooden sides for stability, Sam stepped into the tub and lowered herself into the steaming hot water.

  “Oh, this is wonderful.” Working on the farm left her little time for relaxing. A quick shower in the morning and another one before supper was what she was used to. This was sheer decadence.

  The tub was large, probably because it had to be big enough to fit Darian. No, scratch that thought. She didn’t want to imagine a naked Darian, all the prime male flesh and muscles wet and aroused as he relaxed in the water.

  Sam groaned and slid entirely beneath the water, letting it flow over her. No worries about it cooling off, not with the hot fantasizes her mind was weaving. She pushed up to a seated position, shoved her slick, wet hair away from her face and reached for the soap.

  She examined the large bar first, sniffing it. A light floral scent tickled her nostrils. It smelled a lot like lavender and seemed to be infused with bits of herb or flower. She normally used a cheap brand of soap—the same kind her brother had used—so this was a luxury. She rubbed it over her arms and legs, enjoying the way it lightly bubbled.

  Closing her eyes, she inhaled the light fragrance. Immediately, her mind conjured an image of a bubble-covered Jace reclining in the tub. She groaned and covered her face with her hands. “Stop it.” She had to quit thinking about the brothers in such a way. In two days they’d go their separate ways and probably never see one another again.

  She opened her eyes, ignoring the tight feeling in her chest when she thought about never seeing either man again. Looking around, she didn’t notice anything resembling shampoo so she used the soap on her hair, scrubbing her scalp and lathering her tresses. When she was ready, she slid down in the tub again, using her hands to try to rinse it. What she’d really like was a bucket of clean water, but this would have to do.

  Sam sat upright in the tub, swiping the water away from her eyes. A towel appeared before her. She jerked around, sending water sloshing over the rim of the tub and cascading onto the floor.

  Jace crouched next to her, calmly holding the towel. He was dressed as he’d been yesterday with leather pants, boots and vest, along with those metal arm- and wristbands. Once again, he had two skinny braids on either side of his rugged face. He was even better looking than she remembered. Or maybe she only felt that way because she was coming to know him better. None of which mattered. What mattered was he was in the bathroom with her.

  “How did you get in here?” The secret door was still barred by the washstand. She almost smacked herself in the head at her stupidity. She hadn’t blocked the bedroom entrance. She’d assumed the closed bathroom door would be enough to keep someone from coming in unannounced. Obviously, she’d been wrong to believe that. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, feeling very exposed and vulnerable.

  Jace sighed and wiped the water from her face. “Do you want me to rinse your hair for you?”

  “There’s no clean water.”

  Jace reached around to the bottom of the tub and pulled out a bucket. Somehow when she was pushing the washstand against the door, she’d missed seeing it.

  She chewed on her bottom lip. It would be stupid not to use the water. “I can do it,” she began.

  He shook his head and lifted the bucket, holding it expectantly.

  Sam sighed, recognizing the stubborn glint in his eyes. She knelt, careful to keep as much of herself covered as possible. Maybe it was stupid. No, scratch that, it was totally stupid. He’d already seen all there was to see of her last night. But she’d never been one to flaunt herself and wasn’t comfortable having him here while she was naked in her bath.

  Lowering her head, she waited.

  Jace slowly poured the clean water over her hair. Strong fingers combed through the strands, making certain all the soap was gone. Sam sighed, enjoying the feeling of being pampered and cared for. Moments like these had been far and few in her life, especially coming from a man.

  When he was done, he lowered the bucket and squeezed the excess water from her hair. “Sit back.”

  Sam maneuvered into a seated position, all the while keeping her legs bent to her chest. Thankfully the soapy water helped to hide her.

  Jace sighed and cupped her face in his hands. He leaned down and kissed her, the quick movement startling her. He deepened the kiss until their tongues were tangling together and Sam forgot why it wasn’t a good reason to be kissing him.

  Before she knew it, her traitorous body was responding to his nearness. Her hands crept over his firmly muscled chest to his broad shoulders, clinging to him while she lost herself in their heated kiss. Oh, he tasted good, like apples, tart and sweet at the same time.

  By the time he pulled back, she was gasping for breath, but she wasn’t alone. Jace was just as affected by the kiss as she was. “Why?” he asked her. “Why hide yourself from me. I told you to be sure last night. I will not leave you now.”

  She remembered him telling her that last night, but she’d been too far gone with passion to care. “I’m not used to having a man see me naked in the bathtub in the middle of the morning.” Or at any other time of the day for that matter. She’d only ever gotten naked with a man in bed. This was a new experience for her.

  Jace smiled. “I am glad.”

  Oh, yeah. No mistaking the satisfied male smile. But, surprisingly, it didn’t piss her off. Instead, she found herself smiling.

  “I will dry you.” Jace stood and grabbed the towel. Shaking it out, he held it and waited. Sam sat in the cooling water, trying to decide what to do. Should she let him dry her or should she send him away? In spite of everything, she felt in her heart he’d leave her if she truly wanted him to. The question was what did she want?

  Sam took a deep breath, grabbed the sides of the tub and stood.

  Every muscle in his body was tense as Jace waited to see what Sam would do. He’d risen early, as was his habit, and after breaking his fast went to the stables to check on his new stallion. But he hadn’t been able to stay away. The picture of Sam, soft and warm in his brother’s bed haunted him. He’d held her through part of the long night, marveling at how well she’d fit in his arms.

  Pride and self-preservation had driven him from her side, but curiosity, need and, yes, a small sliver of hope had driven him back to her side.

  When he’d entered the room and found the bed empty, he’d panicked for a moment, wondering if the tapestry had already appeared and ta
ken her home. The magic seemed to be working to new rules this time around. Ones he didn’t understand.

  His heart had skipped a beat and then started racing when he heard the water splashing in the other room. Sam was taking a bath. The temptation to see her wet and naked was too much to resist. He’d stood for several long minutes in the doorway, watching her scrub her hair. She’d been humming a tune he didn’t recognize and he’d been totally enthralled by the sensual picture she made.

  Her back was narrow, her neck slender. In his opinion, she was a tad too thin. There were muscles under her skin though, proving that whatever she did in her world she worked hard. He knew there were calluses on her hands. Once again, he wondered where the men were—father or brothers, uncles or cousins.

  When Sam stood, every other thought fled. The water rolled down her supple body. A bead dripped from the tip of one pert breast and Jace had the sudden urge to lick the remaining water from her body. His cock was hard and ready, but he restrained his urges. Today was all about Sam. About showing her how good it could be between them if she stayed.

  He took a step toward her and she nibbled on her bottom lip again. It was a gesture he’d noticed she made when she was nervous or uncertain. Another bead of water gathered on her nipple. Unable to resist this time, he leaned forward and sipped the drop from her breast.

  Sam sucked in a breath. “Jace?”

  He straightened and licked his lips. She shuddered and both her nipples tightened beneath his gaze. He was glad she was as affected by the sensual pull between them as he was.

  Jace reached for her hand and helped her climb out of the tub. When she was steady, he wrapped the drying cloth around her and rubbed. He dried her arms and back before turning to her full, pert breasts.

  He paid careful attention to each mound, rubbing the cloth over the tips. Sam moaned, but didn’t stop him. Her blue eyes seemed even darker than normal, filled with a sensual hunger he longed to sate.