“It was close,” Richard agreed.
Aiolos huffed as if in protest, but when Tom brought Moonlight closer, the stallion adopted a more gentlemanly posture. He allowed the delicate mare to have the first drink from the round stone trough at the center of the courtyard before he took his fill. Then he stood beside her, nickering softly while she fluttered long eyelashes up at him.
“Methinks love is in the air,” Vi said, grinning.
And who was Richard to interfere with love?
Turning to the stable hand, he said, “Give them a long cooling down, Tom—out to the orchard. The apples are in, and the horses deserve a treat.”
“Yes, m’lord.” Whistling cheerfully, Tom led the way, the horses swishing their tails in unison as they followed.
Once alone, Richard turned meaningfully to his viscountess. “Now as to the matter of the forfeit…”
“Forfeit?” Her brow pleated; she had a dusty streak across her adorable nose. “I don’t recall there being any forfeit—”
Her words ended in a shriek because he’d swept her off her booted feet. In three steps, he reached the trough… and released her gently. She made a shallow splash. The water wasn’t deep—about the same depth as that long ago fountain, actually.
“Gadzooks!” Appearing stunned, she gawked up at him from where she sat, knees splayed, shallow waves rippling around her. “What was that for?”
“Guess.”
Her beautiful eyes narrowed. “Revenge?”
His smile deepened. Devil and damn, he enjoyed playing with her. In the months since their marriage, they’d worked together to improve their estate, and, with Violet at his side, it hadn’t been drudgery. With her, labor was mingled with laughter and lightheartedness.
Every day held surprises. Fun.
“Well, you win.” She looked down at herself and wrinkled her nose. “Crumpets, my jacket is soaked. I’d better save it from further damage or my maid will have my head.”
Deftly, she unbuttoned the garment, a feminine version of a man’s riding jacket. She passed it over to him, and he took it absently, entranced by the sight before him. Beneath the jacket she wore a white linen blouse, which the soaking had rendered nearly transparent. In the bright sunlight, he could see the outline of her pink and delectably puckered nipples…
“Be a good chap and help me up, will you?”
He leaned over automatically, extending his hand, swallowing as he saw how the wet trousers clung to his wife’s incomparable legs—
Her hand gripped his firmly, and too late he knew he’d been had. The next instant, he was pitching forward into the trough. His bride’s merry laughter accompanied the giant splash.
Scowling, he pushed wet hair out of his eyes. “Think you’re funny, do you?”
“Hilarious,” she got out between chuckles.
Her joy was so infectious, so damned delicious, that he leaned over and kissed her.
One thing led to another, and she gasped, “Richard, not here. We’re going to drown!”
Good point. Water sluiced off of him as he rose, taking Violet with him. He made for the nearest point of privacy. The scent of fresh hay, leather, and horses greeted them as he strode purposefully down the aisle of stalls, the half-dozen occupants twitching their ears curiously as he passed. He entered the empty stall at the end, kicked the door closed behind him, and deposited Vi on the bed of clean straw.
He tugged off his sopping boots and made short work of the rest of his clothes. Already, he was fully aroused, his erection bobbing heavily as he stalked toward his wayward spouse.
“You’re still dressed,” he observed mildly.
She was biting her lip, fighting laughter. “Really, Richard, this is beyond outrageous. You don’t have to prove anything. I’ll be the first to vouch that you’re no stick-in-the—oohhh…”
Exactly. Yes.
Within minutes, he had her naked (a not to be overlooked benefit of allowing one’s wife to dress in trousers) and panting beneath him. He licked his way over every inch of her. She returned the favor, driving him half out of his mind.
When he judged her ready, he flipped her onto her hands and knees. Clamping his hands on her slim hips, he entered her in a swift thrust that had them both moaning. They’d discovered that this was one of her favorite positions—yet another way in which she was perfect for him. Through a haze of lust, he watched her pussy spread around the thick, veined meat of his cock, taking him to the balls. Enveloped by her snug, wet heat, he knew he wasn’t for long.
