Page 27 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
He kissed her again, his hand cradling her head. His fingers delved into her hair, tugging at the small braids and twists someone had put there this morning. Lana pushed her tongue into his mouth, but then he pulled away, kissing down her neck and across the swell of her breasts. All he could think of was exploring forbidden parts of her, though where he wanted to start was a tough decision.
As he let his lips and tongue explore Lana's neck, Daniel reached down to her knee. Her skirts were long and covered far too much of her for his liking. He gathered the fabric of her skirts in one hand and pulled it up. He first revealed her knee, letting his fingers tease the bare skin there, and then he started to push herskirts higher. He dropped his hand to the inside of her thigh and slowly explored higher.
As he did this, Lana leaned back on her elbows, trying to close her legs though his body was still between them.
"That will be all for now, Me Laird."
The sudden change in Lana surprised him, and he stepped back to look at her. But she was rearranging her clothes, pulling up the neckline of her dress to ensure she was well covered. She smoothed her skirts back down, covering the soft skin of her knee and the hint of her thigh he had been exploring.
He saw now that he had pushed things too far, and frustration simmered in his veins. Why did he have to behave like some aroused young lad who couldn't control himself? When he had Lana in his arms, all rational thought seemed to fly out of the window.
And to think ye started this conversation trying to regain control.
Daniel remembered the way Lana had defied him in front of his daughter. He remembered how he wanted to keep her from making decisions for the child. How had he ended up kissing her and dreaming of taking her on his desk?
Lana pushed herself down from the desk and continued to fix her skirts. He could still see the pink flush on her cheeks, and theredness of her lips sent a new surge of desire straight through him. But Daniel pushed it down, forcing a scowl on his face.
"Well then," Lana said, avoiding his gaze, "I'm glad we understand the rules."
"Aye," Daniel uttered, feeling the need to regain control. "And ye understand what I expect for me daughter. Ye willnae make decisions for her."
"How am I to care for the child if I cannae make decisions?" Lana asked.
They were back to the same argument, and Daniel suddenly felt tired. He wanted a simple solution for raising his daughter. When he had nannies, he could simply tell them what to do and how to care for Skye. He was starting to realize that things wouldn't be so easy with Lana…
"Ye will take it slow," he explained. "Ye will get to ken me household before ye start changin' it. Ye are practically a stranger."
He saw how the last word hit her—there was hurt in her eyes.Stranger. Could he call a woman that after he had kissed her the way he had kissed Lana? Was it fair to make her feel like a visitor in his castle?
Daniel pushed these concerns aside and told himself he was only doing what was best for his daughter. He couldn't have someone upsetting her whole life in the course of one day.
"Very well, Me Laird." Lana stood stiffly in front of him, her arms straight at her sides. "Shall I prepare for dinner?"
He couldn't tell if there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice. He had a thought that she might be mocking him, making a show of asking his permission to leave the room. He narrowed his eye, trying to understand the woman standing in front of him. But he chose to push forward, taking her words at face value.
"Aye." Daniel nodded. "Get settled in yer chambers before that."
"Very well, Me Laird. I'll see ye at dinner."
He watched as Lana crossed toward the door, clearly avoiding his gaze. As she walked away from him, he didn't miss what she muttered under her breath.
"That is, if ye will break bread with astranger."
12
"Astranger?" Lana stormed around the room, fuming. "It isnaemewho is a stranger, Me Laird. It is ye! Ye daenae even ken yer own daughter."
Now that she was alone in her chambers, Lana was screaming all the things she had so desperately wanted to say to Daniel. She was letting out everything she had been thinking when he called her astranger.
"How can he say such a thing?" she asked herself. "After he kissed me like that?"
Thoughts of Daniel's lips on hers and his fingers beneath her dress sent a fresh bolt of desire through her body. She had almost lost control with the man, forgetting everything she believed in. But she had dreamed of love since she was a child, and she couldn't give up on that so easily. Though it took everything inside of her to do it, she found the strength to push him away.
Lana threw herself into a chair in front of the unlit fireplace. She was frustrated and angry at Daniel and his cruel words, but also filled with pent-up desire. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her rage. For the first time, she looked around, taking in her new home.
The room was a clean and quiet space, with muted colors that made her think of a spring day. The furniture in front of the fireplace was oversized and comfortable, the perfect spot for reading a book or talking with friends.
There was a large four-poster bed at the other end of the room, but it wasn't intimidating. Gauzy curtains surrounded the bed, giving it a more feminine feel.
