Strands of Love

Chapter Five

Darian didn’t question the amazing gift he was being given, but he was incredibly grateful for it. Sam was in his room, all sleepy eyed and sexy, and she wanted him. Her skin was pale and smooth beneath her short tunic, a sharp contrast from the darker, tanned flesh on her arms and neck. Her breasts were the color of fresh cream and just as enticing.

“If your name is Samantha, why did you say it was Sam when we first met?” He liked Samantha. It sounded as beautiful as she looked spread half naked on his rug.

“Sam is what everyone calls me.”

He could tell she didn’t want to talk about it and he didn’t want to risk breaking the intimate mood between them. He nodded his agreement. “Then I will call you Sam.” He deliberately placed his hands on the top closure of her pants. It wasn’t hard to figure out how to open them, even if they were different from what he was used to.

He shifted so he could pull her pants down her thighs. She was wearing a lacy covering over her sex, made of the same material that had covered her breasts. He wondered why she bothered at all they were so thin. He removed her footwear and pants, leaving her in her lacy garment.

Sam crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not fair that I’m almost naked and you’re not. Take off your vest.”

He was more than happy to comply with her demand. He shrugged out of the garment and tossed it aside. Sam shivered.

“You’re cold.” He berated himself for not taking her to his bed, but he loved how she looked all but naked, spread across the thick fur rug. He moved to the hearth, grabbed the flint and quickly lit the kindling. Within seconds it caught and he soon had a cheerful blaze going. He turned back to find her watching him with a bemused smile on her face.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

He frowned and moved back to her, settling between her thighs. “You were cold.” It was as simple as that. She needed something and it was his job to provide it for her.

Sam didn’t quite know what to make of Darian. She shivered so he made a fire. And he wasn’t trying to score points to get her into bed. She was already pretty much naked and a sure thing. Therefore, the only reason he’d had for doing it was because he thought it would make her more comfortable.

The wood crackled and the heat warmed her skin, but his thoughtful gesture warmed her heart.

He traced a finger along the band of her panties where it ran across her hips. Then he moved lower, traced the fabric toward her pussy. The crotch was already wet. She’d never met a man who turned her on as fast as Darian did. Okay, his brother had the same effect on her as well, but she wasn’t going to think about that now, not with Darian hovering over her, his broad chest and shoulders naked and gleaming in the firelight.

She’d seen well-built men before. Most of the men she knew worked their farms and ranches and they worked hard. There was no shortage of muscles among them. But Darian looked as though the hand of a master had sculpted him. Defined pecs and washboard abs that would stop traffic led down to a trim waist. She reached out and touched him. His skin was so warm it was almost hot.

He captured her hand and slid it upward until it was covering his heart. Desire blazed from his eyes, but he didn’t seem to be in any rush. He lifted her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the palm before taking her index finger inside and sucking on it.

Her pussy clenched and she sucked in a breath. Oh God, she wouldn’t last long at this rate. “Darian.” His name came out more as a moan, a plea.

He licked the side of her finger and playfully nipped at the tip. “Hmm.”

“Take off your pants.” She wanted to see all of him, wanted to touch him.

Darian slowly stood, rising to tower over her. His eyes never left her as he unfastened the tie at his waist. He bent down and yanked off his boots before slowly peeling the leather pants down his thighs and off.

He wasn’t wearing any underwear.

Sam swallowed hard. Oh my, but he was fine. She’d never seen a man like him before. His thighs were rock hard, but it was what hung between them that really caught her attention. His cock was fully erect and pulsing with life. The mushroom-shaped head was large and slick. He wrapped his big hand around his cock and pumped. She’d never seen anything quite so erotic. It made her entire body hum with pleasure.

Darian knelt back down and moved between her thighs. He planted his hands on either side of her shoulders and leaned down. “Let me love you.”

Love. She did her best to ignore the word even as it made her heart pound faster. He couldn’t love her. He barely knew her. This was all about sex, mutually satisfying sex, but sex nonetheless.

“What’s wrong?” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, her cheeks and her nose.

Sam shook her head and placed her hands on his broad shoulders. “Nothing.” Darian frowned and started to speak, but Sam didn’t want to talk, not anymore. She wanted to feel, to get lost in the sexual desire that threatened to drown her.

She pulled Darian down and kissed him, letting her tongue slide past his lips and into the heat of his mouth. And oh what a talented mouth it was. He kissed her like no other man ever had, like there was nothing he’d rather be doing. He took his time and explored every crevice and corner. His cock was hard against her belly and she reveled in the attraction that made every nerve ending in her body tingle in anticipation.

Darian released her lips and moved lower, working his way down her neck and over her collarbone to her breasts. He teased each nipple until the tips of her breasts were pebbled. Her hips moved restlessly beneath him and she moaned when the hard ridge of his erection rubbed against her panty-clad clit.

Darian raised his head and smiled at her, his pale-blue eyes smoldering with desire. He moved lower, his long hair brushing her bare skin in a sensual caress. He paused at her panties and gently rubbed his finger over the crotch. She hissed out a breath, eager for more.

Taking his time, he pulled her panties down and off, tossing them aside. She was totally bare now, but she wasn’t self-conscious, couldn’t be with the way he was looking at her. She knew her body was toned and strong from years of backbreaking work on the farm, and her looks were okay—straight black hair, dark-blue eyes and a slender nose—but she’d never had a man look at her the way Darian was.

He wrapped his hands around her thighs and spread them wide, staring at her pussy. When he licked his lips, she almost lost it. Most guys she’d been with hadn’t been much for foreplay, but Darian was different. If anything, he was going a little too slow. She wanted him. Now.

He lowered his head slightly and lifted her hips at the same time. Hot breath fanned over her slick core before he used his tongue to explore and taste. Sam gripped the thick rug beneath her and held on tight as her entire body arched into his touch. He lapped at her slick folds, eventually finding her swollen clit. He circled the hard nub of nerves before teasing it with his tongue.

“Darian.” She squeezed her eyes shut, not sure if she’d survive the next few minutes.

“Come for me.” The plea in his deep voice sent her over the edge and her body splintered from the pleasure. She cried out, but he didn’t stop. He continued to suck and lick her pussy until she couldn’t take any more and managed to push him away.

Totally drained, she lay there, eyes closed, listening to the crackle of the wood from the fire. Darian stroked her legs, her stomach and her arms, his touch soothing rather than arousing. Yet she was very aroused. Her pussy ached to hold him, to feel him powering in and out of her.

Her eyelids fluttered open and she stared up at him. He looked like some pagan god come to life with his long, blond hair falling around his shoulders and his broad, tanned chest flickering in the firelight.

But his heavy cock was all aroused male. As she watched, he lifted her, angled her hips toward him and positioned the broad tip at her opening. She reached for him, needing to touch his skin, to have that connection with him.

A muscle in his jaw tightened as he slowly pushed inward, past the initial resistance of her body. Her nails dug into his skin, leaving deep half-crescent shapes on his forearms. There was no past, no future, only this moment.

He filled her slowly, one delicious inch at a time, until he was seated to the hilt. Perspiration gave his skin a glow and every muscle in his body tensed as he waited for her to adjust to his invasion. He looked like a living sculpture. His breathing was as harsh as hers, both of them fighting the urge to move, enjoying the first moment of joining, of discovery. His cock was thick and long and filled her completely. Her vaginal muscles rippled around his hard length as he stretched her to the limits of comfort, but not beyond.

It was exciting and arousing and, if she was being honest, a little scary. She was having sex with a man she barely knew, but one who attracted her on many levels. She pushed aside all her doubts and focused on the here and now.

He didn’t speak and neither did she. The moment was too perfect to risk spoiling with words. Darian leaned down, the motion pushing his cock even deeper. She moaned and he captured her lips. He didn’t kiss her. He consumed her, his tongue dueling with hers, sliding in and out, mimicking the sex act to come.

Her hands slid up his arms to his shoulders and she held on as he began to move. He rocked slowly at first, but quickly picked up steam. “Hold me,” he commanded and she wrapped her arms around his neck, shoving her hips toward him, needing to reach the glorious climax she knew was just out of reach.

She’d never come twice in a night before, but knew Darian was different. If any lover could make it happen, he could.

Darian thrust faster and harder and only his grip on her waist kept her from sliding across the rug and onto the stone floor. The fire continued to crackle, her heavy gasps and his grunts the only other sounds that broke the silence. The air around them was warm and perfumed with the scent of leather and wood smoke, the earthy smell of sex, of male and female coming together.

“Sam.” He yelled her name and his entire body stiffened as he came. He reached between them, found her clit with his thumb and lightly rubbed it, pushing her over the edge again. She clung to him, wanting the moment to last forever. He gave another groan and wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tight she could barely breathe.

Gradually, she became aware of the room once again. The rug was thick, but lying on the floor was beginning to get uncomfortable. She shifted position as much as she could with a large male lying half on top of her. Darian raised his head and smiled at her. She smiled back until he slid out of her. Sam couldn’t suppress the low moan as his cock stimulated her tender pussy.

Her thighs felt wet and she froze. They hadn’t used a condom. What had she done?

Darian felt the change in her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“You didn’t use a condom.”

He looked at her as though he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “You know. Protection.” She sat up. “Where’s the bathroom?” Not that cleaning herself up would help. The damage was done. “I’ve never had unprotected sex before so I’m safe.” She only prayed he was too.

“Safe?” Darian was frowning at her, a slightly lost look in his eyes.

Angry with herself and with him, she scooting into a seated position and wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling them close to her chest. “You know. Safe. I don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases. Do you?” she demanded.

He shook his head. “There are no such things in our world.”

Of course there wasn’t. For a moment there, she’d forgotten all about his crazy “this is another world” beliefs. “Sure,” she muttered. Staring into the fire, she prayed he was safe and she didn’t end up with some STD. “The worst that can happen is I’ll get pregnant.”

Heavy hands fell on her shoulders and she looked up at him. Darian frowned. “Would that be so bad?”

Would that be so bad? She couldn’t believe he was asking her such a thing. “You’re telling me you’d be happy about an unplanned pregnancy?” No single guy who’d just had hot sex with a virtually unknown woman would be happy about that.

Darian smiled and nodded. “You would look beautiful carrying my child.”

Sam was totally taken aback. This was getting just a little too strange for her, but she couldn’t suppress the flash of pleasure she got at the idea of a blond-haired boy or maybe even a dark-haired girl like herself. A family. It was what she wanted most in the world.

She needed some time alone. “Bathroom?” she asked again.

Darian rose and offered her his hand. She thought about grabbing her clothes and tugging them on, but that would require more energy than she had. The day had been long and she was suddenly very tired again. The sexual sparks between them had held it at bay for a while, but it was back with a vengeance.

“This way.”

She took a step and stumbled, and he scooped her into his arms, carrying her to the corner of the room where a door was set into the wall. He opened it and carried her inside. It was a fairly large room with a deep wooden tub, but there were no taps. He set her down in front of a wooden cabinet with a wooden basin on top of it. The basin was filled with water. Again, there were no taps.

Darian stood next to her, arms crossed across his massive chest. His cock was still semi-erect and it didn’t look as though it would take much effort on her part to have him fully aroused again. Her body responded but she ignored it. She’d already done something stupid. No reason to compound it.

“You can wait outside.” No way was she washing with him watching her.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

He sighed, kissed the top of her head and went to the door. “When you are ready, we will talk.”

She waited until he was gone before searching for the toilet, but the only thing she could find was a stone bench with a seat in the far corner. She opened the lid and discovered it seemed to open up into some kind of drain system. Rudimentary plumbing for sure, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

When she was done, she padded back to the vanity, grabbed the washcloth that sat next to the bowl and began to clean herself up. There was also a small bar of soap that had a woodsy scent to it that reminded her of Darian. It didn’t lather as well as her soap at home, but it certainly did the job.

Thankfully, the water was warm. Not hot, but not cold either. What she really wanted was a hot bath, but there didn’t seem to be any way to pipe water into the tub.

Sam washed away the evidence of their lovemaking along with the dust and grime of the day. She knew her hair had to be a complete mess, but there was no mirror in the room either. She ran her hands over her hair, groaned and undid her braid, setting the covered elastic on the edge of the vanity. There was no brush, but there was a comb. She used it, ruthlessly yanking it through the tangles. She thought about braiding it again, but decided not to. Once they’d talked, she planned on getting some much-needed sleep.

Was it only this morning she’d had her meeting with Karen at the bank? Seemed like a lifetime ago.

She tossed the washcloth back into the bowl and took a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t hide in here all night even if she wanted to. A large robe hung on a peg by the door and she pulled it on. It dragged on the floor and would almost wrap around her twice. Had to be Darian’s. She tightened the belt and left the bathroom behind.

Darian waited impatiently for Sam to join him. The only thing that kept him from checking on her was that he could hear her moving around in the other room. He’d never had a woman in his room before and he liked the feeling. He’d added more wood to the hearth, not wanting Sam to get cold. If the heat he’d felt today was any indication, her world was much warmer.

When the door finally opened, he strode toward it. Sam stepped into the room, her long, black hair falling around her shoulders like a curtain. She was wearing his robe. A jolt of sheer possessiveness shot through him. Sam belonged here with him, with Jace, a part of their lives.

He held out his hand and was thrilled when she took it. Outwardly, he kept his expression calm, not wanting to overwhelm her. “Food arrived while you were bathing.” Actually, he’d found it covered and waiting in the hallway. The staff had known better than to knock on the closed door, knowing full well what they’d be doing. His mother had probably told everyone in Hunter Keep by now that Sam was a potential tapestry bride, and all who lived here would do everything in their power to see that she wanted to stay. And that included leaving her alone with him.

She shook her head. “I’m not really hungry now. Maybe later.”

He worried about her not eating, but didn’t push. He led her toward the bed and motioned her to climb in, slightly surprised when she did so without argument. “You are tired.” It wasn’t a question, but she answered him anyway.

“It’s been a long, crazy day.”

He nodded. “Rest. I will be here when you wake.”

Sam nestled her head against his pillow, but jolted upward when he climbed in beside her. “What are you doing?”

“Resting with you.” He pulled her into his arms and loved the way she settled against his chest with a little sigh.”

“Will you let me go home?” Her softly spoken question almost broke his heart.

“It is not up to me or to Jace.” He wasn’t certain she believed him, but he wanted her to. “The tapestry will return for you in a little over two days.” He rubbed a hand over her head and toyed with her hair. It was soft and lovely. “I wish you would consider staying with me. With us.”

“You’d really share me with your brother?”

He knew she didn’t understand their world and customs, didn’t really believe they were telling the truth. “Yes. It’s expected here. It’s all we know.” He tightened his arms around her. “I would do anything to keep you.”

She said nothing, but he felt the fine shiver of tension that gripped her. She said nothing else, so he let things be for now. There would be more time for talk tomorrow. Better, there would be time to really show her his world.

Eventually, she relaxed in his embrace. He knew the moment she fell asleep. Darian shifted his grip so he could look at her face. She was quite lovely. He wanted to memorize every curve, every line so he’d remember it forever. Because he couldn’t quite shake the fear that Sam was going to go home.

He turned onto his side, tucking her body against his. She fit there as though she’d been made for him. As Darian stared into the fading firelight, he wondered where Jace was.