Cree dismounted and went straight to his wife, grabbed her around the waist and yanked her up against him and kissed her as if he had not seen her in forever.
Wintra launched herself at Torr, who braced for the impact, catching her petite body in his strong arms and hauling her up against him and kissed her to show her just how much he had truly missed her.
He’s home. He’s safe. He’s mine. I love him. The litany rang repeatedly in her head and she was forever grateful, for it renewed, over and over, what she needed to hear, know, feel.
“Inside,” Cree ordered, “the weather grows colder and I grow hungry.” He pressed his mouth close to Dawn’s ear. “For more than food.”
She smiled, patted her chest, and nodded.
Torr held Wintra back for a moment as Cree and Dawn hurried into the keep.
“I have missed you more than I can express,” Torr said, “though I intend to show you how much, later.”
“And I shall do the same,” she said, “but first for nourishment to sustain us for the long night ahead.”
Torr laughed and ran up the steps and into the keep with Wintra close at his side.
Food aplenty was placed on the table as well as drink. Tankards were filled and plates piled high, and the two women sat close to their husbands as if by doing so they could keep them there.
Sloan joined them after seeing to the returning men and raised a tankard to their safe return. The servants even joined in with a cheer.
Cree finally spoke. “We were delayed because one of the warriors sent to see what he could find out about Kellmara met up with us on the way home. He insisted that I see for myself what he had seen, for he did not quite believe his own eyes.”
Wintra hooked her arm through Torr’s and snuggled closer to him. She worried over what she was about to hear, since in some way it would probably affect her.
“An emissary of the King waits at a campsite for Kellmara to arrive.”
“Why would an emissary from the King be with Kellmara?” Sloan asked.
“I do not know,” Cree said, “but we will find out soon. Kellmara is not far off. He should arrive by nightfall or morning.”
Before anyone could comment, the bell tolled announcing an approaching troop.
Sloan stood. “It appears Douglas Hawthorne, Earl of Kellmara was anxious to get here as soon as possible. I will ride out with the warriors to greet them and escort them to the village.”
Torr stood. “And enough time to refresh before meeting Kellmara.” He reached his hand out to Wintra to join him.
Cree nodded as he watched his sister hurry out of the keep with her husband. And a thought struck him. “It is a good hour or more before the troop reaches the rise. I should freshen myself and change into clean garments as well.”
Dawn smiled and gestured.
Cree grinned. “I was hoping you would want to help me.” He helped her off the bench, his hand suddenly going to her stomach. “You have rounded more in the short time since I’ve been gone. You and the babe are well?”
She nodded and tugged his hand to hurry him along.
He stubbornly refused to move when they reached the bottom of the steps. “You should wait down here.”
She planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Do not look at me like that. I have an aching need and damn if I do not want to pound the hell out of you. And that will not do now that you grow round with my child.”
She could see he was adamant about it, but she had missed him terribly and wanted an intimate moment with him whatever way she could get it. But how to convince him? The thought came easily and with his back to those left in the Great Hall, she stepped in front of him confident that no one would be able to see what she was about to do. Her one hand quickly slipped under the new plaid, he had just begun wearing, to grab hold of him and she raised her other hand up to her mouth and inserted one finger in it, then eased it out slowly, and then repeated the gesture over and over as she tugged on him, growing him ever harder.
“Damn it, woman,” he seethed through gritted teeth.
She let her hand drop away from her mouth and her tongue slipped out to slowly circle her lips as if showing how much she looked forward to tasting him.
He growled like an angry beast, scooped her up, and took the stone steps two at a time.
~~~
Torr closed the cottage door behind him and held his hand out to Wintra. “Come here.”
She drifted into his arms with a smile.