Christina's Tapestry Read online

  Man and horse were breathing down her neck and for a moment, she feared they might run her into the ground. At the last possible second, Jarek swerved around her. Reaching out with one long arm, he snatched her mid-stride and scooped her up into the saddle in front of him.

  It was all too much for her. She felt dizzy from the fear and the desperate run. The throbbing in her head increased and the edges of her vision got blurry. “Please don’t hurt me.” It was barely a whisper, but she knew that he’d heard her by the appalled look on his face. For some reason the black scowl that followed made her feel safe and she followed the blackness covering her into oblivion.

  Christina was so warm and cozy that she was sure she was in her own bed, and it had all been nothing but a dream. Then her pillow moved and she realized that it was a flesh and blood man and not a pillow that cradled her. Somehow she knew that it was Jarek holding her and not Marc.

  When Marc had kissed her, she’d been surrounded by his unique masculine scent of hot maleness mingled with the pleasant tang of grass and trees. The man holding her smelled more of leather and horses, but there was an underlying masculine aroma that made her entire body clench with desire.

  Jarek cradled her body tight against his. His cock was hard and straining against the front of his breeches, but his hold on her was gentle. She felt his breath ruffle her hair and then his lips touched the side of her temple. Sighing, she relaxed and allowed the rhythm of the horse to rock her. It was such a pleasant feeling that she dozed off again.

  It was the sound of voices whispering that awoke her. Not so much the voices themselves, but the anger underlying them. “You shouldn’t have chased her down like that.” She recognized Marc’s smoother voice.

  “I wasn’t the one who mauled her.”

  “I didn’t maul her, I merely gave her a kiss of welcome.” A leather saddle creaked as if someone was trying to settle in their saddle. “In the face of such beauty, I could not resist.” She thought for sure that they must know she was awake, Marc was laying on the charm so thick.

  “She does not understand our ways, Marc. But she will learn.”

  Christina stiffened slightly at his words, but otherwise didn’t move.

  “Ride for the castle and find Mara. Tell everyone to make the castle ready and to prepare a feast. The prophecy has been fulfilled. After many years of waiting, the magic of the tapestry has brought us a potential bride and that I am bringing her home.”

  All this talk of prophecy and magic were making her very nervous. And what was that whole thing about a being a potential bride? A bride for whom? She kept her eyes shut and her breathing calm, willing them to keep talking.

  Christina said a prayer of hope that Jarek still thought she was asleep, but her hopes were dashed the moment the sound of pounding horse’s hooves faded into the distance. “It is good you are awake.”

  Jarek didn’t give her time to respond before he shifted her so that she was now sitting in front of him, astride the horse. The long skirt of her nightgown rode up over her legs as they draped over either side of the horse. She pushed at the fabric, but it barely covered the tops of her thighs. With her legs spread wide, her sex was pressed against the leather of the saddle and her ass was pushed back against Jarek’s cock.

  She squirmed, trying to get comfortable. Groaning, he clamped his hand over her stomach. “Be still,” he growled.

  Christina froze as his fingertips rested just above her pubic bone. If he moved them one inch lower he would be able to touch her through her nightgown. She was filled with an unbelievable need to arch her hips towards his hand.

  She licked at her dry lips and tried to concentrate on her situation. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Home.” There was a wealth of satisfaction in his voice and the hand on her abdomen tightened.

  “What will happen to me?” She meant for her question to sound firm and authoritative. Instead she sounded lost and slightly forlorn.

  “The competition will begin, and in the end, you will choose your champion.” His hand slipped from her stomach and down to her exposed thigh.

  It was almost impossible to think with his fingers making small circles on her thigh. With each circle he made, his hand rode up higher on her leg. She sucked in a breath when the tops of his fingers disappeared beneath the lavender fabric. “What competition?” Her question was little more than a breathy gasp.

  His breath brushed her skin in a feathery caress as his lips trailed a path down the side of her face. “The one which will establish which of us you will belong to.”

  His large hand cupped the back of her head, tilting it up so he could hold her captive as he leaned down and captured her mouth. This was no soft kiss like the one Marc had given her. This was a claiming. A statement of intent.

  She was gasping for breath by the time he finally released her mouth. He lifted her, shifting her until she was lying across his lap again, her side pressed against his hard chest and her shoulders cradled by one of his arms. Seeming satisfied, he bent his head to kiss her. When she opened her mouth to protest, he thrust his tongue inside. Gripping her hair in his fist, he angled her head for better access and growled his approval as he plundered the inside of her mouth. The heat was incredible.

  Her entire being was pulsing with desire and she couldn’t resist stroking his tongue with hers. He rewarded her by sucking on her tongue. The hand on her thigh crept higher and she shifted her hips, wordlessly pleading for his touch. She felt a smile form on his lips just before his fingers sifted through her pubic hair.

  But he didn’t stop there. His long, thick fingers slid past her aching clit and over her slick, wet folds. He circled her opening once before gently pushing his fingers inside her. Greedily her sex grasped his fingers, drawing him deeper.

  Moaning, she clutched his thigh for support, her nails digging into his leather pants. Releasing her mouth, he nipped at her earlobe and her neck. He eased his fingers out of her sex and brought them to his mouth where he licked them clean one at a time.

  The sight of his dark hand covering her sex was the most erotic thing she’d ever seen in her life. She couldn’t take her eyes off his fingers as he dipped between her thighs once more and coated his fingers with her cream. But this time, he brought his fingers to her lips. “Taste how sweet you are.”

  She parted her lips and he slipped his fingers inside. Her tongue flicked out and she tasted not only her own arousal, but also the salty taste of Jarek’s skin. Jarek moved his fingers in and out of her mouth as she sucked and licked them with growing enthusiasm.

  Groaning, he pulled his fingers from between her lips. His eyes burned with desire as he shifted her in his arms. He turned her until she was straddling the horse and facing away from him again.

  His hands came to rest on her shoulders. Gripping both straps of her nightgown, he tugged them down over her shoulders until they were just above her elbows. Her breasts were totally exposed, but she couldn’t move her arms.

  His palms covered the large pale mounds. “Beautiful.” He circled both nipples, which were already swollen with desire.

  Intense pleasure rocketed through her. She felt totally helpless trapped inside the fabric of her gown and his arms. With the fabric bunched up over her thighs, she could glimpse the damp curls of her sex. She was totally at Jarek’s mercy.

  The thought appalled her even as it turned her on more than she’d ever thought possible. Just the idea of his controlling her sexual pleasure had the juices flowing from between her legs and coating the saddle beneath her.

  “I can smell the heat from your sex.” Capturing her turgid nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, he squeezed gently.

  Christina cried out, startling some birds from the trees around them. She struggled to free her hands so that she could touch him. He was so gorgeous, his muscles rock-hard and gleaming with a fine layer of sweat. She wanted to touch him everywhere, lick him everywhere.

  Pushing her ass back against him, she
tried to rub herself against his throbbing erection. It was so big and thick, her mouth went dry at the thought of touching it, tasting it. The movement spread her legs wider on the saddle and she pushed her aching sex harder into the leather saddle, trying to ease the growing arousal.

  One of his hands slipped between their bodies and she felt him fumbling with the leather ties of his pants. Opening them, he released his cock even as he pulled the fabric of her gown out of the way.

  “Bend down over the horse’s neck.” His hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her stomach.

  Christina was burning for completion now. She’d never felt this kind of desire before, a desperate need to find sexual release. She didn’t hesitate, but bent over the horse. Her arms were still trapped, but she was able to wrap her fingers around the edges of the saddle. The motion opened her wide, exposing her ass and her sex to him. Her breasts brushed the shaggy coat of the horse, the rough hair abrading her sensitive nipples.

  He hesitated and for a moment she was afraid he would stop. She wiggled her butt against him, gasping when the motion rubbed her clit against the leather saddle. Jarek swore even as he angled her hips back towards his cock. As the tip sank inside her opening, her inner muscles gripped it tight.

  Christina was panting for breath, wanting him deeper inside her, but unable to move. Jarek tightened his grip on her waist as he pushed forward, slowly easing himself into her tight sheath. God, he was so big. She wiggled and squirmed, trying desperately to get comfortable, but he filled her so completely that it was almost painful.

  “Relax.” Jarek kept her steady with one hand and cupped one of her breasts with the other, skimming his thumb across her nipple. Surprisingly the steady motion of the horse and the light play on her breast calmed her slightly even as it aroused her.

  The moment her inner muscles loosened slightly, he thrust his cock deeper. “You’re not all the way in yet?” Surely, she couldn’t take any more of him inside her body. “You’re too big. It’s too much.”

  “You can take all of me,” he crooned as he pushed a little deeper. “Your hot, wet pussy wants all of me.”

  His words startled her. She wasn’t used to such frank sexual talk, but she found it incredibly arousing. She surprised herself by pushing back against his erection. He was right, she did want him. All of him.

  Bringing both hands back to her hips, he withdrew partway from her body and then thrust heavily. He repeated this over and over, each time going deeper and deeper. “That’s it. Take it all.” The next time he plunged, he buried himself to the hilt. He hissed out a breath.

  The pressure grew inside Christina as each inward stroke pushed her clit against the saddle, stimulating her further, driving her higher. Her fingers dug into the edges of the saddle for support.

  Jarek drove into her from behind, his cock stretching her pussy with each heavy stroke, pushing her to her limit. The pressure grew inside her until it exploded. She screamed with pleasure and convulsed around his cock, gripping him tight. She heard him yell and felt the hot spurt of his semen inside her as her muscles milked his cock to completion.

  Christina slumped across the neck of the horse, trusting Jarek to keep her steady in the saddle. He leaned heavily against her back, his lungs working hard as he tried to regain his breath. His lips kissed and licked the curve of her spine as he sat back up in the saddle. She shivered and then moaned when he withdrew his cock, her sex contracting hard to keep it there.

  She could hear the sound of Jarek lacing the front of his pants and knew she should try and cover herself, but she was just too darned content to move.

  Tenderly, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into a seated position. Settling her back against his chest, he kissed each of her shoulders before tugging the strap of the gown back into place.

  His hands massaged and shaped her breasts as he settled the folds of the material back in place over her torso. She trembled with the aftershocks of her orgasm when he smoothed the length of the gown back over her thighs, his fingers grazing her clit.

  “You will remember this when Marc takes you. I have been first.” The smugness of his voice and the meaning of his words sank through her sensual haze.

  “When Marc takes me?” She remembered that he’d spoke of a competition, but surely he didn’t mean a sexual one…did he?

  “We will both pleasure you individually and together.” His hands continued to stroke her tender breasts as he spoke. “When the competition is over, you will choose one of us as husband.”

  “Are you mad?” She tried to push his hands away, but he just chuckled and slipped one of them between her thighs. One of his fingers stroked her clit and she let out a small cry of pleasure as she wrapped both her hands around his wrist and yanked it away.

  He gripped her braid in his hand and tugged until she was forced to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. From the hard, determined look on his face, she could tell that Jarek was deadly serious. He really expected her to have sex with both of them and then choose one of them.

  Jarek nodded slowly. “You will choose.” He leaned down until their noses were almost touching. The golden light in his eyes was almost feral as he growled. “And it will be me.”

  “I don’t think so, brother.”

  The voice startled Christina and she turned suddenly, wincing at the tug on her scalp. Jarek swore softly and released his hold on her hair. He soothed the small pain with the palm of his hand.

  Without her realizing it, the horse had continued on its journey and had carried them to the clearing in front of the castle. She was appalled to see the group of people standing and staring at her. What had they seen? Totally embarrassed, Christina drew herself up straight in the saddle even though she could feel the heat on her cheeks.

  Chapter Five

  “I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding,” she began but broke off when she realized that neither brother was listening to her. Instead, they seemed to be involved in some kind of staring competition.

  Jarek finally sighed and gave his brother a regal nod. “I do not deny that I took the advantage to push my suit. But you must have expected it. You would have done the same.”

  Marc fingered the hilt of a large sword that was strapped to his waist before nodding slowly. “I grant you the first round, but,” he continued before Jarek could speak. “I expect the second now.”

  “Done.” Jarek growled his answer as he urged the horse forward towards the castle.

  Christina was totally confused now. Marc’s eyes hungrily watched her as they rode away. She had no idea what had just been decided between the two men, and right now she didn’t care. She felt sticky and tired and hungry. It was time to take charge of the situation. “I need a bath and a nap. And maybe some food.”

  “Poor little one. This has been a shock to you.” Sympathy was the last thing she expected from Jarek. The tenderness in his face surprised her. It softened his hard features, making him look even more handsome than before. Christina felt a wavering of her resolve to keep both brothers at arm’s length while she sorted out the situation.

  “Welcome to Castle Garen.” The pride in his voice made her look around. It was like a prosperous medieval castle come to life. In the distance, she could see fields practically overflowing with wheat and other crops. Cows, pigs and chickens were penned up not far from the homes.

  They passed though the outer walls and were now riding towards the large stone castle. It was magnificent. Brenda would never believe her if she tried to tell her about this. Nobody would.

  Rosy-cheeked children raced and played among the stone cottages as dogs nipped and barked at their heels. Women stopped their daily chores to watch the procession. And there seemed to be men everywhere. Some of them were training with weapons and others seemed to be at various tasks, but all paused to watch her, Jarek and Marc pass. There was no mistaking the curiosity in their eyes.

  Jarek brought the horse to a stop in front of the s
teps that led to a large oak door. Dismounting in one fluid motion, he held his arms out to her. Swinging her leg awkwardly over the saddle while trying to maintain her modesty, Christina allowed Jarek to sweep her from the horse.

  He did not release her, but raised her high in his arms and carried her up the stairs. “I can walk.” She didn’t know whether to be amused or appalled by his high-handed manner.

  “I know, but this is so much more pleasant.” He flashed her a charming grin and she found herself smiling back. The man was a rogue to the core.

  The door swung open as they approached, and an old woman clucked her tongue reprovingly as she took in Christina’s disheveled appearance. Christina smoothed her hair down as best she could and crossed her arms across her chest, ill at ease under the woman’s assessing gaze.

  The woman just shook her head. “You just couldn’t wait, could you, Jarek?”

  “Don’t scold, Mara.” Jarek shouldered his way past the woman, turned towards his right and started up another flight of stairs.

  Christina peeked over Jarek’s shoulder only to find Mara climbing the stairs behind them, a wide grin splitting her face. She could feel the heat climbing up her cheeks. It seemed that everyone knew what she and Jarek had done on the ride to the castle. Not only that, they didn’t seem all that surprised by it. That thought made Christina’s blood start to simmer. The anger drove out all feelings of embarrassment.

  “Do you have sex with every woman you meet in the forest?” she asked tartly. Pursing her lips together, she glared up at him.

  A slow smile crossed his face. “There is no need to be jealous.”

  But the thought pleased him, she could tell. “I’m not jealous.” She enunciated each word for effect. “But I’m not the kind of woman who sleeps around.” Unbidden, hot, angry tears filled her eyes. She felt slightly ill at the thought that he’d think she was easy. Blinking, she fought back the tears, but one escaped and slid down her cheek.