Christina's Tapestry (6 page)

“Are you mad?” She tried to push his hands away, but he just chuckled and slipped one of them between her thighs. One of his fingers stroked her clit and she let out a small cry of pleasure as she wrapped both her hands around his wrist and yanked it away.

He gripped her braid in his hand and tugged until she was forced to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. From the hard, determined look on his face, she could tell that Jarek was deadly serious. He really expected her to have sex with both of them and then choose one of them.

Jarek nodded slowly. “You will choose.” He leaned down until their noses were almost touching. The golden light in his eyes was almost feral as he growled. “And it will be me.”

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“I don’t think so, brother.”

The voice startled Christina and she turned suddenly, wincing at the tug on her scalp. Jarek swore softly and released his hold on her hair. He soothed the small pain with the palm of his hand.

Without her realizing it, the horse had continued on its journey and had carried them to the clearing in front of the castle. She was appalled to see the group of people standing and staring at her. What had they seen? Totally embarrassed, Christina drew herself up straight in the saddle even though she could feel the heat on her cheeks. 41

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Chapter Five

“I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding,” she began but broke off when she realized that neither brother was listening to her. Instead, they seemed to be involved in some kind of staring competition.

Jarek finally sighed and gave his brother a regal nod. “I do not deny that I took the advantage to push my suit. But you must have expected it. You would have done the same.”

Marc fingered the hilt of a large sword that was strapped to his waist before nodding slowly. “I grant you the first round, but,” he continued before Jarek could speak. “I expect the second now.”

“Done.” Jarek growled his answer as he urged the horse forward towards the castle. Christina was totally confused now. Marc’s eyes hungrily watched her as they rode away. She had no idea what had just been decided between the two men, and right now she didn’t care. She felt sticky and tired and hungry. It was time to take charge of the situation. “I need a bath and a nap. And maybe some food.”

“Poor little one. This has been a shock to you.” Sympathy was the last thing she expected from Jarek. The tenderness in his face surprised her. It softened his hard features, making him look even more handsome than before. Christina felt a wavering of her resolve to keep both brothers at arm’s length while she sorted out the situation.

“Welcome to Castle Garen.” The pride in his voice made her look around. It was like a prosperous medieval castle come to life. In the distance, she could see fields practically overflowing with wheat and other crops. Cows, pigs and chickens were penned up not far from the homes.

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They passed though the outer walls and were now riding towards the large stone castle. It was magnificent. Brenda would never believe her if she tried to tell her about this. Nobody would.

Rosy-cheeked children raced and played among the stone cottages as dogs nipped and barked at their heels. Women stopped their daily chores to watch the procession. And there seemed to be men everywhere. Some of them were training with weapons and others seemed to be at various tasks, but all paused to watch her, Jarek and Marc pass. There was no mistaking the curiosity in their eyes. Jarek brought the horse to a stop in front of the steps that led to a large oak door. Dismounting in one fluid motion, he held his arms out to her. Swinging her leg awkwardly over the saddle while trying to maintain her modesty, Christina allowed Jarek to sweep her from the horse.

He did not release her, but raised her high in his arms and carried her up the stairs.

“I can walk.” She didn’t know whether to be amused or appalled by his high-handed manner.

“I know, but this is so much more pleasant.” He flashed her a charming grin and she found herself smiling back. The man was a rogue to the core. The door swung open as they approached, and an old woman clucked her tongue reprovingly as she took in Christina’s disheveled appearance. Christina smoothed her hair down as best she could and crossed her arms across her chest, ill at ease under the woman’s assessing gaze.

The woman just shook her head. “You just couldn’t wait, could you, Jarek?”

“Don’t scold, Mara.” Jarek shouldered his way past the woman, turned towards his right and started up another flight of stairs.

Christina peeked over Jarek’s shoulder only to find Mara climbing the stairs behind them, a wide grin splitting her face. She could feel the heat climbing up her cheeks. It seemed that everyone knew what she and Jarek had done on the ride to the castle. Not 43

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only that, they didn’t seem all that surprised by it. That thought made Christina’s blood start to simmer. The anger drove out all feelings of embarrassment.

“Do you have sex with every woman you meet in the forest?” she asked tartly. Pursing her lips together, she glared up at him.

A slow smile crossed his face. “There is no need to be jealous.”

But the thought pleased him, she could tell. “I’m not jealous.” She enunciated each word for effect. “But I’m not the kind of woman who sleeps around.” Unbidden, hot, angry tears filled her eyes. She felt slightly ill at the thought that he’d think she was easy. Blinking, she fought back the tears, but one escaped and slid down her cheek. All traces of pleasure disappeared as a dark scowl replaced his smile. With her still in his arms, he gained the top of the stairs and strode down the long corridor until he reached a wide wooden door. Pushing the door wide with his shoulder, he carried her inside.

Christina swiped at the tear on her face and sniffed. She was making a complete idiot of herself. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she looked around the room to distract herself from her chaotic thoughts.

It was obviously a bedroom as a gigantic bed took up a large amount of the space. Rich forest green velvet bed-curtains had been pushed back to reveal a cozy sleeping area piled high with pillows and fur coverings. The sun shone through a stained-glass window that was situated over a built-in bench seat, the colors dancing across the walls. A fireplace sat directly across from the end of the bed but was cold and empty at the moment. A small table and several chairs flanked it.

Jarek lowered her until she was seated on a padded trunk that sat at the end of the bed. He came down on one knee in front of her and clasped her cold hands in his much larger and warmer ones. She stared stubbornly down at his hands, unwilling to face him.

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“I have offended you.” Christina shook her head in denial. He hadn’t done anything she hadn’t allowed. Jarek ignored her denial. “To me you are a treasure. One I would protect with my life.”

That brought her head up in a hurry. Every muscle in his body was tense and his eyes were deadly serious. “Why?”

He released his hold on her and rubbed his hands over his face in obvious frustration before sighing softly and returning his gaze to her. “The tapestry has brought you here. You are destined to be mine.”

“Or your brother’s,” Mara’s soft voice corrected.

“Or Marc’s,” he conceded. “That is your choice.” He framed her face with his hands, his touch incredibly gentle. “That you chose to give yourself to me is a gift that has gladdened my heart and given me hope.”

Another tear slipped down her cheek. Jarek brought his lips to her face and licked away the drop of water. He came to his feet in one swift motion, turned and strode from the room, his hands clenched by his sides.

Whatever else might confuse her in this strange world, Christina would no longer doubt that Jarek respected her. His sincerity was too real. It was reflected in his every word and action. It just hadn’t occurred to her that their having sex on horseback was a matter of choice. Yet, she knew that it had been. Not a bad choice either, she reflected.

“It is just the beginning, child.” Mara was lowering herself to the seat next to Christina.

It was time to learn all she could about her present situation and she sensed that this woman would tell her everything, honestly and completely. Sticking out her hand she offered the woman a tentative smile. “I’m Christina Beaumont.”

Reaching out her gnarled hand, Mara clasped her hand in an amazingly tight grip.

“I am Mara. And you, child, are the fulfillment of a prophecy.”

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She laughed in spite of herself. “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. What I am is a slightly overweight secretary for a large corporation.”

Mara threw back her head and let out a cackle of delight. Christina found herself laughing right along with the other woman. Totally exhausted and out of sorts, she laughed until she started to cry again.

Handing her a handkerchief, Mara waited for her to compose herself before continuing. “That is who you were, child. I do not understand what all your words mean, but it does not matter. The important thing is that the tapestry has brought you here.”

Christina clutched the small scrap of fabric between her fingers, wringing it tight.

“All I did was buy a beautiful tapestry that I saw in the window of a curious little shop.”

Mara nodded sagely. “That tapestry is magic, created by a sorceress long since passed onto other realms. There was a dark period in our history over five hundred years ago, filled with famine, crime and much evil. It is said that the plight of the people saddened her, so she made the tapestry to help them. It offered hope in a time of darkness and its appearance in every generation continues to offer the promise of prosperity and happiness to the house that receives its gift. Its purpose is to draw back mates for the men of the land of Javara since women here are in such short supply.”

Christina was appalled even as she was fascinated by the legend. “You mean that piece of fabric plucks ordinary women out of their lives and brings them here to be sex slaves for these men.”

“No. Not sex slaves.” Mara’s shout was so loud that Christina jumped. “Honored wives.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Even though it was her life that had been totally disrupted, she felt the need to soothe the older woman. Mara patted her hand. “No, I should not be so quick to blame you for what you think. This is all so new to you. And Jarek did not help matters, I think.”

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She ignored the reference to Jarek. “But I still don’t understand. Why me?”

“Because you are not as ordinary as you think.” Mara eyed her sternly and Christina felt herself sitting a little straighter under her watchful gaze. “The tapestry travels across time and space, seeking women who have no family and no life in their time.”

“In other words, it looks for losers.” She had almost bought into the legend, wanting to feel special. Instead, it seems she was chosen because she was even more pitiful than even she had thought.

Mara heaved a sigh. “Stubborn yes, but not a loser. The tapestry attracts women who are lost in their own time, but have the potential to thrive here. No one will miss you in your world, but here you are priceless and your leaving would bring much sorrow to our House.”

She latched onto the one piece of information that seemed most important. “What do you mean, if I leave?”

Mara pursed her lips tight, refusing to speak. But Christina desperately needed to hear everything. “Please tell me?” She pleaded with the older woman.

“The House of Garen is a prosperous one. The lords here have always been hard, but fair, and are beloved by all. Warriors with no equal, they are also brilliant landowners. We have sheep, horses, and cattle here. We farm the lands and fish the rivers. We weave cloth, make soaps and perfumes and trade for what we need.”

Christina nodded, wanting the history lesson finished so Mara would explain to her how she might get back to her own time.

“There is only one girl child born for every three males. To keep the men from fighting and killing one another, women long ago decided on a solution.”

When she paused, Christina prompted her. “And?”

“And the solution is a simple one. The brothers of a family compete for the attention of one woman. The woman chooses the one she wishes to marry.”

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“That sounds simple enough…” But Mara was already shaking her head at Christina.

“The men must each be allowed to mate with the woman, not only so she knows which one she prefers, but also to make sure she is compatible with all of them.” Mara’s eyes twinkled and she got a secret grin on her face. “One night a week, the husband must share his wife with his brother. He can leave them alone or the brother can join them in their bed. It is up to the couple.”

Visions of both Jarek and Marc in bed with her, flitted across her brain. Marc’s dark brown hair teased one of her nipples as he sucked and licked at the other one. Jarek’s head was buried between her thighs, licking and sucking her swollen clit while his fingers slid in and out of her pussy. “Omigod,” she gasped. If she didn’t get those pictures out of her head she was going to come right here and now. Mara laughed again. “I see you understand. Every man here wants to be a husband, as he not only gets the most nights with his wife, but also, only the husband can claim the children. All children are his, no matter which brother might have given them to the woman. The competition is fierce and all boys learn how best to pleasure a woman as part of his education.”

She knew her mouth was wide open, but this was really too much to take in. Jarek certainly knew how to pleasure a woman. She could certainly attest to that. But now her nimble mind was wondering just what Marc could do.

“But what if there are more than two brothers?” Christina’s head was spinning at the thought. What if Jarek and Marc had brothers?

Mara shook her head and smiled. “If there are not more than three brothers in a family, then they pair off and each set of brothers looks for a bride. There are never more than three men for one woman. But you don’t have to worry about that. Jarek and Marc are the only brothers for this house.”