Threads of Destiny

Chapter Ten

Although the fight was over, Marc’s body was still poised and ready to react.

Adrenaline pumped through his veins and he needed an outlet for all the emotions raging within him. Fear, anger, lust and love all vied for dominance.

He’d stood beside Kathryn and watched but he could still hardly credit what he’d seen. The tapestry, the sorceress, the magic and power in the air—it was the stuff of legends. Yet, he didn’t care about any of it. All that mattered was the woman in his arms. He still had a night and a day to convince her to stay with him.

But he also had to give her the choice and not merely the choice between leaving and staying. She’d arrived with Tienan and Logan and it was obvious she had feelings for them. That had to be addressed if any of them were ever going to be satisfied with the outcome. Marc didn’t want to be second best this time. If Kathryn chose him, he wanted it to be because she wanted him and maybe even loved him. Nothing else would do.

No matter what happened, he would stay by her side because he loved her. There was no denying his feelings. He would kill any man who threatened her. He would even face down a sorceress to keep her by his side. But he would not deny her right to choose. Still, even if she picked one of the other men or decided to return to her own time, he wanted to be part of her life. Unlike Christina, whom he knew he could live without, he now understood that there was no other woman for him but Kathryn.

“Marc?” He could hear the question in her voice as he carried her though the door of the castle and up the staircase. The stone was solid beneath him but he felt as if he were on uneven ground. The next few hours would decide his fate.

“All will be well,” he promised. “Trust me.” Logan and Tienan were close behind him, listening to every word. And why not? Their fate was to be decided as well.

“I do,” she whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. His cock jerked, pressing hard against his leather pants, a physical reminder of precisely how much he needed the woman in his arms.

He carried her down the hallway and into his room. If he only had this night with her, then he wanted her in his bed, spread across his sheets. His arms tightened possessively around her for a fraction of a second before he made himself relax as he crossed the threshold.

Logan went straight to the fireplace and lit the kindling. The flames crackled as they caught the wood. Tienan closed the door and went around the room, lighting all the candles. The light flickered against the walls. It wasn’t dark yet but the room was dim.

The candles and firelight would allow them to see Kathryn more clearly as they made love to her.

As much as he wanted to continue holding her, Marc slowly released her legs until she was standing. When he was certain she was steady, he backed away to stand beside the other two men.

“You know the laws of this land?”

“I do.” She crossed her arms across her chest. She appeared tired and fragile and just looking at her hurt his heart. But this had to be done.

“You came with two men and they have a prior claim to you.”

“But they don’t want me. Not like that.” Her eyes widened as her gaze went to her friends. Marc could tell that she didn’t really believe the words she was speaking.

“Yes, we do.” Tienan spoke up, his voice thick with need. “We’ve always wanted you, Kathryn.”

She swallowed and the delicate column of her neck rippled. He wanted to kiss the vein that pulsed there. To distract himself, he unbuckled his sword belt and laid it carefully aside.

“You’re an incredibly brave and beautiful woman.” Logan never took his eyes from her as he stripped off his sword and placed it on the table.

“I don’t understand.” Kathryn took a step back, bringing her one step closer to the large bed behind her.

“It is simple.” Marc released the armbands encircling his upper arms and tossed them aside. “We all want you but only one of us can be your husband. If you will allow us, we will pleasure you, so you will be able to chose which one of us you want.”

“This is crazy.” Her words were little more than a breathy sigh but Marc could see the excitement and growing desire in her eyes. She parted her lips, licking them. The sight of her pink tongue darting out of her mouth made his balls draw up tight against his body.

“This is perfectly natural and accepted here. You are not in your world, Kathryn.

You are in mine.” He felt that the only resistance to the idea was because it was not acceptable on her planet. He’d learned much from Christina about Earth and, though they were from different times, the basic accepted sexual practices did not seem to differ greatly.

“Let us touch you.” Logan slid his vest off and let it fall to the floor.

Tienan moved fluidly to her other side, his white bandage stark against his swarthy skin. “I want to taste your lips, your mouth and your moist pussy.” Kathryn’s mouth fell open and her breathing quickened. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, accentuating the sway of her breasts and the fact that her nipples were hard buds, outlined by the fabric of her tunic.

“Let us pleasure you.” Marc stepped in front of her, so close they were almost touching. Her breasts grazed his chest with each breath she took. He stripped off his vest and tossed it aside. “Let me have you,” he murmured as he leaned toward her, nuzzling her jawline.

He placed tender kisses along the curve of her neck before twirling his tongue along the delicate shell of her ear. “Let me fuck you.” He was desperate now, his body throbbing, his soul crying for release that only she could give him. He kept his arms straight by his sides and his hands fisted to keep from grabbing her, tossing her on the bed, stripping her and driving his cock into her waiting heat. He wanted to pound into her body until they both shattered and yelled their release.

“Kathryn.” He breathed her name and held still as he awaited her decision.

Kathryn could barely breathe, let alone think. Her mind was still reeling from everything that had just happened. Magic did exist and so did the sorceress—an ageless, powerful entity that had given her the gift of freedom and choice. But with choice came responsibility and Kathryn knew that, whatever decision she made, there would be consequences she’d have to live with for the rest of her life.

Even as she’d denied it, she’d known that all three men wanted her. She’d known that Tienan and Logan had both wanted her for a while now but she’d avoided the issue because it just wasn’t possible. At least not in her world. But here…here everything was different.

When Marc breathed her name, she could hear the longing and the need in his voice and it matched the emptiness, the yearning that existed within her. Every nerve ending in her body was alive, thrumming with anticipation. She’d already made her decision. All she had to do was open her mouth and say the words.

She could sense the masculine impatience in the air and knew that most of it was coming from Logan. The man practically vibrated with emotional energy. Tienan was quieter as he awaited her decision but she could almost hear his mind working, calculating his odds of success. But Marc…Marc was stoic, ready to accept whatever choice she made without question.

It really was her decision. And that made all the difference.

“Yes.” Her voice seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet of the room. “Yes,” she said again, this time more softly, as she looked at the three very different men standing in front of her. She needed to make sense of her chaotic thoughts and feelings, had to know once and for all how Logan and Tienan fit into her life. Was it possible to love three men at once? She didn’t think so, at least not with the same degree of emotion.

Tonight was about pleasure—hers and theirs. After all the death and destruction, she wanted to feel alive. It was also about giving, about opening herself emotionally to test the depth of her feelings for each man. They were all willing to give of themselves freely. She could do no less.

Kathryn knew this could end badly. She swallowed back the lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing Logan’s and Tienan’s friendship. It was all that had gotten her through many long, lonely years. Then there was Marc. What she felt for him was so new but went so deep. She owed it to herself and to him to explore their burgeoning relationship.

The corners of Marc’s mouth turned up in a smile so breathtakingly beautiful it brought tears to her eyes. The way he looked at her made her heart race. He made her feel special and sexy, as if she were the only woman in the world who could satisfy him.

And maybe she was. The tapestry had a magic all its own that couldn’t be denied.

She blinked to clear her vision and glanced at Tienan and Logan. They were both staring at her as if they were starving and she was lunch. A fresh gush of moisture pooled between her thighs and she shifted from one foot to the other, not quite knowing what to do next. This wasn’t a situation she’d been in before. A snort of nervous laughter escaped her. Now that was an understatement.

Marc reached behind her and pulled the tail of her braid over her shoulder. He pulled the leather cord from the end and began to unwind her hair. Slowly, he combed his fingers through the long red tresses, watching as the bottoms of the strands curled slightly around his hand.

“Beautiful.” The tips of his fingers massaged her scalp before easing through the mass of her hair one final time. “Like fire. I’ve dreamed of it spread across my pillow while my cock is buried inside your heat.”

Her pussy clenched and released at his provocative words. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe but there didn’t seem to be enough air left in the room. She could picture the scene perfectly. Could see his large body over hers as his hips flexed and he pumped his cock into her over and over again.

She jerked, her eyes popping open when cool air hit her stomach. Marc had her tunic halfway up her body. “Lift your arms.”

She swallowed hard. Her heart pounded so loudly in her ears that she could barely hear him. Her arms inched upward as if totally independent of her will. It wasn’t a conscious decision but an automatic one.

He pulled the garment over her head and let it fall from his fingers. Her bra was next. Marc reached behind her and unhooked the flimsy covering, tossing it aside. She was naked from the waist up with only her hair to cover her chest. She glanced down at her chest only to find her hardened nipples peeking out from between several thick locks.

Tienan and Logan stepped up beside Marc, one on either side. Now she had all three men looking at her breasts. She curled her toes in her shoes. Her nerve endings quivered, her sheath dampened and the slick folds thickened as blood pooled between her thighs, preparing her for what was to come.

It was Tienan who reached out first, the tip of his forefinger tracing the edges of her nipple before stroking over the nub. Her breath caught in her throat and she began to shake. The adrenaline from the fight and all that had happened crashed down on her at once. Her legs began to quiver and it climbed over her torso and down her arms until she couldn’t stop.

Logan’s arm went around her shoulders and she leaned into him, needing his support and comfort. Marc wasted no time in unlacing her pants and tugging both them and her underwear over her thighs and down her legs. “Lift.” She picked up her left foot and then her right as Marc tugged off her pants, underwear and shoes, leaving her naked in front of them. She shuddered violently and Logan lifted her against him as Tienan pulled back the furs on the bed.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Even her teeth were chattering. Logan placed her carefully in the center of the gigantic bed.

“Fear, adrenaline, sexual need—it’s all churning together inside you.” Marc had stripped off what was left of his clothing, unbound his hair and now joined her. The mattress dipped slightly as he pulled her into his arms, running his hands over her back and shoulders and down her arms. His heat was a strong lure and she snuggled against him, burying her nose in the light dusting of hair on his chest. Even sweaty from fighting, he smelled good. He had an earthy smell of male sweat, the crisp air, leather and musk. His cock was almost hot against her belly and she could feel the pulse of it like a heartbeat. The shivers subsided and a different kind of energy filled her, leaving her restless and aching.

The covers swished and she knew that Tienan and Logan had joined them. A hand stroked down her spine and she arched like a cat. Male laughter, soft and satisfied, filled the air as the hand dipped lower to stroke her bottom.

Clever fingers slid into the crease, making her jump as the tip of one finger circled the tight puckered entrance of her behind.

She glanced over her shoulder. Tienan grinned at her as he pushed his hand deeper.

His fingers brushed over her slick folds and she sucked in a breath, her nails digging into Marc’s biceps.

Logan settled higher on the bed, watching. He leaned down and brushed a kiss on her nape before sliding his hand over her shoulder and around front to cup her breast.

“Let us pleasure you, Kathryn.”

She’d never heard him say her name like that before, filled with such yearning. She turned back to Marc, needing to gauge his reaction. Uncertainty filled her. What the heck was she doing?

As if sensing her unease, Marc stroked his fingers down the side of her face. “Let us give you what you need.”

She swallowed heavily and nodded. She’d made her decision, but more than that, she knew that if she didn’t do this, she’d have regrets for the rest of her life. From the first moment she’d read Christina’s story, she’d been filled with curiosity and a rising desire to know what it felt like to be loved by more than one man at once. This was her opportunity. This was her time. Who knew what tomorrow would bring? Tonight nothing else mattered but the four of them in this room together.

Capturing Marc’s face in her hands, she tugged him down until their mouths were touching. Parting her lips, she offered him everything she was, giving him permission to do whatever he would. She trusted him. She trusted all three of them. In her own way, she loved all three, but deep down, she was afraid that Marc owned her heart, body and soul.

Shoving aside those thoughts, she concentrated on their kiss. Tonight was all about pleasure. Tomorrow she would deal with the consequences.

Their tongues touched and twined together as Marc angled her face and deepened the contact. He tasted masculine and wild and she couldn’t get enough of him. When he finally released her, she licked her lips, wanting to capture his unique flavor, wanting to remember it always, no matter what happened.

He eased her onto her back and started to shift aside. She grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave me.” She wanted Marc beside her, needed the connection with him. He gave her the courage to reach out to the other two men who waited.

“I won’t,” he assured her, bringing her fingers to his lips. The moist warmth of his mouth caressed each knuckle in turn before he placed a kiss in the center of her palm.

Fingers gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Kathryn?” Logan waited patiently as she turned to face him. He offered her a smile tinged with sadness even as he leaned toward her. Her breath hitched as he covered her mouth with his.

Heat exploded as he leisurely explored every crevice of her mouth. He stroked her teeth, her tongue and the top of her mouth, taking the time to make certain that not one tiny place was forgotten. His mouth was hot, his lips soft. Groaning, she surrendered to the embrace.

She felt Marc’s hand on her hip as her legs shifted restlessly. His hand slid down the back of her thigh. Lifting her leg, he draped it over Logan’s hip. Logan moaned and captured her leg, pulling it even higher.

Her breasts pressed against Logan’s broad chest and she arched her back, rubbing her nipples against the hard muscles. She gasped and Logan captured the sound in his mouth as he continued to consume her with his kiss.

“Enough,” Tienan growled.

Logan reluctantly released her, nuzzling his nose against hers before he pressed her onto her back. With Logan and Marc on either side of her, Tienan sat at her feet. He pushed her legs apart and made a space for himself between them. Bracing his hands by her shoulders, he crouched over her like some large beast ready to devour her.

And that’s exactly what he did.

While Marc’s kiss was passionate and loving and Logan’s was hot and thorough, Tienan consumed her. There was no soft, tentative exploration. Tienan captured her mouth and boldly laid claim to her. When he pulled away, he was panting heavily, a strand of his dark hair plastered against his forehead. Possessiveness was etched on every inch of his face. He sat back slowly, glancing at the other two men as he did so.

A low rumble came from Marc’s chest as he lowered his head and captured the tip of her breast between his lips and sucked. His large hand cupped her, holding her in place as his tongue lapped at the puckered nub.

Kathryn pressed her head back against the pillows, her hips arching upward as Logan captured her other breast in his large hand and began to lick the plump flesh. His tongue was slightly rough and very arousing.

Her entire body was flooded with sensation. Then she felt hot breath against her core. She cried out as Tienan licked at her sensitive folds. “I knew your pussy would taste sweet,” he muttered as he licked and sucked his way up one side and down the other, all the while avoiding her clitoris.

She bucked her hips toward him, needing that contact. Her breasts and pussy were alive with sensation and she knew she was close to coming. Her body screamed for release as the three men continued to practice their sensual torture on her. “Please,” she panted, planting her feet on the bed and pushing her core toward Tienan’s waiting mouth. “Please,” she managed to gasp again.

She was so close it was almost unbearable.

Tienan captured her clit and sucked at the same moment that the other two men did the same at her breasts. Kathryn screamed. Like a jolt of electricity had been shot into her body, she jerked and shook.

Reaching out, she grabbed Marc’s hand, needing something to ground her. He released her breast and she rolled into his arms. Gradually the aftershocks diminished and she became aware of being surrounded by masculine heat. A hard cock pressed against her belly, another against her back. She could feel the dampness against her as both erections leaked from the tip, proclaiming their readiness to take her.

A spark began to heat her core once again and her pussy clenched, reminding her that she hadn’t been filled, hadn’t been taken by any of them yet.

“How do you feel?” Marc eased her away from him and she smiled.

“I feel wonderful.”

Marc smiled at her, making the corners of his eyes crinkle slightly. “Good. Because we’ve only just begun.

Tienan parted her thighs and shifted closer. Kathryn panicked and pulled her knees upward. He froze and slowly released her. She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever be sorry.” He placed a kiss on her hip. “If you’re not ready or don’t want this, then that is your decision.”

She pushed away from the mattress and came up on her knees. “I’m not sure what I want.” She shoved her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her eyes. “I want all of you but I’m not sure that I can actually go through with it.” Marc wrapped his arms around her from behind, cupping her breasts in his hands.

“All we want is your pleasure.”

“But that’s not fair to all of you. I feel like a tease.” She was frustrated and angry with herself. She wanted to do this, yet when Tienan had made to enter her, she felt as if she were cheating on Marc.

“You are not a tease.” Logan slid up beside her. Like the other two men, his cock was fully erect and ready. “I’ll take whatever you can give me and count myself lucky.” Kathryn had often wondered how Christina could take two men to her bed and then pick one. Now she understood. She had deep feelings for all three men. If she’d never met Marc, she might very well have had a relationship with either Tienan or Logan, or both. But she had met Marc and everything had changed.

“It is all right for them to pleasure you, Kathryn,” Marc whispered in her ear, his hot breath almost making her moan.

“I don’t want to hurt any of you.” There, her greatest fear was out in the open. She didn’t want Tienan or Logan to feel as Marc had with Christina. Second best. Left out.

And there really was no way around it. She wasn’t emotionally capable of loving all three men in the same way.

She hadn’t realized she’d said the last aloud until Tienan captured her chin between his thumb and forefinger and raised her gaze to his. “Then love us all differently.” Surrounded by such love and acceptance, her heart swelled. She wanted to give to all of them, to please them, to share her body with them.

She looked at Marc and he nodded. Logan did the same.

Taking a deep breath, Kathryn scooted forward, rising up on her knees as she positioned herself in front of Tienan. “Take me.”