Since she had recovered some of her luggage, she had more clothes to wear, and she had worn a beautiful dark blue satin dress that clung to her splendid figure and ended mid-calf, exposing well-shaped legs and slender ankles.
At least she was covered on top, the dress had long sleeves that buttoned at her slim wrists, and a bodice that crossed in the middle forming a deep V. On her feet, she wore cream leather shoes that had a pointy toe and high spindly heels. They couldn’t be comfortable, and yet she walked with fluid grace, her hips subtly swaying in a tantalizing way.
He had choked and almost dropped the glass of cognac he was drinking when she entered the drawing room for pre-dinner drinks.
She’d blushed, and he'd kicked himself mentally for being an insensitive dolt. Of course, she didn’t have a proper wardrobe for the times. She was from almost two hundred years in the future. This dress must be completely appropriate in her time, and men were accustomed to seeing women in such attire, but here and now it wreaked havoc with his peace of mind.
All he had thought about throughout dinner was ripping that flimsy gown off of her and doing things he had not allowed himself to think about for a long time. Even now, just remembering how she had looked, desire simmered in his veins. Desires he had thought dead sprang back to life with a power all the more potent for having been denied for so long. Things flitted through his imagination that would probably shock her if she could see the contents of his mind.
Oh, this would never do. He had to get firm control of himself and his unruly desires. She was alone in a strange world. Vulnerable. He was her only friend, her safe harbor. It would be unforgivable to do anything that might make her the least bit uncomfortable. Therefore, he must stay away from her. He must remember what had happened the last time he had succumbed to such passions. The disaster he had caused. The many lives he had ruined. God, would he never change?
***
LIVVY HAD CHANGED OUTof her dress and donned a pair of black skinny jeans and a black sweater, put on her chunky boots, pulled her loose hair back into a ponytail, and waited for Dale to pick her up.
Since she had gotten ready quickly, that left her some time to think. And her thoughts kept circling back to her too-handsome host.
Fear and confusion still shrouded her mind, but he made her feel calmer, as if everything would be fine. Why did she trust him? After all, he was still a stranger.
Perhaps it was his confidence, his air of utter command and reliability, coupled with his patience and kindness. Yet despite his impeccable manners, she sensed hidden shadows in him.
She snorted. She shouldn’t be so fanciful. The guy was from another time. She was alien to his world. Of course, she was bound to find him mysterious. That didn’t mean the guy had hidden shadows. No more than the average person, anyway.
A knock on the door signaled Dale’s arrival, and she opened the door to join him on their midnight quest.
The light from the candelabra he carried illuminated his features and showed the merest flicker of something in his eyes. It betrayed his reaction to her outfit, although he said nothing or even move a muscle. In these times, her clothing would be scandalous and even provocative, but she could do nothing about it. This was all she had to wear, and in all honesty, she had a hard time thinking of herself as being provocative in a pair of jeans and a high-necked sweater.
They descended the staircase in silence and exited the house through the back door. Then she followed him through the gardens to the stables, where he started to saddle his horse.
The huge horse tried to nuzzle her, and she shrank back. “We are going to ride?”
“That was the general idea, yes.”
“I can’t ride.”
“I guess with the invention of that machine we are about to retrieve, riding horses became unnecessary.”
“Somewhat. At least in the cities, it is very rare to see horses. They are mostly used for parades and such.”
“Nobody rides then? You have no horses?” His tone dripped with sadness as he drew his hand in a smooth line down the beast's flank.
“Some people still ride. Mainly in the country. Some as a sport. Unfortunately, I’m not among them. I’ve only been on the back of a horse once in my life. As part of a tour. With a guide and a very docile and well-trained horse. I didn’t have to do much.”
“I see,” he said and seemed to struggle with a decision. Appearing to come to terms with it, he sighed and continued. “You will ride with me then. Come.” He said as he lead his horse towards the mounting block.
“If I help you onto the saddle, can you sit astride and hold on to the pommel? I’ll ride behind you and control the horse. You don’t need to do anything.”
Smiling self-deprecatingly, Livvy replied, “Yes, I think I can manage that much.”
Following his instructions, she soon mounted, holding onto the pommel for dear life, trying not to look at how far the ground was or how powerful the beast felt. But the next moment he mounted in one elegant move and his arms wound around her. He held the reins expertly and controlled the horse with ease. She relaxed, confident he would not let her fall.
The relaxation lasted only a moment as a different type of tension suffused her. She was pressed to his front. Against her back, she could feel the muscles of his chest as he worked to maneuver the horse. His strong legs bracketed hers, and his arms surrounded her. She was glad for the concealing darkness. At least he wouldn’t be able to see how red her face had become with awareness of him. The press of their bodies was deeply erotic. Her heartbeat accelerated while heat pooled between her legs.
Oh my god, this was insane. She was not a teenager, but the physical reaction taking control of her body was unlike anything she'd ever felt before, more visceral, more real, more raw. In fact, she could not recall another time in her life when she had been so affected by a man. Luckily, the ride wasn’t long, or she might have spontaneously combusted.
As soon as they arrived at their destination, Dale dismounted with alacrity and held his arms up to help her dismount. She flipped her leg over and put her hands on his shoulders, allowing him to grab her waist, but just as she was about to slide from the back of the horse, the beast moved. She lost her balance and fell forward in an ungainly heap.
Good thing Dale quickly adjusted and caught her, but in doing so she ended up gathered full length against his front, his powerful arms holding her tight. She could feel his bulge against her belly, branding her with its heat. So he had been affected as well! Nonplussed, and not ready to face this attraction, she scrambled to get her footing and peel herself from him.
