Strands of Love

Chapter Nine

“You will go back?” There was no longer any doubt in Jace’s mind that Sam would return to her world.

“I have to.” There was a wealth of pain in her voice. Jace felt it in his heart. The worst part was that he understood her, even admired her commitment to her family and their land. It was exactly how he felt about Hunter Keep so how could he fault her for it? He couldn’t. But that didn’t keep him from wishing she could somehow transfer that intense love and commitment to him, his brother and their people.

Sam was a woman worth fighting for.

And the battle wasn’t over yet. She was still here and they had two more days before the tapestry returned her to her world.

Jace was more determined than ever to convince Sam to stay. He glanced at Darian and got a slight nod from his brother. Reaching out, he cupped Sam’s face, wanting to erase the sadness he saw there.

“You are here now.” Jace leaned down and kissed Sam. She stiffened at the first contact, but quickly softened, parting her lips slightly as she returned the kiss. Jace ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth before slipping inside to tease, to stroke, to entice.

Her arms came up to twine around his neck and he groaned in satisfaction. He angled his head, wanting to get deeper, to taste every inch of her. How would he live without her when she was gone? She’d given them both a taste of heaven and would take it with her when she returned to her world.

He almost walked away and left Sam and Darian alone, but could not make himself do it. There was too much at stake. Until she was actually gone there was a chance either he or Darian could do something that might make her stay.

Jace leaned back far enough so he could study her face. Her long, black hair was braided, but he wanted to see it, run his fingers through it. He pulled the holder off the end of her hair and unwound it slowly. Her breathing was coming in fast little puffs and her cheeks were flushed.

He finger-combed her hair, loving the sensual slide of the strands. Behind her, Darian reached for the hem of her tunic and eased it up and over her head. Sam raised her arms to help him. The moment her breasts came into view, Jace bent down and captured one pert nipple in his mouth, lapping at the tip with his tongue before sucking deeply.

Sam moaned and her fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him closer. Jace’s cock was throbbing, an unending ache that only Sam could satisfy. His balls were tight and hard, a sign he didn’t have long. Yet he ignored the sexual needs pulsing throughout his body, ignored his instinct to take her to the ground and mount her. More than he wanted to claim her, he wanted her pleasure.

Darian cupped her full breasts in his hands and held them up as offerings, and Jace was more than willing to worship them. Back and forth, he sucked and lapped, teased and tasted. Sweet sensual sounds broke from Sam’s parted lips, music more beautiful than the songbirds of the forest.

“Let us love you,” Jace whispered. He left a trail of openmouthed kisses over her collarbone, up her neck all the way to her ear. “Let us have you. Here. Now.” He caught the sensitive lobe of her ear between his teeth and gently tugged.

Sam was lost in a sea of sensual bliss. Darian was behind her, his erection long and thick against her lower back, telling her just how much he wanted her. His big hands cupped her breasts so gently, holding them for his brother to suckle.

And Jace. The way Jace was touching her brought tears to her eyes. Never had any man made her feel so special. The way he kissed her and stroked her body, as though there was no rush, that all he wanted was to make her feel good, was incredibly arousing. It was also breaking her heart.

She’d never forget these two men. These few days would haunt her for the rest of her life.

“I want you naked. I want to fuck you among the wildflowers.” Jace’s words made her moan aloud.

“Yes.” Throwing herself into the moment, Sam reached for Jace. Time was short and she wanted to run her hands over every inch of both men, to learn their bodies, to caress them as they had her. She wanted to memorize every hard, sculpted muscle and line of their chests and torsos.

Sam ran her hands over Jace’s taut abs, loving the way his muscles jumped beneath his skin. She was glad he was bare from the waist up. Saved time. But he was still wearing too much clothing.

She reached for the tie at the front of his pants and the side of her hand brushed the bulge beneath the leather. Jace swore and pushed her hand aside, making quick work of the ties himself. He pushed the leather away and his cock sprang forward, free from its confinement. It was hard and hot and pulsing with life.

Sam wrapped her hand around his shaft, feeling the heat against her palm. She licked her lips, wanting to taste him.

Leaning forward, she ran her tongue across his chest and found it slightly salty with perspiration. She knew Darian was behind her, watching what she was doing to his brother. Sam felt slightly naughty. Who knew she was an exhibitionist? Not that she ever imagined doing something like this in front of anyone else, but with Jace and Darian nothing seemed wrong. Just the opposite. Everything felt very, very right.

Jace’s lean, strong fingers dug into her hair and massaged her scalp. “Samantha.”

She shivered, loving the way her full name sounded coming from him when he was so aroused. His voice was so low, almost guttural.

Slowly, she lowered herself to her knees in front of him and pushed his pants down around his hips to give her better access. He parted his legs slightly, widening his stance, which allowed her to cup his heavy testicles. She rolled the sac between her fingers, loving how firm and heavy it was. So hot and full of life.

He growled her name once again and guided her face closer to his cock. Sam stroked his shaft from root to tip and back again. Jace wasn’t a small man in any way, but rather than intimidate her, his size made her pussy throb. Oh yeah, she wanted a piece of this.

Jace’s fingers threaded through her hair and he pulled her toward him until his cock head brushed against her lips. She parted them and lapped at the slit before circling the tip with her tongue.

“No more teasing.” He pushed inward and she took him into her mouth. She kept a grip on the base of his cock so he couldn’t go too deep, too fast.

His taste—a combination of heat, musk and saltiness—exploded in her mouth. She moaned and the vibration went through his shaft. Jace’s fingers tightened in her hair and he groaned.

Sam pulled back until only the tip of his cock was in her mouth. She circled the head, dragging her tongue over the thick ridge, before plunging her mouth back down and taking as much of him as she could.

Behind her, Darian swore. She felt him kneel behind her and then his hands were at her waist, opening her pants. Darian shoved the fabric down her thighs and it pooled at her knees. Hot, large hands stroked her stomach before dipping between her thighs and finding her hot core.

Sam cried out as Darian pushed two thick fingers inside her. “I want to fuck you while you suck Jace’s cock.” His breath was hot against her neck and a need unlike any she’d ever felt overtook her. She wanted that too. She wanted Darian’s hard cock powering in and out of her while she sucked Jace’s cock. She nodded, unable to speak.

Jace pulled his shaft away and Sam found herself pulled upright. Her pants fell to her ankles and Darian wasted no time yanking the garment and her boots away while Jace held her steady.

Probably less than a minute passed before Sam found herself back in the same position on her knees with Jace’s cock in her mouth. She pumped his cock, squeezing his hard length, using her mouth and hand in tandem to pleasure him.

Darian knelt behind her, his bigger body surrounding her. “Spread your legs.”

Sam did as he asked and inhaled deeply when she felt the nudge of his cock head against her slick opening. The air was thick with the perfume of musk and arousal and the sweet scent of wildflowers. The cool air brushed over her skin like a lover’s caress in perfect counterpoint to the heat generated by the two brothers. Every inch of her skin felt alive and sensitive. Even her scalp tingled.

Darian wrapped his arm around her waist and held her as he pushed into her, filling her, stretching her.

Jace caught her head between his large hands and fed her more of his cock. And she took him, swallowing hard against the head. He groaned and began to rock his hips, pushing his cock as far as it would go on each thrust.

Sam was completely surrounded by them. Darian started to fuck her, slowly at first, but his movements quickly grew faster. One of his hands slid downward until he found her swollen clit. He stroked the sensitive bud and she cried out, the sound muffled by Jace’s thick cock powering in and out of her mouth.

Darian cupped one of her breasts, teasing the nipple, tugging lightly, even as he continued to stroke her clit. His movements grew jerky and his cock swelled within her.

Sam cupped Jace’s balls and squeezed gently. He seemed to grow even larger as he thrust into her mouth. The hand she had wrapped around the base of his shaft helped her control the depth of his trusts. It also allowed her to feel his cock hardening and she knew he was close to finding release.

Jace came first. His fingers tightened in her hair seconds before his entire body tensed. She felt his orgasm rocket from his testicles, all the way up his shaft and into her mouth. Sam swallowed, milking his cock, giving him every ounce of pleasure she could. His shout filled the clearing and several birds took flight from a nearby tree.

Darian stilled behind her while Jace was coming, but the hot pulse of his thick shaft would no longer be denied. The second Sam released Jace, Darian hammered his cock in and out of her slick core. Her pussy ached and throbbed. She needed to come. Badly.

Jace dropped to his knees in front of her and captured her mouth. She knew he could taste himself on her lips and that was incredibly arousing. Jace stroked her breasts and played with her nipples while Darian continued to fuck her hard.

Sam pulled away from Jace’s mouth and let her head fall back against Darian’s shoulder. She cried out, her body clenching hard. Spasms shook her as her orgasm overtook all her senses.

She heard Darian cry out, felt the flood of wetness between her thighs, the ripple and pulse of his cock and knew he’d come too. The only thing keeping her upright was Darian’s arm around her waist and Jace’s hands on her breasts. Sam relaxed completely, knowing they wouldn’t let her fall.

Pleasurable aftershocks rocked her, leaving rivers of delight in their path. She felt completely boneless and totally relaxed.

Strong arms lifted her. It was a sign of how much she was getting used to the Hunter brothers that it didn’t even seem strange anymore to have one of them carrying her.

“Can you swim?”

She opened her eyes and stared at Darian through a haze of post-orgasm lethargy. Could she what? Swim? “Yeah.” What an odd question to ask her at a time like this.

“Good.” He grinned at her and then she was falling. Sam gasped and managed a half scream before her naked body hit the water. She had the presence of mind to close her mouth before the water enveloped her. The freezing lake cooled her heated body and snapped her senses back. He’d pay for that.

She broke the surface just in time to get soaked again from a large splash alongside her. Sam tread water and watched Darian surface. The moment his head rose above the water, she jumped at him, shoving it back down again.

But he didn’t go down alone. At the last second, he caught her around the waist and dragged her down with him. She opened her eyes, surprised at how well she could see beneath the water. Darian grinned and kissed her, stealing the last of her oxygen just before they surfaced.

Gasping for breath, Sam held onto him, letting Darian do all the work to keep them afloat. “You’re crazy, you know that?”

He shook his head, sending droplets of water spraying everywhere. “No, I’m happy. Thank you, Sam.”

The teasing was gone and she felt the import, the weight of his words. “You’re welcome.”

Sam glanced back at the shore. Jace was standing there, arms crossed and a slight smile on his face. He looked far too alone for her liking. “Come and play.”

He hesitated and looked around. She realized he was scouting for hidden dangers. “Is it safe?” She shivered and the water seemed suddenly colder.

“It is safe,” Darian assured her. “We are deep in Hunter territory. No one will bother us here.”

“Then join us.” Sam issued another invitation to Jace. She hated seeing him so aloof, so alone.

Jace hesitated and Sam was sure he was going to decline. Suddenly he gave a huge war whoop and jumped. Water sprayed over her and Darian in a huge wave. Sam laughed and then yelled as she was playfully pulled underwater. Jace’s strong arms wrapped around her and yanked her back to the surface. Then his lips were on hers, driving back the cold.

Darian sprawled across a bed of wildflowers enjoying the heat of the sun as it seeped into his bare skin. The day was wasting, but he felt no urge to move. Sam lay sprawled between Jace and him, the three of them naked and exhausted. After making love to Sam in the water, they’d all crawled out of the lake and collapsed. It was well past lunch and he was hungry, but not enough to end this interlude with Sam.

She stirred and shivered slightly. Darian sighed, knowing it was time to get dressed and head back. The last thing he wanted was for her to catch a chill. She was accustomed to a much warmer environment. He put his arm around her and pulled her into the cradle of his body.

“You’re always so warm. Both of you.” Her words were sleepy and content. His heart ached at the thought of losing her. She fit perfectly in his arms.

Jace sat up and began to haul on his pants and boots. “It’s time to get dressed and go back.” His brother stood and strapped on his sword, which was lying on the ground beside him.

Sam sat up and stretched, giving another shiver as she reached for her pants. “What time is it anyway?”

Resigned to leaving, Darian stood and dragged on his pants. He looked up, squinting at the sun as he noted its position. “About midafternoon.”

Sam stood and shook out her tunic before slipping it on and tugging it down around her hips. Her hair was damp and slightly tangled. Anyone who saw her would have no doubt as to how she’d spent the past few hours.

Darian smiled and motioned her to come to him. She ambled toward him, stopping when she was in front of him. “What?” she asked.

He shook his head, leaned down and kissed her. “It was too long since I last kissed you.” He took hold of a length of her hair and tugged. “And you need help with this.”

Her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink, making him laugh. Darian spun her around and raked his fingers through her hair, smoothing it as best he could before he braided it. He’d braided many a horse’s mane and made swift work of the task. It was only when he was done he realized he had nothing to tie it with. The holder she’d used in her head was lost somewhere among the wildflowers, never to be found again.

Jace had anticipated that and held out a short strip he’d sliced off one end of the ties of his pants. Darian wrapped the small piece of thin leather around her hair and tied it off. It would do.

“Come.” Darian held out his hand and waited until Sam took it. Jace was pulling back from them again and Darian knew his brother’s actions were confusing Sam.

“So who’s the older of the two of you?” Sam asked.

When it was obvious Jace wasn’t going to answer, Darian did. “Jace is the older by three years.” He motioned to the thin braids on either side of his brother’s face. “The braids show that he is the eldest. It is the same with every family.”

“What kind of crops do you grow?” When Darian gave her a questioning look, she shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a farmer.”

Darian launched into a brief overview of Hunter Keep, including the crops they grew, the herbs and flowers they harvested from the mountain and the animals they kept. He wanted her to understand exactly what they were offering her and was pleased by her interest. That had to mean she was considering staying. Didn’t it?

He refused to believe otherwise and wanted to kick his brother’s ass for being so silent and withdrawn. Now was the time to engage Sam, to let her learn more about them.

“Wow, that’s quite the operation you have here.” Sam glanced over at Jace. “So you’re in charge of it all?”

Jace nodded. “I am the head of the family, the firstborn. It is the way it is done.”

Sam nodded. “My brother would have inherited the farm if he’d lived.”

As though a curtain had been drawn, sadness descended on Sam. Darian felt it like a living, breathing entity. “I am sorry for your loss, Sam.” He stopped and pulled her into his arms. “You could have a new start here. With us.”

Maybe he shouldn’t be pushing her, but Darian was willing to do whatever it took to get Sam to stay in Javara.

Jace shook his head. “Sam doesn’t want a new start. She just wants to go home. Isn’t that right?”

Anger hit Darian like a lightning bolt and for the first time in his life he wanted to punch his brother. Was Jace out of his mind? He was practically telling Sam he didn’t want her to stay.

Sam faced Jace and frowned. “What’s wrong with my wanting to go home?” She waved her hands at the surrounding woods. “I hear lots about women coming here, having to leave their homes. What do you give up? What do the men here sacrifice? Nothing. It’s easy to judge me when you’re not giving up anything.”

Darian stood back, wondering how Jace would answer her accusation. He didn’t have long to wait.

“We don’t give up anything?” Jace marched straight to Sam, grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up until she was balancing on her toes. He leaned down until they were nose to nose. “If you don’t stay, we give up the chance at ever having a family of our own, children to pass our legacy on to. After having you under my body, after being inside you and tasting your uniqueness, we give up the chance of ever having you again. We give up the chance of happiness and love.”

Darian had never seen his brother so angry. Usually Jace was calm and in control. This was totally out of character and told Darian just how deeply his brother felt about Sam. “Jace.” It was a warning to back off and one he hoped his brother heeded.

But Jace wasn’t done yet. “We give up everything while you go back to your home and forget us.”

“I won’t ever forget you,” Sam fired back. “Ever.” Her voice dropped and a lone tear rolled down one cheek.

“Enough.” Darian put a hand on each of them before either of them said something they would regret forever.

“I just want to go home. Is that so wrong?” The pain in Sam’s voice was Darian’s undoing.

“No, Sam, it’s not wrong. I just wish you wanted to stay.”

“I wish she could go now if she wants to so badly.” Jace’s harsh words made Sam flinch and Darian knew his brother regretted the words as soon as they were uttered, but there was no taking them back.

The air around them thickened and began to shimmer. Darian had only felt the sensation twice before. The tapestry.

“It’s only been a day and a half.” This was not normal. Darian turned to his brother. “What have you done? You’ve wished the tapestry into being.”

Jace jumped in front of Sam, pushing her behind him, but the tapestry would not be denied. Darian grabbed Sam’s arm as Jace reached for him. The three of them were connected by touch when the world around them exploded. They were sucked into black void. Darian struggled to hold onto Sam, terrified what might happen if he lost her in this world between worlds.

Then everything went black.