“Are you feeling up for a ride?” he asked.
He meant it in the literal sense, but obviously her mind had been wandering down a naughty path similar to his, for she reached behind her back, slipped her hand between their bodies, and cupped his already hard cock.
“Hmmm. I believe I am.”
He choked on a laugh as his unruly body pressed against her palm.
“You wicked wench. I meant a ride on a horse. Just a short distance. There’s a place I want to show you. And then you can ride me all you want.” He said the last as a wicked whisper against her ear.
Her eyes lit up with excitement as she turned around in his arms to look at him. “Oh, a surprise. I like it! Yes, I can ride a little. I have been taking lessons. But I can only ride astride, wearing pants,” she said with a slight frown. “Would that be okay? I’m afraid the grooms are still scandalized about it. I don’t want to cause a spectacle.”
That made him laugh aloud. He remembered the faces of the grooms when a lady insisted on riding astride while wearing trousers. He was also the tiniest bit jealous that all his grooms had seen her magnificent derriere in breeches. Just remembering how good it looked caused him to harden even more. He needed to cut off those thoughts or he would be the one unable to ride.
“Wear your trousers then. You are not going to be seen by anyone other than the grooms, who have already seen you in such a guise. We are not going far. The place where we are going is within the estate.”
“In that case, I’ll go change and be right back.”
“Meet me at the stables,” he said to her back as she skipped to the staircase.
Dale headed to the stables and had the horses readied. He caught sight of her as soon as she exited the house. Surprisingly, she wore a regular riding habit. Damn, she looked good in the more fitted style, but how the hell did she plan to ride astride wearing that? She would have to change outfits, more’s the pity.
But when she neared, he realized she wore trousers indeed. The wide legged pants and matching jacket were an excellent compromise between her style and what was acceptable in his time. Clever girl. She stopped a few steps away from him and smiled.
“You look very fetching, my dear. Brilliant design. Was that your idea or the modiste’s?”
“Thank you.” She twirled to show off her outfit. “It was my idea, but the modiste ran with it and created this design. Do you like it?”
“It looks charming. I daresay you will start a new fashion, although I doubt every lady will have the... assets necessary to make it look so good.” He fixed her with a heated look that traveled the length of her body and made her blush.
He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Come on. I had the groom saddle the mare you have been riding for practice. Let me help you mount.”
He guided her to the horses and put his hands around her waist. “Jump.”
She did as he asked, and he hoisted her up onto the saddle. She shrieked and held onto his shoulders for dear life.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you up onto the horse.”
“How’s that supposed to work?”
“Just straighten up, grab the pommel, then place one foot in the stirrup and cross the other over.” He replied, suppressing a smile.
“I can’t do that. I’ll fall. Please bring me down.” The mare moved sideways a little, and Olivia let out another squeak, digging her fingers into Dale’s shoulders.
Dale tried to keep a straight face as he brought her down, but his voice strained with contained laughter. “How do you get onto the horse then, Olivia?”
“A groom brings the mare to the mounting block and holds the reins, then I put the foot on the stirrup, grab the pommel and swing my leg over.” She showed.
“I see,” and he did see her, body and soul. Everything about her charmed him more than he dared to admit. “We will have to work on your mounting technique.”
“Oh, I’ll show you my mounting technique.” She said with a wicked glint in her eyes.
The laughter he had been trying to contain before broke free. How could she make him laugh and burn at the same time?
