Chapter 27

DANIEL SEARCHED MAGNOLIA'S EYES FOR A MOMENT. Her words shocked him and made every restraint he had been putting on himself break.

"Are you sure?" he finally asked.

"Unless you do not want to," Magnolia said with a smaller voice, wrapping her arms around herself.

Daniel took two strides and closed the distance between them. He took her face in his hands and looked deep into her gray pools.

"Do you know how much strength it took me to not touch you the way I wanted to?" He kissed her gently. "I love you," he whispered against her lips.

Magnolia took a step back. With her eyes fixed on his, she pushed her dress off her shoulders and stood there with nothing on but her undergarments.

The duke gulped. Then, she let the see-through clothing slip down, revealing her scarred body.

Daniel picked her up swiftly and carried her to the bed. He put her down and took off his shirt, then he was on top of her. He kissed her senselessly.

Her fingers were intertwined in his silver locks, she pulled him closer to her than froze, her action made Daniel stop too.

"Are you alright?" He looked at her flushed face with confusion. There was only a hint of movement of her hips when he realized that she had felt his erection. He smiled.

"This is how you make me feel, love, this is your doing."

Her eyes involuntarily moved down to his bulge for a moment which got a chuckle from Daniel. Magnolia was too focused to hear it, though.

'Is it normal for it to be this hard?' Was what she wanted to ask her husband, but she did not.

A chill of fear ran down her body. She remembered the pain she was inflicted every time the baron came to her bed. He was always rough and full of rage. Her breath hitched and she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Magnolia?" Daniel called softly.

She opened her eyes and saw dark blue pools full of love and care.

'Daniel is nothing like that bastard.'

She smiled and locked her arms around her husband's neck, pulling him closer to her. Daniel groaned as their bodies came to full contact again. He claimed her lips with a demanding kiss, their tongues wrestling harmoniously.

Her back arched as a need grew inside. She pulled him closer, if that was even possible.

Daniel traced kisses down her neck till he reached her breasts, he nibbled and fondled until Magnolia's body was trembling with desire.

"Dan–Daniel," she whispered between heavy breaths. She needed more. "Please," she begged, not even knowing what she was begging for.

All these emotions were foreign to her. She had never felt so much pleasure before, yet she still craved more.

Daniel pushed off her for a moment and she suddenly felt cold and needy.

"No," she mumbled as her eyes flew wide open. A smile tugged on Daniel's lips at her reaction.

"Trust me love, I am not going anywhere."

He pulled down his pants. Daniel positioned himself between his wife's legs, and slowly pushed himself into her.

Magnolia gasped, closing her eyes and bracing herself for pain that never came. She opened her eyes and found Daniel's gaze on her, dark and full of desire. He leaned over and kissed her as his gentle thrusts became more urgent.

She wrapped her legs around his waist. Her hips matched his movements. She felt something growing inside, like something was coming.

She threw her head back, giving Daniel access to her neck. He trailed kisses over her collarbone and then her jaw and back to her mouth.

"Daniel," she panted.

Daniel picked up speed, slamming his hips against hers.

"Dan—Dan—" With a loud and shaky moan, Magnolia's body shattered with ecstasy. The world stopped and the waves of pleasure made her toes curl. She had just experienced her very first orgasm.

Daniel pulled out immediately. He climaxed with a low groan as he bunched the sheets in his fist.

Magnolia lay in bliss with her eyelids too heavy to open. She felt the bed move and then a few moments later dip again.

Daniel pulled her against his bare chest and covered both of them with the warm blanket. She snuggled against him and took in his intoxicating scent, it was everywhere.

"I love you," she whispered, right before drifting off to sleep.

THE NEXT MORNING, Daniel woke up early, full of energy. He had not slept this well in so many years.

He placed a gentle kiss on Magnolia's forehead and left for the training grounds. He spent the next few hours sparring with his men.

When Magnolia opened her eyes, she immediately smiled as she stretched her arms. Then she remembered last night and felt her face heat up.

She remembered Daniel's face, his kisses, his hands and the embarrassing sounds she made. She buried her face in her pillow, feeling thankful that he was not there right now.

'How am I supposed to face him today?'

She took a bath which helped ease her soreness, and as Clara was putting the last touch-ups on her hair, her bedroom door opened.

"Good morning, my love." Came Daniel, looking all fresh. Clara immediately bowed and left.

"Good morning," Magnolia responded with a flushed face as images from last night rushed to her head again.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he kissed her head. It sent sparks down his wife's spine.

"Good." She stood up quickly. "Should we join the others for breakfast?" She started walking toward the door when Daniel pulled her against him. Her heart raced. She felt his breath on the back of her neck, suddenly, her knees were getting weak.

'What is happening to me?'

"Last night was the best night of my life," he whispered in her ear.

"Daniel–"

"No," he cut her off.

"No?"

"You called me something else last night." Magnolia turned to face the duke with a frown. She could not recall what he was talking about. But again, half of last night was a haze in her mind.

"I am sorry I do not remember." Her face was scarlet from the other parts she did remember.

"From now on, I want you to call me Dan." Her eyes widened and her cheeks got an even darker shade of red. "I really like that nickname."

She did not mean to call him that last night. She remembered the intense feelings that made her stutter and lose her ability to form full words. "I–" she started.

"I love you," Daniel interrupted.

He lifted her chin lightly, and he pecked her softly on the lips. Magnolia looked in his eyes, mesmerized.

"I love you too."

Daniel grinned. "Shall we?"

"Yes." Magnolia beamed.

He placed his arm around her waist, and they made their way to the dining hall.

'I wonder if my heart can handle all this happiness.'