There was something about this woman that seemed to awaken risqué thoughts in his mind with her just looking at him. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had tempted him so, without even being aware of it.
“Mhm,” he couldn’t help but agree, pushing all those other thoughts away—even for a moment. “The bond between a rider and his horse is truly somethin’ extraordinary. Have ye had the chance to ride in the Scottish countryside? The landscapes are unlike any other.”
She shook her head immediately. “I’m afraid not.”
“Ye simply must,” he said, taking a sip of his ale. “It is like a magical adventure. I think that you would enjoy it.” His eyes stayed on Keira a little too long, and her blush returned. Soon her cheeks would be painted a permanent shade of pink.
I wonder if the blush reaches her neck and chest when—
He shook his head and tried to focus on the conversation. He painted a vivid picture with his words, hoping she’d understand.
“Imagine this,” he continued, a smile gracing his face, “the hills stretchin’ as far as the eye can see, the scent of heather in the air,and the melodies of nature accompanyin’ yer ride. It’s a journey that invigorates the soul, there’s truly nothin’ quite like it.”
“It truly sounds magical.” Keira smiled, her eyes lighting up. “I would love to experience it.”
Asking her to join him was on the tip of his tongue. Would she accept? Would his hosts be offended by his boldness?
“What is yer favorite riding experience, so far?” he asked instead.
“It would have to be the first time I ever went riding,” she admitted, a soft glow blooming in her cheeks. She smiled in a way he rarely saw a woman smile, in a way that simply warmed his heart. “It was so difficult to keep my balance, I almost fell off twice, but the feeling… oh, there is nothing like that in the world.”
He could understand that. “The first time is always special.”
All the first times were special. And theirs? What would theirs be like?
Almost as if she were able to read his mind, their eyes locked. Her cheeks flushed gently, and a smile danced on the corner of her beautiful, luscious lips. He was almost certain that she was wondering the same thing, yet he could not say a single word. But her body energy was drawing him in, pulling him with a force he was unable to fight.
Unbeknownst to them, the rest of the group had fallen into a comfortable silence, their attention fully captured by the lively exchange between Raphael and Keira.
Keira then shared an exhilarating horseback riding story, her animated gestures bringing her tale to life.
“There was this one ride in the countryside of Yorkshire that was particularly special. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The whole world seemed to slow down as we trotted down a secluded trail, and the serenity of the moment was absolutely mesmerizing.” She stopped, then seemed to remember something. “But, I suppose that horseback riding has its fair share of mishaps, doesn’t it?”
Raphael wanted to remain his aloof self, but with Keira, that was impossible. She had a way of drawing people to her, of immersing them into her story and making them do the talking, without it feeling forced at all. That was exactly what she was doing now, and he had no idea how she was managing it.
He nodded. “There was this one time when I was ridin’ through the rollin’ hills, and me horse got startled by a sudden noise. The next thing I kenned, I found meself takin’ an unexpected tumble.”
Keira grinned, empathizing with his experience. “Oh, no! That must have been quite a surprise.”
He nodded, a playful twinkle in his eyes. “It was, indeed. A humblin’ reminder of the importance of stayin’ alert and in tunewith yer horse. But despite the fall, it didnae deter me love for ridin’. In fact, it added a touch of adventure to the whole experience.”
Laughter rippled through the room as they exchanged lighthearted stories about their riding escapades. Raphael couldn’t help but feel a sense of both excitement and caution. He knew that getting too attached too quickly could lead to complications with devastating consequences.
She interrupted his tumultuous flow of thought with her own question.
“Speaking of adventure, has anything or anyone ever drawn you away from these beautiful hills?” she wondered. “Perhaps even to the very heart of England?”
“London, ye mean?” he asked, tilting his head a little, feeling unable to take his eyes off her even for a single second. It was as if his mind was making a permanent imprint of her lovely face, only to bring it up in the middle of the night to torment him with its beauty.
“Yes.” She nodded. “So, you have visited it?”
“Once,” he revealed.
“You do not sound impressed,” she teased, and he loved it.
There was that timid smile that he was starting to like more and more. He had seen many smiles on women—women who knew the power they yielded—but with Keira, it seemed that she herself was unaware of it, and that made her all the more alluring.
“Not nearly as beautiful as me own home,” he admitted, forcing her to react. “But not only that.”
