Her brow shot up.
He scowled at her. “Do I have to remind you that you are with child?”
This time her brow narrowed.
“You will take no chances,” he snapped.
Dawn stopped abruptly a short distance from the keep and waved her hands as if taking everything in around her, then jabbed her husband in the chest.
His scowl deepened. “Are you saying this whole thing is my fault?”
A sharp nod of her head confirmed that was exactly what she meant.
Cree folded his arms across his chest. “And how did you come by that conclusion?”
Dawn’s hands went flying in gesture after gesture.
“Slow down,” he ordered, not able to keep up with her. “All I got was something about in bed this morning.” It dawned on him then and seeing that the whole ordeal had attracted attention, he took hold of her arm and hurried her into the keep, straight past startled servants, and up to their bedchamber.
Beast barely made it past the closing door and to a comfy spot by the hearth when Cree said, “Are you suggesting that if I hadn’t left you alone in bed this morning none of this would have happened?”
Another sharp nod confirmed he got it right.
“Beast woke me, and I could tell it was not only that he needed to go out, but something also agitated him and sure enough he sensed men were gathered in the Great Hall waiting for me to wake. Dermid must have told you where I had gone.”
Dawn nodded.
“Then what really is the problem, Dawn,” he demanded, though he suddenly realized what it was. “You’re annoyed I didn’t wake you and make love with you this morning.”
Her chin shot up and she stubbornly did not answer him.
“And why didn’t you wake me last night?” he asked, walking over to her.
She glared at him but did not answer, feeling foolish for having let his absence from bed this morning annoy her. He had a good reason for not being there and she should not complain about it.
Cree stepped closer and Dawn stepped away feeling foolish for letting her need for him interfere with common sense.
“I do not like when you step away from me. Come here, Dawn,” he commanded.
She could stand her ground, remain stubborn, and continue to argue with him, or she could go to her husband because it was what she wanted to do—she stepped toward him.
Cree stepped forward to stand close enough to her to rest his brow against hers and whisper, “We have a need, you and me, fueled by—” He felt her hand press firm against his chest and whispered what her gesture had said, “Love.” His hand went to the back of her neck to caress it. “I love you more each day and my desire for you is even more potent then when we first met. You are as essential to me as a heartbeat. I cannot exist without you.”
His loving words brought a tear to her eyes and one escaped and rolled down her cheek.
Cree wiped the lone tear away with his thumb then captured her face in his hand before bringing his lips to meet hers.
It had not been that long since he had kissed her with such intensity, but it seemed as if it had, and Dawn reveled in the exquisite pleasure that rushed through her.
Cree began walking his wife back toward the bed without interrupting their kiss. He had not had enough of his wife’s lips lately and he intended to savor them.
A sharp rap at the door stilled them.
“My lord, Chieftain Newlin wishes to speak with you,” a servant called out.
“He can wait!” Cree shouted.
“Aye, my lord,” the servant called back, and hasty footfalls were heard in retreat.
When he turned his attention back to his wife, he caught a hesitancy in her eyes. “We may not be able to linger here, the day still early, but nothing nor anyone will deny us this brief time together.”
He surprised her when he walked past her to the bed and sat, though smiled when he spread his legs and moved his plaid aside.
“Come here, wife, I have a need for you,” he said with a playful grin.
Dawn smiled, seeing the enormous need he had for her, and she walked toward him, inching up her garment as she went.
When she was not far from him, he reached out to slip his hand beneath her drawn-up garment and take hold of her backside and eased her to him.
“Slow and easy. I do not want to hurt you,” he cautioned, lowering her down slowly on him.
Dawn could remind him that his large manhood never caused her any pain, but she was enjoying her slow descent on his shaft far too much to make mention of it. She kept her eyes on her husband so he could see how much she was enjoying the feel of him sliding into her.