Page 53 of Sword of Rage
Ackley practically dragged Harley out of the manor and along the road. He leaned in and mumbled, “As quickly as possible, we need to get to the house you lived in with Lyle.”
Since it was dark out, heading straight through the city would probably be the fastest and easiest way to get there.
“And don’t use any of the main roads.”
That would be more difficult. Regardless, she nodded and led him off the road and onto the neighbor’s property. “There are horses in the back pasture.” They could ride around the city, reaching Lyle’s house in an hour or so. “Why did we leave so quickly? What do you think was going on?”
“There was a sleeping tonic in the tea.”
Which explained why he hadn’t touched his drink. “How do you know?”
“I could smell it.”
She supposed an assassin would have such skills. “I can’t imagine why there’d be sleeping tonic in it.” Neither her mother nor Carietta would intentionally harm her.
“Your mother seemed nervous. And she clearly knows something you don’t. Do you have any idea what she was referring to before we left?”
Harley hadn’t come up with anything yet, so she shook her head.
Ackley opened the gate to the pasture, allowing Harley to enter first. “Why did your father have you marry Lyle?”
She bristled at the mention of Lyle. Being married to him had been lonely and degrading. Thankfully, she hadn’t been married to him long. If she’d had to endure his negative and belittling comments for years, it would have destroyed her. Not wanting to discuss Lyle, she headed straight for three horses.
Ackley quickly deemed one suitable. When Harley went to get a smaller horse, he grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him. “We’ll ride together.”
The intensity in his eyes and voice sent a jolt of pleasure through her. Not understanding her body’s reaction to this arrogant, cocky, assassin-prince, she rounded her shoulders and responded, “I am perfectly capable of riding on my own.” Just because he thought she was a weak, helpless female, didn’t mean she couldn’t take care of herself.
“It’s too dangerous. I don’t know what’s going on here, but something is amiss. We stick together.” His hands slid around her waist, and she yelped from the touch. His eyebrows rose. “Problem?”
“No.” His hands remained firmly planted on her waist, making her body feel like it was on fire. He lifted her onto the horse, then climbed on behind her. As his body shifted closer to hers, an unbidden desire flared within her. “Is this really necessary?” she hissed. Every time he touched her, her body had these strange reactions. Maybe that was why he did it—to prove he had the upper hand.
Lowering his voice, he said, “Is what necessary?” He shifted closer as he urged the horse on.
She tried to twist around to slap him. However, with his arms wrapped around her upper body, she couldn’t move. Feeling his strong arms below her bosom only fueled the fire building inside of her.
Licking her lips, she tried to rein in her rising desire. Maybe if she kissed him and got it out of her system, his voice wouldn’t send ripples of pleasure through her and the mere touch of his hand wouldn’t make her feel warmth blossoming within. Not once had any man made her feel a fraction of what Ackley did. “I’m perfectly capable of mounting a horse on my own.”
“Even in a dress?” His voice held a hint of laughter.
“I just don’t think it’s appropriate for the two of us to be so physically close.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was making you uncomfortable.”
“You’re not. I mean, I just don’t think this is suitable behavior for a prince.”
He chuckled and steered the horse up the hill so they could skirt around the city. “You’re not saying anything I haven’t heard before.” He shifted his body, pressing against her as the horse traversed down a short slope.
Briefly, she wondered what being with Ackley would be like. With Lyle, he’d always been so quick and forceful with her, that she’d never enjoyed herself. She assumed she wasn’t supposed to. She was there simply for his pleasure. After all, she was a woman. She couldn’t own land or work and had no value in anything other than what she could give her husband.
This was the first time she considered that being with someone could be enjoyable based upon her body’s reactions to this man sitting behind her. However, if she were to ever be with a man again, he would have to be kind and gentle. And this assassin-prince was neither of those things.
“Are you okay?” Ackley asked, his breath brushing past her ear.
“I’m perfectly fine, thank you.”
“You never answered my question,” he reminded her. “Why did your father have you marry Lyle?”
“My family is very wealthy. Commander Beck wanted his son to be a captain. My parents needed to appoint a new one. My father liked the idea of me living so close to home and being taken care of.” Honestly, she knew what Commander Beck and Lyle had gotten out of the match; as to what benefit her parents received, other than having her married off, she had no idea. It wasn’t like he was the only suitor—she’d had several. However, for whatever reason, her father deemed Lyle the most advantageous.
