Read Tapestries 03 - Woven Dreams for Free Online

face.
    Genita swallowed back the fear that threatened to overwhelm her as the stranger continued to move steadily toward her. She’d been on her own for many days now and this was the first time she hadn’t heard someone coming in enough time to hide. There was no doubting the man was a warrior. If the four-foot sword strapped to his side wasn’t enough of an indication, there was the man himself.
    He was huge. She figured he stood about six-and-a-half feet—much the same size as her brothers, but the similarity ended there. Where her brothers were large, strong men, this man was massive. Bronze armbands wrapped around his thick biceps and wrists, and the open vest he wore gave her a clear view of his impossibly wide chest.
    Long blond hair flowed freely to his waist and his blue eyes glittered with some emotion she couldn’t name. His lips were full, his nose straight and his jaw had a hint of arrogance as he tilted his head to the side to stare at her. He was a warrior all right.
    It was the bulge in the front of his pants that frightened her the most. She’d lived around large, rough men her entire life and she’d heard them talk, heard them brag about their sexual conquests. If her brothers came across a lone woman in the woods, she had no doubt as to what would happen. The only question would be if the poor woman would survive or not.
    She clutched the dagger that Radnor had given her. The sweat on her palms made the handle slippery and she tightened her grip. The edges of the handle dug into her skin. Still moving steadily toward her, he seemed totally unconcerned about her weapon and that added to her fear. He’d even sheathed his own sword. Given his sheer size, she had no doubt he could easily overpower her.
    “I won’t let you rape me.” Brave words when she wasn’t sure her shaking legs would support her much longer.
    Her words stopped him cold. He was out of the water now, standing on the bank of the river several feet away. His blue eyes turned glacial as his eyebrows drew together in a scowl. Pure menace rolled off him in waves. “I would never do such a thing.” She snorted. As if she’d believe him! The bulge in his pants hadn’t gone away. If anything, it appeared even larger now that he was closer to her. “Then just leave.” 24
    She’d meant her words to be strong and threatening as she brandished the dagger in front of her. Instead, they were little more than a whispered plea.
    He shook his head and she almost believed the look of regret on his face. “That I cannot do.”
    Genita nodded in understanding. He would do whatever he would, but so would she. She hated to expose herself to him any more than she already had, but she couldn’t fight with only one free hand. She silently cursed herself for having removed her chemise and giving in to the need to wash some of the trail dirt from it as well as her body. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but her actions then had now left her in a very vulnerable position.
    Usually she waited until nightfall to wash, but the day had been so hot, she hadn’t been able to resist the lure of the cool river water. It was too late to change what she’d done. All she could do now was use it to try to give herself an edge against this unknown man. Forcing her fingers to open, she released her death grip on the bodice of her dress, allowing it to slip to her waist.
    His eyes went straight to her exposed breasts and it was then that she lunged.
    Strong arms caught her from behind, wrapping around her upper body and trapping her arms at her sides. Oh gods, there were two of them! She struggled, jerking her body from side to side and kicking out with her feet. There was no escape. Her soft-soled leather boots struck what had to be his legs, but it was like hitting solid wood.
    There was no give in him anywhere.
    He held her easily with one massive forearm as he used his free hand to pry the dagger from her grip. She gritted her teeth, desperately