N. Walters - Embroidered Fantasies

A low growl came from her dream man, yet she was no longer afraid. She sensed he was angry on her behalf. He’d protected her before in her dream, so it was natural for her to trust him. And she couldn’t keep calling him dream man. “Who are you?” His brown eyes captured her with their piercing gaze. “I am Radnor of the House of Craddock. You are at Craddock Keep.”

The name was strong and suited him. Unlike her ex who was a golden boy, this man looked dark and dangerous. Not the sort you wanted to meet in a back alley. He exuded danger.

He gently fingered a lock of her hair. “Who are you?” She swallowed hard, ignoring the way her heart tripped when he touched her. It wasn’t from fear, but arousal, which wasn’t at all appropriate given the circumstances.

He was waiting patiently for her to respond to his question, so she answered. “Roxanne Sykes.”

“Roxanne.” He said her name slowly, letting it roll off his tongue in a way that made her skin go hot, then cold.

She shivered and nodded.

“And you say the tapestry brought you here?” he continued.

She frowned. That wasn’t what she’d said. “No. I said you reminded me of the tapestry I bought at the flea market. I’m here because I’m unconscious.” Her frown deepened. “Or maybe I’m dead and this is heaven. But if it was heaven, would my head still hurt?” She shrugged away her question. “Anyway, I was fighting my ex-husband off and then there was a flash of light. I think the tapestry was underneath me.”

“Ex-husband?” Roxanne could hear the menacing threat in his voice.

She didn’t want to talk about Michael. “He found me after he got out of prison.

We’re divorced, but he still came after me.” She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly chilled.

Radnor’s scowl deepened. “I do not understand the word divorce. He is not your husband?”

“No. He hurt me and I left him.” She hated talking about that. It brought back all the old feelings of inadequacy. Made her feel somehow less because she’d stayed with Michael for so long before getting the courage to leave. A man like Radnor couldn’t understand what it felt like to be under someone else’s cruel rule, unable to defend oneself, unable to leave. He was strong. A warrior. She was a woman. A woman very alone in the world.

But, she reminded herself, she’d gotten the courage to leave even though it had cost her dearly. She was brave. She had remade her life and no one was going to make her feel ashamed again. She tilted her chin upward, daring him to make some comment about her staying with a man who abused her.

Radnor growled. “He hurt you.”

Roxanne nodded, buffeted by the waves of fury rolling off the man seated beside her. Yet she wasn’t afraid of him, didn’t feel threatened. Of course, this wasn’t real.

“Where is he?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea. Not that it matters. This is just a dream anyway, brought on by the tapestry I purchased. Obviously, I got more than I bargained for when I spent my ten bucks. I didn’t know it came complete with erotic fantasies.” Radnor’s demeanor changed in a heartbeat. Masculine satisfaction emanated from every pore of his body. He straightened his shoulders and stared down at her. “The tapestry brought you to Craddock Keep. You belong to us now.”

Roxanne’s eyes widened at his audacious statement. She didn’t belong to anyone but herself. Before she could tell him so, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Her eyelids drifted shut.

Radnor couldn’t believe his eyes. The woman from his dreams was here. She’d appeared out of nowhere, brought by the magical tapestry of Javara lore. It should have been impossible. The tapestry usually only came once a generation. On the rare occasion it came twice. It had already been here three times in his lifetime, bringing tapestry brides to a world starved for women.

But the last time had been different. The woman it had brought had been an ancestor to the sorceress who’d created the tapestry. His sister, Genita, had told him all about the happenings at Castle Garen a year ago. The woman, Kathryn Piedmont, had been able to summon the tapestry at will. Perhaps the rules had changed.

Whatever the reason, Radnor wasn’t about to question his good fortune. Leaning down, he pressed his lips against Roxanne’s. Her name suited her. It sounded strong and exotic, much like the woman herself.

She made a small sound in the back of her throat as he kissed her but she didn’t pull away. He kept the kiss light, when what he really wanted to do was strip her naked and claim her as his own. His cock throbbed in agreement, but his brain reminded him that he was not an animal like his older brothers had been.

Roxanne had been hurt. She was frightened, although she tried to hide it. He wanted her to feel safe with him.

He traced the full curve of her bottom lip with his tongue. She tasted sweet. She sucked in a breath, parting her lips, and he dipped inside. A brief touch. Light.

Undemanding.

It was the hardest thing he’d ever done. The muscles in his arms ached he was clenching them so tight to keep from tugging her into his arms. She made another small sound of desire and the pressure of her mouth increased as she shifted closer to him.

Radnor wanted to roar in triumph. He parted his lips, inviting her to explore his mouth. Like a skittish foal, she hesitated before dipping her tongue inside. He touched his tongue to hers and she withdrew. Radnor kept the kiss gentle and seconds later, she was back, this time going deeper.

Unable to resist, he raised one hand and cupped the back of her head. Again, he kept the pressure light. Simply touching her. Demanding nothing. Her hair was soft. He longed to bury his fingers in it and deepen the kiss.

He felt the lightest pressure on his chest. He caught his breath but didn’t move. Her fingertips played over the hard muscles of his chest before trailing over his biceps.

Roxanne examined his armbands briefly before drifting upward to stroke his neck.

His cock was as hard as stone. His balls were heavy, aching for release. There was no way to hide the bulge pressing at the front placket of his pants and he didn’t even try. She needed to know he wanted her, needed to become accustomed to his body, his touch.

He leaned back and their lips parted. She opened her eyes and blinked, looking as shocked as he felt. The sexual connection between them was undeniable. Radnor wanted Roxanne with a depth of need that shook him to his core. Never in his life had he allowed himself to want something as much as he wanted her.

It was disconcerting. But there was no denying it. The tapestry had brought her here and it was up to him, and Sednar, to find a way to keep her here. That meant convincing her to stay. From all he’d learned about the tapestry, the woman had the final choice if she stayed or went back to wherever she came from. The man could do nothing to stop her. That was the magic of the tapestry.

She cleared her throat. “That was…” She raised her fingers to her mouth and touched her lips. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“You liked it.” He would not let her deny her pleasure or the connection that existed between them.

She frowned at him, creating little lines on her brow. “That’s beside the point.” Radnor touched the spot between her eyes and smoothed away the creases. He shook his head at her stubborn refusal to admit to the sexual spark that flared between them. “That is the point. You are here now and I will protect you.”

“Don’t you understand?” She spoke slowly, as if to a child. “This isn’t real.” He grinned in spite of the seriousness of the situation. “If it’s only a dream, you won’t mind if I do this.” Taking advantage of the moment, he leaned forward and captured her mouth, kissing her the way he longed to. His tongue surged between her lips, exploring the moist cavern of her mouth. He used his hand on the back of her head, tilting it so he had a better angle of penetration.