Christina's Tapestry Read online

  CHRISTINA’S TAPESTRY

  An Ellora’s Cave Publication, July 2005

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

  1056 Home Ave.

  Akron, OH 44310

  ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-4199-0287-3

  Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):

  Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML

  CHRISTINA’S TAPESTRY Copyright © 2005 N.J. WALTERS

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Edited by Pamela Cohen.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Warning:

  The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. Christina’s Tapestry has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-rotic), and X (X-treme).

  S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.

  E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature.

  X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

  Christina’s Tapestry

  N.J. Walters

  Dedication

  For the amazing readers at the Cave. Your unwavering acceptance and support since the very beginning has been nothing short of inspiring. Thank you for embracing my characters and me and changing my life. You know who you are.

  Also, as always, thank you to my editor, Pamela Cohen, who always makes me a better writer by her hard work and advice.

  For my incredible husband. Thank you for your continued love and belief in me. I couldn’t do it without you.

  Chapter One

  “Men suck.”

  Christina Beaumont leaned in closer to hear her friend over the din of the Friday evening crowd gathered in the bar. She could see Brenda valiantly fighting back tears as she took a sip of her drink.

  “What happened?” She had to yell her question to be heard over the music and loud voices. She was beginning to think that coming here after work hadn’t been such a good idea after all. But when Brenda had called her at the office begging her to meet her, she had caved. She liked Brenda, but her friend was one of those women who were always in crisis with her latest boyfriend.

  “Jason and I had a fight.” Brenda dabbed at her eyes.

  Christina was always amazed at the way Brenda could cry and not disturb her makeup. Even worse, she actually looked good while she cried. Her eyes would fill with tears and look luminous and vulnerable. When Christina cried, all she got was red eyes and blotchy skin. “What happened?”

  But her friend was no longer paying any attention to her. Christina turned and glanced over her shoulder to see what had snagged Brenda’s attention and groaned. Jason was strutting his way across the room, a determined look on his face.

  As he wove in and around the crowds, his eyes never left Brenda’s face. Christina felt all but invisible by the time he reached their table.

  “Come home with me, baby.” Jason slid his arm around Brenda’s shoulders as he leaned down to kiss her.

  Christina looked away and sighed. She’d heard it and seen it all before, but she still didn’t understand the strange relationship that her friend had with Jason. They seemed to delight in fighting and making scenes in public places, which were inevitably followed with a passionate lovemaking session. She knew this little fact because Brenda always shared every intimate detail of it with her the following day, whether she wanted to hear it or not.

  Christina started when she felt a hand touch her shoulder.

  “I’ve got to go,” Brenda whispered. “Jason and I need to talk. You understand, don’t you?”

  Christina nodded. Really, what else could she do? Brenda gave her a tremulous smile, turned and walked away. Jason wrapped his arm around her waist and they disappeared into the crowd.

  The noise was giving her a headache and she wished she’d just said no when Brenda had pleaded with her to meet her for drinks. She’d just known that something like this was going to happen, didn’t it always?

  When the waitress plunked her tray down on the table and deposited the second round of drinks, Christina sighed and dug out her wallet to pay. After all, it wasn’t the waitress’s fault she couldn’t say no to Brenda. Leaving the drinks untouched, she gathered her coat and purse and made her way towards the door.

  “Excuse me,” she repeated over and over as she was jabbed by elbows fighting her way through the crowd. She’d had her feet stepped on twice by the time she got to the door.

  Stumbling out of the bar, she was immediately drenched by the water pouring from the sky. Even though the weather man had promised it would rain today, it hadn’t been raining when she’d gone in a little over an hour ago. Now it was coming down in buckets. Ducking back under the awning, she tugged her raincoat on and zipped it up tight. Her skirt and blouse were already soaked and she shivered as the wet fabric clung to her skin.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a cab coming her way. Raising her hand and waving, she managed to flag him down. As she stepped towards the curb, the cab swerved in and sent a shower of dirty water over her. Christina coughed and sputtered, swiping at the water that stung her eyes.

  The sound of laughter and a car door slamming filled her ears. Before she could even get the muck cleared from her eyes, she knew that someone else had taken her cab.

  “Damn it,” she swore under her breath before sucking back the anger that threatened to overflow.

  Taking a deep calming breath, she turned and started walking down the center of the sidewalk, her strides long and sure. It was still early in the evening and she was already soaked, so she might as well walk to the subway station and save the cab fare.

  The cold March air whipped at her coat and she grasped the corner of her hood with her left hand to keep the wind from blowing it down. She sloshed through the slush and the water as she hurried down the almost deserted street. The light from a store window drew her gaze as she passed. She glanced at the display and almost stumbled, she stopped so suddenly.

  She no longer felt the cold or the rain that pummeled her body as she stood with her nose pressed to the glass window. Her fingers trembled as she reached out towards the tapestry that was displayed on the other side of the glass. Its vibrant colors and almost lifelike quality was enthralling. It was, quite simply, the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen in her life.

  She had to have it. Somehow she knew that it was meant to belong to her.

  Groping her way to the front door of the shop, she tugged on the handle. It was locked. Desperation seized her as she banged her fist on the door. There had to be someone inside the store.

  An elderly lady, her white hair coiled neatly in a bun on her head, appeared on the other side of the door. Christina could see her shaking her head through the glass. “We’re closed.”

  Christina’s stomach clenched as de
termination filled her. “Please. I just want to see the tapestry in the window.” She pointed to the window as she shouted.

  The woman’s face softened and she smiled gently as she slowly reached out and unlocked the door. Christina almost cried with relief when the woman ushered her inside, closing and bolting the door behind her.

  “I’m really sorry about this.” Now that she was inside, Christina began to realize just how crazy her actions must seem to the other woman. “It’s just that I saw the tapestry as I passed by and…” She trailed off, not quite sure how to explain her sudden obsession.

  But the older woman just laughed softly. “I understand, my dear. You just wait here and I’ll get it for you.”

  Christina watched the woman’s every move. A feeling of anticipation shot through her as the woman carefully removed the item from the window and brought it over to the front counter. Spreading it over the flat surface, she motioned Christina closer.

  Almost hesitantly, she edged nearer, afraid that the piece would not live up to her expectations when she examined it up close. The tapestry was about two feet wide and three feet long. The rich colors created a picture unlike any she’d ever seen. A large stone castle stood in the background, surrounded by a forest. Various birds and animals were hidden in the depths of the trees. The longer she looked, the more she saw in the intricate design. Her fingers itched to touch it so she shoved her hands in her pockets.

  A river flowed to the left of the castle, the blue-gray water tumbling over rocks and carving a path into the forest behind it. Silvery fish jumped and glittered in its depths. It was so real, she almost felt as if she could hear the plop of the fish as they breached the surface.

  There were flowers of every shape and color, many of which she didn’t recognize. But they were all beautifully framed against the castle and the thick growth of trees. There were pine trees, their needles a green so deep they looked almost black in places and trees covered with leaves of various shapes and sizes, in every shade of green imaginable. She could almost sense them moving in the breeze.

  Whoever had created this tapestry was indeed an artist. The picture was so alive that Christina felt that if she stared at it long enough, she would actually see the river run and the trees sway. It was mesmerizing.

  But it was the two warriors standing in front of the castle that captivated her. Both were tall and strong. Their chests and arms rippled and bulged with muscles, even though they were standing with their arms folded across their chests in a seemingly casual stance. Only a leather vest covered their torsos, leaving most of their chests and all of their arms bare. Wide metal bands, the color of bronze, were clasped around their upper arms and wrists.

  Leather breeches molded strong thighs and cupped rather impressive bulges in the front. She couldn’t help but think that the maker of the tapestry had definitely taken artistic license. Both wore leather boots that came to just below their knees. They gave off an aura of barely leashed power that could explode at a moment’s notice.

  Both of them had long, straight hair, although one warrior had brown hair, the other black. Strands of it flew out behind them as if it was being whipped around by an unseen wind. They looked proud and strong, protectors of the castle and its inhabitants.

  Their features seemed to take on a sharper definition the longer she stared at them. There was a similar look about them, and she felt that they could be related. They both had long faces with high foreheads and cheekbones. Their features were rough-hewn, but not unattractive. They definitely weren’t pretty, but they were compelling. Their slightly hooked noses and golden brown eyes made them look like birds of prey. The taller one had fuller lips, but both faces were filled with carnal knowledge and sensual promise. In spite of her cold, damp clothing, Christina felt a warmth flood her body.

  She could almost imagine their voices, deep and slightly rough, promising all kinds of sexual delights. The skin on their hands would be rough as they touched her. They would whisper in her ear, telling her in great detail what they wanted to do to her, separately and together.

  Suddenly it was hard to breathe. She began to tremble, a quiver that began low in her belly and spread to her entire body. Her breasts seemed to swell and she could feel her nipples pucker and push against the soft cotton cups of her bra. The slight abrasion almost made her cry out and she swallowed back a moan of pleasure. She felt strangely aroused as she stood there staring at the two men in the tapestry. An ache grew between her thighs, unlike anything she’d ever experienced before, and moisture seeped from her core, dampening the crotch of her panties.

  “How much?” The sound of her own voice surprised her. It was low and sultry, like some sexy siren, not her usual no-nonsense tone.

  “Twenty-two hundred dollars.”

  Christina’s heart sank at the cost and reality crashed back down on her. She was a secretary in the accounting department of a large corporation and although she made a decent living, it cost a lot to live in the city. Swallowing hard, she turned to the woman who was waiting patiently for her to make up her mind.

  “Is that your best price?” She was instantly appalled at herself. She’d never bargained for anything in her adult life. She’d grown up poor, buying from thrift stores her entire childhood, and she’d promised herself that when she started working she’d never have to grovel for anything again. But pride suddenly didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was owning this tapestry.

  Even as she felt the heat climbing up her cheeks, Christina watched the other woman shake her head, her green eyes filling with regretfully. “I’m sorry dear, but I just put that piece out tonight. I was actually going to ask twenty-five hundred for it, but you seemed to want it so badly.”

  She bit her lip to keep herself from crying as a feeling of shame crept over her. She felt twice as bad about asking for a discount now. The only sensible thing she could do now would be to say thank you and leave. Instead, when she opened her mouth to thank the proprietor of the store, all her good intentions vanished. “How about seventeen hundred?” The words tumbled out before she could stop them. Part of her wanted to call her words back. Instead, she held her breath and hoped.

  As if sensing a sale, the older lady countered quickly. “Two thousand.” Holding her hand up before Christina could speak, she added softly, “That’s my final offer.”

  Quickly, Christina made a mental inventory of the money she had in her bank account. It would wipe out her entire savings, but she could swing it if she was really frugal for a couple of months.

  Without allowing any time to talk herself out of it, she whipped out her wallet and extracted her bankcard from it. “Sold.”

  The wrinkles around the older woman’s face deepened as she smiled. “It’s perfect for you, my dear.” Bustling around, she quickly rang up the sale before Christina could change her mind. Then carefully wrapped the tapestry in tissue paper before placing it in a plastic bag for safe and easy transport.

  Ignoring the sharp pain in her head and the nausea churning in her gut, she ruthlessly wiped out her savings to pay for the piece of woven fabric. Clutching the package in her hands, she swallowed hard as she headed back to the front door of the shop.

  Just before the door closed behind her, she heard the other woman’s voice. “You won’t regret it.”

  Christina stopped suddenly and turned back, tempted to return the tapestry and forget the whole thing, but it was already too late. The door was closed and locked, the lights already out. She squinted and peered through the glass, but couldn’t see the woman anywhere inside.

  The plastic-wrapped package seemed to grow heavier in her arms as she stared in the window. The rain was still coming down hard. The cold drops falling on her face shook her out of her stupor. Sheltering the package as best she could, she turned and left the store behind her, racing towards the lights of the subway station.

  Scurrying down the stairs, she made the platform just as the train arrived. Hurrying on, she sighed with relief
when the doors closed behind her. Other people like herself were heading home after the long workday. She eased into a vacant seat by the door and wrapped her arms around the package that sat in her lap, letting the rhythm of the train soothe her shattered nerves.

  Home. Everything would be fine as soon as she got home.

  Chapter Two

  Christina leaned back against the door and heaved a sigh of relief. Reaching out, she flicked a switch and a dim light filled the room. The apartment was small and cramped, but it was hers and it was home.

  She laid her purse and her precious bundle on the floor beside her loveseat before taking off her wet coat and hanging it on a coat hook just behind the front door. Pulling off her boots one at a time, she set them aside before bolting all the locks on the door.

  The apartment was cold as she kept the heat turned off when she was at work in order to save money. Shivering slightly, she grabbed her parcel and hurried into the miniscule bedroom. It was barely big enough for a single bed, a bedside table, and a small chest of drawers.

  She closed the door behind her, a habit left over from her childhood when she was being shuffled from home to home in foster care. Privacy had been hard to come by and she’d quickly learned that a closed door was sometimes the best she could hope for. As an adult, even though she lived alone, she’d never felt comfortable sleeping in her room without the door closed. Quickly, she switched on the small bedside lamp and cranked up the heater.

  Carefully, she laid the package on the bed and wiped her sweaty palms on her damp skirt. Taking a deep breath, she slowly unwrapped it, tossing the plastic and wrapping behind her. She unrolled the tapestry, an inch at a time, until it was spread across her bed.