She nodded.

He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth near the bruised area. Does that hurt?

She shook her head.

He brushed his lips across her mouth. And that?

She shook her head again aching for more, so much more from him.

He took hold of her chin then and his lips took hers with such fervor that she thought for a moment that she would climax, but he stopped abruptly.

And that? he whispered against her mouth. Does that hurt you?

She pressed her finger against his arm twice and then twice more and then twice more.

He laughed. She had never heard him laugh and it made her smile.

Then you want more?

She pressed her finger to his arm at least seven times and he laughed again, and she liked the sound of it.

He kissed her again feverishly and she responded just as zealously. His hand roamed down to her breast while their tongues sparred like warriors hungry for victory. He cupped one and ran his thumb across her nipple teasing it until it was rock hard. Then he tore his mouth away from hers to settle it over her hard nipple and tease it unmercifully with his tongue.

She gripped his one wrist and squeezed hard hoping it would translate into the moan that was trapped inside her that she so badly wanted to release.

He went to work on her other breast while his hand made a slow descent down her body as if making certain to touch every inch of her, claim every inch of her, mark every inch of her and he did just that.

She was wanton and wicked for loving what he was doing to her, for what he was making her feel, for the pleasure he was giving her. But then the devil knew the sins of the flesh and she was succumbing to each and every one of them.

When his hand moved to cup between her legs she bucked against him. His mouth quickly descended on hers again and as his tongue charged into her mouth his finger hastily slipped between her legs and right inside her.

She gasped, though it could not be heard and he pressed his mouth more firmly against hers while his tongue took command and he inserted another finger inside her while his thumb settled over her sensitive nub and began to stroke it.

He set a rhythm then that had her moving with him and it wasnt long before she was ready to explode in a blinding climax. She gripped his wrist harder tugging at it as she did.

He drew a breath when his lips left hers, then rested his brow to hers. Youre so wet and tight. I cannot wait to lose myself in you.

His words fueled her own passion and her hand moved to grip his upper arm. The muscles were rigid and she held onto them for dear life as he moved over her. His fingers slipped out of her and while disappointed, she was more eager for him to slip inside her. She had never felt so alive. It was as if she pulsed with a life she never knew existed. And she was greedy for more.

He rose over her, his hands on either side of her head. Keep your hand on my arm. I like the way you squeeze it hard. He spread her legs with his knee. You will let me know if I hurt you.

It was an order not a request and Dawn nodded.

You are so beautiful, he whispered.

Only her mother had ever told her that she was beautiful and she was so startled by his words that her mouth dropped open and as it did he slipped inside her, just a nudge at first, and then he pushed hard into her and she gasped deep in her chest and her hand squeezed his arm so hard she thought she would break it.

Are you all right? he demanded not moving.

Surprisingly, she felt wonderful and smiled.

He smiled back at her and kissed her quickly. Youre going to feel a whole lot better soon. And he began to move, pulling out, driving in and Dawn matched his tempo wanting him deeper and deeper inside her.

Damn, he mumbled throwing his head back as he drove in and out of her.

She didnt realize it but her one finger kept tapping his arm over and over and over as if she was screaming yes, yes, yes, at him.

It was the most glorious feeling she had ever experienced and though sinful as it was, she hoped to feel it again and again with Cree... only with Cree.

Soon all thoughts vanished and all she could feel was the immense pleasure building and building until she was on the edge of exploding and seeing Crees face contorted in pleasurable pain she knew he felt the same.

Soon, very soon she would burst in fiery climax and he would do the same and she would finally feel him spill into her and that would truly join them as one. She felt it, it was coming, oh lord was she coming. She squeezed his arm tighter and tighter and tighter.

Cree pulled out of her just as she was about to explode and she deflated in an instant.

He collapsed on top of her, his arms going around her waist and holding her tight as his body shuddered in release.

Dawn wanted to scream, she wanted to cry, and she wanted to beat her fisted hands hard on his back. Why? Why did he do that to her? But she knew the answer. He did not want to take the chance of his seed taking root for fear he would have a child without a voice... like her.

She felt numb, empty, and she moved her hands off him not wanting to touch him, not wanting him to touch her, and not wanting him near her, not when she was hurting like this.

He kissed her stomach, light delicate ones, before raising his head to look at her. Are you all right?

She nodded.

He moved up alongside her and took her in his arms tucking her against him. He said no more and she lay still in his embrace. She wished that he would go and leave her alone in her misery. To know that he would lie with her, have his way with her, and yet never come inside her tore at her heart. She was there for his enjoyment whenever he wished; she meant nothing more to him than a place to dip his wick"she laughed inwardly. He might dip it but he had no intentions of extinguishing it inside her. That would be left for the woman he would wed.

I must go, he said and nuzzled kisses at her neck. Sleep and I will see you on the morrow.

She nodded and gave his hand a slight squeeze not wanting him to suspect that she was glad to see him go.

He dressed quickly and with one last quick kiss he left the room. She fought back the tears that threatened to overflow. He still had to get his shirt and tunic on and she did not want him to return and find her in tears. Once she heard the door close, she hopped out of bed, grabbed the soft blue shawl and wrapped it around her.

She could not bring herself to return to bed so she sat in front of the hearth, her knees tucked up under her chin and let her tears fall. She was being punished, punished for letting the devil have his way with her and enjoying it. And for thinking that somehow she could get his heart to be silent no more.

Cree sat alone at a table in front of the hearth in the Great Hall his legs stretched out in front of him staring at the flames. He was only slightly wet, the rain having turned light. It was late and everyone was tucked in bed, if not asleep. He was sure that Sloan had found some willing woman, he always did.

He had thought of spending the night with Dawn, he had actually wanted to but it would not have been a wise thing to do. He would have made love to her again and probably again before sunrise, he had enjoyed her that much. He had come so hard that he swore it shivered him down to his soul. And still he had thought about taking her again. He had silently cursed himself for pulling out of her as he came but what choice did he have. He could not risk her carrying his child. His bride would arrive soon and hopefully soon after the wedding she would be with child and he would have a legitimate heir.

He wondered if he would enjoy his wife in bed as much as he enjoyed Dawn. It didnt matter though. He would have no love for his wife. She would be there to serve a purpose, as Dawn served a purpose.

Then why did he want nothing more than to return to Dawn, make love to her again, and afterwards curl around her and sleep beside her until morning?

Damn. Damn. Damn.

He stood and warned himself to go to his bedchamber and go to sleep. He did not need to complicate the situation any further. It would do no good. His thoughts of her had already aroused him and he knew he wanted her at least one more time tonight or maybe two more times. With thoughts of different ways he could have Dawn, he left the Great Hall and headed for her cottage.

He opened the door as quietly as possible not wanting to wake her if she should be asleep, though he intended to do just that. He grinned at the thought of raining kisses all over her lovely naked body. He disposed of his clothes before entering the bedchamber and stopped abruptly when he saw her sitting in front of the fire. The way her shoulders shook he knew that she was crying.

Seeing her sitting alone crying silent tears tore at his heart so badly that he wanted to pummel someone with his fists but then it would be him who deserved the beating for no doubt he was the cause of her tears. He was at a loss at what to do. He rarely dealt with crying women. They were usually pleasurably satiated when he left them, but then he had never taken a womans virginity.

Was she upset that she had lost it to him? But she had given it willingly. What then could have brought on her tears? The sudden thought was like a punch to his gut. Could he not have pleased her? Had he left her wanting? He had to know.

He called out her name and she turned wide, shocked, and wet eyes on him.

He immediately went to her, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to the bed and sat keeping her on his lap, his arms firmly around her. And damn if he didnt like the way her bottom nestled so perfectly against the hard length of him, growing him even harder.

Whats wrong? he asked and kissed her gently.

She shook her head.

That will not do, he said wiping away her tears. You must tell me.

She swallowed hard and again shook her head.

He burrowed his nose in her hair. Have I told you how I love the scent of you?

Love. He loved the scent of her. Was his heart attempting to speak to her?

I enjoyed making love to you, he whispered and nibbled along her ear. Did you enjoy it?

Making love. Was his heart opening? Trying to be heard? She did not need to think on his question and so she nodded, for she truly had enjoyed making love with him that was until...

I came hard, harder than I ever have. And you? he gently kissed her bruised eye.

She nodded slowly.

He stared at her and his eyes narrowed. You nod and yet your finger taps my arm twice.

She turned rigid in his arms. Had she done that? She hadnt realized she did and she lowered her chin not wanting to look at him, not wanting him to see the truth.

He lifted her chin gently. You didnt come did you?

There was no point in lying to him, though she had no intentions of explaining why she hadnt come. She simply shook her head.

I pulled out of you before you could come, didnt I?

Her cheeks flushed red and she wanted to fade away. He shouldnt be talking to her this way. They were not husband and wife. And did husbands and wives even dare to speak so intimately?

Listen to me, Dawn, he ordered firmly. Your pleasure is my pleasure and I will not have you robbing either one of us of it. We must establish a signal that lets me know when you are coming. I had thought by how hard you squeezed my arm that you were in the throes of coming.

He wanted a signal so that he would have time to make sure she climaxed before he pulled out of her. She couldnt help but wonder how it would feel for them to climax together.

Wicked.

She certainly had become wicked but then the devil had led her astray and there was no turning back now. She was doomed and no one could save her. She reached up and tugged at his ear.

That could work, he said and smiled. Shall we try it?

He didnt give her a chance to agree. He stood, smiled, dropped her on the bed, and spread her legs.

Oh how she loved his smile, though rare it was and how happy she was to see him hard and ready. Though he had been that way when he had planted her on his lap and knowing that he wanted her again had sparked her own passion.

He positioned himself between her legs and then slowly lowered himself over her as he inched his way inside her. Damn, but you fit as if you were made for me and me alone.

Her heart leaped for joy not to mention how wet she grew and her arms wrapped around him hugging him to her. He moved his mouth over hers for a kiss and she took hold of it hungry for the taste of him.

He drove into her over and over, though he stopped once to ask her if she was all right and she smiled and nodded, which had him grinning.

Lord help her, she wanted him as deep inside her as she could get him and instinctively she wrapped her legs around his back and sure enough he sank deeper into her.

Their passion grew, their rhythm turning fast and furious.

Her climax was building even more powerful than before and she could tell that his was as well. And the thought hit her...what if she waited... waited until...

She tightened her legs around him and gripped his arms tightly.

He looked at her and breathlessly asked, Soon?

She nodded and tightened her legs around him even more and he moaned driving into her.

She was on the edge again, ready to come, ready to step off and plummet in pleasure and she saw the same in his eyes, felt it in his frantic rhythm and she bucked hard against him driving him into her hard. And only then did she tug at his ear.

He cried out her name and at that precise moment she knew he was coming and she stepped off the edge with him.

Chapter Twenty-four.

Cree left Dawn just after sunrise. It was rare that he was not out of bed before daylight rose over the land but today he had a reason to dally and he had dallied. He had woken wrapped around Dawn. She had been so warm, her skin so soft, her scent strong with last nights endless lovemaking. He hadnt been able to keep his hands off her and when he touched her she had been so very responsive that he had not wanted to hurry and he hadnt. And damn if he hadnt found himself exploding with a never-ending pleasure deep inside her.

He wasnt sure how many times they had coupled, though it seemed that each time he woke throughout the night and found himself cocooned around her hed grown hard and his hands would begin to touch her, and then all was lost. And whether it was a quick joining or a lingering one he had burst in a blinding climax.

He smiled, though it fast turned into a scowl thinking what little control he had over himself when it came to Dawn. He had cursed himself, after he finally had gotten a breath, for coming inside her and had cautioned himself not to do it again. But he had paid no heed or perhaps it was that once inside her, he was lost... lost in pure pleasure. His scowl deepened as he entered the keep and made his way to the Great Hall where Sloan was talking with a group of warriors.

Out for an early morning walk? Sloan asked his grin much too wide to Crees liking.

Looking to see why you have yet to dispatch the men to find the culprit you failed to find yesterday, Cree said as he approached the group.

The warriors bowed their head and stepped aside clearing a path for Cree to Sloan who had not stopped grinning.