Highlander Unchained(29)

The door sprung open and Flanna walked in with a basket in each hand. John stopped at the threshold as usual, though both of them froze when they caught sight of the naked couple on the ground.

“Blasted, woman, put the baskets down and get out,” Cree screamed at her.

Flanna fumbled, dropping the baskets to the ground and cast a glance of pity at Dawn before turning and hurrying past the guard.

John laughed and nodded and as the door closed he could be heard saying, “Colum is going to want to hear about this.

Realization struck Dawn... Cree had done this to protect her. The guard would tell Colum that the prisoner had rutted with the dumb one and Flanna would spread the news as well. And she would have his scent upon her.

Tears threatened her eyes, but she forced them away. He had saved her from suffering at Colum’s hand and saved her from Goddard and while the villagers would certainly gossip about it, she at least was safe. She knew she should be grateful, but she could not help wonder why he had not actually coupled with her.

Cree got off her. “Get dressed.”

It was a curt command and she hurried into her clothes.

He slipped his things on and sat on the blanket, not glancing her way.

A crack of thunder had her jumping, though had not disturbed Cree in the least.

“Food,” he said.

She went to the baskets Flanna had brought and as she rifled through them she recalled the look of pity in Flanna’s eyes. Would she see that in others’ eyes? Would the villagers pity her and avoid her more now for having copulated with evil?

Pity is for fools, her mum used to say. Do what you must and be done with it. Get on with life for it will not wait for you.

She had to remember that and do what she must. She smiled seeing all the food Flanna had brought. If anything good came of this misfortune it was that she was eating better than she ever had and for that she should be grateful.

She picked up the baskets and walked over to the blanket where she began spreading out the food. She didn’t look once at Cree, and she wondered if he bothered to look at her.

Cree watched her closely. He liked watching her movements and he had liked feeling her move against him. The thought annoyed him, though what had annoyed him even more was his climax. Never had he experienced such an intense one and he hadn’t even been inside Dawn. He wondered if it would be more intense if he had been and if so would the climax be unimaginable and more satisfying than anything he had ever known?

She may not have been able to scream out when she came but he felt her release. Her body had grown taut like a string on a fine bow when stretched to release an arrow and her hands had squeezed his arms growing ever tighter until she had finally burst with pleasure. It had caused him to burst with satisfaction as well. He had nearly entered her several times. It had taken much control on his part not to, but he wondered how long that would last for he was already thinking of coupling with her again.

This would not do at all. He needed his wits about him and he needed them concentrated on the plan. Dawn had supplied him with relevant information without realizing it. The fool Colum was doing exactly what he had expected... prancing with pride. He gave no thought to the consequences of capturing Cree. He assumed that he had the evil-doer in his hands and he had no more to worry about. That was obvious by this small hovel Colum considered an adequate prison to hold the mighty Cree.

He had had enough of this forced confinement, not that he could not bear more if it were necessary. He had trained himself to endure most anything and had many times. However, this short time spent with Dawn had tested his will, and he did not care for the fact that he was having difficulty maintaining control. It was time to implement his plan.

That night as he lay wrapped around Dawn, her body relaxed in his arms he had the sudden realization that he would miss sleeping with her. She was not a fitful sleeper, pushing away from him during the night or jabbing him with flailing limbs. She remained tucked against him as if she was content being in his arms. And he had slept more peaceably than he ever had.

He tucked Dawn closer to him, resting his leg over hers and she didn’t protest; she snuggled contentedly against him.

He had to be done with this. There was too much at stake. This was the last time Dawn would ever lay in his arms; he would make sure of it.





Chapter Eleven


Dawn left Cree the next morning not sure what to think. All he had said to her was ‘go’ nothing more. It had sounded so final, as if he never wanted to lay eyes on her again. She didn’t have long to waste her thoughts on it since the guard John poked her in the back with a long stick urging her to the keep.

The sneer he wore told her all she needed to know and the stares, snickers, and whispers from the villagers who watched confirmed that news had spread that Cree had had his way with her.