Page 34 of Love Beyond Wanting
I gaped awkwardly before he winked playfully and hurried to brush both hands together before moving to pat his horse.“This here is Stella.She is the finest horse in all of Scotland, and she has already promised me to be kind to both ye and Mr.Crinkles, but we must first decide how ye will ride.”
Thankful that he’d changed the conversation, I was more than happy to oblige his leading statement.
“How I’ll ride?Do I have options?”
“Oh, aye.Ye most certainly do.The priority must be that ye are as comfortable as ye can be.We canna have ye putting strain on yerself in any way.Do ye wish to face me or the trail?”
It had never occurred to me that facing him was an option.It would be an awkward position to be sure.My legs would have to be situated around his lap, as if I were sitting on him and…ahem…straddling him, but I could see why he offered.If I rode with my back toward him, the frigid wind would whip my face the entire way, which would do nothing to prevent me from getting sick again.If I rode facing him, I could burrow my head in his chest, which would keep me much warmer.It would also be much easier to sleep that way.
“Umm…facing you, if you don’t mind?”
“’Tis the only sensible thing for ye to do, lass.Will ye allow me to strap ye to me?”
I laughed because I thought he was joking, but fell silent when he pulled out a long belt-like piece of leather.“Oh, you’re serious?Why do you need to do that?”
“So ye can rest.Otherwise, ye will have to hold on the whole way.’Twill also make it easier for me to concentrate on the ride, lass.I willna worry about ye sliding off of Stella.She’ll be kind to ye, but if she is in the midst of a run, she willna stop for ye.”
I nodded curtly as he mounted the horse with ease and extended both hands down to me.
“Stand on the tips of yer toes, lass, so I can reach underneath yer arms.”
It wasn’t the easiest position from which to lift me, but he managed surprisingly well.Feeling rather scandalous, I swung my legs open and lay them around his own as I snuggled in close and bent to tuck my head into his chest as he wrapped the long belt around us.
“People are going to think we are crazy if they see us like this.With Mr.Crinkles on the back and us strapped together, we look like we belong in the circus.”
He laughed, and the warmth of his breath tickled the top of my head.
“They willna see us long enough to think anything.Stella moves much too quickly when bribed with a bushel of apples.We will be little more than a blur on the horizon.”
Chapter 21
The wind, the rain, and the utter misery of the cold were not enough to keep him distracted from the feelings caused by having Kate pressed so closely to him.Warm and soft, the nearness of her flooded his mind with thoughts that made him ache with need.Visions of what she would look like beneath him, pressed even closer together than they were now, filled his mind each time she shifted against him.
Her hair smelled like flowers, and the soft, even rhythm of her breathing was warm against his chest.
What would she do if he tugged ever so gently on that hair as he tilted her head back so he could press his lips to hers like he’d done only a few days before?Would her breathing grow uneven with need like his was now?
Days ago, he wouldn’t have doubted it.She’d enjoyed their shared kiss as much as he had, but now she was colder, more distant, and he couldn’t figure out why.
Had she grown less fond of him after spending more time in his presence?Or was it perhaps the cruelness of Dillon’s words to her that still hindered her confidence?
Whatever it was, he couldn’t wait until they reached the Isle.Once there, he would make it his mission to break through whatever kept her so guarded.
It was nightfall now, and they’d made faster time than he’d expected.They would make it to the Isle by sunrise.For the first time in hours, there was a break in the rain, and he slowed Stella’s pace so they could enjoy the brief respite from the downpour.
“Are ye awake, lass?Do ye need to walk around a bit?If so, ’twould be best to do so now before the rain starts again.”
“No.Keep going.”Her answer came out muffled against his chest.She’d barely moved since they’d started their ride.
“Are ye certain?”
“Yes.I’m just ready to get there.Only stop if the horse needs to.”
In an effort to keep her spirits up, Maddock playfully chided her.“The least ye can do is call her Stella, lass.Ye wouldna like it if I referred to yer beloved Mr.Crinkles asthe cat,aye?”
With her head tucked tightly against his chest, she laughed.“You’re right.Ask Stella if she needs to stop for a bit.Otherwise, let’s just get this over with.”
“If Stella needed to rest, she would.She is a loyal and dependable steed, but she has a mind of her own.”
