“Very well.”
Duncan stepped forward at once, selecting a sturdy bay gelding from one of the stalls. The horse stamped lightly as he saddled it with practiced efficiency, as if proud to show off his quick and confident movements. Elaina watched him work for a moment before he turned back toward her.
“Come.”
He offered his hand. She accepted it. His grip was warm and strong as he guided her toward the horse.
“Foot here,” he said quietly, placing her boot against the stirrup.
She was an excellent rider, but she chose to keep that to herself. With effortless ease he lifted her upward, steadying her waist as she swung into the saddle. Elaina settled herself quickly,smoothing her cloak around her legs. She had barely gathered the reins when Duncan mounted behind her. The horse shifted slightly beneath the added weight.
Elaina froze. She had not expected that. Duncan’s chest brushed lightly against her back as he settled into the saddle, with one arm reaching past her to take the reins.
The closeness was immediate and utterly overwhelming. She felt the warmth of him even through the layers of clothing between them. She momentarily shivered, but it was not from the morning cold.
“Must we ride thegither?” she asked, trying to keep the tension from her voice. “It would be more… comfortable tae ride separately.”
Duncan leaned slightly closer, and she could feel his breath warm near her ear.
“It would nae be the first time,” she heard him say.
Her heart gave a violent, traitorous leap. She remembered riding like that with him before, and suddenly, a tidal wave of warmth exploded from the very depths of her abdomen and spread throughout her entire body.
“That was different,” she almost snarled, banishing the thought from her mind.
“Was it now?” he asked, and there was a hint of amusement in it. “This way,” he added calmly, “we’ll be faster.”
Elaina knew that tone. It was practical and reasonable. It was also infuriatingly difficult to argue with. And yet, the awareness of him behind her made it almost impossible to breathe normally. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest. She could lean into the strength in the arm holding the reins. But she refused to inhale the faint scent of leather and pine clinging to him. She absolutely refused to… as if such a thing were possible.
“Just try tae…” she started, adjusting herself in the seat, “keep tae yerself.”
He chuckled quietly. “Of course.”
Before she could protest further, he nudged the horse forward. The animal stepped smoothly out of the stable and into the cool dawn light. Elaina sat very still in the saddle. There was no graceful way to refuse now.
And as the horse carried them toward the forest path, the tension between them felt almost unbearable.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The path from the castle curved gently downward before disappearing into the shadow of the forest. Morning had fully broken, though the sun still sat low above the hills. The horse moved at an easy pace beneath them, while hooves were striking the packed earth with a steady, rhythmic sound.
Duncan held the reins loosely, guiding the animal along the narrow trail, and trying very hard not to think about the woman sitting in front of him.
It was not going well.
Elaina was sitting straight in the saddle, despite the uneven path. Each time the horse shifted beneath them, the movement carried faintly through her body into his.
This had been a mistake…a veryobviousmistake.
She was sitting close enough that he could smell her.
Rosemary. Always rosemary.
The scent drifted back toward him with every small movement of the horse, subtle but impossible to ignore. His gaze dropped for the briefest moment. The morning light had caught the edge of her hair again, making her dark-blonde strands shimmer faintly as they brushed against her shoulder.
Duncan dragged his attention back to the trail ahead.
Focus.
