Chapter 20

20

"Someone must have told him," Daniel whispered to Cameron while staring at Laird MacDougal over his glass.

Laird MacDougal gathered his men, finally preparing to leave. The soldiers had integrated themselves into the party, drinking and dancing with Daniel's guests, so it was now a challenge to extract them. But one by one they gathered their weapons and headed for the door.

"It's at least a two-day ride from his castle," Daniel continued. "He needed warning to show up here like this."

"Anyone could have notified him," Cameron said. They watched the old man give Skye a final hug as Lana watched on. "Ye ken how quickly gossip can spread in these parts."

The whole room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when the last of Laird MacDougal's soldiers set out for his home. Daniel had ordered some of his own men to follow them—while staying hidden, of course. He wouldn't risk Laird MacDougal and his soldiers coming back here to cause more trouble.

"I daenae ken what would have happened if Lana wasnae here," Cameron sighed.

Daniel's eye flicked to his bride. She was standing close with her brother as Skye chatted with Moira, seemingly undisturbed by Laird MacDougal's visit. Daniel couldn't stop thinking of the way she stood up to the old man. He felt a surge of pride as he thought of it.

"Aye," he agreed, "she was brave."

"As was Skye." Cameron smiled. "I think yer bride is rubbin' off on the child."

He smirked at his brother before telling him he would take the child to bed. It was well past Skye's bedtime, and the girl was nearly asleep on her feet.

Most of the guests had left, leaving only Lana's family still milling about. Daniel saw them gathered in small groups, having final drinks and speaking in hushed tones, no doubt talking about Laird MacDougal's visit. Daniel made a mental note to speak with his council about handling Laird MacDougal in the future. He couldn't have any more surprise visits from the man.

As Cameron carried Skye over to say goodnight to her father, Daniel wondered what she would remember of this night. Would she ask more questions about her grandfather and her mother? He had chosen to keep Skye away from her grandfather to keep her safe. Had he been wrong to keep her away from her mother's family?

"Goodnight, Papa," Skye said.

He was surprised when the little girl reached for him, leaning out of Cameron's arms. Daniel took her in his arms and hugged her tight.

"Goodnight, lass," he whispered. "Ye did very well tonight."

He cradled the back of her head, feeling grateful that she was safe. He was all too aware that the evening could have gone very differently tonight.

"I like Lana," Skye said. "Thank ye, Papa."

Daniel smiled and handed his daughter back to Cameron. He watched them leave before shifting his gaze to Lana.

I like her too.

"I see the way he looks at ye," Olivia whispered, turning to Ciara for support. She was nearly bubbling with excitement.

"Aye," Ciara agreed. "And after ye stood up to Laird MacDougal. Ye should have seen Daniel's expression."

"It was nothing," Lana said, feeling shy under the women's praise.

Now that the guests had left and only her family remained, the promise of what came next was looming large and insistent over her.

"He will be kind with ye," Olivia assured her. "Nay man can look at ye like that and ignore yer pleasure."

"Olivia!" Lana hissed, looking around them to make sure no one had overheard. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"It's nothing to be afraid of," Olivia said, squeezing her hand. "It's a sign of being a true man if he can bring ye pleasure as much as he gets himself."

Olivia and Ciara couldn't hold back their giggles of excitement as they spoke of things they both knew well. Lana knew they loved their husbands dearly and had the good fortune to have husbands who loved them back. Her mind drifted to her time with Daniel at the lake and how his fingers had brought her pleasure she had never dreamed of.

But then there was his promise. He had said he wouldn't touch her again unless she allowed him everything. Had tonight changed that? Certainly, the glances he gave her seemed to tell a different story.

As she looked across the room, she found him staring at her. His look alone sent a wave of pleasure down to her toes.

"Perhaps ye should leave me alone," Lana whispered as her heart rate quickened. "He willnae come for me if ye are monopolizing me time."

Ciara and Olivia gave small shrieks of excitement. They glanced over at Daniel, and Lana was suddenly frozen with anticipation as he strode toward her.

Daniel finished his drink and set his sights on his new bride. She was stealing glances at him, and he could hear the whispers and laughter of her sisters as they peeked over their shoulders in his direction. It was very clear that Lana, Ciara, and Olivia were speaking about him.

With Skye safe with Cameron, and with his soldiers tailing Laird MacDougal and his men, Daniel could turn his attention to other things. Namely, his wedding night. He wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the gentle curves of her body. He wanted to hold her close and protect her, let her know that he would never let any harm come to her.

Unable to wait any longer, Daniel strode across the room with urgency. As Lana saw him approach, he noted the widening of her eyes and the excitement evident on her face. Ciara and Olivia stepped back, clearly understanding what he was after. He ignored the knowing smirks Ciara and Olivia gave to each other, choosing to keep his attention focused on Lana.

He reached out and took her upper arm, letting his body language do the talking. Lana came to him willingly, meeting his intense gaze, and they were suddenly moving quickly, as if they shared the same thoughts. He knew they were both thinking about his bedchamber and the sanctuary they could find there.

They walked in silence, though he caught the sideways glances Lana shot him as they navigated the halls. There was a glint in her eyes that told him she knew what was coming. And even more thrilling, she was looking forward to it.

"Stop lookin' at me like that," Daniel whispered, unable to wait until they were in his bedroom.

He spun her around and backed her up against the wall. Then he leaned down and took her lips in a searing kiss as he pressed her against the wall.

"Like what?" Lana gasped as his lips trailed down her neck and his hands roamed up her torso.

"Like ye ken what I want to do to ye," he answered.

Lana took his hand and pulled him down the hallway, desperate to get to his bedroom. It seemed that all talk of rules and restrictions was out the window this evening. After everything that had happened tonight, neither of them could think of anything except finding comfort in each other's arms.

When they reached the door, he spun her around again to kiss her. Lana reached back and twisted the handle, causing them to stumble into his bedchamber.

"Ye little minx," he said, holding her up so neither of them would fall to the floor.

She didn't answer, only brought her mouth to his and let her tongue probe his lips. Daniel kicked the door, and it closed with a thud. He walked her backward to the bed as his mouth explored hers.

His hands roamed down her back and finally cupped her backside, which had been teasing him all night. He lifted her, and she understood, wrapping her legs around him so she was locked tight against his hips. Daniel felt his manhood stiffen beneath her. He carried her to the bed and laid her down, only to climb on top of her.

"Ye were fearless tonight," Daniel murmured, rocking his hips against her and cursing the fabric between them.

"Nay," she gasped, guiding his hand to her breast. "Ye were fearless. Ye almost died tonight."

"And I would have been happy to," Daniel said, pulling back to stare down at her. "I will always sacrifice meself for me family."

He saw the effect his words had on her. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, before her face soften with desire. She pulled on the back of his neck, forcing his mouth to hers as her hands wound into his hair. Daniel tried to find the ties on her dress, running his hands down her back and over her chest. He cursed himself for not noting the closures earlier this evening.

"I want to see ye," Lana said, and she brought her hands to the sides of his face.

Daniel kissed her collarbone and began nipping downward, ready to rip the fabric off her if he needed to. He heard her moan.

"Are ye ready to show me?" she gasped, lifting his head from her chest. She met his gaze with a steady stare, and Daniel saw a question he didn't understand in her eyes.

"I want to see all of ye," she said sweetly, trailing her fingers over his cheekbone.

Suddenly, she was pulling at the eyepatch that covered his left eye.

His growl was instinctual, as was his vice-like grip on her wrist. He pushed her hand away, pinning her arm over her head.

"Daenae touch me," Daniel snapped. He looked down to see the shock and even fear on her face.

Good. Let her be afraid.

Finally, she was seeing him for the monster he truly was.

"Get out of here!" Daniel ordered, pushing off the bed and storming away from it.

Lana scrambled to her feet, shocked at the sudden turn the evening had taken. She rushed toward the door, and Daniel thought he caught the hint of tears in her eyes. But then she turned back, her expression full of defiance.

"I take it back. I daenae think ye are fearless," she said coldly, balling her fists at her sides. "I think ye're afraid of anyone getting close to ye. What is it ye are afraid of?"

"Go!" Daniel roared, desperate for her to leave.

He couldn't understand the pain coursing through his veins, the way his heart pounded as her words sank in. Instead of frightening her, the word only seemed to confirm her thoughts.

She regarded him with compassion, as if she felt sorry for him, and then she slowly nodded.

"Aye," Lana said. "Ye are afraid. I just daenae ken why."

She gave him a final look before turning on her heel and letting herself out of the room, leaving silence in her wake. Daniel stared at the closed door for a long time, wondering how everything went so wrong.

With a growl, he stormed to the bottle of whiskey on the side table. He poured himself a large glass, silently cursing Cameron for leaving it nearly empty. He gulped it down, letting the harsh liquor warm his core as it slid down his throat. He tried to push Lana's words out of his head, but they kept replaying on a loop.

Ye're afraid of anyone getting close to ye. I just daenae ken why.

Daniel re-filled his glass and downed it in one large gulp. He was desperate to push away those words, desperate to hold memories of his past at bay. His head began to throb, and he threw himself onto the sofa, overcome by the truth that he couldn't tell his wife.

Because the woman closest to me died because of me. Because I cannae live with meself if the same thing happens to ye.

Daniel squeezed the glass in his hand before throwing it across the room. It hit the wall, shattering into hundreds of pieces, leaving streaks of liquid down the wall. He leaned back and squeezed his eye shut, wanting nothing more than to forget.