Sloan’s voice rang out. “The messenger you have been waiting for has arrived.”
“Damn,” Cree mumbled, his hands falling away from Dawn. “Fortify yourself with food or rest whatever it takes, for you will get no rest when I return.”
Dawn smiled, crossed her heart, and shrugged.
Cree’s arm shot out going around her waist and yanking her hard against him. “You want a promise from me?”
Her breath caught deep in her throat as she nodded. He was hard against her and she was already wet with the want of him.
“I promise that you will never forget tonight.”
Chapter Thirty-five
Dawn waited until she could no longer keep her eyes open. She sought her bed disappointed that Cree had yet to return to her. The message must have been of great importance. She only hoped it wasn’t bad news and that all would be right with the village. She, like many others, worried that perhaps Robert Gerwan would be given his land back and life would once again turn harsh.
She added two more logs to the already roaring fire not wanting it to burnout in the middle of the night, especially with the snow still falling. The wind had grown stronger as had the snowfall. She had taken a peek hoping to see Cree headed to the cottage but all she had caught sight of was swirling snow and the guard bundled in a fur-lined cloak and huddled close beside the front door.
The bed welcomed her with its warmth, though she wished it was Cree’s arms and his naked body that held her snug. He would come, she had no doubt. After all he had promised her and she knew that Cree would not break his promise to her; he was a man of his word.
Trying to remain awake was difficult and she succumbed to sleep sooner than she planned with hope that Cree would wake her soon.
Cree dismissed all guards for the rest of the evening. The snow was falling heavily and it would be impossible for anyone to find their way through it in the dark. The guards would resume their duties at first light.
He entered the cottage quietly and secured the latch that was usually left unlatched. He wasn’t surprised to find Dawn abed and he disrobed with haste, though when he approached the bed he stood there staring down at her.
It had taken longer than he had expected to return to her and if he hadn’t promised her that he would return he didn’t know if he would have tonight. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to return. He was hungry for her and had been sense he left her, but then when didn’t he want her. He wondered over his perpetual state of arousal whenever he was around her and he also wondered if she felt the same since she was always eager to couple with him.
It had been the message that had stalled his return. He thought of telling her the news tonight but worried that once she learned of it, she would not be so eager to make love with him. He had decided to wait and tell her the news tomorrow.
He eased into bed wrapping himself around her, his hand cupping her breast to gently squeeze it. He ran his thumb over the nipple and licked his lips eager to take the hardening bud into his mouth.
She turned as he knew she would. She always responded to his touch, no matter in bed, before the hearth, on the table. He grinned at how adventurous she was and planned on enjoying many more adventurous couplings with her.
He took her hard nipple in his mouth and teased it with the tip of his tongue while his hand roamed down along her body relishing the feel of her velvet soft skin. He loved touching her, every inch of her. The exquisite feel of her not only aroused him but brought him a strange comfort. He wasn’t sure what it was or perhaps he did not want to admit it, but it was as if he was home when he was with her... a safe haven.
His fingers inched their way between her legs itching to dip inside her and bring her body to life. He sighed when he felt her moistness. It was as if she remained forever ready for him, only him. While his fingers played inside her, his thumb searched out the small nub that he would tease awake.
She might not be able to make a sound but the way her body responded to him spoke louder than words ever could. Her body possessed a magical rhythm that enticed and enthralled and that responded only to his touch. But then it seemed the same for him. His body responded to her exploring hands and tongue like no other and he wanted no other but her.
A dark thought intruded and he pushed it away. Tomorrow was time enough to tell her.
Her eyes fluttered open and her body stretched awake moving to the gentle rhythm he had set.
She smiled, tapped his chest, waved her hand around the room, nodded and crossed her heart.
“I am pleased to know that you had no doubt that I would keep my promise and return to you tonight.”
Her smile grew as she slipped her hand down between them to grasp hold of him and rub the tip of him against her.