Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2)

She stepped out of Cree’s arms and moved away from. He went to reach for her and she brushed his hand away. A deep scowl warned he wasn’t pleased with her action and she sent him a scowl back letting him know that she wasn’t pleased as well. His brow shot up as if he could not believe her reaction.

Dawn pointed to each one of them and then tapped her chest hard, then her ear and once again pointed at them letting them know that they better listen to her. The three men stared at her shocked or compliant it didn’t matter; she intended to have her say.

With tempered gestures so that they could understand her, she began, though it didn’t take long for those gestures to turn adamant and become obvious to all that she was angry. She let them know that she was tired of being dictated to and that she would be making her own decisions from this moment one. And if any of them didn’t like it, she didn’t care. She would do whatever she had to do to take care of herself. She had been doing so before they had come along and she would do so again.

Kirk was the first to speak when her hands turned silent. “I am proud that you are so courageous and have such an independent nature, but you are in danger and in need of protection.”

“Father’s right,” Torr joined in. “If someone wasn’t out to harm you I would agree with you and so would have Teressa. Her nature was much like yours. But you are in danger and must keep that in mind.”

Dawn felt a twinge of sorrow for never having gotten to know her sister. It would have been nice to have spent time with someone just like herself. They no doubt would have understood each other better than anyone could have.

“We cannot waste any more time here discussing this,” Cree said. “I want Dawn safely back home before Gerwan arrives. We can settle this there.”

Kirk and Torr agreed and before Dawn knew what was happening they mounted their horses and were on their way home.

Dawn knew Cree well and she could tell he was annoyed. While his scowl was not as deep, a slight scrunch between his brows had remained. And when she rested her hand on his arm that wrapped snugly around her waist, she felt the muscles there bunched tightly. She waited knowing any moment he would have something to say to her.

Sure enough, he leaned down and whispered, “Nice little speech, but it changes nothing. You are mine and will remain mine.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t like being his, after all she did love him, but annoyance stirred in her at being dismissed so easily. Didn’t he even give thought to what she had said? Did he not care what she wanted? Was his wants his only concern?

Agitated, she felt the need for a bit of distance from him and moved away from where she leaned against his chest and without realizing it removed her hand off his arm.

Cree yanked her back against him and rested his face next to hers as he whispered, “Do not pull away from me. I do what I do to keep you safe. If you are angry with me for that then so be it, but that will not change… not now, not ever.”

How could she stay made at him for wanting to keep her safe? His actions continued to prove how much he cared for her, though she wished he would pay more heed to her wants. Perhaps she hadn’t made herself heard enough.

She tapped his chest and turned to look at him.

“Don’t bother to argue with me; you won’t win.”

His words angered her. It sounded as if he delivered a final edict. She cocked a brow and jabbed him in the chest.

“Not here, not now,” he said with a snarl.

She gestured adamantly jabbing the space between them and shrugging wanting to know if not here and now, when?

“Later when we are alone, though there is little that you can say that will make a difference.”

Perhaps he was right. His word was law, though that didn’t mean she could not have her say, make herself heard and at least feel that she finally spoke up for herself. Not that it mattered all that much since little she said would probably be considered, but she strongly felt the need to do so. She might not have a voice but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make herself heard.

They arrived home late in the evening. Cree took her to her cottage and told her that he would return later. She did not argue with him and she did not care that the men might talk without her. In the end she would have her say.