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.” 35
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
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.” 35
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
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