18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
The Wolf and The Horses
Violet didn't even think as she tore the sheets off and flew out of Lachlan's bed. She turned to thank him, and the words locked in her throat. Lachlan's demeanor had changed, and she felt the air suddenly thick with tension. He was eyeing her like a wolf, and she was his dinner. A shiver ran down her spine, and she self-consciously tugged down her nightshirt. His cerulean blue eyes had darkened from under his brow, and there was a tick in his jaw. His black t-shirt seemed to tighten around his biceps, and she noted the veins on the back of his hand as he clenched tightly to the bed sheets. For such a sweet chivalrous kinda guy, the way he was looking at her now was positively feral, and what was worse was that every tick of his jaw was like a flick to her clit. This Lachlan surprised her, but she wasn't mad about it.
The silence that stretched between them was charged, and when she swallowed, his eyes followed the movement of her neck in rapt fascination. It was awfully tempting to see just how wild he’d be with her, but she didn’t want him to backpedal again like after she'd kissed him. That had been confusing and frustrating, especially since it lit her on fire. He hadn't seemed to kiss her back, and yet, she was certain that what she was feeling went both ways. It was like he was holding himself back. She couldn't help thinking about what he'd told her his brother called him: Saint Lachlan. He was far from that now, but his capriciousness left her feeling uncertain.
"Lachlan?" Her voice was unsteady.
He raked a hand through his thick wavy hair as he rolled out of the bed. When he turned to look at her again, he threw her that crooked grin that made her want to groan in pleasure. "Come on then, V. Let's go see some horses."
And just like that, he was charming, easygoing Lachlan again.
Violet had loved horses for as long as she could remember. When she was younger, she used to save her allowance to go riding at stables near her house. It had been years since she’d ridden, but her adoration had not dwindled. It wasn’t uncommon for her to pull over on the side of a highway just to steal a few moments for petting and cooing at one of these beautiful creatures. Her childhood dream of owning her own horse was still a little flame that burned in the back of her mind—one day.
As they made their way to the stables, Violet looked up at the sea of stars above them. “Wow, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many stars.”
"Aye, it's verra beautiful out here, away from the village lights."
They approached the stone stable, and Lachlan slid open the large black barn door.
“Oh my God, I love that smell,” Violet crooned.
Lachlan chuckled. “Tell me ye dinnae mean the smell of horse dung?”
“Pretty much. And the hay. It’s a beautiful bouquet, don’t ya think?”
"I dinnae ken if I've ever met anyone like ye," he said, shaking his head as he gestured for her to step inside the corridor.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you very much.”
"Aye, ye should." Lachlan smiled at her.
The soft sound of the horses shifting in their stalls and quietly grunting had Violet's heart fluttering in her chest, and then she thought her heart would burst as one by one horse snouts poked out the front of the stalls.
"Oooh." She swooned and moved to the first stall, where a beautiful white horse eyed her curiously. A pale pink snout sniffed at her. She spoke softly to the gentle giant and was utterly charmed when the horse nuzzled its head against her chest. "Oh, my."
“Her name is Edelweiss.” Lachlan came to stand beside Violet and ran a hand down the horse's neck.
“She’s so sweet.”
“Aye, she is. She was a rescue horse.”
Violet looked back at Lachlan, and she was struck again by what a good man he was.
“When I got her, she was bones, nearly starved to death.”
“Oh my God, that’s awful. Poor thing.” Violet rubbed at the base of her ears, and Edelweiss closed her eyes in appreciation.
“She likes ye," Lachlan said.
"I like her." Violet continued her ministrations, feeling in awe of the beautiful creature.
"It took a long time before she could trust anyone. I never thought she’d let me put a saddle on her, never mind actually get on and ride. But as her physical health came back, so did her spirits. She loves to go for a ride now.”
“Aww, that’s amazing. Sweet girl.” Violet could have just stayed with Edelweiss, but another horse down the way was making himself known. "I'll come back, girl," she said with one final pat and made her way down to the horse who was demanding some attention, too. She could feel Lachlan's eyes on her.
"Do ye ride, V?"
"I used to. It's been a long time. I'd love to again, though."
She stopped in front of a tall chestnut brown horse. "Wow," she breathed. He was stunning.
“Bolt. He was Helena’s”
Violet glanced back at Lachlan and then turned to face Bolt. Lachlan still had his sister’s horse. It was both sad and beautiful. She stroked Bolt’s white snout. “Does he miss her?”
“Aye.” Lachlan smiled sadly. “I’m not sure who loved the other more. Helena adored him, but he adored her back. Even though time has passed, I do no' doubt that he thinks of her daily, much like the rest of us.”
“I bet,” Violet said softly and patted his soft neck. "Animals grieve too."
"I think they feel much more than we even ken," he said, snapping a carrot in half and giving a piece to Violet.
She held out the carrot on her hand, and Bolt's soft fuzzy muzzle lipped at it until he got it in his mouth and happily crunched it up. Lachlan gave him the other half.
“How many horses do you have?” she asked, noting six stalls.
“At the moment, I have three here. I have another stable closer to town where I board more.”
“Wow, two stables?”
He nodded. “Aye." He strode forward to the end stall, and Violet followed.
“Do you have help with the horses here?"
“Aye. Craig is here full time, and Byron comes ’round a few days a week to help as well. I spend as much time as I can down here, but between here and the town stable and running the distillery, I sometimes dinnae feel like I get much time to ride.”
They stopped in front of the last stall, and Violet sucked in a breath. “Oh, wow.” The horse inside grunted at her, raising its head high. “You are majestic,” she breathed. His coat was a glossy black, and he stood a good two hands taller than the other two.
“Hercules.” Lachlan rubbed his neck affectionately.
“He’s extraordinary. ”
“He’s a Friesian. Fast, strong, intelligent, but he also listens and feels my cues. He’s the most intuitive horse I think I’ve ever ridden. Right, boy?” Hercules nuzzled his face into Lachlan’s broad chest.
“Was Hercules with you that day?” She wondered aloud.
Lachlan looked back at her and nodded. “He got me through then and through many tough times that followed.”
They stood quietly as Hercules ate the carrot Lachlan gave Violet for him.
“Perhaps we should go for a ride sometime,” he offered casually.
Violet felt pleasantly surprised. “I’d love that.”
Did that mean he wanted to see her again? Like a date? Her overzealous mind jumped all over that thought. It was hard not to be attracted to Lachlan. Impossible really. Even now, in a stable, the man was Mr. GQ—tall, broad, dressed in black sweats and impossibly white runners with a black wool overcoat. How he could pull off that look in a flipping stable, she had no idea. And on top of that, he was kind, generous, sweet, and that smile. And… Oh God, and whatever else that was, that sizzling sexy thing when he seemed to be trying to hold himself back. She looked over at an empty stall full of hay, and suddenly, she was imagining hunky Mr. GQ taking full advantage of her.
"Are ye feeling okay, lass? Ye look a bit flushed. We should probably get ye back to bed."
God, yes, take me to bed, Lachlan , her girl bits practically hollered. Violet latched onto Lachlan’s arm as they made their way back to the house. She tugged a bit on his arm, and he looked down at her.
“Thank you,” she said earnestly.
“It’s all right. Nothing like a midnight jaunt to the stable.”
She grinned, loving the way he teased her.