Read Online Fabric of Fate by N.J. Walters - Free Book Online

unblinking stare. He scooped water into his palm and let it fall over her. “Let the water warm you.” He kept his voice low and, he hoped, reassuring. He’d never had to comfort a woman before and wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.
    The door to the chamber was shoved open and bounced off the wall as Heroc strode in carrying a large kettle of steaming hot water. He set the hot pot down and made no pretense of not looking at their guest. Heroc’s eyes devoured her as she lay naked in the tub.
    She shivered, pulling Abrah’s attention back to her. “That is a good sign. Your body is trying to warm itself.” He motioned to his brother and Heroc picked up the kettle and poured half of the water into the tub, taking care not to spill it on her limbs. He leaned down and used his hand to swish the water around so the hot was mixed with the cooling water.
    The woman moaned as the hot water seeped into her limbs. He knew it would feel like fire against her skin but it was necessary to get her body temperature up. It was also time to wash away the mud to see if she had any other injuries. The fact she was moving her limbs without any trouble was a very good sign.
    Heroc went around to the other side of the tub, grabbed a cloth and dumped it into the water. “I’m going to clean some of the mud off you.” He gently rubbed at her neck and shoulders and down her arms.
    Abrah decided to rinse her hair while Heroc was washing her. He eased her back so she was resting against the end of the tub with her hair hanging over the edge. He shoved an empty bucket beneath it and began to scoop handfuls of water over the thick mass. Thankfully it wasn’t too dirty. When he was satisfied her hair was clean, he squeezed out the excess water.
    In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Abrah couldn’t help but enjoy the slick slide of her hair through his fingers. Heroc was obviously feeling the same way as he rubbed the cloth up and down her legs and feet in a slow, sensual rhythm.
    Abrah’s cock stirred. He willed it to behave, but it wasn’t listening. It had been so long since he’d had a woman beneath his hands. A year ago at the festival he’d spent several memorable nights with an older widow woman. He and Heroc had tried to entice her to marry one of them but she’d chosen someone else from her home village. It was no wonder his body was reacting to the nearness of this woman.
    Her eyelids had drifted closed and her breathing was shallow. She still wasn’t safe from the effects of the cold yet. Abrah stood and lifted her out of the dirty water.
    Heroc watched his brother carefully set the woman down beside the tub. Her slick skin gleamed in the candlelight. She was slender, almost too much so. He frowned, wondering if she’d been ill or if her village had fallen on hard times. That happened sometimes but he couldn’t imagine any man letting his woman go hungry.
    He grabbed a drying cloth and ran it over her limbs as Abrah steadied her. His cock was as hard as a spike, pushing against the leather placket of his pants, but he ignored the discomfort as best he could. All that mattered was making sure she was safe and warm. Thankfully, other than a few minor scrapes and bruises, she didn’t seem to be hurt.
    The bath had helped bring up her body temperature but it wasn’t enough. She was shivering slightly but there was no doubt she was still chilled to her core.
    Heroc vigorously rubbed her legs and arms, trying to get the blood circulating through her limbs. He did his best to ignore the smooth skin of her legs, the curve of her hip, the dip of her waist. But it was impossible to miss the thrust of her breasts and the way her nipples were puckered against the cold. She may be slender but her breasts were full and firm.
    He swallowed a groan as every muscle in his body tightened and his cock flexed. The hair on her head was starting to curl. It matched the shorter, curly hair that covered her mound.
    “Enough.”