4

The warmth surrounding her body made Abigail sigh with joy. Even the powerful hand moving across her belly did not make her wake from her slumber. Abigail felt her body being rolled towards her back and her eyes popped open. She tried to roll away but Abraham gripped her tighter and placed his lips to her ear from behind. "You like sleeping in my arms."

"I could not get out of them." Abigail could see the sun threatening to rise over the water. She wanted to get up and dressed before anyone saw her laying with Abraham so intimately.

Abraham chuckled. "All you had to do was ask?"

Abigail frowned and then softened her body against his chest. "Can you release me now."

Abraham breathed in her scent along the nape of her neck and smiled. He had missed the smell of women. He had not touched one such a long time that he was not sure if he would make it back to his home before he made his claim of her.

"Are you sure you want me to release you?"

Abigail rolled her eyes. "Yes I am."

Abraham heard the rage that she barely contained in her voice. "I am not sure that you could survive without my warmth around your soft defenseless body."

"I am not defenseless."

"But you are soft and little," His big hard body moved against hers. She felt his muscle collide with her body. His right hand touched her smooth brown skin on her belly and legs while his left hand gently played in her hair.

Abigail closed her eyes feeling his powerful but warm hand on her skin just creating…. wait how could he touch her skin? Abigail felt the night dress pressing on her breasts and knew that he had managed to pull it up. She grabbed it and tried to pull it down. Abraham did not care his hands were already heading for the flesh between her thighs. Abigail squeaked and grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"We are married this is part of marriage. We can touch each other." His voice was deep in her ear as his hand moved down the soft hair that hid her flesh very easily despite her using both hands to pull on his wrist.

All his movement stopped and Abraham sighed angrily. "Did he send you over here Orion."

The general had his back to them. He began smiling before even opening his mouth. "Yes, He said he thought that he heard someone trying to woo your wife. I told him that is was probably the wind. I guess he was right."

Orion chuckled as he walked away from the almost lovers.

Abraham knew that his General would do whatever the King wished. He loved the King as his own father; all his men did. Abraham was outnumbered. His father was cunning he would give him that.

Abigail shoved his hand away from her body and pulled the short night dress down and tucked it between her thighs. She decided to turn towards him so that she could see his attack before he made contact with her body.

Abraham laid his head down on the firm pillow of pulled cotton and smiled at his wife as she slyly smiled back at him. "Why are you smiling wife?"

"Your father…our father knows that you don't keep your promises. You told me this was in name only."

Abraham chuckled. "I know that after seeing you I would never say that. You will know me deep inside. You will want me deep inside your body."

She did not like the look of his dark eyes or the way his hand caressed her thigh. Abigail slapped it away and Abraham chuckled.

"You said that you don't need a woman."

"I said a wife and you are more of an opponent than a wife." His smile made heat grow in her belly. She felt his hand again on her thigh and shoved it away.

He chuckled again and moved closer to her. No woman had ever rebuffed his advances. They literally would beg him to be with them but Abraham was more interested in being a warrior then a lover. However, right now he wanted to make this woman scream his name until she could no longer speak.

"How many children do you think we shall make?"

He reached out touch her hair but Abigail kept slapping his hand away.

"I don't know how many bastards you will have?"

Abraham chuckled at her answer. "That is no way to speak about our children. I am sure I can get eight or ten from your small but soft curves. They shall be all strong boys and a daughter for me because every queen needs a little princess to mold in her image. She will be a terror, like her mother."

Abigail began laughing at his words. "I am not having any of your children. You can save all of your gentle talk for your women at your castle."

"I have no other woman nor do I want another."

Abigail snickered in his face not noticing how close he was to her now. "Too bad I am sure they would volunteer for the position,"

"I am sure they would too but I have already made my choice and I will honor my father as you will honor yours and make this union of ours…...complete."

"By spilling my blood on the sheets,"

Abraham raised an eyebrow at her question. "From the way that Barton speaks of you I am not sure that I will have that honor of taking your first blood."

She attacked him just as he wanted. Abraham grabbed her wrist and rolled her onto her back and let his body weight help her regain her senses about who had the power in this battle. She stared up at him with fury on her face.

"I would never let him touch me." Her whisper was full of venom. She wanted to scream at him but she remembered that others were sleeping and she did not want them listening to them speaking about a private subject.

Abraham crinkled his brow. "You expect me to believe a woman like you. Maybe that is why you don't wish to share my bed."

"I…

His lips claimed hers in the same kiss he had captured her with at their wedding. Her body instantly remembered this kiss and faltered in the power of his seduction. She whimpered against his coaxing lips and her body responded with softness and desire. Her hands no longer wanted to attack him and laid on the pillow on either said of her head. He could have done whatever he wanted to her but Abraham held back his desire to explore this woman's body. The others were rising as the sun began to send its light and warmth over the earth. He wanted nothing to embarrass his unclaimed wife. Abraham slowly pulled his lips from hers and watched his beautiful brown skinned opponent slowly recover. Her eyes lids opened and her doe like eyes stared up at him. She was dazed from the desire running through her body.

Abigail saw the blackness and blue within his eyes mix as he stared down at her. His hard and heavy body felt strange and heavenly as he crushed her to the ground. He was powerful and she wanted his power to touch her from the inside. She felt as if she would faint as she continued staring up at him.

Words failed him at this moment so he said the only thing that he could think of at that moment that expressed what he was feeling. He lowered his lips close enough to kiss her again if he wanted.

"I would kill for you."

*()*

Abigail made sure that she packed everything back into her side saddle that she needed before checking Ember's saddle. She had dressed quickly once Abraham left their sleeping nook. She wanted to stay away from him. Now that he knew that he had power over her, she could not let herself be alone with him. She did not care if they were married. She was not going to sleep with him. He was only doing this as a favor to his father and nothing more as he had said to her at her parents' home. Now he wanted to complete their union …with children. Abigail snorted as that thought came into her head. The man was out of his mind.

Something kept pulling at the ribbon that she had tied her hair up with this morning. Ember grunted a warning. Abigail reached back and touched the snout of her attacker. She turned and saw Daredevil with the purple ribbon in his mouth. She smiled and tried to get it back.

"What are you doing?" She chuckled and grabbed the soft material and tried to make him let it go. He shook his head no. Ember grunted and moved forward.

Abraham moved behind Abigail and his left arm surrounded her waist and pulled her hard against his tall muscled frame. He heard her gasp and her body tense with surprise and desire. He moved his lips moved beside her ear. "Do you require assistance."

He could feel her shaking. "I see you used him as a decoy."

"You have been avoiding me."

Abigail smirked. "I have not. I have things to do."

Another gasp escaped her when he suddenly released her spun her around. She stared up into his darkened eyes and heat entered her belly. He had pulled his loose hair back into a high ponytail and wore his clan colors of blue, white and grey on a sash covering his light black armor. His blue eyes bore into her as if she were the only thing interesting in the world and he had to have her. Abigail backed into Ember as Abraham followed her. His eyes looked her up and down in her black riding pants and shirt. His clothing became uncomfortable.

"Is it not customary for a wife to reward her husband with a kiss each morning?"

Abigail frowned at his question. "What would I reward you for?"

"Saving you yesterday from Barton." He moved even closer to her.

Abigail knew that he was trying to make her attack him but she decided not to and smiled up at him. "My one true love."

Abraham chuckled. "Yes your one true love who tried to steal what is mine by marriage with a dull blade like the coward that he is."

Abigail thought about what he had said. He was right. Barton was trying to take her away from him. He did save her and she had not thanked him at all. She never had to thank anyone for saving her because she had always saved herself. Abigail moved closer to him as he lowered his head towards her. Her hands touched his chest just as he was about to kiss her.

"Don't kiss me like you did this morning?"

Abraham smirked. "That is how I kiss."

"You can't I…. I won't be able to …to ride Ember."

Abraham raised an eyebrow. "Which kiss is it? Is it this one?"

His left arm circled her waist and pull her even closer as his lips gently melted onto hers. Abigail's body melted and her hands moved up towards his neck as the kiss deepened. The heat in her belly spread throughout her body and made her moan with surrender. Abraham slowly pulled his lips from hers.

"Or is it this one?"

His strength was in the next kiss. Passionate and strong lips claimed hers and fire and flame roared through her body. Her legs either forgot how to work or just refused to stand because her knees gave out and Abraham had to hold her up. Her whimpers echoed his groan as the kiss grew hotter. Her hands gripped his shoulders as his free hand held her long loose hair tightly to keep her lips locked onto his. They backed into Ember who grunted her disapproval.

Someone cleared their throat and Abraham pulled away from his wife and glared at his brother.

Abigail laid her head on his chest trying to get her bearings. Ichabod frowned at his brother getting liberties while he could not. Caroline had sought the refuge of their father that morning. "Hank could you escort my sister in law to the King please."

The Captain walked over to Abigail. Abraham gently released her into his care. His arm surrounded her waist and he led her away from her husband. Abraham smiled at his brother and then turned towards Ember fixing her saddle.

"I am glad that you find this amusing brother. We should be arguing over who gets to call our child Rebekah not how are we going to get our wives from our father."

"I do not find this amusing. Father has twice interrupted me."

Ichabod began fixing Ember's reigns. "Oh really do you know what I discovered. While I was trying to seduce the fair Caroline last night, I allowed my hands travel down her body only to discover that our father had given her a pair of his trousers with a belt…. tied in a knot."

Abraham began laughing. Ichabod smiled and then chuckled. "I could have cried. It wasn't a regular knot. It was like that knot that mother used to tie our capes on in the winter so that we would not take them off. I still can't untie those."

Abraham shook his head. "Well at least he did not come over to your sleeping spot and pretend that he forgot you were there."

Ichabod snicker. "Old man. Did he give her his trousers?"

Abraham smiled. "No,"

Ichabod was curious now. "What."

"Nothing she was so fearful about sleeping with me she forgot to put on her bottoms."

The look on Ichabod's face was one of envy and angry that their father was messing up their love life. "We have to be clever brother. He is old, but crafty."

"Yes but the castle is large and he is not that fast." Abraham added.

The brothers began laughing and formulating a plan as if they were going into battle with their fiercest of enemies.

Orion looked at the two brother's laughing and plotting to steal their wives back. The King looked at the General. "They are talking about me aren't they?"

Orion smiled at the King. "Yes sire,"

Henry smiled. "Do let me know what they plan?"

Orion nodded. "As always my king."

*()*

"Why are they doing this? What do they want?"

Caroline stared at the words on the letter from her parents with fear and revulsion. They were coming to see her husband and father in law. They were not as honorable as William and Angela thought that were. They were greedy and loved to use others to get what they wanted. Her father Edward, had hid his unpleasant side from his brother for years. He and his wife Camille had sent her to her uncle William to get rid of Abigail so that she could have their fortune but it did not work out that way. Abigail was not like they thought she was. She grew up with the seven boys of William and Angela. What William taught them he taught her too. She was a daddy's girl and was not going to let anyone especially Caroline, move in on her family. She was too strong for Caroline to manipulate and her fist were always ready to dish out pain.

The more time that she spent with her Uncle and Aunt, the more that she grew to love them even Abigail…sometimes. She could not harm any of them. She would send her parents letters full of lies so that they would leave William's family alone. She had successfully turned them away from them by stating that William was broke when he was the richest man in the valley. Now they wanted to come see her. What did they want?

Abigail stood behind Caroline reading the letter that she held in her hands. "Why are they coming to visit you now? They never did while you were eating all of our food and annoying me."

Caroline refolded the letter and turned and glared at her sister. 'You are so rude."

Abigail smiled. "Now that comment would hurt me if it came from someone that I respected."

Caroline walked away from her but Abigail followed her. "Why are they coming to visit you? I find it strange that they would write you instead of coming to your wedding. You did tell them when it was didn't you? We have known for months."

Caroline turned and faced her. "This is none of your business."

Abigail watched Caroline's body language and then her face. "You didn't tell them did you?"

The surprised expression on her face made Abigail frown. "What are you hiding Caroline?"

"Nothing," Abigail advanced on her as Caroline backed.

"You better tell me or I will beat it out of you."

Caroline was applauded. 'We are married women now and you still act like we are still young girls."

Abigail snickered. "I don't care how old I get I will still want to beat the truth out of you. We are miles from home and you are worried about them coming…. Why?"

Caroline stared at her for a long while and Abigail lost her anger when she saw the worry on Caroline's face. This …nemesis of hers never showed worry. She was always ready to start a fight but now she was afraid of something that Abigail had not had planned herself. Caroline shook her head as she stared at her sister.

"I don't know what they want. I don't know they are coming to see me they never have before. I don't know what to do Abigail. I don't want them to hurt anyone."

Abigail frowned at her words. "What do you mean?"

Hank came towards them. "We are ready to leave.

Caroline walked past Abigail and down the trail towards their horses. Abigail followed behind her wearing a frown because Caroline would not explain to her what she meant.

Caroline smiled at Ichabod as he helped her onto her horse. She avoided looking at Abigail as she walked by Mille. Ember grunted when Mille nuzzled Abigail to receive a soft rub from her. Abigail rolled her eyes and walked over to her jealous mare.

"Stop it you know that I love you the most." She walked around her mare and saw Abraham standing there waiting for her. She told herself that she was not going to let him get to her. He said nothing but watched her approach him. He could already see her shaking and he had not even touched her yet.

"Don't fear me wife." His voice was deceptive and made her fearful. Abigail cautiously walked towards him.

"I can do this myself." She stared up at him and felt breathless and shaky. Abraham moved closer to her.

"I have no doubt that you could any other time but I am going to help you."

Abigail nodded unable to say anything. Her body remembered those kisses and the weakness returned. Abigail slowly turned around to put her foot in the stirrup and stumbled backwards into Abraham. He held her tightly around the waist and breathed in the scent of her hair.

"Careful wife." He could feel her trembling as she grabbed onto the saddle horn and Abraham lifted her up into the saddle. She looked down at him as he smirked up at her. He knew what had caused her weakness.

His touch.

*()*

Abigail had never been this far off her father's land. She had never seen so many rivers and mountains. The green hills and valleys were beautiful. She looked back at Caroline and saw that she was just as amazed as she was. Caroline met her eyes and smiled. Why had they never just taken a horse ride out here. Ichabod suddenly pulled Caroline from her horse and onto his Abigail frowned at his action until she felt Abraham's hands on her waist pulling the reigns of her mount.

"Wha…"

"This is not a good place to be a woman alone on a horse. Look at no one but me."

"Wh…"

"Do as I say and look at no one but me." His voice and the expression on his face let no room for debate and Abigail nodded. She could not see the group of men riding towards them because she just stared at Abraham. She found that it very easy to do that. His long blonde hair swirled around his broad shoulders and armor. His powerful body was primed for battle as he sat up on Daredevil who pawed the ground with aggression waiting for the leader of this band of outlaws to approach. She felt the longing in her body first and then the weakness followed. She could see the muscles in his right thigh tighten and spikes of pleasure stabbed her deep in her womb. He exuded power. Abigail wanted to turn away but she did not because he told her not to. Orion and Hank were slightly behind him on their the other guards took position around the King. Ichabod and Abigail.

The red haired leader galloped towards the Prince with a sneer on his face. He hated Abraham because he had bested him in a tournament held last year. The man boasted than no royal would ever attend such a lowly competition. When word reached Abraham he pledged his name to compete. Everyone from the countryside and beyond attended the events. The village flourished with guests and money and from that day on the village pledged their land to the King. He was scorned and ridiculed by the people for mocking the prince. He wanted his revenge and he would take it any way that he could get it.

"You are far from where you should be Prince Van Brunt." The red haired man smiled at Abraham and then let his eyes scan those with him. Abraham's jaw tightened when the leader looked over at Abigail. She looked like an enchantress with her long black hair flowing on the wind around her beautiful brown skinned face and body as she sat atop her charred colored mare that snorted with anger. He wanted her to look at him but the woman only stared at Abraham. He could not challenge Abraham for her if she did not look at him.

"I am where I wish to be Markum."

The red haired leader smiled. "You did not come through here with this woman. I would have smelled her sweetness. Look upon me woman so that I may judge your beauty."

"Her beauty you shall never see or know."

Markum moved forward to see the side of Abigail's face but he did not break the invisible plane that would start conflict. "You think that you are the only judge of the beauty in a woman."

Abraham said nothing. Markum watched the woman continue to ignore him as his eyes drifted down her body in the black riding gear. His clothing became uncomfortable. How could such a creature escape his gaze? Maybe the Prince did know how to judge beauty.

"She is beautiful."

"She is."

"What is she to you?"

"She is mine." Abraham beckoned Daredevil forward and the others followed. Abigail did not take her eyes from her husband and found herself mesmerized by his boldness to ride right through the raiders without care. They were not going to attack the Prince and risk his wrath. There used to be fifty of them now there were only thirty.

"By who's law."

"Mine," Markum watched his enemy ride through his men as if they were not there. To attack him now with women in his company would be foolish. If Abraham were alone with his men he would just injure them but for this woman, he would kill him.

Author's Notes

I thank you for reading and enjoying this chapter. Please excuse any errors that will find. ~Frostbytefire