Chapter 9
Nine
It only took Dominic two minutes to reach the stable and prepare his horse, especially since he had no problem riding bareback.
He had no intention of running around the field and the woods, not when a horse would lead him to the dog faster.
He left the stable and urged the horse into a canter, only slowing down when he caught up to Selina, who was just about to enter the forest. She gaped at him as he pulled to a stop beside her. “Care to join me, my lady?” he asked.
She nodded, a small smile flickering across her face. “I thought you had left me to find the puppy myself.”
“Of course not,” he said as he led his horse to a nearby stump. “Never underestimate my competitive spirit.”
She grinned and used the tree stump as a stepstool to get on the horse. “I will keep that in mind, Your Grace.”
She sat sidesaddle in front of him, her body pressed close. Dominic wrapped an arm around her waist to help hold her in place while he managed the reins with his other hand. He inhaled her scent and felt heat travel through him.
He hadn’t been prepared for the wave of desire he felt from having her so close to him. Now, he was distinctly aware of the fact that he had not been so close with a woman since Percy was born.
Perhaps the horse was a mistake, because it meant they had to be so close together.
He urged the horse into a trot as they went through the woods. Her breasts moved subtly with each beat of his horse’s trot, and he became painfully aware of the growing pressure in his trousers.
Part of him longed to let go of the reins, to shift her around and press his lips to hers, claim her completely. But the other part resisted, gripping the leather tight, trying to master himself.
She shifted a little in her seat, and her hips brushed up against him. He breathed deeply. This is torture.
“Do you ride horses often, Your Grace?” she asked.
Better to think about horses than the way she’s sitting here.
“Not as much as I used to,” he said. “I used to love it.”
“Oh, yes? What changed?”
“My priorities. Percy was born.” He was not used to talking about himself, but he knew he needed to at least try to be civil with his future wife.
He remembered how hurt she looked when she accused him of being angry with her, and so soon after her godmother told her in front of everyone that no one wanted her.
He needed to try. Perhaps if he could show her that he could be cordial, she wouldn’t be so resistant to the idea of marrying him.
Percy would be better off with parents who could at least be civil with each other.
Besides, conversation might keep his mind off how close she was to him, and all of the things he wanted to do to her.
“Perhaps in a year or two, you and Percy can take horseback rides together,” she said cheerfully.
“Perhaps,” he murmured. His son would have to stop running away from him, however. He cleared his throat. “Do you like riding? Horses, I mean?”
She giggled. “What else would I be riding?”
I can think of at least one other thing you could ride. He gritted his teeth and refocused his attention on looking for the dog. “Is that a yes?”
“Whenever I could get a chance. There were horses at school that we were allowed to use, and nearby riding trails. It was nice to be able to get away and clear my mind for a moment or two. There!”
She pointed excitedly into the distance just in time to see a dog dart between two trees, the blue piece of paper fluttering in the wind. Dominic’s eyes followed hers, but frustration gnawed at him. Why was it only he who seemed so affected?
But as she turned to look at the dog, he caught a glimpse of something in her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her breath was coming a little quicker than before. Maybe she was affected after all. Maybe she was feeling it too…
And somehow, that thought made it worse.
“We had best go on foot from here,” he said, slowing his horse to a stop.
Selina hopped off gracefully and started to walk through the woods in the direction of the dog.
Dominic dismounted and broke into a run, passing Selina on the way. He got close to the dog, only for it to bark and take off running. “Come here!” he ordered.
The dog stopped to look at him, tail wagging, before it ran away again, barking excitedly.
“Bloody hell, aren’t you trained?” he muttered as sweat started to prickle on his forehead.
“He thinks it’s a game,” Selina called. She reached him in a moment and grabbed his arm. “Stop chasing him.”
He glared at her. “Then how do you propose we catch him?”
“Like this.” She pulled a small cookie out of her pocket. It was left over from the picnic earlier. “Come here, boy,” she called as she sat down in the dirt. “Do you want a treat?”
He gaped at her. He had never known a lady to sit in the dirt with no regard for her dress. It was unfortunate, because there was no way her plan would work better than his own when it came to catching their ‘misunderstood duke.’
Selina smiled at the dog, which was slowly approaching, and held out the cookie. “Come on, honey! You’re almost here.” Her voice was gentle and sweet.
She held the cookie close to her chest, and the dog ran into her lap, its tail wagging. She laughed and fed it the cookie, whispering praise as she petted him.
Selina looked up at Dominic triumphantly. “Don’t you see, Your Grace? Sometimes a gentle approach is more effective than being a brute.”
A brute.
Unbidden, a memory flashed through his mind of Eugenia’s tear-stained face. “I am married to a brute!” She had cried out, only minutes before…
No.
He wasn’t going to think about that day. Not now. Not ever.
He looked at his betrothed, now petting the dog as if she didn’t have a care in the world. “Life is not that simple, my lady.”
She looked up, as if surprised by the change in his tone of voice. “It’s only a game, Your Grace.”
“You might think I’m a brute, but I am simply a realist. I do not have the luxury to live in a fantasy where the gentle triumphs over the ruthless.”
“Luxury!” She cried out. She put the dog down on the ground and stood up.
She didn’t even notice it running off again.
“I am not some sheltered debutante! I understand how the world works quite well, thank you! I choose to be gentle anyway. It’s not a matter of luxury!
It’s a matter of strength. I won’t let my hardship change me for the worse. But I’m not sure you can say the same.”
“You don’t know the first thing about me,” he growled.
“Perhaps not, but don’t act like you know me, either!”
He stepped closer to her, their bodies almost touching—desire warred inside of him with his anger. “You won’t be able to survive being this gentle in such a cruel world,” he whispered to her.
Her cheeks flushed red as she looked up at him. “Try me,” she said, her voice slightly breathless.
Before he could think better of it, he grabbed her and pulled her close before kissing her roughly. He expected her to pull away from him, but instead she made a surprised noise before relaxing into the kiss.
Her lips tasted divine. He growled softly as he tasted them.
He licked her bottom lip, and she made a sweet little noise that sent heat to his shaft.
He cupped her cheek, reveling in the feeling of her soft skin, slightly heated from the flush on her face.
His tongue licked her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth for him.
He let out a small groan as he explored her mouth with his tongue.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, moaning softly. He could feel her hesitant hands exploring his back. Even though her touch was light over his suit jacket, it sent shivers down his spine. His hand drifted to her back, where it would be so easy to undo the laces of her dress…
Suddenly, he realized what he was doing. He pulled away from her and took a few steps back. She looked up at him with a dazed expression, her lips red and puffy from his kiss. Bloody hell, she looked beautiful…
He turned away, willing his rational mind to take over once again. “It seems we’ve lost the game,” he said. “We should return.”