Threads of Destiny

Chapter Six

Marc gritted his teeth and braced his muscles to keep from falling on Kathryn and rutting like a bull scenting a female in season. Her skin glowed in the flickering light, the damp tresses of her hair gleamed. When it was dry, he knew her hair would rival the fire itself. He’d never seen hair quite that color. It was vibrant and alive. Just like her.

Standing beside her, he gazed down. The dream didn’t do her justice. Marc wasn’t sure how much had been a dream and how much had been real but it no longer mattered. She was here now and he was going to do everything in his power to keep her.

She swallowed and he watched the slender column of her neck ripple. He shuddered as a rush of arousal shot through him. His cock was fully aroused. Hard and long, it jerked slightly as if trying to reach for her.

Marc went down on his knees beside her. “Turn around so your back is toward the flames.” He waited until she was settled, then he carefully spread the long cape of her hair toward the heat. “I don’t want you to get sick,” he murmured as he combed his fingers through her thick tresses.

“That feels wonderful,” she sighed. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head slightly, relaxing into his caress.

He smiled. How like a contented cat she looked, all but purring as he stroked her.

As her hair dried, he could see the brilliant reddish tones more clearly. Strands curled slightly around his fingers as he continued to work carefully. There were a few tangles but he patiently got rid of them one at a time.

When he was satisfied that she was dry and warm, he shifted, stretching out beside her. Kathryn smiled sleepily as she rolled onto her back. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” The words were little more than a deep rumble. In truth, he was finding it hard to talk. His entire body was on fire with need for her. Yet, he wasn’t ready to take her. Not yet. First he wanted to touch her. To explore the bounty laid bare before him.

Supporting himself on one arm, he cupped her chin in his hand, rubbing his thumb over her smooth cheek. Her skin was softer than the finest furs. He leaned closer, studying her. One by one he touched the few freckles that dotted her otherwise pale skin.

She wrinkled her nose slightly. “I’ve never liked my freckles.”

“Why?” How could she not like them? He found them fascinating.

“They make me look like a kid.”

He chuckled. “That is not possible, Kathryn. Believe me. There is no doubt that you are all woman.”

She blinked as he stroked his thumb over the curve of her bottom lip. Her mouth parted slightly and he pushed the tip of his thumb inside. Kathryn moaned sexily and nipped the edge of his skin. Now it was his turn to groan.

Her tongue slid over the top of his thumb and down the sides. Marc couldn’t stand it any longer. Pulling his thumb away, he leaned down and tasted her lips. It was the barest of touches but it made his head spin. She smelled of soap and flowers and a hint of womanly musk. She tasted of promises and tomorrows.

Her lips parted as he stroked his tongue inside. Lazily, he explored the wet cavern, tangling his tongue with hers in a slow mating dance.

Her hands slid up his biceps, her short nails lightly scoring his skin. His body felt alive with anticipation. With longing.

The kiss went on and on. Marc slid his hand around to the back of her head, cupping her skull with his palm, holding her captive as he plundered her mouth. Her hands slid up his shoulders and neck before she buried them in his hair. Her fingertips massaged his scalp. The sensation was incredible and he let out a deep rumble of pleasure.

Kathryn’s legs moved restlessly against his. He broke the kiss and stared into her deep green eyes. A man could willingly lose himself in such eyes. He touched her lips one final time and then peppered her forehead, cheeks and nose with kisses, making sure his lips touched each freckle.

He worked his way down the curve of her neck to her shoulders, all the while ignoring the ache in his cock. It throbbed in time to his heartbeat and liquid seeped from the tip. His balls were heavy and full, the skin pulled so tight around them it was a wonder they didn’t burst. He’d never felt need like this in his life. It gnawed at his belly like a savage hunger and ate at his soul.

Yet, he wanted her pleasure before his own.

Her collarbone seemed incredibly fragile beneath his fingers. Once again he was reminded of how much smaller than he she was. Her personality was so vibrant and alive, she projected the image of someone larger. Not that she was short, because she wasn’t, but she was slender and delicate.

She tightened her fingers in his hair and tugged his head lower. He couldn’t suppress the smile that formed on his lips. Delicate she might be but she wasn’t shy about letting him know what she wanted.

His lips found the curve of her breast and he licked her soft, slightly salty skin.

“Marc.” His skin rippled with arousal as she longingly whispered his name. He plumped her breast in his hand and curled his tongue around her nipple. It was pink and puckered and tasted sweet.

She moaned, her fingers digging into his scalp as she tugged him closer. Parting his lips, he tugged her turgid nipple into his mouth and sucked. She shifted beneath him, her hips moving restlessly. He could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

Need was building rapidly within him and he knew he was running out of time.

Giving her nipple one final suck, he released it and quickly moved down her torso, kissing and licking a path down her rib cage to her belly. Her stomach was flat, emphasizing her hipbones. He placed a tender kiss on each one, the urge to feed her, to take care of her, riding him hard. But first he had to claim her. Mark her as his.

Settling on his stomach between her legs, he placed a hand on each thigh and pushed her legs wider, exposing her soft, wet cunt. She made a soft sound but didn’t protest.

“You are so beautiful.” His words were slow, his tongue felt thick in his mouth. “So pink and wet. You’re glistening with need.” He stroked a finger over the slick folds. As he watched, cream slipped from her core. “And it’s all for me, isn’t it, Kathryn?”

“Yes,” she moaned, tilting her hips toward him.

Satisfaction roared through him and his cock jerked. Swearing under his breath, he pressed his cock against the fur, trying to keep from spilling his seed right then and there. Blood pounded in his veins, all of it flowing to the engorged shaft between his thighs.

He inhaled deeply, drawing her unique fragrance into his lungs. The scent of Kathryn’s arousal was intoxicating. Moving closer, he lapped at her sensitive flesh with his tongue, tasting her essence. He moaned when it touched his lips and tongue. This was better than any dream. This was pure pleasure.

Her hips swiveled and jerked as he stroked over her thick folds, teasing the bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs. “Marc,” she gasped.

He captured her clitoris between his lips and sucked gently. She cried out, thrashing her head from side to side. He released the tender bud and blew softly.

“What?”

She gave a strangled laugh. “You beast. You know what I want.”

“Tell me.” He pushed the tip of his index finger barely inside her sheath, rimming it.

Planting her feet on the rug, she pushed her hips upward, taking his finger deeper into her heated passage. “You,” she panted, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “I want you.”

Marc looked up from between her spread thighs, admiring the erotic picture she made sprawled across the thick, dark fur. Her breasts swayed with every breath she took, her nipples were tight and deeper in color. Her skin appeared flushed as blood pumped quickly through her veins. Her eyes were half closed, her lips parted.

He pushed his finger as far as it would go and slowly withdrew it, curving it upward as he did so. Kathryn gasped and he felt her inner muscles flutter and tighten around him. “You want me?”

“Yes.”

“You want me to fuck you?” Her sheath tightened and more of her essence coated his finger as he pushed it inward once again. “Say the words.” He needed her to say them. Had to hear them from her sweet lips.

“Fuck me,” she groaned.

“Say my name.” He pushed a second finger inside her, spreading them apart, widening her.

Her hips jerked and a low scream came from deep in her throat. She squeezed his fingers tightly, her muscles rippling as she came. He got what he wanted though. As she shuddered through her orgasm, his name fell from her lips.

“Marc,” she cried out as orgasm overtook her. Her body clutched at his fingers and she felt the dampness between her thighs. Twice! was all she could think. This is the second orgasm within about a half hour. Amazing.

Then she couldn’t think at all. When she finally came back to herself, she looked down, shuddering at the erotic vision. Her nipples were hard buds, so flushed they appeared red. Her skin glistened with a light sheen of perspiration. She was no longer cold, that’s for sure. Her legs were sprawled wide and Marc’s head rested on her belly, his long brown hair falling across her thigh and down her hip as his fingers gently played with her slick folds, more soothing than arousing. His eyes were closed and the corners of his mouth were tilted in a slight smile.

Her core pulsed and although she’d come twice, satisfaction eluded her. She needed more. She needed Marc.

When she shifted, he lifted his head, slowly rising, to sit on his heels. Kathryn bit her lip to keep from crying out as a lock of his waist-length hair brushed over her pussy. She was incredibly sensitive. Amazingly enough, merely looking at him was enough to start her body humming again.

She loved his face. He wasn’t handsome in a classic sense but his features were strong and blunt and masculine. His shoulders and chest were impossibly wide and firm. His abdomen a sculpted work of art.

And jutting out from a nest of dark hair was a very impressive erection. His shaft was thick and long, the network of blue veins pulsing heavily. The cock head was dark, engorged with blood and pre-cum oozed from the tip. She licked her lips and Marc groaned.

Her gaze flew to his and she realized he was watching her every move. She was filled with the urge to give him the kind of pleasure that he’d given to her. Slowly, she came up on her knees. The soft fur was a sensual caress against her skin.

Never in her life has she felt so sexually alive and so aware of every inch of her own flesh as well as his. It was as if all her senses were heightened. Every nerve ending in her body twitched and quivered as she moved toward him. His face hardened, his hands fisted at his sides.

Feminine power rushed through her as she realized that she affected him the same way he did her. Oh, this was marvelous, empowering and an incredible aphrodisiac.

Placing her hands on his knees, she skimmed her fingers upward to the tops of his thighs. The wiry hair on his thighs brushed against her palms, making her hands tingle.

The fire crackled beside her and she could hear a slight wind outside the window but other than that there was only the sound of their breathing. The thick stone walls shut out all other sounds, cocooning them in this erotic space and time.

Kathryn no longer felt like her normal, dull, conservative self. She felt alive and filled with power, need and longing. Gone was the feeling of awkwardness she usually had around the opposite sex. For some reason it felt perfectly natural to be totally naked in front of Marc.

Tomorrow she might feel differently but for tonight, she wanted to celebrate life.

She, Tienan and Logan had somehow made it out of their desperate situation alive.

Tienan had survived her primitive surgery and would no doubt recover. And Marc, the man she’d fantasized and spun erotic dreams around for months, was right in front of her, waiting for her to touch him.

She would deal with reality tomorrow. Tonight was for her. For them.

Tentatively, she cupped the heavy sac between his thighs, squeezing gently.

“Kathryn.” He gritted out her name from between clenched teeth. Sweat popped out on his forehead. She realized that he was close to coming.

“Hmmm,” she answered, which was really no answer at all. She had to touch him, to taste him. Leaning forward, she delicately licked at the slit at the tip of his erection.

He tasted salty and musky. She wanted more.

Slowly, she curled her tongue around the head of his cock, taking care to trace the ridge. His hips jerked and she tasted more of his arousal on her lips. She licked them and shuddered. The throbbing between her thighs intensified. Her breasts ached.

Grabbing his hands, she pressed them against her. He sucked in a deep breath as he uncurled his fingers and cupped the plump mounds. She could feel the tight buds pressing into the center of his palms.

She started to lower her head again but he stopped her. “No more. I’m too close.” She peered up at him, noting the heat in his eyes, the flush on his skin.

Kathryn felt brazen and wanton. “Take me then.” His eyes narrowed, his lips firmed. “Turn over on your hands and knees. I want to take you from behind.”

Her heart jumped and began to beat rapidly. She’d never had a man do that to her before. She bit her bottom lip. Part of her wanted this but another part was afraid. She didn’t really know Marc at all, did she?

As if sensing her growing unease, he soothed her bottom lip with his thumb as he leaned down and kissed her. “I will never hurt you, Kathryn. All you have to do is say the words and we’ll stop.”

She paused and stared at him. He was totally serious. She’d never met a man like him before. She was naked before him and he’d already given her two spectacular orgasms. He was also naked and so close to coming, yet he was willing to walk away if that was what she wanted.

All her doubts fled. This was a man she could trust with her body, with her very life. Indeed, he’d already saved her life. Leaning forward, she kissed him softly, their lips barely touching. “Thank you.” He nodded and lowered his head, taking several deep breaths.

She shifted, turning so her hands and knees supported her. When he didn’t move, she glanced over her shoulder. He hadn’t budged, his head was still down and he was breathing slowly. He thought she was saying no to him.

“Marc.”

Very slowly he lifted his head. Lust blazed from his eyes. They widened and then narrowed as he took in her position. “Are you sure?” Her heart skipped a beat. Even now he was giving her a choice. “Yes.” She leaned forward, tilting her backside upward.

Groaning, Marc positioned himself between her legs, pushing them wider. Kathryn let her head fall forward, savoring the feel of his hair-roughened thighs against hers.

His shaft stroked over her swollen flesh and she sucked in a breath as he pulled back and positioned the head of his cock at her opening. He pressed barely inside, stretching her channel to accommodate him.

He began to move slowly, pulling back and pushing forward an inch at a time. Her inner muscles stretched and clenched, adjusting to his girth as he worked deeper. It was heaven. It was torture. She wanted him all the way inside her. Now. But she also knew his way was best. It had been a long time since she’d made love and never with a man of his size.

Marc reached around her, cupping her breasts as his hips began to pump harder.

He filled her now. She felt full and stretched and wonderful. He angled her hips so his balls slapped against her clit with each thrust. She gasped and shoved her hips back to meet each of his strokes.

His fingers plied her nipples, pinching and soothing them at turns. Nothing else existed to Kathryn except reaching fulfillment. The soft furs ticked her hands and knees as Marc’s hands cupped her breast and squeezed. He released one mound and slid his hand lower, toward her belly. She gasped, contracting her inner muscles tight around him as his finger slid through her pubic hair, finding her clit.

“Harder,” she gasped.

She felt his lips on her spine, nipping and sucking. “Your pussy is so hot and tight around my cock.” His erotic words made her heart skip a beat. Her core tightened around him and he gave a strangled laugh.

“Just like that,” he encouraged her. “Squeeze my cock again. I want to feel the walls of your cunt wrapped tight around every inch.” He pulled back and thrust forward.

Harder this time. “You want it hard?”

“God yes,” she moaned as a lock of his long hair brushed against her side. Using her hands for leverage, she shoved against him on every forward stroke.

Marc grabbed her hips and began to pump heavily, pounding into her body. She could feel the orgasm gathering deep in her core. Throwing her head back, she cried out as he surged heavily within her. Every cell in her body seemed to explode, hips jerking wildly as she came.

She heard him call her name and felt the flood of heat as he spent himself within her. Her pussy tightened and fluttered as she continued to orgasm. Her entire body quivered and finally, her hands and knees gave out and she collapsed onto the fur rug.

Marc’s cock slipped from her and she cried out at the loss. He wrapped his arms around her, covering her legs and back with his body. Kathryn had no idea how long they’d been lying there when Marc finally moved. She thought about getting up and crawling into bed but it seemed like too much trouble.

A few seconds later, Marc was back and pressing a damp cloth between her legs.

She buried her face against the fur, feeling the heat in her cheeks. It was ridiculous to be embarrassed at this point but she couldn’t help it. Without the heat of passion driving her onward, she reverted back to her shy, quiet self.

Marc finished cleaning her and tossed the cloth aside before rolling her onto her back. She tried to open her eyes but yawned instead. Her mouth opened so wide her jaw made a little popping sound. Strong arms lifted her and carried her across the room. She sighed when she felt the mattress beneath her. Suddenly, she was beyond exhausted. She was so tired she wasn’t even hungry anymore.

The mattress dipped and Marc gathered her into his arms. “Sleep.” He pressed a kiss on her forehead and she sighed, throwing her arm across him. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

That sounded ominous but she didn’t care. All she wanted to do right now was sleep.

Jarek was leaning on the wall just beyond the door when Marc let himself out of Kathryn’s room. “How is she?”

Marc made sure the door was closed before answering. “She’s fine. Sleeping.” His brother met his gaze, his eyes as serious as Marc had ever seen them. “You’ve already claimed her.”

It was not a question, but Marc nodded.

“This is unprecedented.” Jarek fingered the pommel of the sword strapped to his side. “There will be repercussions.”

“I know.” And he did. What he wanted was against all the laws of their people.

“By law, although I am Christina’s husband, you are legally bound to her and yet you have taken another woman.”

“I renounce all claim to Christina, now and forever.” Jarek’s body jerked as though he’d been physically struck. “No one has ever done such a thing in the history of our world.”

“I have no choice.” Marc sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “Our relationship has been in name only for a long time now. It is not a true joining as most marriages in our world are and we all know it.” Jarek started to speak, but Marc held up his hand. “It is no one’s fault, but it is the truth. Try as she might, Christina wants only you in her bed.” He tried to find a way to make his brother understand just what Kathryn meant to him. “The tapestry took me to her.”

“You disappeared so suddenly. I did not think I would ever see you again.” Marc heard it then, the fear in his brother’s voice.

“I had no choice and would do it again in a heartbeat.” Marc rubbed his hand over his chest, feeling the heavy throb of his heart beneath his palm. “Kathryn is mine. I would die to protect her.”

“You will not be able to keep her for yourself.” Jarek reached out to Marc, but let his hand drop as his brother took a step back. “There are laws. People will protest.”

“I saved her life back in her world. There are men there who want her dead, who want all three of them dead. The tapestry brought them all here. There is a reason for that.” Marc allowed his fear to show for the first time.

“Perhaps that reason is so she can be a bride to another family?” Jarek gently interjected.

“No.” Marc’s voice was a tortured whisper. “There is a way around this. I know there is. There has to be.”

His older brother reached out his arm and clasped his shoulder. Muttering an oath, Jarek pulled him into his arms. “I will stand beside you,” Jarek promised. “No matter what comes, I will stand with you.”

Marc blinked as his brother released him, overcome by emotion. “Thank you.” His brother hadn’t needed to say it. Marc never doubted for a moment that his brother would stand behind him in the troubles ahead.

“Christina is waiting to talk to you.” Jarek motioned him up the hall with a jerk of his head.

Marc sighed, knowing he had to have this discussion sooner or later and he’d rather have it done with. Following his brother, Marc felt the pull of Kathryn with every step he took away from her. It was only the knowledge that she was safe and would be there in the morning that allowed him to keep going.