19
Flora snuggled up to Dylan and felt his whole body turn rigid. She frowned, finding the response unusual. Normally he would turn and envelop her into a warm hug, loving the feel of her skin on his. But not tonight. In fact, on reflection, not for a few nights now. She recalled how instead of stretching out his arms in welcome, he had slept with his back to her. As broad and muscular as it was, Flora was beginning to sense a form of rejection and missed being held by the man she adored. What was wrong?
‘Dylan?’ she whispered, kissing his neck. Still no response. She paused for a moment, then turned on her back when hearing his gentle snores. Flora gazed up at the ceiling. She knew he couldn’t be asleep so soon, especially when he was obviously so tense and stiff. What on earth was the matter? Had he guessed she had defied him by signing up to race Phoenix? But how? And surely the first thing he’d do would be to confront her, not give her the silent treatment; that just wasn’t his style. Then another dark thought crept into her head, one that had often strayed and trespassed through her mind before. Was there someone else? Had Dylan been unfaithful? Gulping back tears, she turned on her side and fought hard to sleep.
Dylan lay still. It was torture resisting Flora’s kisses, when all he badly wanted to do was ravish her. He missed that soft, sweet body under his as he sunk into her, loving the taste and smell of the girl who had stolen his heart. And now his heart was breaking. Literally, he could physically feel a sharp pain in his chest, which utter sorrow brought. Flora, his beautiful, stubborn soul mate, who was more in tune with him than any other human being.
A tear plopped out of the corner of his eye and dribbled onto his pillow. How could she? Sheer anger replaced the heartbreak when the memory of her and Josh’s embrace in the stables stung him. He’d rip the bastard apart, once the point-to-point was over and he’d done his last job by riding for him. Once that was over, he’d give Josh his marching orders, plus a good hiding to boot.
