That seemed to agitate Cree and his scowl grew darker. “Had you assigned someone to Dawn?”
“No,” Sloan admitted reluctantly. “There was a problem at the mill and the last time I say her she was in the Great Hall and I had advised her to remain in the keep or close to it.”
“And you saw fit to ignore him?” Cree asked turning his scowl on Dawn. Before she could start gesturing he held up his hand. “I’ve heard enough from the both of you. Sloan, go and prepare the prisoner for questioning and also the men should have returned by now with the man we found, so prepare him for questioning as well. Assign Neil to guard Dawn, have him wait outside her cottage. And be ready to discuss your poor handling of the matter later.”
Sloan gave a quick bob and was out the door closing it quietly behind him.
Cree ‘s eyes fell on Lila. “Now you will tell me what Dawn said when we first entered your cottage.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
Lila paled and so did Dawn. The thought that Lila would repeat any of what she had said turned her legs weak. The thought of what Cree might do to Lilia if she didn’t made her stomach churn. She had allowed her frustration to get the better of her and now look at what her lack of restraint had done. She was stuck with the mighty warrior and had been since he had entered the village a week or so ago. Had it only been such a short time? It felt as if she had known Cree much longer, even more so since they had become intimate. Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
“I never ask twice,” Cree warned when the silence lingered.
Lila answered, though hesitantly. “Dawn ,” —she sent an apologetic glance to her friend— “feels you are a stubborn fool for not listening to her and for not taking the time to become familiar with her gestures.”
“What else? And don’t lie and tell me that there is no more. You have worried at your lower lip until it is quite red,” Cree said his eyes fixed on Lila.
Lila sighed rolling her eyes heavenward.
Dawn was angry with herself for placing her friend in such an awkward situation and she sought to correct it. She began gesturing.
“Dawn says she will repeat her words for you so that you know they come from her.”
“Why? Would you lie for her?” Cree asked.
“No, my lord,” Lila answered shaking her head and repeating again. “No, my lord.”
Dawn walked over to Cree, poked him in the chest, pointed to her ear and slapped her chest then threw her hands up.
“She says—”
“She’s made herself very clear,” Cree said. “She says that if I had listened to her none of this would have been necessary.”
Dawn nodded.
“I’m listening now,” he said stepping closer, his scowl gone and his dark eyes devouring her.
For a moment Dawn’s breath caught and a tingle ran through her to settle between her legs. He had to be the devil’s own to make her desire him with the slightest look. She had to be done with this and leave Lila in peace. This was not her problem and Dawn should have never brought this into her home.
Dawn began moving her hands and Lila quickly interpreted. “Dawn says that all you’re truly interested in is,” —Lila paused a moment and hurried to finish— “satisfying yourself between her legs.”
Cree brought his face so close to Dawn’s that their noses touched. “Are you telling me that I failed to satisfy you last night, because from what I recall you seemed more than satisfied, especially since one coupling was not enough for you?”
Her mouth dropped open and she stared at him shocked.
“Speechless are you?”
Dawn nodded, her cheeks flaming red.
“Is there anything else you wish to tell me about when it comes to me bedding you?”
Dawn immediately and most vigorously shook her head.
Cree took hold of Dawn’s arm. “You have proven your fealty, Lila, and I will see you rewarded for it.” And with that he escorted Dawn out the door.
His pace was quick and Dawn had to hurry to keep up with him. He did not say a word to her and when they reached her cottage he stopped to speak to the warrior guarding the front door.
“She is not to leave this cottage without my permission, Neil.”
“She’ll not get passed me, my lord.”
“I’m confident of that, which is why I have assigned you to the task.”
A prisoner; she was a prisoner. He had known what it was like to be kept locked away why was he forcing the same punishment on her?
She glanced at Neil wondering if he would be at all malleable. He was not tall, perhaps a mere inch or more in height than herself, but he was thick with muscles and a narrow, well-healed scar ran down his right cheek. He appeared stoic, not at all approachable.