Tapestries 03 - Woven Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

to try to adjust himself. It offered some relief, but not much.
    A thin sheen of sweat covered his chest and face, and not all of it was brought on by the heat of the sun.
    He licked his lips as he continued to stare at her, learning her features. Her skin was pale and appeared smooth. Her cheekbones were high, her chin strong. He wondered what her lips would taste like. The bottom lip was fuller than the top and appeared to 22
    be a rosy color, but he couldn’t be sure from this distance. He wondered what color her eyes were.
    Her torso was slender, almost too much so, but her arms were strong, rippling with long, lithe muscles as she washed. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a slight discoloration on her torso. It could be dirt or possibly a fading bruise. She had the appearance of someone who’d been ill or injured.
    Garrik wanted to strip off her dress and see the rest of her. Would her belly have a slight curve or would it be flat? Would the hair covering her sex be the same wondrous color as the hair on her head or would it be darker?
    As still as a stone, he stayed crouched behind the bushes. She was just sitting there now, soaking in the sun’s rays as they poured down on her. Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes and smiled. He found himself smiling in return, captivated by the sheer innocent joy on her face.
    Finally she seemed to gather herself and open her eyes. Reaching down by her side, she picked up what appeared to be a piece of cloth. Dipping it in the river, she reached over her shoulder, trying to wash her back. He growled low in his throat. He’d love to wash her back for her—and any other part of her, for that matter.
    He was so caught up with the mysterious water nymph across from him, he almost missed Jarmon’s signal. The song of the lark rang clearly through the woods. The woman paid no heed to the sound at all, but frowned as she tried to reach her lower back with her cloth. It was time to offer his assistance.
    Rising, he stepped out from behind the bushes. Her head shot up and she froze.
    Garrik held his hand out in front of him and offered a smile as he sheathed his weapon.
    The piece of cloth slipped from her fingers to land with a plop on some rocks at the edge of the river. Jerking her dress to her waist, she jumped to her feet. He could see her hands trembling as she clasped the fabric to her chest.
    “I do not mean you any harm.” He kept his voice low as he stepped into the river. It wasn’t deep and he could dry his boots later. Her eyes shot to the bulge in his pants. He couldn’t do anything about that, but he stopped halfway across the river. The water rushed by his knees, but he didn’t move any further toward her.
    “Stay away.” She backed away, almost stumbling as her foot hit a rock.
    He kept his voice as nonthreatening as possible. “You shouldn’t be out here by yourself. It’s not safe.”
    Her chin tilted upward. “I’m not on my own. My family is close by. If you leave now, I won’t scream.”
    Garrik had to admire her courage. Closer now, he could see that her eyes were a deep, velvet brown. A man could get lost in eyes like that. She was frightened, of that there was no doubt, but still she held her ground and faced him.
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    “There is no need to fear me.” He took another step forward. “You’re on Bakra land and I cannot leave you out here by yourself.” He continued to move slowly forward, one step at a time.
    Rather than reassuring her, she paled even more at his words, swaying slightly. For a moment, he feared she might faint. She glanced to the right side, and as he moved in that direction, she jerked to the left, swooping down and coming up with a small dagger in her hand. “Leave me alone.”
    He shook his head. “I cannot.” There was no way he would leave an undefended woman alone in the forest. His own code of honor would not allow it. “Come. I will take you back to the castle.” Garrik strode forward, his eyes never leaving her