Once they arrived at the park, the sun dipped low in the sky, casting warm golden hues over the lush greenery. Nathaniel and Evie, hand in hand, walked ahead, their laughter mingling with the rustle of leaves.
Alistair instinctively moved closer to them, his posture relaxed but eyes darting back to Cecilia, who was trailing behind with a determined look.
“Your Grace, we could give them some space, as long as they’re in sight,” Cecilia said sharply, her voice firm as she fell in step with him, glancing up disapprovingly, “They wanted this time alone. You can watch from a distance.”
Alistair scoffed, crossing his arms, his tall frame casting a long shadow on the ground. “And this is the chaperoning you’d have done if they truly depended on just you?”
Cecilia’s heart raced, frustration boiling over. “Just because you might not trust what you would do in their position doesn’t mean you can ruin their day,” she shot back, her emerald eyes blazing with defiance. “My brother has honor, Your Grace.”
Alistair’s jaw tightened, his striking features hardened with irritation. “You’re always itching for a fight, aren’t you?” he retorted, turning to walk forward, but Cecilia wasn’t finished.
Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his wrist, her fingers wrapping around his skin, the heat of her touch surprising them both. “We can watch them from here, Your Grace,” she said, her voice softer now .
Alistair turned back to her in shock, his expression shifting from annoyance to something more vulnerable. Instantly, their eyes locked, and the air thickened with an unexpected intensity.
Cecilia flushed and let go of his hand, the warmth of his skin lingering on her fingers as she realized what she had done. The park was quiet, the evening air cool against her heated cheeks.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Evie and Nathaniel walking ahead, almost out of sight, but the thought of chasing after them felt distant now. Alistair stood before her, his expression a mix of disbelief and something deeper, a fire igniting in his stormy blue eyes.
“You really enjoy this, don’t you?” he tone was a growl as he shook his head slightly, his dark hair falling over his forehead. The way he spoke, with that edge of challenge, made her heart race as always.
“Enjoy arguing with you? Hardly,” she retorted, crossing her arms defensively, though the gesture did little to shield her vulnerability. “I simply feel someone has to call you out whenever you resort to being self-centered. Again, you feel your idea of propriety matters more than your sister’s happiness.”
Alistair’s jaw clenched, and she could see the muscle twitching beneath the skin, a sign of his rising fury. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he snapped, taking a step closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. “I value Evie’s safety above everything else. You have no idea what it’s like to carry that burden.”
Cecilia’s breath hitched in her throat, the tension between them thick like fog. “You still believe you’re the only one carrying such care for her?” she fired back, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through her veins. “You won’t be her guardian much longer, and it seems you intend to suffocate her till the end.”
Alistair’s eyes flared with anger, but there was something else there, a flicker of hurt that made her pause. “Suffocate? I’ve raised her. I’ve watched over her when no one but me could stand for the family.”
Cecilia took a step back, feeling the cool air hit her face, grounding her so suddenly. “All I’m saying is, perhaps it’s time to loosen the reins, Your Grace.”
Alistair stepped forward, the space between them crackling with energy. His scent enveloped her, intoxicating and familiar. “You think you know better than me?” he challenged, his voice low and intense, his breath almost brushing against her skin.
Cecilia’s heart was loud in her ears. “Maybe I do,” she whispered defiantly, “maybe it takes looking in from the outside to understand this. What I’ve wanted for a while is to understand you, Your Grace,” She sighed, the weight of her words hanging in the cold air. “All it takes is for you to open up a little.”
The silence that followed felt heavy, almost suffocating. Nathaniel and Evie were now out of sight, leaving them in a world that seemed to have paused, the only sounds being the soft crunch of snow underfoot and the distant rustle of branches. Theground was blanketed in white, but the chill in the air contrasted sharply with the heat building between them.
Alistair stood there, his dark brows furrowed, a tempest brewing in his stormy blue eyes. For a moment, Cecilia feared he would turn away again, retreating into the shadows of his guarded heart.
“Why do you make this so difficult?” she pressed, desperation creeping into her tone. “I’m not your enemy.” She felt exasperation taking over her. “Yet, you seem so bent on making me so. I am so tired of this, of the way you look at me, of how you-”
But before she could finish, Alistair closed the distance between them, his expression shifting from frustration to something more primal. In a heartbeat, he cupped her face with his strong hands, his fingers warm against her chilled skin.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he breathed, and the intensity in his gaze sent shivers down her spine.
Then, without warning, he kissed her. It was a kiss that ignited the air around them, fierce and consuming. His lips were soft yet demanding, coaxing hers open as he deepened the embrace, the warmth of his body enveloping her as she melted against him.
Cecilia’s heartbeat skewered, panic and exhilaration intertwining as she responded, her hands finding their way to his hair, fingers tangling in the dark strands. The kiss was forbidden, electric, filled with a desperation that spoke ofunvoiced desires and hidden fears. She could taste the hint of winter on his lips, mixed with something uniquely him—an intoxicating blend that made her head spin.
As they pulled away, breathless and wide-eyed, the reality of their situation crashed back in. The quietness of the park felt deafening, yet the air between them crackled with loud thoughts.
“Cecilia, are you certain about what you said?” Alistair’s voice was low, almost a whisper, as he stood just inches away, his breath mingling with hers in the frosty air. He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her skin, igniting a spark that coursed through her.
Caught in the haze of the moment, Cecilia felt the remnants of their kiss lingering on her lips. She wanted more, desperately. Her eyes searched his, pleading silently for him to close the distance again, to take her in his arms and kiss her like he had moments before.
“Are you sincere about not wanting to get married?”
Cecilia found herself overwhelmed by his question, her thoughts spiraling as she considered her dreams of publishing her research, of becoming an author, and whether that future included a marriage she had always thought she wanted to avoid.
