Dawn was too shocked to move, though not too shocked for her body to quiver and it wasn’t from feeling chilled.
Cree stepped closer, his leather tunic brushing the tips of her nipples and hardening them in an instant while gooseflesh prickled her bare skin.
“My word is law and you will obey it.”
There was nothing left for her to do but nod.
“Stay as you are,” he ordered and turned and went to the door.
She wondered what he was doing when he opened it and stepped outside. She found out soon enough when he returned with a bucket of rainwater.
He placed it on the table. “Clean yourself.”
Surely he did not intend for her to wash in front of him, but she learned quickly enough that he had no intentions of going anywhere when he removed his leather tunic and slipped off his black shirt beneath.
“What do you wait for? Wash,” he ordered.
She could not stop her hands from shaking as she reached for the cloth that she had hung to dry by the fire. She told herself to be brave that he had seen her naked when they were in the hut together. But this was different, she argued with herself. The hut was dark with barely enough light for them to see each other. Here the room was aglow with the hearth’s light and her naked body clearly visible to him.
And worse... he didn’t take his eyes off her. They roamed over every inch of her as if he was inspecting her and determining her worth.
Hurry and be done with it, she admonished herself. Her hands continued to shake as she dipped the cloth in the rainwater and began to scrub her body. The rainwater was cold and she could not stop from shivering as she scrubbed the dirt off her body. She worked fast not only wanting to be done so that she could don her garments but to warm herself against the chill that felt as if it was seeping into her bones.
She undid the ties and slipped off her boots before bending over to wash her legs. She made sure to turn so that her back was to the hearth. Her breasts hung exposed but it was better than having her bare backside facing him.
The more he watched her the more it unnerved her. But then she supposed this was her punishment for freeing Dorrie, too humiliate her by making her tend herself while he watched.
She shivered again and turned to face the hearth needing the fire’s warmth.
She felt his presence behind her before his hand settled on her shoulder.
“Your back needs washing.”
He could not mean to wash her back. But when she tried to turn he squeezed her shoulder to still her.
“Stay as you are.”
His stern command froze her and she stiffened when she felt him rub the cloth over her back. When he dipped the cloth lower, running it over her backside much slower than was necessary, her body betrayed her sending a fit of tingles rushing between her legs.
Oh lord, she was sinful for responding to his touch. Whatever was the matter with her? He had told her he had no heart. He did not feel or care. He did not care now. He was punishing her and in more ways than one. She had never tasted passion until he had touched her and now she found that she wanted to taste more... but at what price?
She stiffened again when he ran the cloth down her legs, though gratefully he did not linger on them. A sigh rose in her chest, though remained locked there when she heard the cloth splash in the bucket. He was done.
Her relief was short-lived when he began to towel her back dry. And her tingles grew in leaps and bounds as he lingered on her backside.
By the time he finished she was throbbing between her legs and she was relieved when he handed her the towel and said, “Finish.”
She quickly ran the towel across her chest, though his stern command froze her hand.
“Turn around.”
Dawn did as ordered and turned to face him to finish drying herself. This time she could not avoid his eyes. It was impossible to, they gleamed with passion. And the sizeable swell beneath his leggings only served to confirm his craving.
That he would have her this night was obvious, but would it be as before? Would he spill his seed outside her fearful of getting her with child? Would it always be that way when he took her? Would she never know the feel of him buried inside her?
“Your need is as great as mine,” he said and her cheeks flushed red knowing passion gleamed as brightly in her eyes as it did in his.
She reached for the blanket draped over the chair at the table suddenly feeling much too vulnerable standing naked in front of him.
“Don’t,” he ordered sternly. “I want you naked.”
She shivered and felt herself grow wet. How could she want this man, who claimed not to care, so badly? He would take her and satisfy his need and that was all, but then wasn’t her need being satisfied as well? And what did she expect from a mighty warrior like Cree anyway?