He sank back down and rolled onto his belly, arm hanging off the side of the bed, and muttered, ‘All in good time.’
Lowri’s temper sparked, and she marched over to Cullen and tore the blankets off him. To her horror, he was naked from thewaist down, and Lowri got a flash of firm, pale buttocks before she looked away.
‘I’ve suffered to have you as a husband, and now I’ll not let Donnan and Rory suffer any more than they have to. You must free them.’
Cullen leapt from the bed and took hold of Lowri in a tight grip. ‘Don’t push me, lass. I’m not some tame pup to come to heel whenever you snap your fingers.’ He glowered at her, his face inches away. Then he planted a quick peck on her mouth and pushed her back.
She wiped his kiss away, and Cullen just laughed, his anger melting as quickly as it came. ‘Did you not like that kiss?’ he said.
‘It wasn’t a kiss. It was a punishment.’
‘Only if you want it to be,’ he replied, donning his braies, and Lowri tried hard not to stare at the curve of his buttocks through the thin fabric of his shirt. She whirled just in time when he turned around to do them up at the front. The more clothes he put on, the better.
‘Alright. I am decent enough. Let us go to my father and tell him the good news. You look utterly miserable, so that should convince him, I’ve had you.’
Joy coursed through Lowri’s veins at the thought of getting Donnan and Rory released and all three of them running through the glens towards home.
***
They found Griffin in the hall, slurping down a thin grey porridge, seated at the table with several young lasses of all shapes and ages. They must be his daughters, but no one bothered to introduce Lowri.
‘Ah, the lovebirds are here. Leave us, little chickens.’ When they stared open-mouthed at her instead of doing Griffin’s bidding, he slammed his fist down on the table. ‘I said move!’
They all shrieked and scurried out, giving Lowri curious looks as they passed.
Griffin sat back in his chair and addressed his son as if she were invisible. ‘Judging by the look of her, you did your duty by Clan Macaulay and tupped the defiance out of the lass.’ He chortled. ‘She sports a face like turned milk.’
‘Aye.’ Cullen picked an apple from the bowl and took a bite. ‘When have I ever resisted my worst urges, Father?’
‘Put up a fight, did she?’
‘Not much, but then you did hang the murder of her friends over her head.’
‘Aye.’ Griffin scraped back his chair and came to Lowri for a closer look. He took a long suck of air in through his nose, like a dog, as if he could smell sin all over her. ‘Was she pure, untouched?’
‘As good as she can be. I have no cause for complaint. And it matters not either way, for you have your revenge on Peyton Strachan.’
Griffin finally deigned to address Lowri. ‘He’s a sturdy one, my Cullen. No doubt he acquitted himself well and planted a Macaulay seed.’
‘And you are a foul old man,’ she spat, turning and going to look out of the window, scouring the green hills folding into one another. But there was no rescue coming. She had to rely on her wits.
Griffin laughed. ‘Don’t be fooled by this one, son. She’s a Strachan, and they are wily. We need to keep her close to Scarcross for a while so that she doesn’t slip the noose.’
‘You mean to rub her brother’s nose in it.’
Cullen’s jaw worked, ice creeping into his tone. Lowri had been around fighting men long enough to recognise the signs of a burgeoning temper.
‘Aye, Strachan will find out eventually and come storming over here asking for her back. But you won’t go, will you, lass? If you do, I’ll squeeze those lads’ necks.’
‘But they are to be freed today. I did as you asked,’ said Lowri.
Griffin just smirked at her.
‘How long do you intend to keep them prisoner?’ said Cullen.
‘As long as it takes for your wife’s Strachan womb to quicken with a Macaulay heir. So you’d best get on with it, hadn’t you?’
‘What?’ cried Lowri.
