Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 111355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Cree was there in an instant, his one hand pulling her hair back away from her face and his other hand going around her waist to support her. She felt better with him being there with her, though her retching didn’t stop and when it did, she leaned back against him spent.
He held her firm as he leaned down to scoop up a handful of clean snow and held it in front of her. She took some and ran it across her mouth, but she was simply too worn out to do any more than that.
He tossed the remainder of the snow aside and lifted her up into his arms. She didn’t have to look at him to know he was scowling; it was his way after all. So when she did look at him, his scowl wasn’t a surprise or the concern she saw in his eyes and while she did not wish to cause him worry, she was pleased to know how much he cared. It was one time that his scowl made her happy.
Relief flooded her when he carried her to her cottage. She feared he would take her to the keep and she did not want to go there. And no doubt it would cause a disagreement between them, but she was determined to stay in her home.
Funny that she now felt that way about her cottage. At first it had felt strange to her and now it was where she enjoyed being the most, but then perhaps Cree had something to do with that. She doubted she would feel so comfortable in the cottage if Cree did not share it as much as he did with her.
One of the guards on duty opened the cottage door when he saw them approach and closed it as soon as they entered. Cree walked into the other room keeping her tucked close against him. And she was fine with that. She loved being in his arms. She knew that she was safe there and loved... loved so much more than she ever thought possible.
He stood her beside the bed and slipped off her cloak flinging it to land at the bottom of the bed. Then he eased her to sit and with quick yanks took her boots off and flung them across the room as if in warning that she dare not put them back on.
“You are to rest,” he ordered.
She patted the spot beside the bed.
“Don’t think to try and coerce me into getting your own way. It will not work.”
She patted her lips and pointed back and forth between them, letting him know she wished to talk and once again patted the spot beside her.
Cree sat, though not close to her, a disappointment, but one she could remedy as they spoke.
“By evening you will be residing in the keep and there is no changing my mind.”
He was emphatic about it, but then so was she... she would not reside in the keep. She raised her hands and he quickly captured them in one hand.
“Listen to me well, Dawn. Somehow you found a way into my heart. I do not know how you managed it, but you did. I do not believe you fully grasp the depth of my love for you and what it would mean losing you and our babe. I have survived pain in my life but I could not survive losing you. I love you so much more than I ever thought I could possibly love anyone.”
He was right, she had known he loved her but she had never realized the depths of his love for her, and her heart soared with the newfound knowledge, as did her smile.
“The person who wishes you dead is here among us. I assume he expected to find you dead upon his arrival and when he didn’t, he grew furious that his plans had failed. The vicious attack on Bree proves that he will stop at nothing to see you dead. I believed you well protected, but somehow this person has evaded all attempts at capture. My only recourse now is to keep you by my side at all times, where I know without a doubt you will be safe. And when he strikes next, I will be there to finish him.”
Dawn wrinkled her brow. He was placing his own life in jeopardy by constantly keeping her close. He could very well suffer an arrow or dagger meant for her. Then what would she do without him? She felt as he did; she could not survive losing him. She yanked her hands free and began gesturing.
He let her go on and on and on until her hands began to slow and finally came to a rest. He then took both of her hands in his again and kissed her softly, though would have much preferred to kiss her with a hunger that was gnawing at his groin. Regrettably, now wasn’t the time to satisfy that hunger.