N. Walters - Strands of Love

It was probably the reason the tapestry had brought her to Javara in the first place. She was a woman alone, a woman who could make a life in their world.

But she was still too deeply attached to her family and the land they owned. Jace couldn’t fault her for that. All he wanted was to return home. But he wanted her to go with them.

For the first time, he truly understood how unfair the tapestry was to the women it brought to Javara. His entire life, all he’d thought about were the benefits of having a tapestry bride—a woman to love, children, family and a future. He’d never truly understood the magnitude of what each woman had to give up when they stayed.

Like any world, this one had its problems. Sam’s brother had been killed in a war and the land seemed harsh and unforgiving. But Sam had neighbors who cared and people who loved her. She had land and a family legacy.

Asking her to give this all up and step into the unknown with him and Darian was too much.

“Shh.” He rocked her like he would a child, but the woman in his arms was no child and his senses stirred. The warmth of her skin enticed him even as her tears wet his bare chest. He wanted to keep her safe in his arms and he wanted to strip her naked and fuck her. The polar emotions had him on edge.

“Sam, you’re home and you’re safe.” Jace didn’t know what to say to get her to stop crying. He kissed the top of her head before tilting her back slightly so he could see her face. Her cheeks were blotchy, her eyes red.

He dropped a kiss on her forehead, her nose and both cheekbones. She sniffed and he could see her trying to pull herself back together. He rubbed his thumb over her cheek, swiping at the tears rolling down her face.

When she tried to smile at him, Jace lost it. He kissed her. There was no stopping him. He slammed his mouth down on hers, plunged his tongue past her parted lips and took what belonged to him.

Sam gasped, but didn’t push him away. She reached for him, wrapping her arms around his neck, clinging to him as though she’d never let him go.

He had to say something to her before this went any further. She had to know how he felt.

Jace tore his mouth away from hers, not wanting to release her sweet and salty lips. “I’m sorry, Sam. I didn’t mean to bring the tapestry back to Javara and send you away.” He thought he’d mastered his temper years ago, but obviously he hadn’t succeeded as well as he’d hoped. Sam was able to prick his temper where others could not.

“I know.” She rested her hand on the side of his face, the one with the scar. Not that Sam seemed to even notice the mark. He placed his hand over hers, holding it against his skin for a brief moment before turning it so he could kiss her palm.

“What are we going to do?” Emotional anguish spilled from her as she asked the question to which he had no answers. Another tear trickled down the side of her face.

Tim’s suggestions were still echoing in his head. Sam could still return with them to Javara. Jace hadn’t even entertained such a possibility, but Tim was right. Sam could change her mind and leave her world behind.

Tim’s other suggestions left Jace reeling. Either he or his brother or both of them could stay here with her. Jace immediately dismissed the idea of both of them staying. What would happen to their mother? All their people? Hunter Keep?

Maybe Darian could stay here with Sam? He was more easygoing, more able to adapt than Jace was. But how would he live without his brother? They’d been inseparable since they were boys. Jace could still remember the day Darian was born, even though he was only three years old. He’d always felt responsible for his younger brother.

“I don’t know what we will do, Sam.” Jace lifted her until she was facing him, straddling his lap. “But I know what I want to do at this moment.” He tugged her shirt from the waistband of her pants and slid his hands beneath.

He loved the feel of her soft skin against his rough, calloused palms. Jace didn’t want to face the possibility of losing Sam, of never being able to touch her again. He needed to love her, to show in the only way he could how sorry he was for the words he’d spoken in anger.

Jace pushed the shirt up and over her head. Her breasts were encased in a lacy covering that was the same color as fresh ripe berries. It was such a contrast to her plain, utilitarian shirt it made him smile. That was Sam—tough and hardworking on the outside, but soft and womanly on the inside.

His cock was swollen and uncomfortably pressed against the inside of his pants, but he ignored it. He rubbed his thumbs over the hard nubs pressing against the delicate material. Her nipples were swollen, ripe and sweet, and he needed to taste them.

He pulled the material aside and closed his lips around one puckered bud. Sam gasped and tilted her head back.

Darian moved, as though unable to resist any longer. Truthfully, Jace had no idea how he’d held out this long. Darian thrust his fingers into Sam’s loosely braided hair, tilted her head back, swooped down and took her lips in a torrid kiss.

Jace felt the tightening of Sam’s body, the hard jerk followed by the slow melting as she kissed Darian back. He sucked on her nipple before teasing it with his tongue. She squirmed against him, her mound pushing against his swollen shaft.

He growled and tugged at the straps of the garment, pulling it down her arms. Darian helped him free her breasts and rid her of the bothersome piece of clothing. Naked from the waist up, her thick braid of hair falling over her shoulder, her eyes dark with desire, Jace wanted her and he wanted her now.

Jace started to lift her off his lap. Darian helped by quickly wrapping his arms around her and picking her up, taking her weight from his lap. Jace bent down and pulled off her shoes. His fingers hovered over the fastener of her pants. “Sam?” He didn’t want to do anything she didn’t want. It would kill him to have to stop, but he would if this wasn’t what she wanted.

She shoved his hands aside and his stomach sank. Before he could sink into despair, her clever fingers had her pants open and were shoving them down her thighs.

Desire roared through Jace like a runaway stallion. He wanted Sam. Had to have her. He wanted her to ride him while she faced him, wanted to see her face when he took her.

Her underwear was the color of ripe berries too, lacy and feminine. Another time, he might enjoy seeing her wearing nothing but them, but not now. His cock was ready to explode and he ripped open the front placket of his pants, needing to give the poor abused part some relief. His shaft popped free from its confinement, hard and ready.

Sam shimmied out of her clothing and reached for his cock. Jace caught her wrist and shook his head. “I’m too close.” He wanted her to understand just how much he wanted her, how she affected him.

Jace shoved his pants around his hips and sat back, leaning against the wooden wall behind him. “Come here.” He held his arms wide open. “Ride me.”

Sam glanced at Darian who smiled and nodded. She licked her lips and, for a second, Jace thought it was all over for him. He could practically feel those lush lips and that hot tongue against his pulsing erection. As much as he wanted that, he needed to be inside her, to feel the hot clasp of her pussy pulsating around his cock.

Home.

Sam was beginning to feel like home to him, a safe place where he could lay down his burdens and simply be a man.

She crawled up onto the bale of hay and settled over his lap. Jace gripped her hips and guided her opening to the tip of his cock. “I can’t wait,” he warned. He knew they should take her inside and spend hours teasing her, bringing her to orgasm again and again. Should show her how good it could be with them.