Page 60 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
"Ye havenae brought this danger," he said.
She shivered as he put his hand on her arm and ran it down the side of her arm before taking her hand.
"Perhaps I should leave," she muttered, trying to hold back the tears as she thought of leaving Skye and her new family. "It would be safer for ye and Skye."
"Nay," Daniel declared, fast and decisive. She was surprised by the forcefulness of his tone. "Ye willnae leave."
"So ye will hold me prisoner?" Lana asked, suddenly frustrated with him. She had spent the day doing what he told her to, and she was losing patience with him. "Did ye nae say I am free to do as I wish? As long as it doesnae cause me harm?"
"Enough of these rules!" Daniel bellowed. The volume shocked her into looking at him.
"They are yer rules!" she cried out. "If I stay here, I am only bringing harm to meself and Skye. Let me protect her."
"Ye daenae ken what is right for me daughter. Have I nae told ye willnae make decisions for her? Ye barely ken the child!"
The words stung more than anything Daniel could throw at her. Lana had taken great pains to connect with his daughter. Anyone with eyes could see the pair had already formed an unbreakable bond.
"Ye can still say this?" Lana asked, feeling anger boil in her veins. "Do ye truly believe that I daenae have Skye's best interests at heart?"
"Ye arenae her maither!" Daniel argued.
"Aye," Lana spat. "Ye have made that perfectly clear."
She stormed toward the door, unwilling to stay in the room for another second. She didn't care what danger might await her if she stayed in her own room tonight. She simply needed to be away from Daniel.
But Daniel caught on to her actions, and he followed after her, taking two steps for every one she took. Just as she turned the knob and opened the door, he put his hand on the wood and pushed it closed.
Lana was now trapped between the door and his body, and she could do nothing but turn around, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.
But his proximity was intoxicating, and the anger radiating off each of them was far too close to desire. One glance at Daniel's lips and he ravaged her, taking her bottom lip between his teeth. She moaned into the kiss, pulling at his clothes and tugging his shirt from his breeches. She didn't know what she did, only that she wanted to feel his bare skin against her own.
Daniel pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the taut muscles of his chest. Lana timidly placed both her hands on his bare skin, coaxing a mischievous smile from him. He stepped closer and took her lips in a searing kiss again before he wrapped an arm around her waist and spun them both around, so he could walk her backwards.
Lana realized he was walking her to the bed.
"Enough!" she said, using her hands to push him away. "I daenae love ye."
"Then what are ye feeling?" Daniel asked, still looking at her with hunger in her eyes.
He kept walking her backward until the back of her knees bumped into the bed.
Lana could give in. She knew she could kiss him and let him coax pleasure from every nook and cranny of her body. But she wouldn't allow it.
"I am nae sure, Me Laird," she said, clenching her jaw. "But right now, I would say I feel something like hate."
Daniel seemed surprised by her words, but his expression quickly turned into a scowl. His looming frame was pushing her onto the bed. But in a breath, he turned on his heel and stormed toward the door. She watched the taut muscles of his back as he opened the door with a grunt.
"Me Laird!" A guard was standing outside, surprised by Daniel's sudden appearance in the hallway.
"Daenae leave yer post. Daenae move away from this door."
Lana saw the guard nod and stand taller, eager to please.
Satisfied, Daniel reached back and slammed the door shut, but not before glancing back at her for a second, his eye blazing.
25
After downing half a bottle of whiskey in his study, Daniel made his way back to his bedchamber. He had finally calmed himself down after those infuriating arguments with Lana. The push and pull of the evening left him thrumming with pent-up desire and frustration he struggled to release from his tense muscles.
