She smiled and wondered if it was later than she had thought. Yet no supper had been left on the table for her, so what was Cree doing here? Not that it mattered; she was glad to see him and went straight into his arms. Her arms whipped around his neck and she kissed him with such passion that he instantly hardened against her.
“I love the way you greet me,” he said nuzzling his face in her neck and then playfully nipping along her warm skin. “I missed you and wanted to see you since it will be several hours before I can return to you.”
She poked him letting him know that she felt the same… she missed him and was glad he was there with her.
“There isn’t a time I don’t want you,” he whispered in her ear. “Though at the moment I must be content to simply hold you and that I don’t mind doing at all. You were fashioned for my arms, a perfect fit.”
She tapped his lips to let him know that their lips fit each other perfectly as well, and then proved it with a slow kiss that was filled with as much passion as the last and had him growing even harder.
Cree groaned and reluctantly eased her away from him, though it was a struggle. His mind was already stripping her of her garments and feeling himself slipping into her. He stepped back quickly and held her at arm’s length with more resolve than he thought he had, though wished he didn’t.
“Later tonight, I promise I will satisfy your need for me and mine for you. Until then be good and behave.” He stepped away from her and she pouted and damn if he didn’t want to nip and suck on her lower lip that he was certain she had stuck out on purpose. “Flanna will bring your food soon,” he snapped annoyed that their time together was always limited and turned away from her.
Cree flung the door open before he could change his mind and Elwin stood there as if he had just been about to knock. “Old Mary has requested to see Dawn at her cottage.”
“Have you checked the area?” Cree asked.
“Every bit of the short distance from here to there and the surrounding area,” Elwin assured him.
Cree turned to Dawn to find that she had already slipped on her cloak and was ready to go. He pointed his finger at her. “Then men will escort you there and back. You will go nowhere else. Understood?”
Dawn nodded as she waved him anxiously out the door.
“Now you want me gone?” he asked sounding disappointed.
She grinned and purposely allowed her hand to skim slowly and tauntingly across his hardened groin as she eased passed him out the door. She was tugged back against him after only taking two steps.
His arm rested snug around her waist and he planted his mouth next to her ear and whispered, “You will suffer the consequences for that little teasing taunt later.”
He gave her a playful shove away from him and when she was out of arm’s reach she smiled sweetly, shrugged, and crossed her heart asking if that was a promise. He scowled, though smiled and before he could step forward, she turned and tugged at Elwin’s arm to hurry him along.
Dawn found herself feeling lighthearted and happy, though God knew she shouldn’t be feeling that way with all that was going on. But she was in love and it felt so deliciously wonderful that she couldn’t help herself. And who knew what the morrow would bring. She would hold on to her happiness whenever it showed up.
When they arrived at Old Mary’s cottage, Elwin made her wait outside with two warriors that had accompanied them while he went in and looked around. When he was satisfied it was safe, he bid her to enter.
“I will wait right outside the door,” he said and closed it.
Dawn slipped her cloak off as she turned to smile a greeting at Old Mary seated at the table. She stopped in mid-stride of placing her cloak over the chair when she noticed the somber expression on the old woman’s face. Her stomach clenched sensing that something was wrong and with a quick gesture voiced her concern.
Old Mary’s attempt at a smile only heightened Dawn’s worry and when she pointed to a chair and told Dawn to sit, she did so without hesitation, her limbs having grown weak with dread.
“You are a brave lass,” Old Mary began and the dread spread clutching at her heart. “And it will take even more bravery to see this through, but in the end love wins… love always wins.”
“No it doesn’t,” the soft voice came from the shadows.
Startled, Dawn turned and the shadows, in the corner by the bed, moved, though it was actually the cloak hanging on the peg there that moved and out of the darkness stepped Lady Ann.