Tapestries 04 - Threads of Destiny (7 page)

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she peeled back the bandage and studied the wound. She dipped a cloth into a clean bowl of warm water and began to clean around the edges of the hole. Once that was done, she anointed the area with the salve that Mara assured her would help deaden the area. With nothing else to be done, she picked up the dagger and gripped it firmly but not too tight. Placing the tip on the edge of the wound, she began.

Time lost all meaning as she worked. First, she widened the hole and then came the arduous search for the bullet and fragments of cloth and bone that might have collected inside the wound. Her fingers cramped as she manipulated the tweezers, swearing under her breath whenever she lost a piece and had to try again.

Tienan’s back arched when she made the first incision. But Logan held his shoulders on the table and Marc pressed down on his legs, not allowing him to move.

Tienan never made a sound.

She knew he was still awake and aware of what was going on. Anyone else would have passed out by now but both Tienan and Logan had an extremely high tolerance for pain—another gift from their years of training. Mara worked alongside her, keeping the site clear of blood. From the sureness of her actions, it was obvious to Kathryn that the older woman had seen her share of bloody injuries.

When she stood for a moment and stretched out the kinks in her back, she felt Marc’s large hand against her spine, rubbing it and lending her his strength. She turned her head toward him. He was watching her, his face calm but serious.

She went back to work, renewed. She didn’t know how long it took her but finally she felt certain she had removed every piece of foreign matter. There had been several small bone chips, but thankfully, the bone itself was intact with no breaks or fractures.

Given his genetics, Tienan would heal rapidly and with no serious complications. Or at least she hoped he would.

35

Picking up a bowl of hot water in which Mara had mixed something she guaranteed would keep the wound from becoming infected, Kathryn poured it over the wound, flushing it out.

When that was done, she picked up the threaded needle and began to place small, fine stitches in his flesh, closing the wound. The medicinal paste came next and she smeared it over his blotchy red, swollen skin and then placed a soft pad over it and wrapped strips of linen around his shoulder to keep it in place.

Mara worked tirelessly next to her, removing bloody and wet linen, replacing it with fresh and generally doing anything that Kathryn asked of her. The afternoon had waned as she’d worked and now candles blazed around her. Many of the warriors were standing around her makeshift operating table, holding a thick taper high, giving her the light she needed to work.

When she was done, Tienan opened his eyes. They were blurry with pain but he offered her a smile. “Thank you,” he mouthed, no sound coming from his lips.

Kathryn felt a tear roll down her cheek. She raised her shoulder and swiped her face into it. She wasn’t going to break down and cry in front of a room full of strangers.

“No problem. Just don’t make me have to do it again.” Tienan’s eyes were already shut tight, his breathing even. “Now he goes to sleep,” she choked out. Turning aside, she plunged her hands in a bowl of tepid water and washed away as much of the blood as she could before grabbing a towel to dry them.

Logan released Tienan’s shoulders and straightened. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. “Thank you.” She patted his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “You know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for the two of you.”

He nodded, then released her.

“It was then she remembered that Logan had been wounded as well. “What about your arm?”

A lock of hair had come loose from her bun and he tucked it behind her ear. “It is nothing. I’ll clean it later but it is already mending.” She nodded, knowing that their genetics made them very fast healers.

Kathryn sensed Marc behind her and sighed. She wasn’t ready to deal with the situation she now found herself in. She wanted to clean up and then she wanted to sleep.

Tired. She was so damn tired. Her life had been a pressure-packed tightrope walk for weeks now and her body was showing the strain. As if on cue, her stomach began to ache. And who the heck knew what a jump in time and space had done to her physiology. That is, if she truly believed that’s what had happened.

At this point she didn’t care.

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Mara patted her on the arm before gently lifting Tienan’s head and putting a pillow beneath it. “You did well. Get some food and rest. I’ll watch over our patient.” She glanced at Logan.

It was the “our” that did it for Kathryn. She knew that the older woman would care for Tienan. “Thank you. For everything,” she added. Mara smiled and nodded as she draped the patient in a thick fur covering.

“I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

Kathryn handed her the bottle of aspirin. “If he wakes with a fever, give him three of these.”

“Are you done?” Marc’s voice was so close to her ear that she jumped.

“For now.”

The words were barely past her lips when he swooped her off her feet and into his arms. She grabbed his shoulders for support as he turned. “What about Logan?”

“I’ll be fine.” He stood next to them, his gaze on Marc. “I’ll watch over Tienan.” Some look passed between the two men that Kathryn couldn’t understand and she was too damn tired to try to figure it out. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, she’d get the lay of the land and make a plan. Tonight she just wanted a bath and bed.

The men all stepped aside as Marc carried her toward the door. Only Christina stopped them. “I prepared the guest room at the end of the hall and left some clothing for Kathryn.” She patted Kathryn’s arm. “We’ll talk in the morning. I’m sure you must have dozens of questions.”

“Hundreds.” Her voice slurred and she yawned. “Sorry.” Christina laughed. “Rest. There’s plenty of time to get your answers. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” she agreed as Marc carried her out of the room.

As they left, she heard Jarek talking to Logan. “What was that move you used to disarm Mennoc?”

37

Marc carried his precious bundle down the hallway. Kathryn’s head rested against his shoulder, her hand touching his chest. He was amazed at what he’d just witnessed.

She’d stood there for hours, meticulously working to remove the chunk of metal, along with pieces of cloth and even bone from her friend. She’d never wavered, never flinched. Never mind that she’d been in the midst of a battle and then jumped to another world, she’d put her head down and done what needed to be done.

He was in awe of her courage.

He was also hard as a rock and desperate to claim her. For now, however, he was content to take care of her, doing what he needed to do. Once she was clean, fed and rested, he planned to seduce her. The corners of his lips turned upward at the thought of such a pleasant task.

“What are you smiling about?” Her words were slow and slurred, her eyes sleepy.

He shouldered his way into the guest room and kicked the door shut. Carrying her through the bedroom, he entered the small bathing chamber that was connected to it.

Sure enough, steam rose from the water in the tub, a bar of soap sat ready on a low shelf and thick towels rested on a stool. Candles flicked, lending their glow to the room.

“You need a bath.”

“I must stink to the high heavens.”

He frowned, seeing the self-conscious look in her eyes. Inhaling, he could still smell the light fragrance of flowers but it was overlaid by the stench of blood and sweat and the metallic tang of fear. “I thought it would relax you and make you feel better.”

“It looks heavenly,” she added as he released her legs, holding her steady as her feet touched the floor. “I’m okay.” She stepped away, glancing over her shoulder at him.

He knew she expected him to leave but he wasn’t going anywhere. Ignoring her disgruntled gaze, he studied the white garment binding her breasts. The bra seemed to close with hooks in the back. Reaching out, he slipped his fingers beneath the stretchy band and flicked the hooks. The garment parted easily. Marc smiled.

“Hey!” Kathryn whirled around, slapping her hands over her breasts. “What the heck do you think you’re doing?”

“Helping you undress for your bath.” He tried to hide his smile but he couldn’t help himself. Even dirty and disheveled, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Her hair hung halfway down her back. Part of it was still pinned up but most of it had escaped and tumbled down long ago. There was a smudge of dirt on her cheek and 38

blood stained the edges of her fingernails. His eyes narrowed as he noted the bruises on her upper arms. How had he missed those?

He held out his hand, gently stroking the dark blotches on one arm. “How did this happen?”

“It’s not important.” She glanced down at her feet and then raised her head to look him square in the face. “Look, I can’t deal with all this now. I want a bath, some food and a bed.”

“I agree.” He dropped his hand and took a step closer. She took a step backward, the backs of her knees hitting the edge of the tub. “But I will know the truth.” He glanced at the bruises on her arms and began to study the rest of her body. She was slender, almost too slender.

She held up one of her hands. “I can handle my own bath.” He took her fingers in his and brought them to his lips, kissing each individual knuckle. Her breath caught in her throat and he could feel the pulse in her wrist quicken. “I can help.” He paused. “It’s not as if I haven’t seen you naked.” She pulled her hand away and scowled at him. “You most certainly haven’t seen me naked.”

“Are you forgetting the dream?”

“But that was just…” her words trailed off and she appeared uncertain. Kathryn shifted from one foot to the other. “That wasn’t real.”

“Yes, it was.” Going to one knee in front of her, he began to unlace her shoe. “I touched your soft skin, tasted you.” He paused long enough to kiss the inside of her knee. “Smelled your arousal.” When it was done, he lifted her foot and pulled off the shoe. She grabbed the edge of the tub for support. She had to use both hands, which caused her bra to loosen, giving him a tantalizing peek of firm, white flesh.

“You mean you really touched me?” She licked her lips. He was sure it was an unconscious action but it set his blood racing through his veins. Her pupils dilated and her breathing quickened. She was becoming aroused by the memory, just as he was.

He removed her other shoe and laid it aside. Reaching up, he hooked his fingers in the straps of her bra and began to slowly slide them down her arms. “I know that your breasts fit the palm of my hand but I don’t know what color your sweet nipples are.” Her arms relaxed by her sides and he tugged the bra off, tossing it over his shoulder. Her nipples were tight pink buds, begging to be touched. Tasted. Using his thumbs, he traced the edges, enjoying the sight of them tightening even more at his touch. Covering both mounds with his palms, he groaned.

He almost howled with pleasure when he felt her lean into his touch. It was the slightest of movements but he felt it all the same. His cock throbbed, an ache that only she could slake. He wanted to bury himself in her heated depths and never leave.

39

Sliding his hands downward, he traced his fingers over her ribcage, feeling the fragile bones beneath his palm. He frowned again. She was definitely too slender. Had she been ill?

She gasped as he stroked her stomach, his hands coming to rest on the button at the top of her pants. “Let me take care of you.” He slipped the button from the hole.

Grabbing the metal tab, he pulled it downward. Thanks to Christina, he knew what a zipper was. It was a fascinating contraption but right now it was simply one more impediment to getting Kathryn naked. More of her flesh came into view and he caught a glimpse of the edge of her underwear.

Pushing his hands inside, he couldn’t resist giving her lush behind a squeeze before he shoved both pants and underwear down her thighs. Kathryn made a soft sound in the back of her throat but she didn’t stop him. He quickly divested her of the rest of her clothing. When she was naked, he wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face against the soft skin of her belly.

“I’ve tasted your honey. Traced the hot, slick folds of your pussy. Felt your inner muscles tightening around my fingers.” His head was spinning as his breathing quickened. His cock was pressed so hard against the front of his pants that he was surprised the laces hadn’t snapped.

He felt Kathryn begin to tremble. Swearing at himself, he bounded to his feet, picked her up and carefully lowered her into the tub. The water lapped at the edges as he released her. “You can say no to anything you don’t like.” He stroked a lock of fiery-red hair from her forehead. “Let me bathe you.” Kathryn almost moaned aloud. The man was seducing her with words alone. She was still having a hard time wrapping her mind around the fact that the dream she’d had was no dream but had actually happened. That meant that both Logan and Tienan had touched her as well. Seen her naked. It was enough to make her head spin. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about it.

On one hand, what woman didn’t dream about being pleasured by three different men? If the book she’d found in the attic was to be believed, and at this point everything else had been accurate, then that kind of behavior was not only accepted but was expected in this world.

On the other hand, Kathryn didn’t like the feeling that her life was spiraling out of control. She’d had more than enough of that over the past few months. She needed to think and to take charge of the situation.

But, a voice whispered in the back of her head, what is the harm of taking some pleasure with Marc? She’d dreamed about the man. Fantasized about him for months now. It still boggled her brain that he was real. But he was so much more than the writer had been able to portray in the book.

40

He was a living, breathing, sensual man in his prime. Older than he’d been depicted but more handsome than her imagination had been able to conjure. It didn’t matter that he was a virtual stranger. He didn’t feel like one. It was if she’d always known him.