“No, no, keep going…”
He slid in deeper and deeper, and, inch by inch, he filled her body and her heart to overflowing. When he was fully seated inside her, she saw him looking intently at their joined bodies. His gaze lifted to hers, and the sheen in those scorched-earth eyes halted her breath.
In a gravelly voice, he said, “You’re mine, Violet. As I am yours. Forever.”
A vow. As deep and elemental as his presence inside her.
“Forever,” she whispered. “I love you, Richard.”
“I love you, lass.”
He leaned down to kiss her and, at the same time, began to move. Slow, steady thrusts that awakened her to a new and intriguing pleasure. Her body moved instinctively to explore this new delight, her hips finding a rhythm to match his. All the while, their eyes remained open, their gazes connected, nothing hidden. This bold sharing intensified each movement of their heaving bodies.
The pace of his loving increased, his cock drilling deeper and deeper. Soon her hips were rocking from the force of his thrusts, and, to hold on, she wrapped her legs around his lean waist. The new position made each lunge of his iron-hard shaft graze her throbbing peak, and she moaned, tipping her pelvis back further, wanting more of that sweet friction. Suddenly, a dam burst inside her, convulsions rippling from her core, stronger than any she’d felt before.
“Lass, you’re loving me so well,” he groaned. “Can’t stop, I’m going to spend so hard for you…”
A shudder passed through his large frame, his face contorting. He gave one last desperate surge, plunging so deep that he nudged her womb. A harsh groan tore from his chest as he detonated inside her, flooding her with pulse after pulse of his hot essence. Even after he was done, he continued thrusting slowly into their mingled warmth as if he couldn’t get enough.
Staring up into her husband’s sated face, she realized that she’d never felt so connected to another. So safe and loved. And they had a lifetime of this ahead of them…
He kissed her forehead tenderly. “What are you thinking, my love?”
Grinning, she told him the truth. “That I just found my new favorite sport.”
His laughter filled the room and her heart.
Epilogue
“Last one back to the stables is a rotten egg,” Violet declared.
Richard grinned… because it was just the sort of thing his viscountesswouldsay.
“I’ll give you a head start.” He tightened the reins as Aiolos stamped his hooves in eager anticipation. Ach, he knew just how the stallion felt. Since his marriage, he’d discovered the surfeit of delights that each and every day could bring—all because of Violet.
Wonder and pride expanded his chest.
The love of his life rolled her eyes. “As if Ineeda head start. I’m going to win this fair and square. On the count of three, ready? One… two… three!”
She took off like a shot. Riding as one with Moonlight, the silver grey Arabian mare he’d given her, she galloped through the heather and swaying grasses toward the newly renovated stables in the distance. She was riding astride, in the pair of trousers he’d had specially designed for her to wear during their romps together. He gave his lady as much advantage as he dared—not enough to let her suspect that he’d done so—before he gave his mount the signal. “Go, boy!”
Aiolos needed no further urging.
Exhilaration fired Richard’s blood as he followed close on his beloved’s trail. Somewhere along the way her bonnet flew off, but she seemed to take no notice, her thick, glossy braid flowing free in the hot summer air. He saw her sneak a glance back at him; that move cost her. Aiolos sprang forward, his longer stride beginning to eat up the difference between him and the dainty, fleet-footed mare.
But Violet, as Richard knew full well, was not the kind of woman to yield (except when he was making love to her and, by God, that was sweet). Sure enough, her elegant spine curved over the saddle, her slim, trousered legs tightening on her mare’s sides.
Lucky, lucky mare.
Recalling how Violet had riddenhimbefore breakfast made Richard lose a few precious seconds, but he snapped his attention back to the race as they neared the stables, Vi less than a length ahead. He could see the finish line—the entryway to the stable’s courtyard—and the stone water trough sparkling just beyond.
Bending forward, he said, “Let’s show the girls what’s what, shall we, old boy?”
Aiolos made a noise that sounded like a laugh. The Thoroughbred burst into full speed, hooves thundering, spraying the air with clumps of gravel and grass. They crossed the finish line a heartbeat before their fierce competitors.
Richard dismounted as Tom, the stable hand, came jogging over. Tossing the gap-toothed lad the reins, he strode over to Violet. She put her hand in his, jumping down in a graceful motion.
“By Golly, that was brilliant!” Her cheeks were pink, her tawny eyes lit with good humor. “Admit it: Moonlight and I almost had the two of you.”
