N. Walters - Strands of Love

He grabbed her hand and placed it over his erection. Even though the leather of his pants she could feel his cock throbbing with need.

Jace removed her hand and carefully hooked a strand of damp hair behind her ear. It was only then she wondered what she must look like. Probably a slightly drowned rat. She hadn’t even combed her hair and it was still mostly wet.

“This time is about you, about your pleasure.” Her stomach chose that moment to growl and embarrass her. Jace grinned. It was so quick she almost missed it and it made him seem younger and much more approachable than usual. “And it is time to feed you.

“You still have almost two days here and I plan to make the most of them.”

Sam didn’t know if that was a promise or a threat. Before she could decide, Jace retrieved the towel and wrapped it around her.

“When you dry off there are clean clothes on the trunk in the bedroom. I’ll be waiting in the hallway and when you’re done I’ll escort you down to break your fast.”

He spun on his heel and stalked from the room, closing the door behind him. Sam sagged against the wall and took a deep breath. Her toes were curled, her skin tingled and her breasts felt swollen and tender. Not to mention the throbbing aftershocks still echoing between her thighs.

Her stomach growled again and there was no ignoring it. She grabbed the wet cloth from the tub and gently washed between her thighs. When she was done, she found the comb and untangled her hair, quickly braiding it. Thankfully, the elastic was still sitting on the edge of the vanity where she’d left it last night, and she used it to secure her hair. Taking a deep breath, she left the bathroom and entered the bedroom.

True to his word, Jace wasn’t there and there was a bundle of clothing on the trunk. Excitement and hunger warred inside her as she hurried to get dressed and join Jace.

The clothes Sam was wearing were really comfortable. She’d feared the clothing Jace had left her might include a dress much like the one Edwina had been wearing when she’d met the older woman. Really not her style.

Instead, she’d found a pair of leather pants, which she cinched tight to keep them from slipping over her hips, a pair of boots that fit rather well and a long-sleeved tunic that fell to just below her hips. What she wasn’t wearing were panties or a bra, both of which had been missing from the room along with the rest of her clothing.

As promised, Jace had been waiting in the hallway for her. He’d taken her hand and led her downstairs to the large room she’d seen yesterday. A long table sat at one end with some plates and bowls of food. She’d thought he’d join her. Instead, he’d left her with his mother, which was a little awkward considering she’d had sex with both the woman’s sons.

“Have you had enough, dear?” Edwina asked. Like yesterday, the older woman was wearing an ankle-length dress, this one a bright yellow. The cloth appeared to be somewhere between a cotton and a linen and was embroidered with tiny flowers around the neck and cuffs.

“Yes, thank you.” Sam pushed aside the bowl of porridge she’d just finished. Her stomach was nicely full. She’d had the porridge, two slices of thick grainy bread and several slabs of a mild yellow cheese that was absolutely delicious. And she’d washed the works of it down with a mellow apple cider, the taste of which reminded her of Jace’s earlier kiss.

Edwina picked up her wooden mug, taking a sip of tea before placing it back on the table in front of her. “I know all this must seem strange to you,” she began.

Sam hesitated, not wanting to be impolite to the older woman, but there was no getting around the fact that she was somewhere she didn’t want to be. Great sex aside, she had a life. Might not seem like much of one to some folks, but it was hers. “I really want to call home and check in with my friend.” Tim would be worried sick considering she was supposed to have shown up for dinner last night with him and Mary.

Her cell phone had disappeared along with her clothes, something she was definitely going to ask Jace about when she saw him again. He’d disappeared so quickly she hadn’t had time to question him about it.

Edwina appeared concerned, wringing the poor mug between her hands. “I’m not sure what you mean by calling home.”

Sam studied the older woman. It didn’t seem as though she was lying. “You know, use the telephone.” She held her hand to her ear and curled the middle three fingers inward before motioning with her pinkie and thumb like she was using the phone.

Edwina sighed and stood. “Come, let me show you something.”

Sam dropped her hand and pushed out of her chair. Fine with her. She obviously wasn’t going to get a straight answer from their mother. It was time to find and confront Darian and Jace again.

“This way.” Edwina led the way out the front door of the castle, pausing on the wide stone steps. “Look around you. Everywhere you look is Javara. This is not your world, child. You must come to some acceptance of that fact. Denying it will not change it.”

“Look,” Sam began. “I honestly think you believe what you’re saying, but I can’t.”

“Then how do you explain your being here?”

“I can’t.” She wasn’t about to mention her theories about being drugged. Strangely enough, she didn’t want to upset the older woman who was not responsible for her sons’ actions.

Edwina sighed and shook her head and Sam knew she’d disappointed the other woman. “If you’re looking for Jace and Darian, you’ll find them in the training ring this time of day.” She pointed beyond the stables. “Look around if you like. None will stop you.”

Sam nodded and started down the stairs, suddenly gripped with the need to see both brothers. She was halfway down when Edwina called out to her.

“Samantha.”

Sam paused and turned.

Edwina squared her shoulders and met Sam’s gaze. “Be careful with my sons. You hold their hearts and their futures in your hands.” With that, Edwina turned and went back inside.

Her words shook Sam to her core. Edwina was mistaken. No way was she in any way responsible for either man’s heart. They’d had sex. That’s all it was. Three consenting adults engaging in some sexual fantasies, nothing more.

She ignored the way her breakfast curdled in her belly and the pang of regret in her heart as she hurried toward the stables. The familiar whinny of horses teased her ears as she passed. She had a quick peek and promised herself she’d check out the equine inhabitants a little later. Sam missed having horses on the farm.

There were several men working just outside the building and they nodded at her as she hurried by. She nodded back, but didn’t stop. She did, however, feel their gazes on her. Her spine tingled and it was an uncomfortable sensation.

She turned the corner of the stables and slammed to a halt like she’d hit an invisible wall. Both Jace and Darian were naked from the waist up, except for those wrist- and armbands they wore. Both were wielding extremely large, and what appeared to be extremely sharp swords.

Darian’s weapon cut through the air, heading toward Jace’s heart. All the blood drained from her face and she felt lightheaded as Jace countered at the last second. The two blades struck and one slid along the other, leaving a shower of sparks.

“Almost got you, old man,” Darian taunted.

“Old man, my ass. I’m only letting you think you have a chance to beat me. Wouldn’t want you to become too discouraged,” Jace fired back.

Sam leaned against the corner of the stable and watched as the two fought. These were no recreational warriors. The blades were an extension of their arms, cutting and hacking through the air, always being struck aside at the very last second before either of them could lose a major body part. She was afraid to speak, afraid to distract them. And she was utterly mesmerized by the display of swordsmanship.