His grin grew wicked when he grabbed her shoulders and walked her backward to the bed, giving her a shove when the back of her legs touched the edge. As she fell back he took hold of her legs and yanked off her boots. Then he came down on top of her nesting his hardness between her legs.

Now thats where I want to be. He kissed her softly. Do you want me there, love?

Love. The word turned her into a simpering fool, but what did she care. She wanted him snug inside her just as much"perhaps more"than he wanted to bury himself in her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with a fervor that had stirred in her from when she first entered the room and saw him naked and hard.

He responded in kind, his kiss deep, and hungry. His arm went around her waist, lifting her to move her further along the bed so that their legs did not hang off the edge. Then he nestled over her raining kisses down along her neck until he reached her breasts and then he nipped playfully at her nipples that budded tightly like a flower before full bloom.

She ran her fingers through his glorious soft hair, digging into his scalp, holding him against her wanting him never to stop. But he did, not that she complained since he moved slowly down her body worshiping it with gently nips and tender kisses.

He raised his head for a moment and said, Damn, but I love the taste of you.

He worked his way slowly down her body and before he could settle his face between her legs, she tugged at his arm. He looked up and she shook her head and gestured for him to enter her and relieve her torment.

With a wicked grin he shook his head. I am going to make you come over and over until youre so spent you can do nothing but collapse in my arms... where you belong.

Belong. Yes, she belonged in his arms, belonged here in bed with and belonged in his heart. His love was silent like her voice but she heard it as clearly as he heard her. Her heart swelled along with her passion as his tongue pleased her in ways she never thought possible. He did make her come over and over until finally, he could no longer stand it himself. He entered her quick and fast, though he did not climax that way. He took his time pleasuring her as well as himself with deep penetrating thrusts. And she locked her legs around him taking him deeper and deeper, locking tightly around him until neither one of them could contain it any longer. In unison they exploded in a climax that sent them hurdling, surging, and erupting over and over until Cree collapsed spent on top of her.

After a moment, when sanity returned, Cree felt Dawns body shake with laughter. He looked at her and saw that she wore a wide grin and that her body still rumbled against him with laughter.

You find our love making funny? he asked teasingly, knowing her too well to think their love making anything but satisfying.

She shook her head and continued smiling as she tapped his chest, sighed soundlessly though heavily, her shoulders drooping and then wrapped her arms as far as they would go around his back.

He laughed. Im spent and in your arms.

She nodded, patted her chest and hugged him.

You love me in your arms.

There was that word again. Love. And he was right; she loved him in her arms and all others ways too, though for now she nodded and smiled and hugged him tighter.

I love being in your arms, he whispered and brushed her lips with his. And I love being inside you.

She wiggled against him.

You like it too.

She nodded, pressed a finger to his mouth, then to hers and patted her chest.

He scrunched his brow for a moment. You like the way we talk?

She pressed once against his arm.

He brushed his lips over hers once again and slipped off her, settling her in his arms to rest against him and pulled the blanket over them. I have found it easy and pleasing to talk with you from when we first met.

Dawn raised a brow.

You communicate much better than you think, although when you get angry it is a bit more difficult to understand you. In time Im sure that wont matter, Ill understand you perfectly.

In time. They had time and it would seem much of it and that pleased her, though feeling a prisoner didnt. Now, however, was not the time to burden him with such a discussion. He was still healing, though she could attest to the return of his stamina.

Im hungry, he announced with a hug.

She scrambled over him and he teasingly wrapped his arm around her waist and his hand went to her buttocks to give it a firm squeeze. We spend the day in bed, you and me. I have left instructions that no one was permitted to disturb me until I allowed it. So we have the day and the night, for I need the time to heal and I need... you.

She pointed to herself and then to him.

I know you need me as well. We are one, you and I, and we always will be.

His hand went to the back of her neck and he forced her head down so that her mouth met his and he kissed her with a fiery fury that let her know in no uncertain terms that he meant it.

She rested her brow to his for a moment to catch her breath. Her hands cupped her face and he brushed his lips over hers. I have never know such tasty kisses until I kissed you.

Her heart soared, she smiled, patted her chest, shook her head and tapped his chest.

He laughed. You have no one to compare my kisses to.

Her smile faded and she kissed him lightly, shook her finger, tapped his lips, tapped lips, and shook her head.

You want only my kisses?

She nodded.

That is good, for my kisses are the only ones you will ever taste, the only ones you will ever need.

She smiled again and nodded enthusiastically.

He smiled and laughed and kissed her soundly. You make me laugh and smile, things I have not done often enough. He slapped her bottom playfully And now it is time to feed me, woman, for I have an insatiable lover and I must keep up my stamina to please her.

She laughed soundlessly and tapped his chest.

Im insatiable? Cree huffed.

Dawn grinned and crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself.

You love that I am.

Her eyes went wide, her brow went up and she nodded slowly.

Cree laughed again and hugged her tightly rocking them back and forth. Damn, woman, but Im glad your mine.

She gave a pat to her chest to let him know she felt the same about him as she scrambled off him. Cree reluctantly released her.

Dawn leaned over to pick up her clothes.

Dont dare dress. I want you naked. We will stay naked all day and stay in bed all day. We will eat, talk, sleep, and make love throughout the entire day.

That sounded perfect to Dawn and she hoped it would be so. She hurried to gather the food she had made and they were soon feasting on porridge and bread.

I have sent for my sister to come live here, Cree said tearing a piece of bread off the flat loaf.

Dawns eyes turned wide and she didnt need to gesture for Cree to understand.

Yes, I have a sister. I let no one know about her for fear my enemies would harm her, he said. I have not seen her in a few years. She is a woman grown now, ten and nine years. I hope to make a fine match for her; a man of substance, one who will look after her and treat her well.

Dawn wondered how is sister would feel about having a husband chosen for her. But then being of nobility, his sister had little choice. She would have to obey her brothers edict whether it pleased her or not.

Wintra is like you, he said with a tweak to the tip of her nose, getting herself into all sorts of things she shouldnt. You two will get along well.

Dawn looked forward to meeting her, though she wondered how friendly they could become. She was after all a lowly peasant. It was Crees wife his sister would befriend.

He rested a hand to his stomach and Dawn was quick to place her hand over his, his eyes having taken on a pained expression.

I am fine; my stomach but sours slightly. Elsa had told me it was to be expected and that I should rest a day or two and limit my intake of food. But my body calls for sustenance and I have never lain abed all day. He smiled. But then I never had reason to. Now I have you. His smile faded as a heavy yawn hit him and he dropped his head back.

She hurried to clean away the food. When she went to tuck the blanket around him he stopped her.

Not until you are in this bed with me.

She nodded and quickly added more logs to the fire before slipping into bed beside him and tucking the blanket around them both. She snuggled against him and his arms went around her.

You will not leave me, he said. I want to wake with you in my arms.

She nodded and rested her head on his chest. She did not know if she would sleep but it did not matter. She was content to have him here beside her and she would enjoy this time she had with him even if it meant lying there in his arms while he slept, for she knew not when she would have such an intimate moment with him again.

She woke with a start, not knowing if she had slept a few moments or several hours. When she realized that the room had taken on a chill. She cast an eye at the hearth and saw the flames low and she knew they had slept hours. Cree still slept and she did not want him to wake to a cold room so she eased herself out of her arms, though she didnt get far.

I am not awake yet and you are to be in my arms when I wake.

She poked him playfully and then pretended to shiver.

The room has chilled. You stay; Ill tend the fire, he said opening his eyes.

She shook her head and wiggled out of his arms.

Dawn, he warned but she was out of bed and at the hearth before he stretched himself awake.

She added three logs, some kindling, and stoked the embers until the wood caught and the hearth was ablaze and then she added another log. She held her hands out in front of the fire for a moment before hurrying back to bed.

Cree held the blanket back for her and she climbed in beside him. He shivered when she pressed her chilled, naked body against his.

Im going to have to warm you, he said hugging her tight.

She agreed with an eager nod.

This lying abed all day is not bad at all, he said and nibbled at her neck.

She scrunched her shoulders, against the tickling sensations running throughout her body.

I think well take this love making slower than before.

She grew wet at the thought, thinking that they certainly hadnt hurried the last time. And wanting to give him as much pleasure as he gave her, she slipped her hand down to take hold of his hard organ and relished its silky feel.

Hmmm that feels good, Cree whispered in her ear and then nibbled at her earlobe.

Not sure what to do, Dawn let instinct take hold and she found herself stroking him, up and down, harder, softer, harder again. Then she suddenly got the urge to taste him as he had done to her. She wiggled her way down and when she gave a tentative taste, she discovered that she liked the flavor.

She gave no thought to anything but enjoying herself and she licked and tasted delighted and fueled by her passion. When he moaned loudly she realized she had fueled his as well and liked that she held such power over him. So she set to work, though it was no work at all but rather pure pleasure, to driving him mad.

After several minutes Cree groaned, Good God, woman.

She grinned before taking him deeper into her mouth and thats when the pounding on the door interrupted them.

Cree! Cree! I insist that you open this door now.

Dawn jumped off the bed upon hearing Lucernes demand.

Cree let several oaths fly, lunged out of bed and stark naked walked into the other room and flung open the door.

Chapter Seven.

You go against my command! Cree screamed at Lucerne.

For a moment Lucerne stood speechless staring at him, her eyes growing rounder as she took all of him in.

Dawn had slipped on Crees shirt and had positioned herself at the bedroom doorway to peek beyond the curtain that separated the two rooms and catch a glimpse of what was going on. A draft swirled in from the open door and along the floor to nip at her bare feet and she worried that Cree in all his naked splendor would catch a chill. She also could not believe that Lucerne questioned Cree. She had barely arrived and wasnt yet his wife yet acted as if she was.

Lucerne finally moved to step into the cottage but Cree blocked her entrance with his arm.

Why are you here and not in the keep in your bed chambers? she more demanded than asked. And why are you naked?

Neither is any concern of yours. Return to the keep now.

Lucerne went to respond.

Cree leaned forward, his face an inch from hers. Disobey me and Ill see you secluded in your quarters until your parents arrive. Elwin, he roared and the guard stepped forward, see that my lady returns safely to the keep.

Aye, my lord, Elwin said with a bob of his head and as Cree stepped back Elwin stepped between them and ushered Lucerne away.