Tapestries 04 - Threads of Destiny (11 page)

“If the book is correct, and it seems to be accurate so far, then we’re a little over one hundred years apart. It was 2133 when we left. September to be accurate.” Christina’s mouth was wide open and she closed it abruptly. “I don’t know why I’m so shocked. I mean the tapestry came into my life and brought me here. Why shouldn’t it go to other times? It’s just so…” She waved her hand around as if searching for the right word.

“Weird,” Kathryn offered.

Christina laughed. “Exactly.” She sobered, straightening the skirt on her long, fitted dress. “So you know that the tapestry will be back tomorrow night. You’ll have to decide if you’re staying or going.”

“I’m going.”

Christina’s eyes widened. “I thought that after last night…” she glanced at the tangle of bedclothes behind her.

Kathryn felt embarrassed to the tips of her toes. So Christina did know what had happened last night. “That was an aberration. I mean, I know that Marc is technically yours, even though he isn’t your husband.” God, she hadn’t even thought about that last night and the guilt was overwhelming her. As far as she was concerned, Marc was a free agent but that wasn’t quite how things worked here.

“No, Marc is not mine. Not anymore. I’m not sure he ever was,” she sighed. “He hasn’t been with me in over a year. He’s pulled away from us because he knows that I love Jarek.” Christina rose and began to pace. “I tried to embrace the customs of this world but it felt strange. I mean, I love Marc but not in the way I love Jarek.” Kathryn nodded, not quite knowing what to say.

Sadness emanated from Christina as she continued her restless pacing. “There is no need for you to feel bad about what happened between you and Marc. Our relationship is complicated, but it’s not sexual. Not anymore. Marc is a good friend, a brother-in-law.”

The other woman seemed so distressed that Kathryn reached out to her. “I understand. You can’t just throw off your own background and upbringing.” She wanted to do something to help but didn’t quite know what to do. She’d never had a female friend before. “Would you like some chocolate?” she offered. “I’ve got a half a bar and its kinda squashed but you can have it.” Now how lame was that.

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“Chocolate.” The tone of Christina’s voice bordered on reverence as she sidled up alongside Kathryn. “You have chocolate?”

“Ah, yes.” Going over to her bag, she dug around inside but couldn’t find it.

Upending it once again, she dumped everything on the bed. The bar tumbled out along with everything else. A small leather-bound book fell out. Kathryn frowned. That hadn’t been there a few minutes ago. Picking it up, she gasped as she realized it was the journal she’d found in the attic. She glanced at Christina but the other woman was staring raptly at the candy bar.

“Help yourself.” Kathryn casually tucked the book under her purse, not quite sure why she felt the need to hide it but she did.

“I haven’t had chocolate in years.” Peeling back the wrapper, Christina sank down on the edge of the trunk took a delicate bite and moaned. “Oh God, this is so good.

Thank you.”

Kathryn laughed. Seemed that some things didn’t change over time. “You’re welcome.” As she dug through the clothing and found a tunic that looked as if it would fit, she dropped the robe and tugged it on. “How is Tienan?” She berated herself for not asking Christina immediately.

The other woman paused and swallowed, her eyes closed in obvious enjoyment.

“He’s fine. Better than fine actually. Mara is amazed by how well he’s doing. He had a slight fever last night and she gave him a few of the aspirin you left.” Christina nibbled off another corner of the bar and moaned. Laughing self-consciously, she glanced away.

“You must think I’m nuts.”

“Hey, if I hadn’t had chocolate in…” She stopped. “How many years have you been here?”

“Six,” Christina managed between bites.

Kathryn shook her head in amazement. “If I hadn’t had chocolate in that long, I’d probably be doing the same thing.”

“The only thing that came with me when the tapestry brought me was the nightgown I was wearing.”

Kathryn thought about that for a moment. “I had my purse slung around my neck and shoulder.” She shrugged. “Maybe that made the difference.” She paused as she examined the fit of the tunic. Long-sleeved, it came down to her butt and had two deep pockets. She liked it. The dark brown looked good. “Although the guns that Tienan and Logan had in their hands disappeared somewhere along the way.”

“Maybe it’s technology that doesn’t travel,” Christina surmised. “We have leather and medicine and basic tools here, so maybe that’s why your purse made it.”

“Guess we’ll never know.” Reaching under her purse, she pulled out the journal and tucked it in her pocket as Christina munched on the final square of the chocolate.

She had to find the time to read it later. She had a feeling it wouldn’t have traveled through time if it weren’t important. Not for the first time in her life, Kathryn was thankful for the fact that she could speed read and she had a photographic memory.

58

While Christina finished the last piece of the chocolate, Kathryn strode back into the bathing chamber long enough to grab her shoes. Socks or no socks, she had to wear something on her feet. She pulled them on, grateful that they were flat with rubber souls and laces. They were sturdy and comfortable. Perfect shoes for working in the lab all day. They’d do.

Christina was crumpling the paper when she returned and staring longingly at the wrapper. Giving it one final look, she turned to Kathryn. “If you’re ready, I can take you to them.” Standing, she wiped her hands together.

The tension was back. There was something the other woman was keeping from her. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“I didn’t want to tell you this. Not right away.” She met Kathryn’s gaze squarely.

This was so not going to be good. “There is a crowd here at the moment to celebrate the birth of our latest child. A girl—Allina.”

“Congratulations.” Kathryn knew what a big deal the birth of a girl was here in Javara.

“Thank you. But there are families here. Families with unmated males.” Kathryn took a step back, then stopped. “You mean…” She broke off, not quite sure how to put it.

“They all want you. You’re a potential tapestry bride and a healer as well. That makes you doubly valuable in their eyes.”

“Of all the archaic bullshit!” She’d barely escaped from one group of maniacs. She didn’t want to fall in with another. “Can we just say that Tienan and Logan are my husbands?” They’d fall in with that if she asked them.

Christina shook her head. “Someone already asked Logan if you were married and he said that you weren’t. They all know.”

“Damn.” She’d known that this was a possibility but she’d hoped to avoid it. After all, she only had to get through another two days, less than that really, and she’d be on her way back to her own planet and time.

“There are five families who want to challenge for the right to have you.”

“To have me.” Anger filled her. It was all fine and good to read about the customs of a land, another thing altogether to experience it firsthand. “I’m not some object to be passed around. A toy that they all want.”

“I know.” Christina reached out her hand and placed it on Kathryn’s shoulder.

“You understand how things are here. You know they all honor and respect you.” She shook her head. “How can they? They don’t even know me.” Marc knows you, a little voice in the back of her head spoke up. She shook her head again. “I want to see Tienan and Logan.”

“Of course.” The other woman looked worried but she said nothing more as she led Kathryn out of the room and down the hall.

59

Kathryn could feel the weight of the journal in her pocket and hoped she’d find some answers there. Regardless, the tapestry would be back tomorrow night and she, Tienan and Logan would leave. She ignored the pang in her chest at the thought of leaving Marc behind. Maybe he could come with them. The tapestry had allowed him to travel through time and space once before. Why not again? It was something to think about.

Kathryn tucked all such thoughts away as she followed Christina into Tienan’s room. Logan was sprawled in a chair, his long legs stretched forward, his hands clasped on his flat stomach. Tienan was lounging on the bed, looking remarkably fit for a man who’d had surgery the day before. You’d never know there was anything wrong with him except for the heavy bandage wrapped around his shoulder. Genetics and his strong will made all the difference in his fast recovery time. Both men jumped to their feet when she entered.

“Are you all right?” Logan wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

“I’m fine.” She buried her face against his chest, seeking his familiar scent. When she pulled away, she offered him a smile. “You?”

“Good.” He glanced over at Tienan, who was waiting impatiently. “We passed an uneventful night and have bathed and eaten. Christina made sure we had everything we needed.” He offered a smile to the other woman who stood quietly watching them.

It was then she noticed that they were both dressed in the same garb as Marc—

leather pants and vests, although neither of them wore armbands. They also wore their own boots.

Tienan’s patience was obviously at an end as he dragged her into his arms. She felt his lips against the top of her head. “Thank you,” he whispered. She knew he was thanking her for operating on him last night.

“I see you are all up and ready.” Marc’s tone was hard and cold, his words clipped.

Kathryn jerked away from Tienan’s embrace, feeling as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. Which was ridiculous. Tienan and Logan were her friends. Marc was… Well, she wasn’t quite sure what he was. Her lover for sure but any more than that was impossible.

He strode forward, looking impossibly large and handsome. His long brown hair was tied back at his nape, making his rough-hewn features appear even more severe.

But his golden-brown eyes were warm. No, they were hot as he reached her. His hand snaked around her waist, tugging her from Tienan’s embrace and pulling her against his chest.

She knew she should object to such high-handed actions but she couldn’t get a word past her lips. Before she could even think of what to say, his head swooped down and he captured her mouth with his.

Heat flooded through her as her body remembered last night. She felt the crotch of her panties getting damp and her breasts swelled. She didn’t have to look down to know that her nipples were hard and pressing against the soft cotton tunic she wore.

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His tongue leisurely claimed hers, twining around it. She moaned slightly, going up on her toes so their bodies were positioned better. His hand slid downward, cupping her ass and pulling her closer. She could feel the hardness of his erection against her mound and tilted her hips inward. The motion rubbed her nipples against his chest, making them ache.

“Ahem.” The heavy male voice was tinged with amusement.

Kathryn pulled away, gasping for breath, suddenly aware of the silence around her.

Ohmigod, what had she done? And in front of Christina, not to mention Tienan and Logan, no less.

She closed her eyes and sought control. Her hormones were raging totally unrestrained, demanding she find the nearest bed and drag Marc there with her. Heck, they didn’t need a bed. They hadn’t managed to use one last night and he’d given her three orgasms. And those kinds of thoughts weren’t helping her calm down one bit.

Marc slid his hand up her spine, bringing it to rest against the back of her neck. “I trust you slept well.”

Oh, there was a wealth of innuendo in his words. She could almost see the testosterone filling the room as he laid claim to her. Why didn’t he just scream, I fucked her last night. The effect was the same. Kathryn pulled back her foot and kicked him in the shin.

He grunted but didn’t even move. Totally pissed off, she drew back her foot again.

Before she could kick him, an arm wrapped around her from behind and she was lifted off her feet. Without thinking, she kicked backward, striking Logan in the shin. He had the audacity to laugh at her.

“Put. Me. Down.” She said each word slowly. She was beginning to wish she’d never left her room this morning. Maybe she’d go back there and stay until the tapestry came for her.

Logan dropped a kiss on her cheek as he lowered her to her feet. “There’s no need to be upset, Kathryn,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re a beautiful woman. If I’d had you to myself last night, I would have done the same thing that Marc did. I would have claimed you.”

Heat rushed through her and not all of it was from embarrassment. She could feel Logan’s erection pressing against her back. This was simply too much for her to take in at once. Men had never been interested in her and suddenly she was a femme fatale wanted by two men. She glanced at Tienan and there was no mistaking the heat in his eyes. Okay, make that three.

She rubbed her stomach, which was begging to ache. Maybe she shouldn’t have had that cider. Too acidic for her sensitive tummy. If Christina was to be believed, there was a large group of men waiting downstairs as well. It was just too much for her to take in.

“Your stomach is paining again.” It was almost an accusation.

She glared at Tienan. “Given the events of this morning, is there any wonder?” 61

“What is wrong with her stomach? Are you ill?” Marc’s arm came around her and his palm settled gently over her tummy.

“It’s nothing,” she began only to be interrupted by Logan.

“We think it’s the start of an ulcer.”

Christina stepped forward. “There’s some goat’s milk in the kitchen and I’m sure that Mara will have some kind of tea that might help.” Logan sent her a grateful smile.

“That’s all well and good,” she began, feeling the anxiety rising within her once again. “But what about all the men downstairs who want to claim me.”

“Over my dead body,” three male voices spoke in tandem.

62

Marc kept his eye on Kathryn as he led her down the winding staircase to the great hall below, closely followed by Tienan and Logan. Christina had gone on ahead, giving Kathryn time to compose herself.