She sighed. She should have known he wouldn’t participate. He was hardly the type of man to have fun. It looked like she would have to look for the poor little puppy herself.
Nine
It only took Dominic two minutes to reach the stable and prepare his horse, especially since he had no problem riding bareback.
He had no intention of running around the field and the woods, not when a horse would lead him to the dog faster. He left the stable and urged the horse into a canter, only slowing down when he caught up to Selina, who was just about to enter the forest. She gaped at him as he pulled to a stop beside her. “Care to join me, my lady?” he asked.
She nodded, a small smile flickering across her face. “I thought you had left me to find the puppy myself.”
“Of course not,” he said as he led his horse to a nearby stump. “Never underestimate my competitive spirit.”
She grinned and used the tree stump as a stepstool to get on the horse. “I will keep that in mind, Your Grace.”
She sat sidesaddle in front of him, her body pressed close. Dominic wrapped an arm around her waist to help hold her in place while he managed the reins with his other hand. He inhaled her scent and felt heat travel through him.
He hadn’t been prepared for the wave of desire he felt from having her so close to him. Now, he was distinctly aware of the fact that he had not been so close with a woman since Percy was born.
Perhaps the horse was a mistake, because it meant they had to be so close together.
He urged the horse into a trot as they went through the woods. Her breasts moved subtly with each beat of his horse’s trot, and he became painfully aware of the growing pressure in his trousers.
Part of him longed to let go of the reins, to shift her around and press his lips to hers, claim her completely. But the other part resisted, gripping the leather tight, trying to master himself.
She shifted a little in her seat, and her hips brushed up against him. He breathed deeply.This is torture.
“Do you ride horses often, Your Grace?” she asked.
Better to think about horses than the way she’s sitting here.
“Not as much as I used to,” he said. “I used to love it.”
“Oh, yes? What changed?”
“My priorities. Percy was born.” He was not used to talking about himself, but he knew he needed to at least try to be civil with his future wife. He remembered how hurt she looked when she accused him of being angry with her, and so soon after her godmother told her in front of everyone that no one wanted her.
He needed to try. Perhaps if he could show her that he could be cordial, she wouldn’t be so resistant to the idea of marrying him. Percy would be better off with parents who could at least be civil with each other. Besides, conversation might keep his mind off how close she was to him, and all of the things he wanted to do to her.
“Perhaps in a year or two, you and Percy can take horseback rides together,” she said cheerfully.
“Perhaps,” he murmured. His son would have to stop running away from him, however. He cleared his throat. “Do you like riding? Horses, I mean?”
She giggled. “What else would I be riding?”
I can think of at least one other thing you could ride.He gritted his teeth and refocused his attention on looking for the dog. “Is that a yes?”
“Whenever I could get a chance. There were horses at school that we were allowed to use, and nearby riding trails. It was nice to be able to get away and clear my mind for a moment or two. There!”
She pointed excitedly into the distance just in time to see a dog dart between two trees, the blue piece of paper fluttering in the wind. Dominic’s eyes followed hers, but frustration gnawed at him.Why was it only he who seemed so affected?
But as she turned to look at the dog, he caught a glimpse of something in her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her breath was coming a little quicker than before. Maybe she was affected after all. Maybe she was feeling it too…
And somehow, that thought made it worse.
“We had best go on foot from here,” he said, slowing his horse to a stop.
Selina hopped off gracefully and started to walk through the woods in the direction of the dog.
Dominic dismounted and broke into a run, passing Selina on the way. He got close to the dog, only for it to bark and take off running. “Come here!” he ordered.
