“I would marry the Devil himself before marrying Colin Warrington!”
He gave her a quirky smile. “I am afraid the Devil already has a wife. Will I suffice?”
She eyed him a moment. “If you promise never to rage again in my presence, I shall consider it.”
He lost all of his mirth and dropped on bended knee before her. It was a swift, graceful motion that startled her; before she realized it, Alec was kneeling beautifully and her right hand was neatly tucked into the fold of his closed palm.
“With God as my witness, I swear to you that I shall never again display such appalling manners. I may lose my temper and I cannot promise that I will never again speak a harsh word, but I vow this day that I shall never again rage against you.”
She was astonished at the passion of his statement. She felt her guard lowering and it was further melted by the candor of his demonstration. This was the Alec she had come to know, the gentle giant with a heart deeper than a well. A soft smile creased her beautiful lips.
“I believe you, my Alec,” she whispered. “Aye, I would marry you over Colin Warrington. And the Devil.”
He brought her hand to his lips and excitement jolted her so that she involuntarily gasped. Her left hand went to his head tenderly as his lips thanked her gently for her compassion. His kisses covered her hand and moved to her wrist as Peyton continued to gently touch his cropped hair, thinking him to be entirely too handsome and chivalrous for his own good.
Before she realized it, he had pulled her into a snug embrace against his hard chest and she found herself gazing down into his sky-blue eyes as his chin rested on the swell of her breasts. It was remarkable that they were hovering so close to one another and not giving in to deliciously hot kisses; instead, they gazeddeeply into each other’s eyes, rejoicing in the fact that all was well between them once again.
“I thought I had destroyed everything we had established between us,” he whispered, his breathing noticeably ragged. “I am so very sorry for what I did, Peyton. I never meant to hurt you.”
“You did not, really,” she answered with equal breathlessness. “But you frightened me. Lord, Alec, you are so massive that you could easily tear me apart were you so inclined.”
He kissed the palms of her hands as they gripped his head, especially the bandaged hand. “I did indeed hurt you as there is the proof. But I never meant to, truly. You are most gracious to forgive me my transgression.”
She smiled giddily, her insides quivering with their close proximity. “This time only. Next time, I shall brandish a mace and aim for your head.”
“And I would stand stock still to better your focus,” he agreed earnestly.
“My aim is true, my lord. I would not need….”
He cut her off with a bruising kiss. She responded with eager whimpers, encouraging him. He licked at her lips and she answered by opening her mouth to him, but he suddenly stopped.
“I would hear you call me by my name, always,” he whispered, his hot breath on her face driving her weak for the want of him. “Say it.”
“Alec,” she breathed.
He kissed her fiercely, his tongue delving into the sweet depths of her mouth before withdrawing sharply. “Not that way. The way you said it before. Possessively.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. “What do you mean?”
Again, he slanted his lips over hers harshly, suckling and licking her until she was gasping with desire. “Say it.”
“What?” she demanded with as much force as she could muster in between feverish kisses.
“My Alec. You will address me as your own.”
“My…?” she began, but he quelled her inquiry with kisses forceful enough to turn her body to jelly; her knees had long since given out and he fully supported her against him.
“Say it.”
She grinned at him, a wonderful sort of gesture that made him respond in kind. “My Alec.My darling Alec.”
She beat him to the kiss this time, planting her delightfully supple lips onto his eager mouth. His gloved hands entwined themselves in her hair and they lost their balance, toppling over onto a large pile of fresh straw.
The stable was deserted and quiet, as the servants were eating their evening meal. In the darkened corner of the livery, Alec rolled Peyton on to her back and continued to ravish her thoroughly. She gasped with the new passion he had so quickly aroused in her on the very first day they had met, clutching him tightly as his mouth drove her insane with desire.
The straw beneath them crunched softly as he moved for the stays on her gown. Even as his mouth fused with hers, she could feel him removing her surcoat, pulling it down her torso and practically tearing it free of her legs. She heard the garment land with a soft rush in the straw next to them as he went to work on the more restrictive shift.
Peyton did not even realize he had completely stripped her when he suddenly paused in his onslaught to unstrap the studded leather belt from his narrow waist. In a fury, the belt and tunics came off, and she watched him through dazed eyes as he lowered his hose. Somewhat regaining her senses, she noticed in the weak light that he had the most magnificent chestshe had ever seen. Broad and nearly hairless, it was tanned golden and smooth and her breathing grew more rapid at the sight. She’d seen men’s bare chests before, rarely of course, and she knew without a doubt that Alec possessed the most extraordinary form she had ever seen. It took her breath away as she gazed up at him, absolutely flawless.
