‘You are not capable of that.’
‘If I ever encounter anyone like Edmund again, I might be,’ she said.
Cecily came around the front of his body, but she could not reach past his legs, so he spread them. She frowned and came closer, her legs dangerously close to his groin, her bountiful breasts in his face. The rise and fall of her breathing quickened and mesmerised him. A surge of hot longing hit him, low in his belly, and Peyton was overcome with an urge to pull her into his lap.
‘There. You are good enough for whatever unfortunate lass has to suffer your attentions,’ she said, stepping back. ‘It is a lass you were trying to impress?’
‘Maybe it was you,’ he said quietly, like a fool.
‘Why would you want to impress an empty-headed dim wit like me?’
‘Because you are beautiful, Cecily.’
Some impulse made him take hold of Cecily’s hand. Her fingers were long, elegant and cool, though her cheeks flamed in her finely drawn face. Her delicacy brought his pride to its knees.
‘There is no denying it,’ he said. ‘And you are cleverer and braver than you think. Do not fear me or the future. All will be well in time.’
Her face softened with surprise. ‘I...I do not like you being nice like this. You want something from me, don’t you?’
‘Trust me, lass, I am trying hard not to.’
They locked eyes, duelling to see who would look away first. Peyton got lost in Cecily’s sea-green gaze, so achingly lovely yet filled with sadness and unexpected vulnerability.
‘Do you think I am without pity, lass?’ he said.
‘Aye.’
‘I do feel for you. I hate the way your innocence has been ripped from you by that bastard Edmund. I know what it feels like for your world to be upended in a moment, for everything to change.’
‘I thought I would be married and happy,’ she said with a choke in her voice.
Judging by the pulse of lust in his loins, he needed to be married too and out of temptation’s way as soon as may be. He would ride to Lorna’s this very day and declare himself. He had waited long enough to secure his position, and if he delayed any longer, his unspent lust would lead him to make a fool of himself with the lofty Cecily.
‘You will be wed one day, lass and live a fine life as a rich lady with a gaggle of brats at your feet and a man who worships you. I can feel it in my bones,’ he said.
Suddenly, Cecily gave him a sweet, soft smile which lit up her face. It was the first time Peyton had seen her do it with any sincerity, and it was devastating. His chest grew tight, his palms sweaty. He was a lumbering, dirty oaf in the face of that smile. It made him want to protect her from all of life’s evils. It made him want to lay her down under him, spread her open and possess every inch of her loveliness. Self-loathing squirmed in his belly as lust surged through his loins. Was he to lay waste to her innocence or protect it?
Peyton stood up in a rush and loomed over her. A singular piece of stupidity made him put a gentle hand on her cheek, and it was at that moment that Selby came rushing in.
‘There’s trouble,’ he cried and then stopped dead, eyes darting between the two of them.
‘Speak,’ bellowed Peyton.
‘Reivers came and stole a herd of sheep.’
‘Who?’
‘Don’t know. But the bastards…begging your pardon,’ said Selby with a nod at Cecily. ‘They rode the beasts into Liddesdale, so we cannot follow onto Glendenning land.’
‘Like hell, we cannot follow. Round up the men. We are getting those sheep back.’
It was as if someone poured icy water over his lust, and he left Cecily standing with her mouth agape. Peyton stomped down the stairs and out to the yard with Selby crying, ‘Jasper Glendenning will tear our stomachs out through our gizzards if we trespass on his land.’
‘It was never his land, and it never will be,’ yelled Peyton. ‘It is Strachan land, my land.’ He stopped and rounded on Selby. ‘Do not ever spill our secrets in front of that lass again. Never mention Jasper Glendenning.’
‘As you like, Laird. Of course. Can the lass not be trusted then?’
‘No.’
