She patted her chest and shook her head.
“You’ve never given yourself to a man?”
She continued shaking her head.
“You’re a virgin?”
She nodded slowly, as if perhaps she shouldn’t admit the truth to him.
“How have you managed,” —he laughed and shook his head— “Column has ordered his men to stay away from you. He’ll have none of his men sire a du —”
He bit his tongue as soon as he saw the hurt surface on her face, though she turned away from him quick enough.
“You will not turn away from me,” he ordered and she had no choice but to obey.
Her chin went up just a bit, but enough to be noticeable and though the hurt remained in her eyes, her face and the pale column of her neck had grown taut with courage.
“No one will lie between your legs but me.”
Her mind went silent and for a moment she knew what was meant by someone turning speechless. His edict had so shocked her that no thought came to her head.
“You belong to me now.”
It took her a moment to form a clear thought and when she did his words struck her hard.
Belong to me.
She was nothing but chattel to him, to be owned and worked like the burdensome beasts who toiled for their masters. She would be expected to spread her legs for him whenever he ordered, and she would not be able to object. Had she expected any different? Had she foolishly thought, if only for a few moments, that because he had attempted to converse with her that he would be kind and treat her as kindly as her friends?
A spark of anger misplaced her fear and suddenly she wanted to lash out at him and tell him she was not a woman to be used at his whim. But even if she had a voice, she would not be able to speak her mind or she would face Colum’s wrath. And a beating from him was something she might not survive. So she would deal with the lesser of two evils... and spread her legs for the infamous Cree.
Chapter Five
Cree watched Dawn as she gathered what was left of their meal and placed the remnants in the basket. He could tell by her fumbling movements that she was nervous, and it had been his fault.
His body certainly made no attempt to conceal his desire for her, having grown hard telling her that it would be him who would lie between her legs. He found her features plain, though her creamy skin looked soft to the touch and while her breasts were small they were pert enough to garner attention.
Damn if he wasn’t hurting with how hard he was swelling.
He had to stop this. He had no intention of coupling with a mute. He’d not spill his seed and worry that it would take root in her. He had worked too hard to throw away his dream for one night of lust.
Still, he could not take his eyes off her, the sway of her generous hips, the slimness of her waist, the gentleness of her movements. Try as he might, he could not help but wonder how she would respond to him if he coupled with her.
He shook the tormenting thought from his mind so hard that he stumbled.
He felt her hand on his arm and when their eyes met he saw concern in her dark eyes. She didn’t have to speak for him to know that she worried over him and his desire for her grew. Never had he seen a spark of concern for him in any woman’s eyes and it startled him to the point that he pulled away from her, as if her touch had burnt him.
Her head went down, and she turned away.
He grabbed her arm, and she swung her head around.
“I will warn you one more time only... never turn away from me.”
She bobbed her head, kept her eyes on his and shrugged as she pointed at him.
He easily understood that she was asking how he was. “Tired,” he said.
She slowly eased her arm from his grasp and set about arranging a sleeping pallet. He saw that she had saved some sprigs of heather and after bunching some of the rushes together she added the heather to them and then laid a clean wool blanket on top. She spread another blanket on top of that one and folded the top back.
“Well done,” he said with a nod to her.
She bobbed her head, and he was sorry to see that she did not smile. He liked when she smiled. It made him smile.
What was the matter with him thinking of smiles? He had no time for such nonsense. He had a mission to accomplish and foolish musings would not help him. He had to use her for what she was worth and be done with it and yet...
The thought did not set right with him. What little he could surmise, she was a good woman and did not deserve to be treated badly and yet...
Whatever was the matter with him? He had done far worse than using a lone woman to achieve victory. He could not allow himself to feel for this woman, mute or not. She was but a pawn in a high stakes battle and he would do what was necessary to be the victor just as always.
Cree motioned for her to lie down on the blanket.