Strands of Love by N.J. Walters

STRANDS OF LOVE, the final book in the Tapestries series, is here! This ménage a trois fantasy series is one of my most popular. I'm so glad it's all available once again.

The series in order is:
Christina's Tapestry
Bakra Bride
Woven Dreams
Threads of Destiny
Embroidered Fantasies
Fabric of Fate
Strands of Love

Strands of Love

Tapestries, Book 7

Tied to the land in a way that only another Texan can understand, Samantha Calloway is facing mounting debts and a merciless drought as she struggles to save the farm that’s been in her family for generations. Unwilling to surrender to an unscrupulous neighbor who offers her a way out, Samantha is left hoping for a miracle when she’s stunned by the mysterious appearance of two hulking, otherworldly warriors on her land—men who stir an undeniable sensual desire in her.

               

Darian and Jace Hunter are deeply committed to the welfare of their expansive lands and all the people who rely on them, but privately they are also deeply saddened at the prospect of living out their lives without the blessing of a loving woman. They know well the stories of the magic tapestry that might bring them a bride, but they’re still shocked when the tapestry appears—and mysteriously transports them to the world of the beautiful and sensitive Samantha.

As the brothers try to explain the promise of the tapestry to a skeptical Samantha, the trio are suddenly transported back to Javara, where Samantha soon learns that the brothers are as deeply dedicated to the land as she is—and also dedicated to unleashing the power of their passion to bring her to sexual heights she’d never imagined. And as she’s confronted with a choice between returning to her home alone or forsaking it all for a chance at a loving life with Darian and Jace, they will stop at nothing to entice her with every glorious erotic pleasure and unquestioning devotion to win her heart and a lifetime of unending love . . .

EXCERPT

“What the hell have you done to me? Did you drug me?” Sam was angry, but beneath the anger he heard her fear, and that just wouldn’t do.

“Do you remember the tapestry?” Jace asked her, keeping his voice low just as he would when dealing with a high-strung filly.

“The small rug.” She rubbed her temple and frowned. “Yeah, I think so. But that couldn’t have happened. A rug doesn’t simply float in the air.”

“This one does. A powerful sorceress created the tapestry a very long time ago.” Jace relaxed his stance as he continued speaking, keeping his arms loose by his sides. Darian carefully inched slightly behind Sam, ready to catch her if she decided to run.

“In Javara women are scarce and the sorceress gifted our world with the tapestry. Once or twice a generation, the tapestry brings a woman from another world to ours. It is a woman who has the potential to thrive in our world.” Jace frowned, still not understanding what had happened. “The tapestry has come several times in our generation and this is only the second time in history that the tapestry has taken any of us with it when it went to find the woman.”

Sam crossed her arms over her chest and scowled and Jace. “That’s all fine and good for you, but I want to go home.”

“Sam,” he began, but she wasn’t having any of it and actually stamped her foot.

“No, I don’t want to hear it. I want to go home. Now.”

Jace shook his head slowly, his heart breaking for her, for all of them. Obviously, the tapestry had made a grave error. Sam was a wealthy woman in her world, a landowner. Nor did it seem as though she was interested in them at all.

He, on the other hand, was totally enthralled by her, her strength and obvious courage, her beauty and kindness. She’d taken two strangers into her home, offering them refreshments from such priceless glass cups. What could they offer her here?

Their hearts and their love. It was all they had to give. Their loyalty and the promise of a family. But would it be enough?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VHJS319/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/949366
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strands-of-love-nj-walters/1115367561
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/strands-of-love-1

 

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

                  

Visit me at:

Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

 

 

Get A Review Copy of Naughty Getaways

Last chance to sign up for the NAUGHTY GETAWAYS review tour! Eleven Sultry romance Stories by The Naughty Literati, perfect for your summer reading pleasure.

Including Contemporary, Fantasy, Historical, Magic, New Adult, Older Woman/Younger Man, Paranormal, Rubenesque, Sci-Fi, Stepbrother Romance & Threesome 

Terracotta Warriors ~ Berengaria Brown
Branden loves Sloan but he’s bisexual and craves a woman too. Will adding Naomi to the mix be a disaster or the solution they all need? *This is an enlarged and re-edited version of a formerly published story.* 

Dirty Diana ~ Francesca Hawley 
It’s Amateur Night at Gunnar Thorson’s strip club and Diana Rav intends to rock his world. She’s lush and sensual with generous curves she’s not afraid to move. Not anymore. She’s learned to love her body and is out to win Gunnar back with a sexy lap dance. 

An Unexpected Discovery ~ Regina Kammer 
A Parthian princess searching for the lost throne of her kingdom engages the services of a palace eunuch and discovers a treasure far more precious. 

Sinfully Hot ~ Tina Donahue 
A hotter-than-sin reaper. A badass demon. Hell doesn’t get steamier than this. 

Ice Queen ~ Nicole Austin 
In school, he was the bad boy this good girl couldn’t have. At work, he’s the boss, I’m his intern. Oh, and his dad just married my mom. It’s so wrong. We shouldn’t be doing this, but I love it. 

Peter’s Story ~ Suz deMello 
Peter Fortune, Earl Darlingside, awakened beside a corpse. Accused of homicide, he must change his dissolute ways or face life in prison. Barrister Roxanne Fox, called Foxy Roxy, is charged with his defense. Will desire derail Peter’s case? 

NY TIMES & USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
Tattoo Witch ~ Kathy Kulig 
At a seaside resort, Sam and Anita meet a mysterious owner of a tattoo shop, a witch whose magical tattoos grant scorching, kinky sex beyond their wildest fantasies—but there’s a catch. Each successive tattoo comes with a curse. 

FEATURING: 
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
Dolphin Paradise ~ Kate Richards 
Dr. Karen Barrow has no intention of falling into the bed of the most notorious ladies’ man at Oleander College, but a week alone with him may be her undoing. After all, who will know what they do on Dolphin Paradise before the campers arrive for the summer? 

Tropical Heat ~ Alice Gaines A proper English miss, a rake, and a tropical island. Imagine what could happen. 

INCLUDING TWO BONUS NOVELLAS
Royal Alphas: One Night With The Alpha King ~ Belle Scarlett 
When Senator Anya Fortune snubs His Royal Majesty’s wedding offer, Shade wonders what an Alpha King has to do to get the woman to notice him… Claim the one, hot night he’s given by law to change her mind, naturally. Let the game of hearts begin. Winner take all. *This previously published title has been revised and reedited* 

Summer Lovin’ ~ Nicole Austin 
Cougar on the prowl, Larissa Cross is ready for a summer full of hot younger man lovin’. Rawr! Tattooed and pierced fireman JD Harmon is tempting prey but he intends to tame the wicked cougar and stake a claim on her heart. *This previously published title has been revised and reedited* 

Excerpt from Tattoo Witch by Kathy Kulig

Part of the NAUGHTY GETAWAYS boxed-set, available now!

Naughty Getaways Ebook

Naughty Getaways in Print

Blurb:
At a seaside resort, Sam and Anita meet a mysterious owner of a tattoo shop, a witch whose magical tattoos grant scorching, kinky sex beyond their wildest fantasies—but there’s a catch. Each successive tattoo comes with a curse.

Genre/theme: Paranormal, witch, magic, fantasy

Copyright ©Kathy Kulig, 2017

Excerpt:

“I think your lady is ready for another drink,” a tattooed guy said with a friendly tone. “Mind if my wife and I buy you two a drink?”

Anita stopped slurping the remnants of her cocktail and gave Sam a warning look. He loved his girlfriend dearly, but wished she wasn’t quite so conservative. This couple was just being friendly. But why did they decide to sit next to him and Anita?

Stop assuming the worst. Sam Quinn was used to expecting the worst in people—a side effect from working airport security. Terrorists at Seacrets were likely a low-risk concern. Perhaps this couple did have ulterior motives, like wife swapping. That wasn’t exactly Sam’s kink, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t have some fun chatting with them. “A drink? That’s nice of you to offer,” Sam said. “You don’t have to—”

“It’s our pleasure,” the woman added. “I’m Rene and this is my husband, Perry. We’re from Baltimore.” She rested her hands on the bar. On the back of Rene’s hand was a detailed rose tat. It looked 3D. Ink designs covered Perry’s hands too.

Sam introduced himself and Anita. Anita gave him a kick. He was going to get hell later, but the intricate detail of Rene’s tattoo was mesmerizing.

“Have you tried Swamp Water?” Perry asked Anita.

She looked confused.

“They’re good. They’re coconut rum, pineapple juice and Curaçao. Try one,” Rene said as she waved to the bartender and ordered two and a couple beers.

“We were about to leave, right Sam?” Anita shot him a look.

“Oh, you can hang for a drink,” Rene said. “It’s still early.”

Anita scowled at her murky green drink when it arrived but didn’t argue with Rene. Taking a sip, she smiled. “Mmmm. It is good.”

“What kind of work do you do, Sam?” Perry asked.

“TSA agent.”

“Interesting.” Perry locked his gaze with him. Red flags waved in the back of Sam’s mind.

As a TSA agent, Sam had an uncanny gift of reading people’s eyes, expressions and body language. Something in Perry’s gaze alarmed him. If someone had looked at him like that while going through his TSA check point, he would give them a pat down. What were his eyes telling him? A warning? Fear? A challenge or threat? Sam couldn’t figure it out. Something wasn’t right about these two. Or maybe he needed this vacation more than he thought.

“I’ve been admiring your tattoos,” Sam said as he watched their expressions. “Excellent work. It must’ve taken a long time to have those done. Were they all by the same artist?”

Perry and Rene exchanged a look. “Yes, she’s local,” Perry said. “On the boardwalk.”

“I don’t remember a tattoo parlor and we come here often.” Anita had sucked down half her drink. “What do you have on your neck?” she asked Perry.

Perry got up and sat on the stool next to her. Turning his head to the side, he elongated his neck, offering Anita a better view. “What would you call it?”

“It’s a dragon. A magnificent dragon. Look at all the colors.” While Perry pointed out his various tattoos, Rene showed the vine of roses coiling up her arm.

“Do the tats have specific meanings or stories?” Sam asked. “They’re very detailed.”

She laughed out loud. “Sort of.”

He noticed a shadow of sadness drift across Rene’s face. Anita was oblivious to his conversation. The designs on the man’s forearms enthralled her. She was literally staring. Fuck.

“Do you think tattoos are sexy?” Rene asked seductively.

“I guess.” He forced himself not to look at her deep cleavage and the tats that decorated her skin there. Man, he needed to take Anita back to the hotel and fuck her brains out before she got wasted on Swamp Water.

“How about mine?” Rene ran her hands over her arms, then stroked the tops of her breasts.

“Yes, I’d say so,” Sam replied. Holy shit, she was flirting with him. “There.” Rene eased the sleeve of Sam’s tee shirt up over his shoulder. “You have nice biceps and shoulders. The perfect place for tats.” Her fingernail drew imaginary designs on his arm.

He studied her with the narrowed gaze he reserved for troublemakers at the airport and added a cocky smile. “Think so?”

“Yes,” she breathed, leaning closer. “Men also look hot with tats on their calves and thighs. Her hand dropped to his knee, just below his cargo shorts. Would she slide those up too? His cock stirred. How much had she drunk?

Anita laughed. Sam glanced at Perry flexing his arm, making a scorpion tat appear to crawl. His girlfriend was amused.

“Have you ever thought about getting a tat?” Rene asked Sam with a sultry, teasing tone. “Or maybe you have one hidden?” She removed her hand from his knee. Sam released his breath. “No. I’ve thought about getting one. But I don’t have any.” Damn, it was getting warm. Was Rene coming on to him with her husband right there? He glanced back at Anita again. She was having another Swamp Water. Terrific.

“You should get one. You and your lady,” Rene said. “We get ours at Sinful Designs on the boardwalk. They do the best work.”

Ah, now he got it. “I suppose you two work there? Or own the business.”

She laughed. “You think we’re trying to drum up sales?”

Sam nodded.

“No, nothing like that. But there is something special about Sinful Designs that you won’t find at any other tattoo parlor.”

“Is that right?” Sam called over the bartender and ordered another beer and a drink for Rene. “Don’t take this the wrong way but are you two hitting on us?”

“Not exactly,” Perry said, looking up from his show-and-tell for Anita. “We saw you watching us earlier—”

“And you thought we’d like to hook up with you two,” Sam finished the sentence, sounding slightly annoyed but intrigued.

“That’s not it,” Rene said. “But I bet you wished you were out there having the most amazing sex with Anita. Am I right?”

“Sure,” Sam said.

Anita smiled nervously, then sipped more of her drink.

“What if I told you there was a way to increase your sexual enjoyment by at least ten times, be more adventurous, have longer hard-ons, and multiple orgasms?” Rene looked at Anita. “Anita, wouldn’t you love to have multiple orgasms whenever you willed them to happen?”

Anita rolled her eyes. “I have orgasms.”

“Four or five in one night, without being touched?”

“I’d say you’re full of shit,” Anita said.

Sam nearly choked on his beer. Anita Brooke never swore in front of strangers. She was getting drunk. Damn, he wasn’t getting any tonight.

“Do you believe in magic, the supernatural?”

“I try to keep an open mind.” Sam didn’t want to discount anything. But more than that, he wanted to see where this was going.

“Try one of these tattoos at Sinful Designs. Just one. I promise you won’t be disappointed.” Rene paused. “Don’t be surprised if you go back for more like we did.” Eyes wide, she glanced around the night club’s grounds, looked over her shoulder, then forced a smile. There was no hiding that look of terror. Cold fear flashed across her eyes. What had her so afraid? She didn’t look the type to scare easily. A shiver slid down Sam’s spine.

“Sounds too good to be true,” Sam said as he briefly fantasized a few possibilities—sex on the raft, sex with this couple, and a few positions Anita wasn’t crazy about trying. His cock throbbed as his heart pounded in his chest. The woman didn’t look like she was lying. Was business that bad that this tattoo parlor would think up this fantastical story to bring in a few customers?

Rene placed a hand on his arm. “Honest, Sam, we don’t make out financially if you get a tattoo. We’re just amazed by this woman. She’s a witch you know. Her name is Cassandra.”

“A witch?” Anita asked.

Rene smiled at Sam. “Trust me. You will have the most scorching sex you could ever imagine.”

NAUGHTY GETAWAYS - Available Now!

Naughty Getaways

Available Now!

Naughty Getaways Ebook

Naughty Getaways in Print

Including Contemporary, Fantasy, Historical, Magic, New Adult, Older Woman/Younger Man, Paranormal, Rubenesque, Sci-Fi, Stepbrother Romance & Threesome 

Terracotta Warriors ~ Berengaria Brown
Branden loves Sloan but he’s bisexual and craves a woman too. Will adding Naomi to the mix be a disaster or the solution they all need? *This is an enlarged and re-edited version of a formerly published story.* 

Dirty Diana ~ Francesca Hawley 
It’s Amateur Night at Gunnar Thorson’s strip club and Diana Rav intends to rock his world. She’s lush and sensual with generous curves she’s not afraid to move. Not anymore. She’s learned to love her body and is out to win Gunnar back with a sexy lap dance. 

An Unexpected Discovery ~ Regina Kammer 
A Parthian princess searching for the lost throne of her kingdom engages the services of a palace eunuch and discovers a treasure far more precious. 

Sinfully Hot ~ Tina Donahue 
A hotter-than-sin reaper. A badass demon. Hell doesn’t get steamier than this. 

Ice Queen ~ Nicole Austin 
In school, he was the bad boy this good girl couldn’t have. At work, he’s the boss, I’m his intern. Oh, and his dad just married my mom. It’s so wrong. We shouldn’t be doing this, but I love it. 

Peter’s Story ~ Suz deMello 
Peter Fortune, Earl Darlingside, awakened beside a corpse. Accused of homicide, he must change his dissolute ways or face life in prison. Barrister Roxanne Fox, called Foxy Roxy, is charged with his defense. Will desire derail Peter’s case? 

NY TIMES & USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
Tattoo Witch ~ Kathy Kulig 
At a seaside resort, Sam and Anita meet a mysterious owner of a tattoo shop, a witch whose magical tattoos grant scorching, kinky sex beyond their wildest fantasies—but there’s a catch. Each successive tattoo comes with a curse. 

FEATURING: 
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
Dolphin Paradise ~ Kate Richards 
Dr. Karen Barrow has no intention of falling into the bed of the most notorious ladies’ man at Oleander College, but a week alone with him may be her undoing. After all, who will know what they do on Dolphin Paradise before the campers arrive for the summer? 

Tropical Heat ~ Alice Gaines A proper English miss, a rake, and a tropical island. Imagine what could happen. 

INCLUDING TWO BONUS NOVELLAS
Royal Alphas: One Night With The Alpha King ~ Belle Scarlett 
When Senator Anya Fortune snubs His Royal Majesty’s wedding offer, Shade wonders what an Alpha King has to do to get the woman to notice him… Claim the one, hot night he’s given by law to change her mind, naturally. Let the game of hearts begin. Winner take all. *This previously published title has been revised and reedited* 

Summer Lovin’ ~ Nicole Austin 
Cougar on the prowl, Larissa Cross is ready for a summer full of hot younger man lovin’. Rawr! Tattooed and pierced fireman JD Harmon is tempting prey but he intends to tame the wicked cougar and stake a claim on her heart. *This previously published title has been revised and reedited* 

Excerpt from WERE THE HELL? by Berengaria Brown

Naughty Haunts

Eleven Spooky Love Stories

Pre-order the E-book:

Available for download September 2nd

BONUS MATERIAL:

Blurb:
Septimus has to learn why no female weres have been born into his pack. When he walks into the meeting room he smells his mate. A male.
 
Genre/Theme:
M/M Romance, Magic, Werewolves

Copyright © Berengaria Brown, 2016

Septimus had sometimes wondered if he’d only ever been sexually attracted to other males because there were so few younger females in his pack, and the few there were didn’t light his fire. But the minute he walked into the meeting room with the weres from the Forest Hill pack, he knew he was genuinely, one hundred percent gay. He could smell his mate.

His cock stood up and fought to get out of his jeans, stretching the fabric so tight that he was going to have blue balls for a week. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck were also standing straight up. His skin tingled, electrified with sexual arousal. And the scent of his mate was overpowering him, dragging him into the room with almost physical force.

His nose led him unerringly to his mate—a tall, lean man of about thirty, with tanned brown skin, dark brown hair, and liquid chocolate eyes. Those eyes were staring at him, and the man’s strong nose was flared, smelling his scent. From the huge bulge in his pale cargo pants, the man was every bit as aware of him as he was of Mr. Tall, Tan, and Delectable.

As Septimus walked across the room, his cock leading the way, the man moved to meet him. Their gazes were locked, and Septimus was totally oblivious to everyone else in the room and the task he’d been sent to do. He was about to put out his hand when the other man reached him and grabbed his shoulders, pulling him in for a hard, body-blending hug.

“I’m Dai. We’re mates.” The words were harsh, bitten off, said almost as a challenge.

“Septimus. I know.”

The Alpha of the Forest Hill pack stood just a few feet away. He coughed, cleared his throat, then said, “Gentlemen, let’s get this meeting underway. Dai, you should sit next to Septimus, not in your usual place.”

So even the Alpha smelled their attraction. That certainly proved he was not being misled by his cock.

Excerpt From BASTARD'S BONUS by Terry Rissen

Part of the NAUGHTY LOVERS boxed-set, available now.

Click here to purchase e-book from Amazon

Blurb:
There is no love lost between the Glass Spinners' Guild and the Tavern Keepers' Guild. For Ian and Zane, it means they can never be together, or risk losing everything.

Genre/Theme:
Fantasy, M/M, magic, guild

Copyright ©Terry Rissen, 2016

Excerpt:

Arcs of molten glass steamed in the damp morning air as Master Glass Spinner Ian Etheridge directed them from the crucible into the new mold. He preferred working freeform, but a commission was a commission, even if it was tedious. Master Tavern Keeper Zane Tandy wanted a gross of goblets for his restaurant and was willing to pay for the prestige of having a master glass spinner make them. They would have been a fraction of the price had he simply gone to the Guild and ordered them there. Any halfway competent senior apprentice could make flawless goblets, but Tandy was adamant. He wanted a Master’s mark on the stems. No, he wanted Ian’s mark on the stems…and no apprentice was to touch them.

And Ian welcomed any commission from Tandy. From Zane. It was one of the few socially acceptable ways they could interact. While there was no official barrier between them being friends, Ian couldn’t be just friends with the man he loved. Zane had said much the same to him in their youth. But as neither of them were from wealthy families, membership in their respective Guilds was more important than who they loved. In public they argued and seemed to barely tolerate each other. It was, in its way, a courtship of sorts, but not one anyone else would recognize.

So Ian had charged him five times the going rate. Who would ever think he was in love with, or even liked Zane if he gouged him at every turn? He’d registered his master’s mark as a work of art in and of itself, and no matter how much they hated it, the Board hadn’t been able to find a reason to overrule him. That let him set his own bastard’s bonus without the Guild getting their fingers into his coffers. Ian would still give a generous portion to the Guild, specifically to the Apprentice Hall. Not even Leo, the most obstreperous of the Guild Elders, could do anything if he was always generous to the Guild, despite distributing his largess on his own terms.

Leo had never let anyone forget he himself had been presented to the Wizards’ Guild as a youngster. He postured and preened, focusing on the invitation rather than the fact that he’d failed in his first year and been sent home.

Ian, too, had been presented, but he’d always wanted to be a glass spinner, so at the tender age of nine, he’d declined the Wizards’ Guild’s offer. He’d dreamed of working the red hot streams for as long as he could remember, and the day he’d been accepted as a Guild apprentice had been the happiest day of his life—until he got his Master’s mark and opened his own shop. His mother had been so proud. She’d also been relieved since he wouldn’t be spinning her goblets into bird’s nests or spider webs or any of the other fanciful, beautiful, yet useless shapes his heart desired.

Ian checked the cooling spells on the mold. This was apprentice-level work, but Tandy was paying and even though it irritated him, Ian couldn’t deny the value of staying in touch with the basics of his craft. It didn’t hurt to have his own apprentices see him doing even simple tasks. Nothing that came out of his shop could be less than perfect. Once apprentices got over the shock of seeing a master doing menial tasks, creating work-a-day objects with the same attention to detail he applied to one-of-a-kind pieces, they started down the path of true mastery of the craft.

He sealed the shelf holding the mold and moved to yesterday’s pouring. Ian began releasing the spells that held the glass in the mold, and then one by one, he began to remove the dozen delicate looking goblets and set them on the work bench.

He’d set the fifth one down when the musical chime on the door sounded, and then Malik, his newest apprentice, spoke. He couldn’t tell what was said, but he didn’t need to.

Zane Tandy had arrived and despite Ian’s iron control while he worked, his breath caught for a moment and butterflies took up residence in his stomach.

Every morning when he unmolded the new goblets from the day before, Tandy showed up before he finished. He said he wanted to see them as soon as he could, then he’d watch the apprentices pack them—his only concession to Ian. Once packed, he’d pay Ian for that portion of the commission, nod stiffly, and leave, Tandy’s apprentice in tow with the box of goblets.

Today he would pick up the fifth pouring. Ian paused, the goblet in his hand glittering in the sunlight streaming through the workroom windows. Yesterday was the unmolding of the fourth pouring, and Tandy had arrived as he’d removed the fourth goblet. He wondered if Tandy had a spy in his shop, tipping him off about when Ian started the unmolding. Ian smiled as he set the fifth goblet next to its fellows.

“Bright Morn, Master Spinner.” Tandy entered the workroom with the same gravity and grace that he always did. Ian continued his work, carefully releasing the sixth goblet from its mold and setting the surety spell to keep it from breaking for years to come. While he didn’t mind charging a bastard’s bonus when he deemed it warranted, he did feel he might have overdone it in this case. The least he could do was give Tandy his money’s worth. It cost him nothing, especially since he had no desire to accept or refuse another such menial commission. Once was enough.

“Bright Morn, to you, Master Tandy,” Ian replied. He focused on his work. Release the spell, raise the goblet, inspect it visually and magically, set it with the others if it was flawless. Ian hadn’t produced a flawed goblet in years. Teaching aside, he should be more annoyed by this odd commission than he was. He knew why he wasn’t, but he didn’t want to deal with the reason.

Zane Tandy was out of reach and always would be. The Guild would have his hide if he courted a Master of Tandy’s Guild.

And that was the short and long of it. On the surface, he and Tandy had a somewhat adversarial relationship. Tandy would commission all sorts of things from Ian, and insist Ian produce them all by himself. Ian, for his part, would dine at Tandy’s restaurant, insisting that Tandy prepare all the dishes and deliver them to Ian’s table. Ian would be both grudgingly impressed and mildly offensive in his praise. Tandy would graciously accept it and blame inferior workmanship in the kitchen and tableware for any perceived deficiencies. All of which had been made by Ian.

It was not by accident that Tandy had named his establishment The Glass House.

But always they kept each other at arm’s reach. Ian was “Master Spinner” in his shop, “Master Etheridge” in Zane’s restaurant. Only in the privacy of his own mind could Ian use Zane’s given name. In public he had to be “Master Tandy” or “Tavern Master” in his own place.

“Does the pouring meet with your approval, Master Tandy?” Ian carefully kept his eyes on his own work and his mind out of the rabbit hole of regret.

“It appears adequate thus far, Master Spinner,” Tandy replied. Ian glanced over his shoulder to see Tandy holding up one goblet to the light. Rainbows danced around the room as he turned the glass. “Quite adequate, Master Spinner.” He set the goblet down, releasing it with a gentle stroke over Ian’s mark. Tandy met Ian’s eyes for a brief, heated moment, then his usual taciturn manner reasserted itself and he stood tall and self-contained, his hands clasped behind his back.

“If you would care to sit, I could have a chair brought to you,” Ian set the eighth goblet on the workbench as he spoke.

“Do you think me so feeble I cannot stand for a time?” Tandy sounded mildly amused.

“I think you a guest in my workroom,” Ian said, “an unannounced guest, but a guest nonetheless.” Ian fell into their typical mild sniping with practiced ease.