Chapter 28

28

Lana followed Daniel into the castle, clutching Skye to her chest. She thought he would turn back to them and check that they were alright, but he didn't look at them.

"Ye're alright now," Lana whispered to the little girl as she cried into her shoulder. She exchanged a glance with Cameron in the entryway as they both watched Daniel storm down the hallway, headed for his study.

"Will ye take her?" Lana asked.

Cameron nodded, and she passed him the little girl.

"There now," Lana told her. "Uncle Cam's got ye. He willnae let anything happen to ye."

"Where are ye going?" Skye cried, holding her arms out to Lana even as Cameron pulled her to him.

"It's alright, dear one. I must check on yer papa."

Lana gave Skye a reassuring smile and waited for a flicker of understanding in her eyes. Skye sniffed and give a small nod.

With that, Lana rushed down the hallway, following Daniel's long shadow as he stormed to his study.

She caught the door just as he was about to slam it shut, and she pushed through, slipping into the dark room. Daniel was walking in circles, pacing like a caged animal around the furniture. She thought he would wear a hole in the floor with his intensity.

"Ye could have been killed," he mumbled. "I could have lost ye both."

"But ye dinnae," Lana said gently.

He wasn't looking at her. His sword was still unsheathed, clutched in his hand so hard that she could his knuckles turning white.

"We're still here."

"I let ye out of me sight. I let ye go."

"It was me fault," Lana reasoned. "I took her to see the animals. I dinnae listen to ye."

"I couldnae bear it. I couldnae live with meself if I let it happen again. Nae with ye."

Lana took a careful step forward, catching his eye. Daniel paused and stood still, as if noticing she was in the room for the first time. His face relaxed as he took her in, and she stepped closer.

When Daniel didn't move, she closed the distance between them and put her hand gently on the hand still holding his sword.

Daniel looked down, confused by the sword in his hand. With tenderness, Lana pried his fingers open, taking the hilt from him. The sword was much heavier than she had expected, and she needed to hold it with both hands, but she managed to carry it toward the hearth. She propped it carefully against the wall before turning back to him.

"Are ye alright?" he asked. He cupped her cheeks in his hands as his eye roamed over her face. "Did he hurt ye?"

"I'm alright," Lana soothed. She took a step back and looked at him from head to toe, knowing he was much more likely to be injured. "What about ye? Are ye injured?"

Daniel ignored her question. His hands slid down her arms, and his eye roamed over her body, as if he couldn't believe she was standing in front of him.

"I couldnae lose ye," he whispered. "I couldnae live with meself if I lost either of ye."

"We're alright," Lana murmured. She held his forearms and squeezed reassuringly. "We are safe. We're safe thanks to ye."

The corner of her mouth turned up as she thought of Daniel's bravery. He hadn't hesitated to save her. He had rushed forward with the certainty of a man who cared about her. It was a man who was desperate to protect what was his. Her whole body felt warm as she stared back at him, overcome with tenderness for him.

"Ye saved me," she said, locking eyes with him. "Ye risked yer life for me and Skye."

Daniel looked surprised and even grateful for her words. She could see how much this event had affected him, bringing up memories of the past that he had tried so hard to forget. His hands tightened around her arms, and he pulled her closer, desperate to hold on to her. Unwilling to let go.

Lana tilted her head up and pushed herself up on her tiptoes. Then she gently pressed her lips to his.

"It's alright," she whispered. "I'm here."

Daniel stared back at her in surprise, and then his eye flashed with carnal desire. He bent down and took her mouth in his. She felt his desperation, his need to pull her closer. It was like after almost losing her, he wanted to hold every part of her. He wanted to check that she was alright.

Lana ran her hands up and down his arms, feeling how warm his body still felt after the fight. She had to balance herself on her tiptoes to have access to his mouth. Daniel wrapped his arm around her lower back and pulled her into him, so her breasts pressed against his chest.

Her breaths came faster as his tongue pushed into her mouth, and his hand cupped her rear. Lana felt his manhood harden as he slowly ground his hips against her. She moaned, and he cupped the back of her legs before lifting her up to straddle his waist.

"What about yer rule?" he asked hoarsely, carrying her to his desk.

He pushed aside papers, and other items clattered to the floor as he lowered her onto the desk, dropping his mouth to her collarbone.

Lara gasped as he kissed down the swell of her breasts and tugged at the neckline of her dress, eager to have more access.

"Forget the rules," she whispered.

Daniel yanked hard on her dress, and then he was kissing and sucking on her breasts. She cried out as his tongue began to tease a nipple.

"I'm yers. Take me."

Daniel pulled her legs apart and settled himself between them. He pulled up her skirts, delighted when his fingers found her bare knees and moved higher to her inner thighs. He kissed her, and she leaned back, held up by his strong arm around her back. He reached out and shoved everything that was left on the desk to the floor before laying her flat on the wooden surface.

He smiled at her before he returned to her skirts. He pushed them up further, so they were bunched around her waist, and took a moment to admire her. He could see her readiness.

Daniel placed his hands on the desk to hold himself up as he lowered his face between her thighs. He blew on her sex, and she let out a high-pitched moan.

He planted kisses on the soft skin of her thighs, and Lana squirmed beneath him, overcome with the sensation. He brought one hand to her thigh, holding her in place, while the other snaked around her back to pull her closer to him. Daniel hovered over her, tantalizingly close, and then he flicked his tongue against her folds.

Lana jerked, shocked by the touch, and he couldn't hold back a smile.

This is goin' to be fun…

Daniel pressed his tongue flat and hard against her, and she cried out, sending a thrill to his core. He began to lick her with confidence, listening for the gentle gasps and moans that told him he was hitting the right places. Lana gripped the edge of the desk behind her as she rocked her hips back and forth, increasing her pleasure.

Daniel moved faster, sensing her pleasure building, and then his fingers joined his tongue. He pushed his fingers inside her as his tongue worked hard and fast, and suddenly Lana's legs squeezed his head. She jerked against him, screaming out with surprise and exultation.

Lana had never felt anything like that. Even their time at the lake had not felt that good.

And there is still more…

She tugged Daniel up, wanting all barriers between them to disappear. She tugged at his shirt, and he undid his breeches, and then they worked on ridding her of her clothes.

She had never been naked in front of a man, but she wanted Daniel to see her. She wanted his eye on her breasts and her legs, and she was shocked to realize how desperately she wanted to see his body.

Lana felt a thrill as she saw his readiness. She had only felt his desire through layers of fabric, and it was intoxicating to see him eager and waiting. She jumped down from the desk, and Daniel stepped forward to press his naked body against her. His length pressed against her stomach as he kissed her.

She couldn't wait anymore. Lana pushed against his chest and saw his surprise at her forcefulness. He gave a rueful smile as he allowed her to walk him backward, and then he was pulling her down to the floor with him. They kissed all the way down, first on their knees and then flat on the floor.

Lana draped herself across his body, and he guided her legs over his hips, so she was straddling him.

His hand moved between them as he guided his length to her opening.

"That's right, Sunshine." Daniel smiled, placing his hands on her hips.

Lana gasped as he guided her down, slowly entering her. She kept her eyes locked on his as he began to rock his hips gently.

"Are ye alright?" he asked, staring up at her.

Lana couldn't speak. She only nodded as she reveled in the sensation of him sliding in and out of her. She leaned down to kiss him, placing her hands on either side of his head as her breasts pressed against his chest.

Then they moved faster. Another ball of warmth was forming deep in Lana's core, and she rocked her hips to increase her pleasure. Daniel's hand cupped her breasts, and she gasped as she felt how sensitive they were.

With an athleticism that shocked her, Daniel flipped her on her back. He was suddenly in control, thrusting into her hard and fast as he continued to tease her breasts. His other hand dipped between her legs, and she cried out as he found her sensitive spot.

With only a whisper of a touch, Lana crashed over the edge, and then Daniel cried out above her.

His muscles tightened, and he dropped his hands to the floor, holding himself up as he climaxed. He groaned in pleasure as Lana gasped beneath him, overcome with her own release.

With a final moan, Daniel dropped his head to Lana's shoulder and placed a gentle kiss on her collarbone.