Page 39 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
They rode in silence, with Lana sitting a few inches in front of him. She was so close that he could smell the clean scent of soap on her skin and the sweet scent of her hair. Daniel couldn't stopthinking about her standing in that nightgown, her cheeks the perfect shade of pink.
Every time he thought of it, he tried to force the image out of his mind. He couldn't. And the image was making him dangerously hot with desire. His thighs were so close to Lana's, and he kept dreaming of pulling her against him, of letting her feel his barely contained arousal. He dreamed of reaching up to cup her breasts with his hands and pressing kisses to the spot behind her ear.
Get it together.
"What are ye thinkin' of?" Lana asked, jolting him out of his thoughts.
He was glad she couldn't read what was going through his mind, which would certainly shock her.
"I was thinkin' of a detour," he said instead.
Suddenly, he steered the horse off the well-trodden path and urged it forward, picking up speed before she could protest.
"What are ye doin'?" Lana asked, but he heard laughter in her voice.
Daniel was starting to realize that she enjoyed a bit of excitement in her life. He expertly guided the horse through the woods even with an extra person in front of him.
It only took them a moment to emerge into a clearing. He stopped the horse on the edge of the treeline and allowed Lana to take in the wide expanse of grass and wildflowers that lay in front of them. And then, just beyond, was a beautiful lake of deep blue water. Lush, green islands popped up in the center.
"It's beautiful," Lana breathed. She leaned back a bit as she took it in, resting her back ever so gently against his chest.
Daniel was pleased that the weather was good. The sun shone down through a few fluffy clouds making their way lazily across the sky. He swung his leg over the back of the horse to dismount before reaching up to help Lana down. She hopped, and he caught her in the air before slowly lowering her to her feet.
Daniel couldn't help holding her a bit too close, letting her body slowly slide down his own until her feet were back on the ground, her face tilted up to his. He didn't miss the way her lips parted slightly, ready for his kiss.
"I cannae stop thinkin' of ye in that nightdress," he whispered, eager to shock her.
He was rewarded by her eyebrows rising almost to her hairline, and she backed away, clearly embarrassed.
"Ye werenae meant to see," Lana protested.
She walked away from him quickly, headed toward the edge of the lake. But Daniel wouldn't give up so easily. He felt a lightnessinside, countered only by the desire he had felt ever since they had left that store.
"Who is a nightdress for if nae for yer husband?"
Lana turned around, and he watched as the breeze from the lake gently blew locks of hair across her face. She brushed them aside angrily but unsuccessfully, making him smile.
"Perhaps I will wear it alone," Lana countered. "It will be for me eyes only."
Daniel stepped closer and carefully brushed the locks of hair out of her face, making her freeze. He ran his finger over her cheek and along her jawline. Finally, he brought his finger up and ran it over her bottom lip.
"That would be a shame," he murmured. "Then I would only have the memory of ye in that gown to dream about."
Lana seemed overwhelmed by his words, almost weak in the knees, and he slid his hand around her back to hold her steady.
"In truth, I have been dreamin' of it already," Daniel continued, watching her lips part, seeing the gentle fall and rise of her chest as her breathing grew shallow. "I have been wild with the image of ye standin' there, with nothin' but thin fabric covering ye."
Lana was suitably shocked by his words, but she held his gaze. He admired her bravery, though her cheeks were redder thanhe had ever seen them. Daniel leaned closer, ready to kiss those eager lips, but something stopped him.
"Ye want me to kiss ye again," he said.
It wasn't a question, but he saw the way she nodded slowly, her eyes locked with his.
"Then ye must ask me nicely."
"I might want to kiss ye, but I still daenae like ye yet," Lana breathed. "Would ye kiss a lass who doesnae like ye?"
He was impressed she could think so clearly when her body was so obviously crying out for him.
