Page 21 of The Sheik's Pretend Fiancee
“You’re kidding, right?” he grumbled. Angela kept laughing, unable to hold back her amusement.
Tiro heard a snort of disapproval and turned to see Aziz’s look of disgust. “It’s just a test, my friend,” Tiro explained.“Only a test.”
“Andrew,” Angela called out to the stable master, “could you saddle Tyrant for Sheik Tiro? Idoubt Madeline is strong enough to hold his weight.”
The stable master, obviously nervous about the orders he’d been given, rushed over to grab the old mare’s lead, gently coaxing the tired horse back into her stable.
Tiro ran a gentle hand down the rump of the old mare, soothing her with his touch so that she would know that he wasn’t insulted by her presence. The mare’s ears twitched and he took that as a silent “Thank you!”
Tiro walked over to Angela, who was standing next to a bigger, healthier, and somewhat feisty mare. “How often do you ride?” he asked curiously.
“As often as my schedule allows. I wasn’t born here at the palace. I didn’t come here with my father until I was nearly five years old.”
“Your father didn’t get you onto a horse immediately?” he asked, stroking the mare’s sleek neck. “I thought all princesses were taught to ride as early as possible.”
“My father tried,” she explained with a grin, scratching behind her mare’s ears. “However, I was so worried about messing up, I refused to try.”
“You didn’t want your newfound father to be disappointed in you?”
She blinked up at him, startled by his quick understanding. “Yeah. How did you know?”
“I saw the way you reacted to your father’s words earlier. You still aren’t completely confident in his love, are you?”
“Yes, I am,” she argued, but there was a hesitation in her voice. “I mean, yes, rationally, I know that he loves me and would never do anything to hurt me. Nor would he ever abandon me. But it’s difficult, being in the palace and always needing to prove to the world that one is worthy.”
“You’re worthy, Angela,” he replied, tugging gently on her sleek ponytail. “You’re more thanworthy.”
He leaned forward, thinking to just brush his lips against hers. But before he could, the stable master reappeared, leading a much larger and heartier gelding. The horse flared his nostrils toward Tiro with interest.
Tiro stepped away from Angela, but kept a hand on her back as he examined the huge beast. Nodding his approval, Tiro stepped closer. The gelding snorted, but didn’t prance.
“Ah, so you think to challenge me, eh?” he asked playfully. He leaned closer, staring into the big guy’s eyes.“We’ll see who is in charge, won’t we?” Hewhispered those last words, but the gelding heard them. And understood. He pranced to the left, then to the right, until Tiro smoothed a hand down his neck, then held his hand out, allowing the horse to get used to his scent. Afterwards, he rubbed a hand down over the horse’s body, his touch firm and unhesitating. The horse understood. Master and beast would be one during the ride.
“Let’s do this,” he announced. The horse snorted again as Tiro reached up to grab the saddle horn. The horse shifted ever so slightly, trying to keep Tiro from climbing onto his back. But Tiro had anticipated the move and held on firmly, lifting himself up, and swinging his leg smoothly over and into position. Then he gathered the reins, using his knees to guide the gelding around to face Angela.
With a look, he turned to Angela.“Ready? I think this guy needsa good, hard gallop.”
Angela grinned, impressed with his skill at controlling a strong but sometimes ornery beast. “Let’s do this,” she agreed, already mounted. She led him out through the corrals. Years before, Angela’s Aunt Marianna had been kidnapped while out riding. Aunt Marianna loved to ride fast and furiously, which meant her bodyguards were often left behind. After that incident, her Uncle Khal had ordered the security team to figure out how to allow riders to go far beyond the palace perimeter, but remain safe from kidnapping threats.
The possibility was always there, but now the guards regularly patrolled the outer areas of the palace grounds, which made the area significantly safer.
As soon as they were beyond the fence, Angela eased the tension on the reins and let her mare go. The horse, Tiny, let loose and galloped across the pasture. Tyrant, the gelding Tiro was riding, shook his head, eager for the challenge. He slid his teeth over the bit, twitched his ears, then Tiro relaxed the reins. Tyrant raced neck and neck with Tiny. Angela laughed, exhilarated by the freedom of the ride. The sunshine warmed her and she enjoyed the feeling of power as Tiny stretched her legs, easily keeping up with Tyrant. Angela glanced over at Tiro, grinned, then tightened her knees ever so slightly. Tiny felt the pressure and responded by lengthening her stride, eating up the distance.
It felt as if they were flying! Tiroenjoyed not just feeling the horse’s power between his thighs, but also the joyous sound of Angela’s laughter as she relaxed, allowing the horse to run free. This was the same sensation he’d felt when she’d been in his arms last week. When Angela let go, she did completely. It was exhilarating.
Soon, the horses tired and both riders slowed their mounts to a canter, then a trot, letting them catch their breath. Meanwhile, Angela told him a bit about the history of the palace, how it had evolved and how her ancestors had built the perimeter around the palace.
It was one of the most relaxing few hours he’d had in…years.Maybe longer!
Angela’s laughter continued to echo through his head. So as they walked their horses into the stable area, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. They continued to chat while brushing down their mounts, pulling off, cleaning, and storing the saddles. However, after they led the horses into their stalls and finished giving them water and oats, Tiro couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her.
As soon as his horse was settled, he pulled her into an empty stall. “You’re so beautiful!” he murmured as he pressed her back against the rough wood wall. He was a breath away from kissing her when someone called his name.
For a long moment, he stared into her eyes, neither willing to move. He could feel her breath caress his skin, felt her tremble as her fingers tightened on his arms. But the sound of feet moving down the center aisle decided them. Quickly, albeit reluctantly, he pulled away, giving her a look that promised, “Later!”
Just in time, since Aziz stepped into the stall. The lead bodyguard looked at them, but the bland expression in his eyes didn’t change. All he did was offer a cell phone to Tiro. “That call you were waiting on, Your Highness.”
“I’m going to clean up,” Angela announced and slipped away. Tiro watched silently as she hurried from the stables. With a sigh, he took the phone, “What?!”
