Page 59 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
Daniel made a deep and dismissive sound in the back of his throat. "Skye is alright," he said. "I should probably be thanking ye. Ye made me realize how close danger could be."
"Ye really think there is a threat?" Lana asked. "Must we be so careful?"
"Aye," Daniel replied. He lifted his hand to her cheek. "We must be careful. I willnae let anyone take what is mine."
The words felt pointed, a claim on her that surprised her and caused a pull deep in her stomach.
Daniel bent down and pressed his lips to hers, lowering both hands to squeeze her hips. Lana opened her mouth wider, andthen the soft pressure of his tongue was against her own. She sighed into his mouth, closing her eyes as he brought his hand to the small of her back. He pulled her hips closer to his, gently rocking against her as he deepened their kiss.
His hand then came up to cup the side of her face, and then it slipped down to her neck. Lana felt his hand drop lower until his fingers were tracing the neckline of her dress. She gasped as his fingers pulled at the fabric, and suddenly he was teasing the perfect roundness of her breasts. Shocks of pleasure rushed through her each time he teased her hardening nipples.
"Daenae think I am forgettingmerules," Lana gasped, but the longing in her voice contradicted her words.
Daniel smiled against her lips.
"If I can relax me rules," he murmured as he pulled her dress lower, eager to touch more of her, "perhaps ye can do the same."
He reached down to swirl his finger around a hardening bud, and Lana nearly collapsed from the pleasure of it. Her knees buckled, and it was only Daniel's strong arm around her back that kept her standing.
"Yer rules?" she gasped.
"Aye. I will forgive ye for breaking one."
Daniel pulled up her skirts, and then his fingers were on the bare skin of her knee. Lana was desperate for more, dreaming of all the things those fingers could do to her. But his words kept echoing in her mind.
She pulled back, jolted out of this pleasant moment by his words.
"What rule did I break, Me Laird?"
She couldn't keep the annoyance out of her voice, and she saw Daniel start, confused by the turn this had taken. He looked back at her as if the answer were obvious.
"I told ye nae to make decisions for me child," he reminded her. "Ye broke a rule and put her in danger."
"By letting her play?" Lana asked. "She was right outside the door."
"It was poor judgment," Daniel countered. "But I told ye I've forgiven it."
"Well, that's kind of ye," Lana scoffed, pushing past him.
She stormed into his bedchamber and noticed a few items neatly folded on the bed. She caught sight of her nightdress sitting on top. Had he gone to collect her things when he left her in the room?
The kind gesture didn't do anything to lessen Lana's annoyance. It only made her more frustrated. She spun around to face him.
"If I am such trouble to ye, then perhaps ye should send me home, Me Laird. Do ye really think I pose such a danger to yer child?"
"That wasnae what I said," Daniel answered as he followed her inside. He smirked at her, and she recognized his teasing expression. "Though I must say, ever since we were wed, there has been quite a bit of trouble here."
She knew he was trying to joke with her, but his judgment was like a slice of a knife. She was guilty enough about what happened with Skye today, and she didn't need Daniel to remind her of what she had done wrong. And then there was Laird MacDougal, crashing their wedding because she was replacing his daughter. She couldn't help thinking this had all been a mistake.
"It's all gone wrong," Lana mumbled, wrapping her arms around her stomach as she shook her head. "Laird MacDougal is angry that ye have married me and forgotten his daughter. And he's furious enough to attack ye for it. Plus, ye brought me here to take care of Skye, but I'm only bringing more danger to her."
She stared down at the floor, full of guilt and helplessness. Daniel's entire castle was on edge, preparing for attacks or kidnappings, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was all her fault.
Daniel approached, but she wouldn't look at him.
"Lana," he murmured gently.
She knew he was trying to coax her to look him in the eye, but she couldn't bear to see his scowls or, even worse, a look of pity.
