She was also signalling that she was more than ready for her stall, which she knew was only another ten minutes away.
Jack shifted again. He was, he realised with a hint of incredulity, nervous.
He hadn’t been nervous about his performance in bed since…he blinked at the darkening land before him.
He didn’t think he’d ever been nervous. Not even when he was a virgin still.
It wasn’t in his nature to feel nervous, any more than it was in Beckett’s. Perhaps that was an alpha blessing. More likely it was down to the fact they were both arrogant bastards.
Poor Arden. He was the least arrogant man Jack had ever met, and now he was trapped between them for good.
Jack’s cock thickened, though he hadn’t meant it like that.
Arden.
Between them.
Gods.
Ginny tossed her head and, at his signal, lengthened her stride into a ground-eating trot.
Finally, the house came into view. The building was vast and imposing, but welcoming with its myriad of golden windows. The lights of Avendene shone out.
Ginny pulled questioningly at the bit, her tail swishing. Jack patted her powerful neck and let her have her head. She broke into an eager if tired canter, purposefully directing her steps from the road to the clipped grass that ran alongside it. Instead of continuing straight, she swung in an arc towards the left wing, which housed the stables at the back.
Jack breathed in deep lungfuls of the damp night air as they closed on the house. It was almost full dark now. In the far woods, a vixen suddenly barked, her cry shrill and demanding.
Anticipation rose in his blood.
CHAPTER 36
JACK
At the sound of Ginny’s hooves striking the cobbles in the yard, a lad jogged out of the warmly lit stable block.
“Your Grace!” he called. “Welcome home.”
Jack nodded. “Narin. Good evening.” He slung his leg over the pommel and jumped down from the saddle, filled with energy that he shouldn’t have at the end of such a long day.
Ginny turned her head and gave him a sour look. First he pushed her hard, and then, instead of dismounting properly, he was hopping about like one of the lads. She blew a gusty breath.
She was going to be snippy with him for some time after this.
Jack rubbed her nose affectionately.
Narin hurried over to take her reins. “Didn’t know we was expecting you today.” Ginny nudged his chest and he rocked easily back on a foot. “His Grace will be happy to see you. Won’t be the only one, neither.” He shot Jack a sly grin.
Jack huffed a small laugh. “Give her a special treat for me, would you?” He unbuckled the saddlebag. “She’s earned it.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Come on, then, Gin,” Narin said, clucking softly at her. She trudged after him, head hooked over his shoulder. She didn’t even glance back at Jack.
He strode for the kitchen door, snatching it open and startling a maid who was on her way out. She scuttled out of his path and dropped a polite curtsy.
Cook, as always, was less polite.
She looked up from where she was pummelling the dough for tomorrow’s bread and glared at him. “Got your doors mixed up again,” she said. “Supposed to come in the front, you are, not burst in here all unannounced, scaring my staff.”
Cook, along with Mrs Foley and Marl, had watched Jack grow from infant to child to master of his domain.
