I shake the reins to encourage my horse to start galloping. It takes Katie a couple of seconds to realize that she is obliged to follow whenever I go as my riding coach.
It makes me angry, thinking that this girl is following me only because she has to, but I try not to pay attention. My interest in that river has grown after realizing that Katie is trying to hide something from me.
We reach the river in a couple of minutes, but, unfortunately, it's just a tiny creek. It's beautiful, indisputably, but I see nothing special here.
I take a look at Katie. She's as tense as a hedgehog whose calmness has been disturbed by a wolf.
"Let's take a walk, shall we?" I suggest, not waiting for the answer, getting off my horse.
"No," she protests. "We can't leave the horses."
"We'll tie them up," I say right away and open a bag of ropes and water that I brought with me.
"I'm not here to be your guide, Mr. Darrington," she objects, staying on the horse. "I'm a riding instructor, not an escort to spend time with."
I smirk, not looking at her. This girl is so stubborn. She tries to deny our connection, ignores her arousal, and does everything possible not to talk to me. No wonder she's afraid to walk next to me. The last time we were so close together, I kissed her.
And she responded to that kiss, responded with a passion so forceful, which I would never imagine she even had.
"Ms. Burton, the horses want a little rest, and so should we. We have the whole day of riding ahead of us." I look at her; her eyes are big and glittering, and I see fear mixed with interest in them.
I force myself to look away and start tying my horse. I have long ropes so the horses can walk if they want to. For a couple of seconds, Katie simply stares at me, hesitating. I feel her gaze, and it's like a fire on my cheeks. I wish I could feel her eyes on me like that forever.
And then, finally, resigned to reality, she gets off her horse and does the same, silently and calmly, like a prisoner reconciled to their execution.
I don't want her to feel this way when she's around me, not ever. I'd do anything to make her change her mind about me.
"It's beautiful in here," I say when we both step away from our horses.
When I look at her, I see that Katie's arms are shaking, and she nervously crosses them on her chest.
"Why didn't you want to show me this place?" I ask, and her face changes from nervous to terrified, her big blue eyes becoming huge. She now looks like a cartoon Disney princess, innocent and beautiful, almost too good to be true.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She lowers her gaze not to look at me, biting her lower lip.
"Each time you lie, your cheeks get red, contrasting with your beautiful porcelain skin," I say and take a step closer. She looks up at me but does not move away. "You lower your gaze because it's easier for you to speak that way when it's not true."
I take one more step, and now my body is against her tender one.
"It's not you when you're lying, Katie." I continue speaking, softly and quietly, as if not to scare her off. "That's why you bite your lip each time you do that."
She lets go of her lip, still looking up at me. Her full rose lips are now swollen from the torture she just gave them. And I can't get my eyes of them, full, wet, and tender, so ready for my kiss.
"Are you afraid of me?" I ask, extending a hand and slowly, carefully, removing a curl from her face and adjusting it under her ear.
"No." She shakes her head, trying to look me into the eyes, forcing herself not to lower her gaze. She bites her lip again, involuntarily, simply out of reflex, but lets it go immediately when she reminds herself of what I had just said.
I smile, brushing my thumb over her cheek, and she closes her eyes, leaning in to my touch, just slightly moving her head.
I groan quietly at how good it feels to touch this woman again, to feel her tender skin under my fingers.
"Why are you afraid of me?" I ask, lowering my hand to her neck and stroking it.
"I don't know," she whispers, and her body breaks out in goosebumps from my touch.
"I will never hurt you," I whisper back. My hand reaches her collarbone, and she parts her lips.
My rock-hard dick jumps inside my pants at that small action of hers. I do my best to ignore it, but it's getting harder with every second.