Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
He finally tightened his arm around her waist, yanked her harder against him and whispered harshly in her ear. “Stay still or I’ll bury myself deep inside you.”
She froze stiff against him and he warned himself to ignore the sweet scent of her soft hair that tickled at his nose, the warmth of her body that seemed to feed his heat, and the feel of her rounded backside that made him swell to an aching hardness.
He forced his thoughts elsewhere. He refused to succumb to lust when so much depended on his success here.
“While a nod or shake of your head answers simple questions there may be times when your response is best left between us,” he said, “in which case you will find a way to touch me once for yes and twice for no. Do you understand?”
He was pleased when she pressed her finger once against his arm.
“Good, now go to sleep.” He yanked her harder against him to let her know that she was to stay where she was, and closed his eyes and in no time drifted off into a much needed slumber.
Dawn listened to his steady breathing, his cheek pressed against the side of her head, his arm tight around her and his leg clamped over her two. She couldn’t move, but then where would she go. The guards had no intention of letting her out until morning.
She wished sleep would have claimed her as quickly as it had claimed Cree, but the worries that continued to mount kept sleep at bay. She certainly was relieved that he hadn’t force himself on her, though she had no doubt that he had considered it. His lust weighed heavily in his eyes as did the way his glance drifted far too intimately over her more than once. Then of course there was the bulging size of him that was finally abating. It had dug into her when he had heaved her against him. She had thought he would take her there and then and was surprised when he hadn’t.
This was one time she was glad to be mute. He probably wanted nothing to do with a voiceless woman and that was fine with her, though she didn’t know how it would fair with Colum once he found out, though who would tell him?
Would Cree request another woman to tend him? Had the guards watched through the narrow slit in the door? She sighed inwardly wondering what to do and then realized there was nothing she could do. She hated being helpless; it left her feeling vulnerable. And she felt that way much too often.
It had troubled her when he had spoken of a time when he may wish to communicate with her without others noticing. She had no idea when such a time could possibly come or why their communication should be private. But she let him have his way and did what he had asked.
What troubled her even more was that she had not a bit of news to take back to Colum, and if she didn’t find something out soon, he would surely punish her for disobeying him.
She closed her eyes and wished this was all a nightmare and that she would find herself waking in her cottage. Though small, it was a fine home to her with a soft sleeping pallet and single table and chair and that was where she wanted to be right now... home.
A tear quickened in her eye and she forced it away. Tears would do her no good and besides crying seemed a waste since it only brought more suffering to her silence. No one could hear her cry and so her cries seemed louder inside her head.
Sleep began to intrude on her endless musings and she no longer could keep her eyes open. She fell asleep, though woke periodically throughout the night, finding herself in the same position, Cree not having moved a muscle.
She startled once in her sleep, and Cree was quick to tighten his hold on her.
“Do you try to flee?” he whispered.
She tapped his arm twice.
“Then settle yourself. You have woken me too often this night.”
She tensed, fearful of disturbing him.
A moment later he asked, “Did a nightmare frighten you?”
She tapped him once.
“Was I in it?”
She again tapped his arm once, though he truly wasn’t in her nightmare... he was her nightmare.
~~~
Sunrise found Cree still asleep and Dawn awake and ready to take her leave. She was relieved when she woke to find he had released his hold on her and had turned on his side away from her. She had gotten quickly, though quietly to her feet, grabbed the food basket and knocked on the door to draw the guard’s attention.
He opened the door and with a grin ordered, “You’re to go directly to liege lord Colum. Don’t stop anywhere.”