Coal took the apple that I was offering him, his breath warm and wet on my hand, and I pulled back, hastily. “That’s it. I pet him and feed him apples, but I’m not getting on him.”
Killian sighed. “He’s safe. I wouldn’t let you near him, let alone ride him, if he wasn’t, Grace.”
Over the last two weeks, I had learned to ignore the way Gracelynn’s name sounded on his lips when he spoke to me. It was my fault he still thought me Bishop Romano’s eldest daughter.
Yes, I should have told him the truth by now.
But I couldn’t.
I didn’t want to.
Every time my lips parted to speak the truth, it felt like I had swallowed something big and I choked on my own lies. My brain told me one thing, but my heart wanted something else entirely.
At first, guilt gnawed at me when Killian flirted with me. If he knew who I really was or how old I was – seventeen and underage – he wouldn’t have spared me another glance.
He thought I was Gracelynn and that I was twenty-two.
Killian was almost ten years older than me, a wealthy and experienced man. I was a nobody and too young for him.
But three days ago, I turned eighteen. That made me feel a bit less guilty at tricking him into believing that I was Gracelynn. I knew that didn’t make me a better person or fixed this situation, but I guessed… I was trying to make myself feel better.
That I wasn’t doing anything too wrong.
That this wasn’t forbidden.
Or immoral.
Even though, it was all three.
Killian crowded into me, his chest pressing against mine, forcing my attention back to him. I shook my head. “Oh no. No. I’m not getting on him!”
“Trust me, Princess,” he breathed.
“I trust you but–”
Killian grinned, pleased at my answer. I hadn’t even realized that I said the words out loud – that I trusted him.
“No buts,” he crooned. “You can’t take this back. Remember what I said? Fear is deceitful. It holds you captive and you need to break free. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
My hand landed on his chest and I gave him a gentle push, but it did nothing. He barely even budged, not that I wanted him too. I liked him this close. His strong, manly scent filling my nose and his warmth caressing my skin. “You can’t say that with such conviction. You can’t protect me all the time.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You’re not invincible,” I shot back.
“Says who?”
I licked my lips and his dark eyes flared with decadent mischief. “Arrogance has a limit, Killian Spencer.”
“Arrogance is a debatable and subjective matter,” he said.
I groaned. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re cute.”
I gave him another push, my brow furrowed. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not,” he growled. “You are cute, pouting like this.”
“I don’t pout.” My lips pursed.
He arched a brow and I rolled my eyes. “Fine! I pout. So what?”
“Beautiful,” he mouthed.
I swooned for the second time since I met Killian.
“Now, trust me.” He grasped my hips and lifted me so suddenly, I gasped. “Left foot in the stirrup, Princess. And your right leg over the horse.”
I quickly did as I was told, only squeaking once when I sat in the saddle. Coal shifted under me, almost restlessly, and my fingers curled into his beautiful, silky mane.
“There you go,” Killian praised. “Look at you. Fearless. You’ve mounted a horse, Grace.”
So I did.
But oh God, my heart hammered against my ribs, blood roaring in my ears and I felt… breathless.
“The horse can feel it when you’re tensed and that will agitate him.” Killian brushed the riding crop lightly along my back and I trembled. “Relax your muscles and arch your back.”
I did as I was instructed, eventually finding myself seated more securely on the saddle – which was too big for me. Killian dragged the riding crop along the curve of my back once again, almost teasingly. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I squeezed my thighs, feeling an insistent ache between them.
“Killian,” I squeaked when Coal let out a loud breath and stomped.
“It’s okay,” he soothed, his hand on my thigh. Firm and strong. Trustworthy. “I’m right here.”
And then Killian did the one thing I didn’t expect him too. He swung up behind me, settling onto Coal. “I got you,” he whispered on my neck, pressing close into my back.
His strong thighs caged my hips and his legs dangled behind me. He was so close, so warm… so strong.
The stallion snorted, growing restless under both our weight, but Killian patted his black coat, making soothing sounds at the back of his throat. Coal eventually settled and grew still, awaiting patiently for Killian’s next command.
“You’re a horse whisperer,” I murmured.
“Do you trust me, Princess?”
I nodded, voicelessly.
His fingers curled around my hips and he clicked Coal into a trot. The horse moved a few steps and I yelped, my body tensing. “Relax. Ease up your muscles. Let me guide you.”