Page 18 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
She saw the shock on his face, the way he struggled to understand what she was actually saying to him.
Lana stood up straighter as she faced him, and then, mirroring his earlier actions, she held up a single finger.
"One," she said, laying out her rules. "I willnae lie with ye or give ye bairns unless I fall in love with ye."
Her voice was breathy, still affected by his closeness moments ago but also fueled by fear that he might take this poorly. She worried he might yell or knock over a chair, and she worried that she mightlikeit.
"Love," Daniel echoed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Ye willnae give up on that, will ye?"
Lana shook her head, not trusting herself to speak further. When Daniel stepped closer to her, she held her ground, determined not to let him intimidate her. If this man could give her rules, then she could make some of her own.
"Ye ken, love isnae necessary," he said.
He was inches away from her again, though there was no table to trap her against. Lana could move if she wanted to, but she stood still, melting into his closeness once more. His presence made her feel weak, as if she could no longer stand, and suddenly his hand was on the nape of her neck.
"I daenae need ye to love me in order to seduce ye."
His lips hovered over hers. With the smallest movement, Lana could press her lips against his. But she didn't move, and Daniel didn't take her mouth, though she knew she was practicallybegging for it. Instead, his mouth dropped below her ear, and she felt the first soft touch of his mouth on her neck.
That little moan escaped her lips again, completely unbidden, and she felt him smile. His mouth moved lower, and he was suddenly kissing down her throat. Lana held her breath as his other hand pulled her closer to him, pressing her hips against his own. And then there was a shock of warmth as his tongue slipped out to suck on her neck.
Lana pushed him away, shocked by the bolt of desire that shot down to her toes. She stepped back, so there was space between them and so her brain could form thoughts.
"Ye'll have to do better than that, Me Laird," she said, surprised by the words that came out of her mouth.
She didn't recognize the confident and teasing woman who stood in front of Daniel, challenging him. But she liked the surprise in his eye, and the way he looked at her as if there was no one else in the world he wanted to look at.
"I'll see ye at the wedding," she added, and then she turned around.
She could feel his gaze on her, but instead of making her nervous, it made her feel powerful.
Lana walked slowly toward the door, wanting Daniel to see just how special she was.
Ye dinnae pick just any wife, Laird MacCrawford. If ye thought this was a simple game, it's time to realize it isnae so easily won.
Daniel couldn't think straight. The ride back home was filled with images of Lana, her face upturned, her cheeks flushed. Who was this woman? He had set out to find a wife who would raise his daughter, but he was starting to realize that Lana was a bit more than he had bargained for. Not that he minded. It had been a long time since he had found himself attracted to a woman.
"How was it?" Cameron asked.
Daniel rolled his eye at his brother. His constant presence was starting to get on his nerves. "Why are ye so concerned with me love life?" he asked. "Perhaps it's time we start thinking about yer own."
"Nay." Cameron laughed. "I'm quite content on me own. I kenned ye were, too, until last night. Perhaps it's why I'm so interested."
"I'll thank ye to leave me alone," Daniel mumbled as he handed Clava to the waiting stable hand. "Unless ye have an interest in planning a wedding."
"So it's happening?" Cameron asked, his face bright.
"Aye, but daenae get excited. It will be a small affair, just enough to keep her family pleased and the villagers entertained. I already lived through one giant wedding. I daenae need another."
Daniel strode into the castle, wanting nothing more than to lock himself away in his study. For a man who was used to being on his own, there had been far too much activity in the past twenty-four hours. It was time to hide away from it all for a while.
"The council's waiting for ye."
The words made an irrational anger flood through him. He fought the sudden urge to punch Cameron square in the face, though he knew his brother was only the messenger.
"Why are they here?" Daniel asked through clenched teeth.
"I wouldnae hazard a guess." Cameron shrugged, clearly amused by his brother's frustration. "That's why ye are the Laird and I am nae."
