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“Don’t,” he warned. “I am not the man you think I am.”

“But you are,” she said defending him.

He took hold of her arm. “Nay. Do not be so foolish and so blind. I go to the compound. I do not know how long I will be gone.”

He walked away disappearing into the woods and Sky could not help but feel he was leaving her.

* * *

Dark gray cloudsfilled the sky by the time Slayer returned to the cottage later that day. The door to the cottage was closed but the window was open, and he saw that his wife was busy inside. She was probably preparing the evening meal for them. He had come to cherish that time with her and was glad he had since in two days’ time it would be no more.

The thought added to his anger that had flared even more since earlier. Rory had proved useless to talk with, changing his story repeatedly yet again and embellishing it outrageously. He had ordered him taken to Clan Ravinsher where he would be held prisoner until he could determine if the man would be of any use to him. But what annoyed him the most was that he had unexpected feelings for his wife. His intention in staying at the cottage was for her to accept their marriage and seal their vows. Developing feelings for his wife had not been part of the plan and did not help the situation.

He slipped his shirt off and grabbed the axe by the pile of logs and began swinging it, breaking logs in two with just one powerful swing. He split log after log relentlessly until he felt his arm muscles burn though he didn’t stop. His fierce swings reminded him of battle when he would swing his sword striking warrior after warrior until the bodies piled around him just as the split logs did now.

He counted on that unyielding fierceness and an uncaring soul to see him through every battle, to see him to victory.

He swung around ready to strike when a hand landed on his back, and he yanked the axe back when he saw it was his wife and that she cringed as if waiting for the blow. It was only then he realized it was raining and he was soaked.

“Go back inside,” he ordered, the rain running down his face.

“Come with me,” she urged, her cloak nearly soaked.

He stepped away from her, fearing if he touched her that he would not be tender with her. “Go! Leave me be.”

There was an anger in his eyes that she did not understand and while she told herself to pay heed to it, she was more concerned with the pain she saw there as well. Her husband was hurting, and her heart hurt for him.

“Nay, I will not leave you be,” she said and reached out to take his hand.

Slayer did not move fast enough or maybe he didn’t move fast enough on purpose. Maybe he wanted to feel her touch. Maybe he wanted the excuse to… he grabbed her around the waist and yanked her hard against him. His lips came down on hers crushing them in a forceful kiss.

He needed her. He had to have her. He had to lose himself in her.

He yanked her up so that her feet did not touch the ground as he walked to the large oak tree. He tore his mouth off hers before reaching the tree and ordered, “Wrap your legs around me.”

I will never harm you.

Those words chanted in her head and trusting his promise, she did as he said and as he lifted her, she brought her legs around his waist and locked them there. He braced her against the tree, keeping one arm firmly around her waist as his hand dug at her garments, pushing them out of his way.

His overwhelming need for her fired her own need for him and she reached down and helped him shift their garments so that he could…

She gasped so loud at his powerful entrance that she feared it echoed past the sound of the pouring rain and throughout the forest.

“Hold onto me,” he commanded.

She tried to grip his arms, but it was difficult, the rain making them slippery. She hurried her arms around his neck and locked her fingers tight then rested her face next to his.

Her passionate moans echoed in his ear, fueling his own passion and he drove into her with a need he did not think could ever be satisfied, and yet… he felt. That strange feeling of not just pleasure but something more, something he had never felt before, something he wanted to feel forever.

He pressed his wet cheek against hers and groaned, his passion ready to explode and demanded, “Fall with me, Sky.”

She was so close to the edge that she fell right off, screaming Slayer’s name as she burst with pleasure.

He joined her, his arm keeping tight hold of her around her waist while bracing his free hand against the tree for support and, dropping his head back, he released a roar that sounded like a mighty beast. When his pleasure finally abated, he shuddered, and he was pleased to feel her shudder as well.

Sky’s head fell on his shoulder, unable to hold it up, her pleasure having robbed her of all her strength.

Sanity returned to him and feeling how limp she lay in his arms, how heavily the rain poured down upon them, thinking how he had pounded into her, possibly hurting her, he nearly roared again for what he had done.