Strands of Love

by N. J. Walters

  He stood and set his sword aside before coming to stand before her. “I know you are alone in your world.” He took her hands in his and rubbed his thumbs over the hard calluses on her palms. “I know you are a hard worker and a compassionate woman. Courageous too. And I know the tapestry brought us together and that is pure magic. We are meant to be together.”

  She swallowed hard when he released her hands and cupped her face. “And I know, Samantha Calloway, that you are very, very beautiful.”

  She closed her eyes, not wanting to admit how much she loved the sound of her name on his lips. He grazed her cheekbones with his thumbs and she felt his breath on her face a scant moment before his mouth touched hers.

  Tender but thorough, was the only way to describe the kiss that followed. His tongue traced her lips before dipping inside to taste her. And she didn’t object. Maybe she was tired of fighting, of being alone, but she knew she couldn’t fight the attraction between them any longer. Nor did she want to.

  She truly believed they’d let her go home in three days and, after that, she’d probably never see him or Jace again. Why shouldn’t she get something out of this? Something that made her feel good and gave her some memories to hold close on the long, winter Texas nights ahead. She had no idea what would happen with the farm. She could still lose it. But she was here now and could enjoy this minute.

  Maybe it was crazy. No, scratch that, it was crazy. Darian was basically a stranger who’d kidnapped her. Yet, she didn’t feel threatened in any way. If anything, she felt protected. It was a strange feeling. Sure, her father and brother had loved her, but she’d always been expected to stand on her own two feet and handle whatever came at her. She was a Calloway.

  Darian deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping over the inside of her mouth, stroking hers and encouraging her to play. Sam threw caution to the wind and embraced the moment.

  She slid her hands over his broad chest, loving the way the firm muscles hardened beneath her palms. He groaned, low and deep when she sucked on his tongue and angled his head to deepen their kiss.

  Large hands cupped her bottom and then she was lifted right off her feet. He rubbed her against his erection, wringing a moan from both of them. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting to get closer.

  He pulled his lips from hers and dropped heated kisses along her cheek, down her jawline and around to her ear. “Let me have you.” His deep, erotic plea made her cream her underwear.

  She couldn’t speak so she simply nodded. He carried her, not to the bed, but to the soft fur rug in front of the hearth. He knelt on the floor with her still in his arms. He held her easily even though she was five eight and no lightweight. Darian made her feel feminine and desirable in a way she’d never felt before.

  He captured her earlobe between his teeth and tugged lightly. Rivers of pleasure shot through her body, making her breasts tingle and her pussy spasm.

  “So beautiful,” he crooned as he laid her on the rug in front of him and tugged at her top. She raised her hands, allowing him to draw it away. His breath caught as he stared down at her breasts. She might be a tomboy, but she loved nice lingerie. The bra she was wearing was white, but it was made of stretchy lace that enticed more than it really covered.

  He thumbed her distended nipples through the thin fabric and she shivered. He smiled and pinched them lightly and she gave a small cry of pleasure. Darian tugged at the straps, pulling them down her arms until her breasts popped free.

  He gave a low growl of pleasure before dipping his head to taste them. His tongue was wet and warm as he swiped it over one hard tip and then the other. She moved her hips as a growing need began to consume her. She was hot, her skin sensitive wherever he touched her.

  “Samantha, such a beautiful name.” He nuzzled one firm mound before capturing the nipple and sucking it into his mouth.

  Her fingers tunneled into his hair, holding him to her. His hair was longer than hers, falling to his mid back while hers was just past her shoulders. Somehow it suited his masculine face, enhancing the features.

  Sam was suddenly self-conscious. She knew she smelled of horse and sweat, not exactly feminine or inviting. Darian must have felt her tense because he released her breast and sat back on his heels. “What is it?”

  She tried to shrug it off, but he sat there, patiently waiting. “It was a long ride,” she began.

  “Are you sore?” Concern made his eyes darken.

  She shook her head. “It’s not that.”

  Darian leaned down and kissed her, his lips tender, his voice soft and seductive. “Then what is wrong?”

  “I smell like a horse,” she blurted out.

  He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  Really, was the guy obtuse? “Maybe I should get a shower or a bath or something.” Okay, her cheeks had to be blazing red. They certainly felt hot. The sensual mood from moments ago was quickly slipping away and she crossed her arms across her chest, suddenly very aware of being half naked.

  “Sam,” he began and shook his head. “You smell earthy, like sunshine on a hot day.” He leaned down and sniffed her neck. “Spicy and slightly sweet.”

  “Really?”

  “Do you think I smell bad? That I should bathe?” he countered.

  She shook his head. “No, you smell earthy and male, like leather and horse and the forest.” And it was true. His scent was intoxicating.

  He nodded. “It is the same with me. I love how you smell.” He took her hands and moved them away from her body, spreading her arms wide and exposing her breasts to his view once again. “And how you look.”

  She smiled at him and he smiled back. Beneath his gaze, her breasts seemed to swell and the tips puckered even tighter. His smile grew wider.

  Darian reached for her bra. “How do I remove this?”

  She thought it was a strange question, but answered. “Back closure.”

  He reached behind her and struggled for a moment or two. It was as if he’d never removed a woman’s bra before. And maybe he hadn’t. He was so damn sexy and good-looking, women probably got naked the second he showed any interest in them.

  She shoved that thought out of her head when her bra came free and he set it aside. He cupped the full mounds before sliding his hands down her torso. “You are incredible.”

  And for the first time in her life, she truly felt that way.

  Chapter Five

  Darian didn’t question the amazing gift he was being given, but he was incredibly grateful for it. Sam was in his room, all sleepy eyed and sexy, and she wanted him. Her skin was pale and smooth beneath her short tunic, a sharp contrast from the darker, tanned flesh on her arms and neck. Her breasts were the color of fresh cream and just as enticing.

  “If your name is Samantha, why did you say it was Sam when we first met?” He liked Samantha. It sounded as beautiful as she looked spread half naked on his rug.

  “Sam is what everyone calls me.”

  He could tell she didn’t want to talk about it and he didn’t want to risk breaking the intimate mood between them. He nodded his agreement. “Then I will call you Sam.” He deliberately placed his hands on the top closure of her pants. It wasn’t hard to figure out how to open them, even if they were different from what he was used to.

  He shifted so he could pull her pants down her thighs. She was wearing a lacy covering over her sex, made of the same material that had covered her breasts. He wondered why she bothered at all they were so thin. He removed her footwear and pants, leaving her in her lacy garment.

  Sam crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s not fair that I’m almost naked and you’re not. Take off your vest.”

  He was more than happy to comply with her demand. He shrugged out of the garment and tossed it aside. Sam shivered.

  “You’re cold.” He berated himself for not taking her to his bed, but he loved how she looked all but naked, spread across the thick fur rug. He moved to the hearth, grabbed the flint and quic
kly lit the kindling. Within seconds it caught and he soon had a cheerful blaze going. He turned back to find her watching him with a bemused smile on her face.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  He frowned and moved back to her, settling between her thighs. “You were cold.” It was as simple as that. She needed something and it was his job to provide it for her.

  Sam didn’t quite know what to make of Darian. She shivered so he made a fire. And he wasn’t trying to score points to get her into bed. She was already pretty much naked and a sure thing. Therefore, the only reason he’d had for doing it was because he thought it would make her more comfortable.

  The wood crackled and the heat warmed her skin, but his thoughtful gesture warmed her heart.

  He traced a finger along the band of her panties where it ran across her hips. Then he moved lower, traced the fabric toward her pussy. The crotch was already wet. She’d never met a man who turned her on as fast as Darian did. Okay, his brother had the same effect on her as well, but she wasn’t going to think about that now, not with Darian hovering over her, his broad chest and shoulders naked and gleaming in the firelight.

  She’d seen well-built men before. Most of the men she knew worked their farms and ranches and they worked hard. There was no shortage of muscles among them. But Darian looked as though the hand of a master had sculpted him. Defined pecs and washboard abs that would stop traffic led down to a trim waist. She reached out and touched him. His skin was so warm it was almost hot.

  He captured her hand and slid it upward until it was covering his heart. Desire blazed from his eyes, but he didn’t seem to be in any rush. He lifted her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the palm before taking her index finger inside and sucking on it.

  Her pussy clenched and she sucked in a breath. Oh God, she wouldn’t last long at this rate. “Darian.” His name came out more as a moan, a plea.

  He licked the side of her finger and playfully nipped at the tip. “Hmm.”

  “Take off your pants.” She wanted to see all of him, wanted to touch him.

  Darian slowly stood, rising to tower over her. His eyes never left her as he unfastened the tie at his waist. He bent down and yanked off his boots before slowly peeling the leather pants down his thighs and off.

  He wasn’t wearing any underwear.

  Sam swallowed hard. Oh my, but he was fine. She’d never seen a man like him before. His thighs were rock hard, but it was what hung between them that really caught her attention. His cock was fully erect and pulsing with life. The mushroom-shaped head was large and slick. He wrapped his big hand around his cock and pumped. She’d never seen anything quite so erotic. It made her entire body hum with pleasure.

  Darian knelt back down and moved between her thighs. He planted his hands on either side of her shoulders and leaned down. “Let me love you.”

  Love. She did her best to ignore the word even as it made her heart pound faster. He couldn’t love her. He barely knew her. This was all about sex, mutually satisfying sex, but sex nonetheless.

  “What’s wrong?” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, her cheeks and her nose.

  Sam shook her head and placed her hands on his broad shoulders. “Nothing.” Darian frowned and started to speak, but Sam didn’t want to talk, not anymore. She wanted to feel, to get lost in the sexual desire that threatened to drown her.

  She pulled Darian down and kissed him, letting her tongue slide past his lips and into the heat of his mouth. And oh what a talented mouth it was. He kissed her like no other man ever had, like there was nothing he’d rather be doing. He took his time and explored every crevice and corner. His cock was hard against her belly and she reveled in the attraction that made every nerve ending in her body tingle in anticipation.

  Darian released her lips and moved lower, working his way down her neck and over her collarbone to her breasts. He teased each nipple until the tips of her breasts were pebbled. Her hips moved restlessly beneath him and she moaned when the hard ridge of his erection rubbed against her panty-clad clit.

  Darian raised his head and smiled at her, his pale-blue eyes smoldering with desire. He moved lower, his long hair brushing her bare skin in a sensual caress. He paused at her panties and gently rubbed his finger over the crotch. She hissed out a breath, eager for more.

  Taking his time, he pulled her panties down and off, tossing them aside. She was totally bare now, but she wasn’t self-conscious, couldn’t be with the way he was looking at her. She knew her body was toned and strong from years of backbreaking work on the farm, and her looks were okay—straight black hair, dark-blue eyes and a slender nose—but she’d never had a man look at her the way Darian was.

  He wrapped his hands around her thighs and spread them wide, staring at her pussy. When he licked his lips, she almost lost it. Most guys she’d been with hadn’t been much for foreplay, but Darian was different. If anything, he was going a little too slow. She wanted him. Now.

  He lowered his head slightly and lifted her hips at the same time. Hot breath fanned over her slick core before he used his tongue to explore and taste. Sam gripped the thick rug beneath her and held on tight as her entire body arched into his touch. He lapped at her slick folds, eventually finding her swollen clit. He circled the hard nub of nerves before teasing it with his tongue.

  “Darian.” She squeezed her eyes shut, not sure if she’d survive the next few minutes.

  “Come for me.” The plea in his deep voice sent her over the edge and her body splintered from the pleasure. She cried out, but he didn’t stop. He continued to suck and lick her pussy until she couldn’t take any more and managed to push him away.

  Totally drained, she lay there, eyes closed, listening to the crackle of the wood from the fire. Darian stroked her legs, her stomach and her arms, his touch soothing rather than arousing. Yet she was very aroused. Her pussy ached to hold him, to feel him powering in and out of her.

  Her eyelids fluttered open and she stared up at him. He looked like some pagan god come to life with his long, blond hair falling around his shoulders and his broad, tanned chest flickering in the firelight.

  But his heavy cock was all aroused male. As she watched, he lifted her, angled her hips toward him and positioned the broad tip at her opening. She reached for him, needing to touch his skin, to have that connection with him.

  A muscle in his jaw tightened as he slowly pushed inward, past the initial resistance of her body. Her nails dug into his skin, leaving deep half-crescent shapes on his forearms. There was no past, no future, only this moment.

  He filled her slowly, one delicious inch at a time, until he was seated to the hilt. Perspiration gave his skin a glow and every muscle in his body tensed as he waited for her to adjust to his invasion. He looked like a living sculpture. His breathing was as harsh as hers, both of them fighting the urge to move, enjoying the first moment of joining, of discovery. His cock was thick and long and filled her completely. Her vaginal muscles rippled around his hard length as he stretched her to the limits of comfort, but not beyond.

  It was exciting and arousing and, if she was being honest, a little scary. She was having sex with a man she barely knew, but one who attracted her on many levels. She pushed aside all her doubts and focused on the here and now.

  He didn’t speak and neither did she. The moment was too perfect to risk spoiling with words. Darian leaned down, the motion pushing his cock even deeper. She moaned and he captured her lips. He didn’t kiss her. He consumed her, his tongue dueling with hers, sliding in and out, mimicking the sex act to come.

  Her hands slid up his arms to his shoulders and she held on as he began to move. He rocked slowly at first, but quickly picked up steam. “Hold me,” he commanded and she wrapped her arms around his neck, shoving her hips toward him, needing to reach the glorious climax she knew was just out of reach.

  She’d never come twice in a night before, but knew Darian was different. If any lover could make it happen, he could. />
  Darian thrust faster and harder and only his grip on her waist kept her from sliding across the rug and onto the stone floor. The fire continued to crackle, her heavy gasps and his grunts the only other sounds that broke the silence. The air around them was warm and perfumed with the scent of leather and wood smoke, the earthy smell of sex, of male and female coming together.

  “Sam.” He yelled her name and his entire body stiffened as he came. He reached between them, found her clit with his thumb and lightly rubbed it, pushing her over the edge again. She clung to him, wanting the moment to last forever. He gave another groan and wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tight she could barely breathe.

  Gradually, she became aware of the room once again. The rug was thick, but lying on the floor was beginning to get uncomfortable. She shifted position as much as she could with a large male lying half on top of her. Darian raised his head and smiled at her. She smiled back until he slid out of her. Sam couldn’t suppress the low moan as his cock stimulated her tender pussy.

  Her thighs felt wet and she froze. They hadn’t used a condom. What had she done?

  Darian felt the change in her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “You didn’t use a condom.”

  He looked at her as though he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “You know. Protection.” She sat up. “Where’s the bathroom?” Not that cleaning herself up would help. The damage was done. “I’ve never had unprotected sex before so I’m safe.” She only prayed he was too.

  “Safe?” Darian was frowning at her, a slightly lost look in his eyes.

  Angry with herself and with him, she scooting into a seated position and wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling them close to her chest. “You know. Safe. I don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases. Do you?” she demanded.

  He shook his head. “There are no such things in our world.”

  Of course there wasn’t. For a moment there, she’d forgotten all about his crazy “this is another world” beliefs. “Sure,” she muttered. Staring into the fire, she prayed he was safe and she didn’t end up with some STD. “The worst that can happen is I’ll get pregnant.”