Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy 1)

What else could she do? She stretched out on the blanket on her side and in no time was sound asleep.

Cree braced himself against the wall and stared at her. Little light was available, the skies outside having darkened and rain having begun to beat against the hut. He bent his knee resting his arm on it and continued to stare at her.

The more he stared the angrier he grew and he fought to contain it. It didn’t help that his eyes remained focused on her bruised cheek. His hand fisted when he thought of the pain she had endured when Colum had hit her not once but twice. He wished the man was standing in front of him right now, for he would squeeze the life out of him.

He dropped his head back against the wall and shut his eyes for a moment. It would do him no good to lose his temper now. He’d make Colum pay for what he did to Dawn, just not yet. But when the time came he would enjoy making the man suffer.

It did him no good to worry over Dawn or to place more importance on her than was necessary. She was a pawn like so many others and was to be used accordingly and yet…

He shook his head letting his glance linger on her once again. He couldn’t help but feel protective of her. When she had yawned and not a sound came from her mouth he realized, though could not comprehend, the prison that she lived in. He felt trapped in the confines of this shack, to be trapped in the confines of your own mind was incomprehensible. Perhaps that was why he felt the need to protect her. Though if he was honest with himself he would admit that for some unexplainable reason he was attracted to her. Even in his anger at her injures he found himself admiring her slender leg. She had height to her for a woman, though he still stood a head over her. And she was more shapely than thin and he liked that in a woman.

He grew hard with the thought of her and he cursed beneath his breath. He needed a woman that was the problem or so he tried to convince himself. He shook his head. He had more important matters to dwell on. He would see that she spent most of her time with him, and then shook his head.

That might not be a good idea. Having her in such close proximity and having an aching need for a woman could prove a problem. He wasn’t interested in coupling with her whether she had a body that enticed or not.

He let his eyes wander over the swell of her hip as she lay on her side and the way it curved to a slender waist and…

With a bolt he got to his feet and turned his back on Dawn. He shook his head and forced his thoughts elsewhere, anywhere but here. He heard her stir behind him and he turned to see that she had sat up.

Sleep lingered in her drowsy eyes and she pointed to him and her eyes turned wide. He knew that she asked if he was all right and he wanted to warn her not to do that, not to worry over how he felt, but he kept silent and let her concern stir his desire for her.

She waited patiently for an answer even though her eyes were still heavy with fatigue. He growled and snarled that she should be more concerned about him than the much needed sleep she obviously required.

He told himself to keep his distance, order her to return to sleep, and most of all turn away and not linger on her eyes that looked more languid with passion than with sleep. It was wishful thinking. She would not want him to touch her; she would startle and scream if she could. Or would she do what Colum expected of her and rut with the prisoner?

He was tempted to find out, though he warned himself against it.

Keep your distance. Keep your distance. The words echoed in his head but did he pay heed?

Not for long. He stomped over to her in two easy strides, dropped to his knees in front of her and brought his mouth down on hers. She did what he expected, leaned back away from him and he followed her down until she lay flat on her back, his hands braced on either side of her head. And then he kissed her.

Chapter Nine

Dawn had feared this moment, the anticipation of it causing her endless worry and yet it was necessary to her survival. If she didn’t couple with him, have his scent upon her, Colum would make her suffer.

Cree’s powerful strides had startled her as he had advanced and dropped down beside her. His intentions were obvious; he would have his way with her and be done with it. Instead he kissed her and the unexpected happened; it sent a pleasant shiver rippling through her.