“I must go, though reluctantly. I would much prefer to climb in bed beside you and spend the morning making love, but duty calls.”
She gestured that she would see him later.
He leaned down and kissed her briefly before whispering, “You can count on it.” He turned to leave, and then stopped, his hand going out and running down the side of her face, along her neck, continuing over her breast, her stomach, and slipping beneath her shift to stop between her legs. “I love the way you greeted me yesterday and hear me well, for it is the truth when I tell you that you are the most beautiful woman in the world.”
He leaned down and kissed her again, as his fingers slipped inside her.
She grabbed hold of his massive shoulders and arched against his playful teasing, though when he pulled away from her and stood, she frowned and shook her head at him.
“I want you ready and waiting for me when I return later.”
She shook her finger admonishing him and he laughed. “I will see you later.”
The pillow struck him in the back of the head when he reached the curtain that separated the two rooms. He turned with a playful scowl. “You dare strike your lord and master?”
Another pillow hit in square in the face.
He ran at her and she scrambled across the bed to get away from him but wasn’t fast enough. He had her pinned beneath him in no time, and she smiled inwardly for that was exactly where she wanted to be.
Needless to say Cree did not leave as soon as he had planned, though he left the cottage a much satisfied man.
Dawn did not know what to do with herself. She wished she had parchment and charcoal for she would spend her time drawing. She hoped when William returned in the spring that he brought drawing materials with him as promised. She could spend many hours drawing and never grow tired of it.
After glancing outside and seeing the gray skies that possibly promised more snow, she decided to spend the day stitching the few garments in the chest that required alterations for the clothes to fit her properly.
Flanna arrived with breakfast and Dawn was glad that her friend sat to chat for a while.
“You watch out,” Flanna warned. “That Lucerne is an evil bitch and intends harm and with Cree gone there is no telling what she will do.”
A chill ran through Dawn and she gestured asking if Sloan went with Cree.
Flanna shook her head. “No, he remains here, though Bree seems to have caught his attention, too much of it if you ask me.”
Dawn frowned.
“There’s nothing like a besotted fool who fancies himself in love and Sloan does not know the first thing about love.”
Dawn smiled and nodded agreeing with Flanna. The man had had his share of women but when it came to love he was a neophyte.
“The villagers talk,” Flanna said. “They wonder what will happen if it should prove true that you are Kirk McClusky’s daughter. You will no longer be a peasant and you will have a father and brother to protect you from—the devil.”
Dawn smiled, hugged herself, patted her heart, and stuck two fingers up from her head.
Flanna laughed. “You love the devil.”
Dawn nodded and hugged herself tight.
“Very much,” Flanna confirmed. “And it is easy to see that the devil loves you just as much. And that has the villagers talking for they do not see the devil surrendering you to your new family and they worry it will be the cause of a war between the clans. And with life having turned good in Dowell many do not wish to see that happen.”
Dawn shook her head trying to reassure Flanna, though truthfully she could not say what Cree would do. He often told her that he would let no one take her from him. But would he truly go to war over her? It had taken years and many battles for him to finally achieve a home and some modicum of peace for his warriors. Would he risk all that for her? And would she let him?
“Lucerne is no longer locked away in her bed chamber, so be careful, there is no telling what that mad woman will do,” Flanna cautioned.
Dawn thanked her and enjoyed the meal, her appetite having returned. She cleared the table, leaving the remnants of the meal in a basket by the door and scrubbed the table with some fresh, clean snow. She then gathered the dark red velvet gown that she favored and was set to stitch when a knock sounded at the door.
Lila entered before she opened it.
Her best friend hugged her tight. “I wanted to make certain you were all right and to find out if it is true that you are not a peasant but a nobleman’s daughter.”