Page 46 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

‘I didn’t know anything about it. It was a surprise this morning. We’re spending the day here, and tomorrow we’re going to show Josefa where I grew up, and see Anna’s parents.’

To Carmen’s wounded, abandoned heart, Emily’s words sounded like a threat. Her throat tightened. What if her brothers moved to England?

What was to stop two best friends deciding they both missed home?

There was no point getting close to anyone. Not when they would only leave her in the end.

‘Well, I won’t keep you...it sounds incredible.’

‘Carmen?’ Emily said hurriedly before Carmen could hang up. ‘What are you doing? Do you ever get time off?’

‘Not much,’ Carmen said. ‘In fact, I have to go and check on the horses for the night. Have a great trip.’

‘Thank you for the perfume.’

‘You’re welcome.Ciao!’

The horses were all tired; even Capricorn was snoring. The only exception was Domitian, and she stood admiring possibly the most magnificent horse she had ever seen.

‘Apart from Presumir!’ she warned him, feeling his warm breath on the backs of her hands. ‘I think I’ll have to leave,’ she told him. ‘I made a fool of myself today.’ She took a breath. ‘So I’m never going to get to ride you.’

But why be sensible now?

She’d already made a mess of this day.

So she slipped into his stable...

‘Come on,’ she said, putting a soft bridle on him. ‘Let’s see what you can do.’

Carmen led him out to the old riding school arena, walking as casually as if she were taking Capricorn to the beach, but her heart was pounding.

There was little that was more unnerving than this—walking into an empty arena with a horse she knew could turn on her at any given second.

She turned on the lights and walked him to the centre of the arena. She held out her hand with a treat and spoke to him for a few moments, telling him what she meant to do. But then came the terrifying part.

Carmen turned her back on the stallion and walked away from him, eventually coming to a stop and standing motionless. It was a move meant to show Domitian that she had no fear, and that she expected him to respect her.

Domitian had to know he had her trust.

She could hear the blood whooshing in her ears as she stared at a knot in the wood of the gate, and then she swallowed as she felt Domitian’s attention on her. He might attack, or kick. He might drag her around the arena, or slam her straight into the gate and crush her...

All this Carmen knew well, and yet this was what she did for a living...these were the animals she loved.

And here was her reward: the nudge of his nose in her back and his magnificent head coming down over her shoulder.

‘Hola, caballo,’she crooned, and there were tears in her eyes as she turned and buried her face in his neck. ‘Are you going to be good for me?

He was better than good.

Domitian was stunning.

She worked with him for a full hour, lightly instructing him with a stick, or a click of her tongue, loving how receptive he was.

‘Are we really going to do this?’ she asked, as he came over once more.

Without thinking twice, she gripped his mane and mounted him—no saddle, and certainly no stirrups. She was just trying him out, moving with him.

‘Clever boy,’ she said.

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