Page 31 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
Aurelia blinked, her expression a picture of mock confusion. “I do not believe I do. You will have to enlighten me, Your Grace.”
Philip exhaled sharply, his hands tightening on the reins as he felt her shift against him. Her back pressed more snugly against his chest, and the friction was enough to make his pulse race.
“I’m quite determined to learn how to ride,” she continued, feigning innocence. “I would hate to remain entirely dependent on you in such matters. Perhaps you could…teach me?”
Philip’s grip on the reins tightened even more. Her voice, soft and innocent as it was, held a mysterious undercurrent of invitation that irritated and intrigued him in equal measure.
“You want me to teach you to ride?” His tone was sharp; a thinly veiled warning.
“Well, who else could?” Aurelia smiled sweetly, turning her head just enough for him to catch the teasing glint in her eyes. “You are the only one who is able to…guide me properly, Your Grace.”
Philip’s loins throbbed at the double meaning of her words. His jaw clenched as he leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear.
“You think to provoke me, but you forget; —there are consequences when you play with fire.”
Aurelia let out a light, almost musical laugh, her gaze fixed ahead as they continued down the path. “Oh, I am not trying to provoke you, Your Grace. I simply wish to learn from you. Is that so wrong?”
Her innocent act grated on his nerves, but he chose to redirect the conversation. “Riding is not just about sitting on the horse.It requires balance and control,” he said, trying to maintain an authoritative tone. “You must learn to grip the saddle properly.”
She straightened slightly, and the top of her head brushed against his chin. “Show me, Your Grace.”
“Very well,” he replied, his voice low. “Hold the reins firmly. You need to guide the horse with your legs, too. Squeeze your thighs to stay steady.”
Aurelia shifted, her legs tightening against the horse’s flanks as she attempted to follow his instructions.
“Like this?” she asked, her tone laced with feigned innocence.
“Not too tight,” Philip warned, the tension rising as he fought to keep his focus. “You do not want to scare the horse.”
“Right,” she said, a hint of laughter in her voice. “You would not want to scare me either, would you?”
Philip tried to ignore the way her playful challenge stirred something primal within him. “Keep your back straight.”
She leaned back slightly. “Is this straight enough, Your Grace?”
He exhaled, feeling the warmth radiating from her. “You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be,” he muttered, trying to suppress the rush of heat that flooded through him.
Aurelia chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the effect she was having on him. “You are simply teaching me how to ride, are you not?”
“You were the one who asked for a lesson,” he pointed out. “Do not forget, this is not a game.”
“I never thought it was,” she replied, her voice deceptively sweet. “Though it seems you might be enjoying it more than you let on.”
Philip’s jaw tightened. “Enough of your games, Aurelia. You are riding with me for learning, not for amusement.” He blew through his lips. “Now, let us try trotting,” he added, his tone brusque as he urged the horse forward.
The change in movement forced him closer to her and his chest pressed firmly against her back. Every subtle shift of her body reminded him of her presence, the feel of the curve of her waist beneath his fingers still fresh in his mind.
Despite his best efforts his thoughts began to wander. From this angle he could see that her head was just below his chin, her silky hair catching the morning sunlight. The strands were loose, falling softly down her back, and he imagined how they would feel wrapped around his fingers, her body beneath him instead of seated on horseback.
He could envision the way she would writhe beneath his touch, her skin bare and warm, the soft gasps that would escape her lips as he slid inside her.
He caught himself, his grip on the reins tightening as he pushed the image out of his mind.
Damn her.
She was casting a spell over him, and he hated how easily she made him forget who he was, whoshewas.
He clenched his jaw and reminded himself of the harsh reality. He could not afford to be swayed by her beauty or her cleverness, no matter how enticing she was.
