Chapter 21

21

A Welcome Return

" I 'm nae fearful now that ye are back," said Dakota. "I ken ye will protect me."

"I will, ye have me word," replied the Laird.

Dakota held his gaze across the desk and wondered if he had become more handsome in his time away. It was almost as if she could not remember what he looked like when he had left, and the man who had returned was renewed. There was something different about him.

"Might I ask ye somethin', William?"

"Aye."

"Am I second best to ye?" asked Dakota.

"Second best?"

"Aye! Ye were supposed to marry Delilah, but ye had to settle for me."

"I… It's complicated, Dakota. Yer nae second best, but I dinnae ken if I can say anythin' that will help right now. Delilah and I dinnae have any sort of courtship. I wasnae goin' to marry her because I loved her or thought she was some beauty. I was goin' to marry her because it was best for the clan . In that way, ye cannae be second best. She was never first best."

"I daenae ken if that makes me feel better or not. What about what ye said when we first got together? Ye wanted me only for bairns. And ye send me to sleep halfway across the castle. I daenae ken how I am supposed to feel."

"Hey, daenae let him get under yer skin. That's what he wants. Daenae listen to a word he said to ye. He wants to hurt me, that's all ye need to ken, and he tried to do it by upsettin' ye. If ye let yerself be upset, he's won."

"Aye, but what am I supposed to think? I'm nae upset because he said it; I'm upset because it's the truth."

"Listen, do ye want to ken the truth?" asked William.

Dakota was not sure she wanted to anymore, but she nodded for him to continue.

"The truth is, I dinnae want to wed Delilah for love, and I dinnae want to marry you for love, either. That might sound harsh, but what else do you expect? Delilah should be upset by that, but not ye. I had a minute to decide , and ye were the best option. And when I chose ye as me wife, it came with the obligation of childbirth, just as it would have for any woman."

Dakota opened her mouth to speak, but William raised his finger to stop her.

"Ye might not like to hear it, but that's the truth. However, I've been doin' a lot of thinkin' while I've been away, and I've been going over some petty squabbles that I need to step in and fix, and I couldn't help but think of our squabbles. We started at each other's necks, but we put an end to it. There's somethin' to be said for that.

"There's also somethin' to be said about the way I felt when I was gone. There have been many things playin' on me mind in the past weeks and months, but I couldnae concentrate on any of them. All I could think about was ye, Dakota. I thought a lot about how strong and tough ye are, and I daenae ever think I wanted that for a wife—I always asked for a good and submissive wife who would do what I said, but that's nae what I want. It was fate or luck that brought ye to me as me wife. I might nae have wanted to be with ye when I met ye, but I do now."

"Ye do?" asked Dakota.

"Aye. I believe we work well together. And, I almost cannae say this out loud, but I missed ye when I was away."

Dakota's eyes opened wide. "Ye did!" she shouted. "I missed ye too!"

Dakota mentally kicked herself for revealing that information so eagerly and willingly. She had missed him terribly, especially when she had been holed up in the castle, but she had revealed that information much too happily. At least he had said it first.

"I… I've been thinkin' about the kiss I gave ye when ye left," said Dakota.

"Aye?"

"I had thought about givin' ye a kiss for yer return."

"Oh, aye? Did ye just think this, or have ye been longin' for it ever since I left?" William smiled.

"Ye are such a scoundrel! Well, if ye think I'm goin' to give ye the pleasure after sayin' that, then ye have another thin' comin'."

"All right. Well, if ye have nae more business with me, I should get on with this." William picked up one of the documents from the desk.

"Fine." Dakota folded her arms and walked for the door.

She knew exactly what he was doing and hated that she still could not resist him.

Blast that knave!

Dakota turned to go back to him and found the Laird standing right there. Her mouth opened slightly in shock, and his lips came to hers. She was powerless as his tongue dived into her mouth again, and a tingling ran between her thighs, up through her chest, and down her arms.

"Mmm," she moaned.

She would not tell the Laird, but she had waited four days for another kiss like this. She wrapped her arms around his back and clung on tight. She might have been frightened by the events in the market, and she would never admit that, but she was not frightened now that she was in the Laird's arms once more.

William ran his hands down her back and onto her rear—he cupped her cheeks and hoisted her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around him in reply, holding on tight.

The Laird pulled his lips from hers and pushed his mouth close to Dakota's ear—the warm breath tickled her lobe.

"I've been waitin' for this."

"Me too," she gasped. "I want to feel like ye made me feel before. I want ye inside of me, William."

"What else do ye want me to do?"

"I want yer fingers on me body and yer lips on me neck."

William took her to the desk and placed her on the documents. He kissed after neck, sending goosebumps sprouting all down her spine. She arched her back at what was to come. She could not wait to feel him inside her—the anticipation had built over the past week.

The Laird lifted her dress and ran a finger up her thigh, stopping just short of her rosebud. She only had a sheer chemise under the dress—and she had ensured he would have easy access before coming to his office.

Their lips came back together, but more furiously this time, as if they had been apart for a month and not days. Dakota could feel the emotion building in her core, and the release would be even better than last time. Everything would be better than last time.

She reached down and tried to find his belt buckle but could not reach it. She rubbed at the bulge in his trousers, hoping he would unleash it himself and give her everything she desired.

Instead, he lifted the bottom of her dress and pulled it over her head in one fluid motion. Suddenly, she was naked as the day she was born, and she felt more exposed than she had ever done. Dakota pushed her thighs together and held an arm across her chest.

"Show me who ye are," demanded the Laird.

"I'm nothin' much to look at," replied Dakota.

"I'll be the judge of that."

William stood towering over her like a mountain before a tiny pond. He looked down at her even though she was sitting atop the desk. Dakota held his gaze and did not know what to do, but the softness in his eyes hypnotized her.

She carefully peeled her arm from her bosom, revealing her breasts. They were not large, but not petite either. She could feel her nipples stiffen under his gaze. Her eyes flicked once between his eyes and the bulge down below. She had to have it.

Slowly, she also opened her legs to put herself on full display. William moved his eyes up and down her body as if raking a lawn. He lingered in certain spots, his eyes glistening as he took her in. He didn't have to say a word; she could see the lust in his eyes. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.

He placed his large hand on her chest, just above her breasts. Gently, he pushed her back until she lay on the desk, her breasts jiggling atop her like two puddings topped with raspberries. She did not feel exposed—the Laird dressed her with his gaze.

"Tell me that you need me," he demanded.

"I need you."

"And that you want me."

"I want you. I want you so much."

The Laird smiled and bent forward. He took a breast in each hand and squeezed them. He ran his thumbs over her nipples, flicking at the stiffness. And then his mouth was around one. The warmth that engulfed her nipple engulfed her entire body. Her back arched as he took her in his mouth, before he touched her with his tongue.

When his tongue flicked at her rigid nub, she almost exploded . She brought her hand down to his hair, running her fingers through his thick locks. What he was doing felt so good; nothing could compare to how the Laird made her feel.

William moved from one nipple to the other, doubling the effect. Her cavern practically pulsed with wetness as he licked and gently bit her nipple.

A hand moved to her thigh and slowly worked toward her opening. When it was almost there, Dakota clamped her thighs shut. William took his attention from her bosom and looked up at her from between creamy mounds.

"Tell me you want me," smiled Dakota. "Tell me you need me."

William did not say anything for a moment, and Dakota thought he would resist, but he said it. "I want ye, and I need ye. I want to be inside ye."

Dakota smiled and released her thighs. The hand continued the journey, and he slipped into her as easily as a knife into butter. Dakota arched her back at his touch and clamped her hands to William's cheeks. She pulled his head up to her, her tongue eager to taste him.

They kissed again, and their tongues practically fought for dominance, William's winning out in the end. His fingers continued to slide in and out of her down below, and his thumb started to caress her bud. She kept a firm hold of his head, her mouth needing the pleasure too, and she willed him to stick his hard shaft into her.

Even the thought of it caused her insides to pulse, and she almost climaxed at the thought of him making love to her. She reached around to his back and clawed at it. Her tongue tasted honey and wine; her nose took in sandalwood and wildflowers, a scent likely gained on the ride back to the castle.

The only ride Dakota could think of now was her riding the Laird until they both climaxed. He wanted an heir, and she knew it was her obligation to give him one, and it would feel like standing at the end of the world and staring off into infinity.

William's fingers pushed inside her again, slipping through the wetness, and the touch of his thumb on her pink spot made her tremble beneath him.

"I want—" she whispered.

"I know what you want," he finished.

His wet fingers came out of her and moved to her bud, slipping over it easily. She trembled like a volcano about to erupt. It would feel so good to have him erupt within her.

She threw her head back as the stroking, playing and teasing became fast. She opened her mouth to beg, but all that came out was a moan.

The pleasure hit her like a strong breeze rustling through the trees and fields of hay—it was strong and all-encompassing. It embraced her and pulled her down into a pit of ecstasy. Her whole body tensed until it was completely rigid, and then it shook as the waves of pleasure pulsed through her entire body.

Dakota had never felt anything like it. It was the best thing she had ever felt. Yet, she had never been more disappointed. He had pleasured her twice now but had not given her what she truly craved. How were they supposed to create a child when he would not make love to her properly?