Highlander's Promise Read online

  Kirk went to stand and explain.

  “Sit!” Cree ordered, pointing at the man, while turning his eyes on his wife.

  Dawn was glad her father sat and did not argue with Cree, from the scowl on his face his temper was close to erupting.

  Elsa stepped aside when Cree approached his wife. “I leave you for a short time and this is what happens?” He did not expect or want an answer from her. He was not finished speaking yet. He turned to Kirk. “And you—her father—join her in her folly?” Again he did not expect a response and he did not get one. Kirk McClusky wisely remained silent. “Will you ever obey me?” Cree threw his hands up. “A foolish question, since you have yet to obey me.”

  Dawn heard anger in his words, but saw worry in his eyes. With heartfelt gestures, she let him know how sorry she was for upsetting him.

  “You apologize for upsetting me, but not for disobeying me?”

  She nodded and a sudden pain shot through the one sting on her cheek and she cringed.

  Cree spewed several oaths, reached out and took her hand, and turned to Elsa. “Do something for her.” He moved to Dawn’s side, out of Elsa’s way and while the woman tended his wife, he looked to Kirk. “Explain.”

  Kirk detailed the whole event and finished with, “I was pleased after all this time of not knowing my daughter that I could finally be a father to her.”

  Dawn squeezed her husband’s hand when he looked ready to argue with her father and was relieved when instead he turned to Elsa.

  “Do you think this honey will help heal her wound?”

  “I am not sure, but I believe it is worth trying,” Elsa said.

  “And the bee stings on her face?”

  “They have not gotten worse since she arrived here, so there is no fear of further swelling. I will apply honey to them as well. They should improve and possibly fade in a few hours, though they may be painful and itchy for a while.”

  Kellmara suddenly appeared at the open door. “Cree, I need to speak with you—now.”

  By the man’s abrupt and commanding tone, Cree knew it was important. He released his wife’s hand and planted his face close to hers. “Do not dare move from here until I return for you.”

  Dawn nodded.

  Cree looked to Kirk as he headed to the door. “Do not let her leave here.”

  “As you want,” Kirk said.

  Cree stopped abruptly. “I want a wife who will do what I tell her so that she does not drive me mad with worry of losing her.”

  “And I believe my daughter is grateful she has a husband who loves her for who she is and not who he wants her to be... even if she can be trying at times,” Kirk said with a smile.

  Dawn nodded and smiled at her da, pleased that he had voiced what she could not.

  Cree turned to his wife and she quickly tapped her chest, crossed her arms over it and pointed at him, telling him she loved him.

  He walked over to her in three quick strides, laid his hands on her waist and lifted her off the chair and sat her on the table, planting his hands on either side of her and his face so close that their noses almost touched. “Your love for me is not in doubt, my sanity is, so take pity on me and at least promise me you will obey me while this threat that looms over our clan is settled.”

  Dawn did not want her husband to worry over her when he had more important matters that concerned him and she quickly gestured, promising him while hoping she would be able to keep her promise.

  Cree kissed her lightly. “Here. Stay right here,” he reminded and left her staring after him as he hurried out the door.

  It was barely a few moments later that Cree stuck his head in the door and looked to Kirk. “Once Elsa is finished with Dawn, take her to the keep and see that she stays there.”

  Dawn wondered what news Kellmara had told Cree that appeared to not only had upset him, but had anger smoldering in his dark eyes.

  Her da was quiet when he walked her to the keep after Elsa had finished with them. She sensed he was anxious to be off, no doubt to see what Kellmara had found out. She was as well, but that would have to wait. She was feeling much too tired to do anything but rest.

  When they reached the keep’s steps, Dawn stopped and gestured to her da, letting him know that she intended to go to her bedchamber and take a much needed rest.

  “Your word on that, Dawn?” Kirk asked.

  She nodded and smiled, though a yawn quickly stole it from her.

  Her father waited while she climbed the steps and she waved to him before disappearing inside. She went straight to her bedchamber. She was bone tired and the bee stings itched. She needed to let them heal and get some sleep if she was going to be presentable for supper this evening. She striped off her garments and crawled into bed, stretching out on her back, not wanting to get the honey on her pillow.

  Later she would find out everything that was going on, but for now she wanted nothing more than to sleep.

  ~~~

  Dawn woke to the flames crackling in the fireplace. She stretched her arms out and almost sighed, her aches and pains having all but vanished. Her rest did her good and now she would have the strength to face the night ahead with Obern.

  She gently felt at her cheek and though it was sticky to the touch, the welt had disappeared and there was no pain or itch. She would wash her face, dress, and go see how long before supper.

  Throwing the soft blanket off her, she hurried to the bucket of water near the hearth and stopped abruptly in front of the chair when she saw her husband slouched in it fast asleep.

  It must have been later than she thought. Could she have slept through supper? If Cree had seen her sleeping soundly, he would not have disturbed her. He had mentioned sleeping elsewhere tonight, though perhaps with her asleep in the bed he felt safe sleeping in the chair.

  She smiled and ran her eyes over him. He wore only his plaid and the flames’ light, mixed with shadows, danced across his muscled arms and chest. A few strands of his long hair rested over his cheek and her heart thumped a little faster when she saw how handsome her husband was in sleep.

  The sleep they had gotten last night was not enough for either of them. He needed rest just as she had needed it. A good reason to let him be, but the more she glanced over him, the more she wanted to touch him. And the more she thought of touching him, the more aroused she grew.

  She placed her finger to her cheek in thought, forgetting the honey was there. Her finger came away sticky and as she held it in front of her a sinful thought entered her head. She told herself not to do it; he needed his sleep. But once the thought was there, she could not chase it away. Besides, his legs were spread apart invitingly and she could not help but think how wonderfully the honey would taste on him.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks at the wicked notion and her tiny nub pulsated with such passion that she thought she would come there and then.

  She rolled her eyes, shook her head, and prayed for forgiveness for her wickedness as she dropped down on her knees in front of her husband.

  Chapter Eleven

  She eased his plaid aside carefully, exposing his soft manhood, not wanting to wake him—yet. Even in rest he was a good size and soon he would be even bigger.

  She wiped the honey off her cheek with her fingers and slipped them around his manhood to gently stroke him. It took only a few strokes for him to harden and Dawn quickly swiped more honey off her face to coat his growing arousal.

  Between how thick and hard he grew and the sweet scent of the honey, she found herself more eager than ever to taste him. And when she slipped him into her mouth, she knew she would be going to hell, for this would not be the last time she spread honey over him.

  She licked and sucked, thinking no sweet could taste better than her husband’s manhood covered with honey. She felt as if she had just discovered a treat that she would never be able to get enough of and naturally her hunger for him grew. And the more it grew, the closer she grew to climaxing.

  “Dammit, wife!�
� Cree shouted. He had thought himself in the middle of a dream. When he had found his wife naked in bed, all he wanted was to climb in with her. The welts on her face and the bandage around her neck had reminded him that he needed to keep his hands off her and with her naked that would have been impossible. He had gone down to sup with Obern, her lying naked in their bed never leaving his thoughts. And when he returned to find her still sleeping, still naked, he sat in the chair, thinking if he relieved this ache for her himself then perhaps he could sleep beside her.

  He must have fallen asleep before he could, and then the dream came, but it was no dream. He discovered that as soon as he opened his eyes and saw his wife between his legs. And now her eyes were smiling at him, for she had not let go of him when he had shouted at her. And truth be told, he did not want her to. But this would do her wound no good. He had to stop her.

  Before he could say a word, she took him deeper into her mouth and he dropped his head back and groaned loudly. He was fast losing control and if he did not stop her he would...

  Her mouth left him and when he looked to see why, she was climbing on top of him and slipping him into her and when she was settled firmly around him, she dropped her head down to capture his mouth in a deeply erotic kiss.

  Honey!

  Good lord, she had coated him with honey and damn if she did not taste delicious.

  He cupped her backside and helped her to ride him, though she did not need his help. She rode him good and hard, as if she was breaking in a fine stallion. While it felt fantastic, the thought irritated him and he tore his mouth away from hers, wrapped his arms around her waist, and stood.

  Dawn quickly wrapped her legs around him.

  He carried her over to the bed and kept her firm against him as he lowered them both down on it. He ran his tongue slowly along her cheek, licking off what honey was left. Then he eased out of her as he moved down along her body and with a sweet tongue he licked her tiny nub until she frantically tapped him on the shoulder, letting him know she was near to climaxing.

  He entered her quickly and with his climax as near as hers, he set a fast, hard rhythm that had them both exploding in seconds. Her continuous tapping on his arm begged him not to stop and he knew another climax was quickly following her first one, so he quickened the pace even more.

  They were left breathing laboriously as their climaxes trickled off and faded away. Cree slipped out of her and collapsed on the bed beside her, his hand reaching out to entwine his fingers with hers.

  When his breathing turned somewhat normal, he turned on his side and gave a quick lick at the honey on her cheek. “I think we may have to steal some of Turbett’s honey now and again.”

  Dawn smiled and tapped her husband’s arm repeatedly, agreeing with him.

  “Your face has healed well,” he said and she smiled and nodded. “But taking me so strenuously in your mouth could not have helped your wound.”

  She gestured, tapping her chest, shaking her head, and slipping her hand out of his to tap his manhood gently.

  “Are you telling me that you could not resist me?” Cree asked his smile growing.

  She nodded.

  He kissed her gently. “I do so love you, wife.”

  She patted her chest, then his, then hers again, letting him know she felt the same. She then gestured, asking if she missed supper.

  “Aye, you slept right through, but then you needed the rest. Are you hungry?”

  Dawn’s grumbling stomach answered for her, but she stopped Cree from leaving the bed and waking Flanna to fetch her something to eat. She could wait until morning. Besides, she was more interested in hearing about his talk with Obern and with Kellmara. She also wanted to know what happened to the Minnoch warrior who had attacked her and that is what she explained to her husband.

  Cree detailed what Obern had said to him and how he had no choice but to give his word to the King not to harm Minnoch.

  Dawn gestured, asking if Minnoch will be made to do the same... not harm Cree.

  “We will see tomorrow when he arrives, though from what Kellmara heard in the woods, Minnoch wants my head and the person Minnoch’s warrior was talking with was one of the King’s guards.”

  Dawn’s eyes widened and she felt a catch to her heart.

  Cree rested his hand on her stomach. “Do not worry. Minnoch’s warrior who attacked you was quick to surrender all information. It seems that Obern sent word to Minnoch, letting him know he approached Dowell and would arrive here before him. He was making it clear to Minnoch that there better not be an attack on Dowell with an advisor of the King in attendance.”

  Dawn sighed relieved and rested her hand over her husband’s, relieved that a battle had been avoided, for now.

  “That was why Minnoch’s warrior was here in Dowell along with two others who never bothered to make themselves known. Only the one drank too much and when he saw you and remembered...” Cree could not finish. The reminder that the man had striped his wife naked and he had not been able to do anything to stop it sent a fiery rage racing through him.

  Dawn felt her husband’s anger in his tense muscles and she was afraid to ask what he did to the man.

  “The warrior was returned to Minnoch. Unfortunately, he met with accident on the way. He tripped and fell and broke his neck.”

  Dawn knew it had been no accident. Cree had seen that the man paid for his foul deed, and somehow he would see that Minnoch paid as well. And that worried her, for that meant he would go against the King.

  Cree yawned. “I will rest my eyes for a moment after which I will wake Flanna and see that you are fed, since your stomach continues to protest.”

  She had hoped he had not noticed her grumbling stomach, but then she was hungry. He, however, was tired and needed to sleep. She cuddled against him, softly stroking his arm and in minutes her husband was sound asleep, a faint snore confirming just how soundly.

  Dawn slipped carefully out of the bed and quietly pulled on a robe and just as quietly went to see if the twins needed feeding. They were just stirring as she entered the room. She was happy to see Lila there and they hurried to hug each other.

  “I was not sure if you would be feeding the twins their sunrise feeding, so I came just in case.”

  Dawn smiled and gestured that she was glad she did. She also thanked Lila for looking after them while she was gone.

  “I must admit, I did not think you would be able to free Cree and feared that you would be taken prisoner along with him for attempting such a daring feat. And that you let your throat be cut...” Lila shook her head slowly. “You are truly courageous.” Lila shook her head harder as Dawn gestured. “You are not foolish.” A sudden smile lit her face. “Well, maybe sometimes.”

  The two women laughed, and Lila sat and talked with Dawn as she fed her restless son. They talked of pleasant things, about having a picnic with the children before the weather turned too cold, about how abundant the last harvest would be and how more plaids and blankets needed to be stitched before the winter set in.

  It was only when Lila needed to go see to baby Thomas’ feeding that she remarked on the present circumstances. “All will go well with Minnoch’s arrival?”

  Dawn smiled and gestured with Lizbeth’s tiny hands, the baby smiling wide.

  Lila broke out in a grin. “Since you have such confidence, Lizbeth, that your da will see that all goes well, I shall not worry.”

  Dawn nodded, agreeing with her. She spent some time with the twins after they finished feeding, tapping their tiny chests, then hers, and hugging them to let them know she loved them. She instructed the morning servants who looked after the babes that they were to remain here away from the visitors. After everyone left, Dawn would once again return to spend time outdoors with the twins. They loved when she and Cree would sit under a tree with them and their da would tell exciting tales. They would smile, coo, laugh, and eventually fall asleep in their parents’ loving arms and Dawn missed that time they spent together.


  She kissed them both and returned to her bedchamber to find Sloan there and her husband dressed.

  “I was just going to look for you,” Cree said, slipping his dagger into the sheath at his waist. “The sun is up and Minnoch will crest the hill shortly and be here soon after.” Cree shot her a glare after she gestured. “You ask me what I want you to do, but the true question is... will you obey my orders?” Cree watched her gesture quickly. “I know you promised me, but will you keep that promise?”

  She had hoped he would not ask her that and she responded truthfully.

  “You will try?”

  Dawn nodded.

  Cree looked to Sloan and he hurried from the room, closing the door behind him. Cree went to stand in front of his wife, slipping his finger down along the front of her robe to spread it apart and partially expose her breasts. He ran his finger slowly around her one breast until he circled her nipple, and then he squeezed the hard, little nub.

  “This situation is more dangerous than you know and I need you to give me your word that you will remain out of sight until I send for you. You cannot show yourself before then.”

  She nodded and gestured with a bit frustration.

  “So you think it unfair that I leave you aroused?”

  Dawn gave a quick, firm nod.

  “Let it be a reminder of what awaits you later today when you prove how well you can keep your promise to me,” he warned.

  Dawn’s brow shot up as she gestured.

  “That is correct. If you do not keep your promise I will not finish what I started here.”

  Dawn smiled and shook her head, knowing he would never be able to do that.

  Cree grabbed her arms and yanked her hard against his chest. “You think I would threaten to bring you to the brink of climax and not satisfy you if this was not of the utmost importance? I will have your word on this and you will keep it.”

  His anger was touched by a hint of fear and she knew that fear was for her. She nodded.

  “You will do as I say?” he asked, needing her to confirm it again.