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days until it hits the shelves
As soon as they reached the stable, Sebastian dismounted, then helped Channon down. He pulled his hauberk lower so that no one could see just how much he craved the woman before him. Channon watched as Sebastian removed his huge broadsword from his horse and fastened it to the baldric at his waist. She had to admit the man looked delectable like that. So manly and virile. The chain mail sleeves fell from the shoulders of the leather armor, clinking ever so slightly with his movements. The laces of the hauberk were open, showing a hint of the hairs on his chest, and all too well she remembered her hours of running her fingers and mouth over that lush skin. And as she stared at the small scar on his neck, she ached to trace it with her tongue. This man had a body and aura that should be cloned and made standard equipment for all men. Prideful and dangerous, it made every female part of her sit up and pant. Stop that! she snapped at herself. They were in the middle of town and... And she had other people to study. Yeah right. Like they were really more interesting than Sebastian. He adjusted his sword so that the hilt came forward and the blade trailed down his leg, then pulled a leather bag from the saddle. A youth ran up to take his mount. "What day is today?" he asked the boy in Old English. "It be Tuesday, my lord." Sebastian thanked him and gave him two coins before relinquishing his horse to the boy’s care. He turned toward her. "You ready?" "Absolutely. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life." Channon held her breath as he led her through the bustling medieval village. Sebastian looked behind him to see Channon as she tried to watch everything at once. She was so happy to be here. Maybe there was hope for them after all. Maybe bringing her here hadn’t been a mistake. "Tell me, Channon, have you ever eaten medieval bread?" "Is it good?" she asked. "The best." Taking her hand, Sebastian pulled her into a shop across the dirt road. Channon breathed in the sweet smell of baking bread as they entered the bakery. Bread was lined up on the wooden counter and in baskets on tables all over the room. An older, heavy-set woman stood to the side, trying to move a heavy sack across the floor. "Here," Sebastian said, rushing to her side. "Let me get that." Straightening up, she smiled in gratitude. "Thank you, my lord. I need it over there by my work bench." Sebastian hefted the heavy sack onto his shoulder. Channon watched, her mouth watering as his leather hauberk lifted and gave her a flash of his hard, tanned abs. His broad shoulders and toned biceps flexed from the strain. And when he placed the sack on the floor by the bench, she was gifted with a nice view of his rear covered by his black leather pants. Oh yeah, she’d love a bite of that. "Now what can I do for you gentle folks?" the woman asked. "What looks good to you, Channon?" Was that a trick question or what? Forcing herself to look at something other than Sebastian, she attempted to find a substitute to sink her teeth into. "What do you recommend?" she asked, trying out her Old English. She’d never used it before in conversation. To her amazement, the woman understood her. "If you’re in the mind for something sweet, I just pulled a cinnamon loaf from the oven." "That would be wonderful," Channon said. The woman left them alone. Sebastian stood back while she examined the different kinds of bread in the shop. "So what’s in the bag?" she asked, indicating the black one Sebastian had removed from his horse. "It’s just something I need to take care of. Later." Again with the hedging. "Is that why you came back here?" He nodded, but there was something very guarded in his look. One that warned her this topic was quite closed. The woman returned with the bread and sliced it for them. While Channon ate the warm, delicious slice, the woman asked Sebastian if he would help her move some boxes from a cart outside into the back of her store. He left his bag with Channon then went to help. Channon listened to them in the other room while she ate the bread and drank the cider the woman had also given her. Her gaze fell to the black bag and curiosity got the better of her. Leaning over, she opened it to see what it contained. Her breath left her body as she saw the Dragon Tapestry inside. He really had stolen it. But why?
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