Chapter 59

"YOU SMELL LIKE A LILY OF THE VALLEY," Fred said as he took in the scent. "It reminds me of–"

The words died in his throat, literally. He was yanked away from Magnolia, forcing him to let go of her arm.

"What the hell are you doing?" Daniel's voice was chilling. His hand was around Fred's throat, squeezing.

"I–I was just–" Fred stuttered with his eyes bulging.

"How dare you touch my wife," the duke hissed. "I could break your neck right here."

"Daniel," Magnolia hurried and placed her hands on his arm. "You cannot."

"This bastard did something to you in the temple, did he not?" With his hand around Fred's throat, he lifted him in the air.

"Daniel, please. He is the queen's nephew," Magnolia pleaded.

"Do you think I care?"

"You have to let him go." Daniel stared at the man for a moment, his face was turning blue.

'I would rather tear his throat out.'

Daniel threw the baron to the ground. "Fine," he uttered, unhappy. "Let me just say this."

He was towering over Fred who was trembling and breathing heavily.

"If I ever catch you in my wife's vicinity, I will kill you." His words were dripping with venom. "Let's leave, love."

Daniel wrapped his arm around Magnolia's waist and guided her away.

"You will pay for this, Van Konigl," Fred said through gritted teeth.

'Maybe I should have dueled him.' The duke pondered. 'No one would dare oppose it.'

"Daniel, wait." Magnolia stopped walking. "Lady Kalwen is not feeling well, I told her I would bring her some food."

"There." Daniel motioned to Lord Kalwen. "Richard," he called. "You should check on your mother, she is not feeling well."

"What? Where is she?"

"She's sitting on the bench facing the ballroom doors," Magnolia told him.

"Alright, thank you." Richard hurried to his mother and the couple made their way to the entrance.

"Take the long way home, Jeremy," Daniel ordered his coachman.

"Yes, Your Grace."

The sun was almost set in the distance when the carriage started to move.

At first, the ride was silent. Daniel was just staring at Magnolia. She felt his eyes on her but she could not say anything. She just looked out of the window as darkness spread around them.

"How is your wrist?" Daniel finally broke the silence, making Magnolia look at him.

"It doesn't hurt," she answered while unconsciously rubbing her arm.

Magnolia gasped when Daniel suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her. He grabbed her wrist and started kissing it. The action had Magnolia watch him with wide eyes and parted lips.

"Where else did he touch you?" Daniel looked up at her and she saw something she had never seen before.

'Is he jealous?'

Magnolia gulped. "He kissed my hand," she mumbled.

Daniel took her right hand immediately and removed her glove. He trailed gentle kisses all over her hand and fingers.

"I don't–want–any–other man–to touch you–like that," he uttered between pecks, his eyes never leaving hers. "I hate it."

Magnolia stared down at her husband, his blue eyes were dark. His expression and his words made something clench inside her.

"I would kill anyone who does," he added.

'Gods, what is this feeling?'

Daniel pushed up and inched closer to Magnolia's face. "I am going to kiss you now." His voice filled the carriage. Magnolia was too mesmerized to even react.

He brushed his lips against hers then deepened the kiss while cupping his wife's face. Their tongues danced together as they both lost themselves to the feeling.

Magnolia could not think of anything else but Daniel's lips, his tongue, his hands, his hair.

She had totally forgotten about their fight, and the matter with her brother. She had also completely forgotten about the incident with Baron Saknas.

Daniel broke the kiss and pulled away. Magnolia leaned in with her eyes still closed as if she did not want it to end. She opened her eyes and groaned.

Daniel grinned. "I want you, love." His voice was hoarse and low. "Right here, right now."

Magnolia's eyes widened, but Daniel did not give her any time to resist. He immediately started to pull her dress up.

"Daniel," she uttered but yelped when Daniel pulled her butt to the edge, she fell back into the seat.

"Open your legs for me, darling," the duke asked.

His voice made Magnolia's body tremble in anticipation. She complied.

Daniel undid the laces of her drawers and pulled the undergarments off his wife. He then dove his face under the fluffy fabric of her dress and licked her most intimate spot.

"Oh my…Daniel…what are you doing?" Magnolia struggled to sit up and close her legs, but Daniel kept her in place with his hands, grinning against her skin. "Daniel," her voice shuttered.

The duke pulled away to look at her, he met her eyes with a smirk. "It appears you have not reached this chapter in your book yet."

"My book?" she repeated, a bit confused.

"The Secrets of a Happy Bedroom," he explained, making Magnolia's eyes bulge. He immediately dove back in, licking and teasing as his wife's body twisted with desire.

"Daniel, Daniel–" Magnolia called with a desperate voice until her legs shook with an earth-shattering orgasm. "Oh my Gods, that was amazing," she uttered when her breathing started to slow down.

"I have not finished yet," Daniel told her with a grin, Magnolia looked up and found his pants already unbuttoned.

The sight of his hard erection renewed her arousal. Daniel lifted his wife's legs to rest on his shoulders as he pushed into her.

Magnolia gasped and covered her mouth with both hands to stop her loud moans from escaping.

Daniel was rough but Magnolia enjoyed every bit of it. He slammed his hips against his wife, picking up the speed and thrusting even deeper until Magnolia's body spasmed under his touch.

He felt her inside clench around him and he quickly pulled out to ejaculate on her lower belly. He crumbled on top of her and grasped her lips in his.

"I love you," he breathed.

"I love you too." Magnolia wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry about what happened with your brother," Daniel apologized, surprising Magnolia. "I promise I will help you find him, but please promise me you will let me be there at all times. I want to be able to protect my wife who is the most important person to me."

Magnolia's eyes were gentle, she nodded and smiled at him. "I promise."