Page 22 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
And now, he simply didn’t care anymore. It was as if the ghost of Helena was drifting further away from him, minute by minute. The hold his ex-fiancée held over him was loosening; unravelling so quickly that he could almost see it, like fraying rope.
As he watched Susannah approaching, he gloried in the sight of her, taking in every small detail of her appearance. Her brownish red hair, swept up into its habitual chignon. Her quick step, almost striding like a man. The outline of her figure, beneath her plain gown. Her full bust and small waist that he had held in his hands the night before …
He coloured fiercely. A vision of her walking towards him completely unclothed assaulted him. He had not seen her in her nakedness, and yet it was as if he could picture it perfectly. Her breasts, full and high, nipples hardening in the breeze. Her long legs, leading up to the centre of her womanhood, that perfect triangle that hid her secret centre …
He tensed, turning towards her as she entered the corral, feeling as if he might suddenly explode with the wild sensations that were gripping him at the completely unexpected vision of her that had just assailed him.
***
He had thought that she might be bashful around him after the kiss, but she gazed at him directly. Her grey eyes almost held a challenge within them.
“Mr Stone,” she said slowly, a slight smile playing around her lips. “I trust you slept well, after …”
He grinned. “It was hard sleeping, after …”
They both laughed softly, relishing the shared memory of their passion as if it were a private joke between them that no one else could possibly understand.
His heart surged. He knew then, at that moment, that she didn’t have a shred of remorse about it. She wasn’t even conflicted about it, or if she had been, she had resolved it already. The sensual tension started to thicken like a fog between them once more. The vision of her walking towards him, completely naked, rose once more in his mind’s eye. Desperately, he tried to push it away.
She glanced at the horse that he still held on the end of the rope. “You are not working with Blitzen this morning?”
He shook his head slowly. “Blitzen is too skittish. I tried for a short while, but he simply was not in the mood.” He paused. “You are right about him. It is as if that horse is processing something; his moods are wildly unpredictable. I believe that a slow approach is the best way forward with him.”
Susannah nodded. “Yes, he is changed; there is no doubt about that.” She hesitated, biting her lip. “I feel guilty that I have been avoiding him, after … after the accident. Do you think that he has sensed my ambivalence towards him, and that may be part of the reason for the way he is acting?”
Jasper gazed at her steadily. “There is some truth in what you say. Horses are intelligent creatures, and they are also highly intuitive. They know if people have strong feelings towards them. I have no doubt that Blitzen has sensed your ambivalence, and it has contributed to whatever he is going through.”
She looked stricken. “Then it is all my fault …”
“No, no.” He took a step towards her. “This is not your fault, and even if it was, what you feel is valid. Your husband died on that horse. Of course you will feel conflicted about the animal, regardless of how much you love him.” He paused. “Do not be so hard on yourself. We will work out whatever is happening with Blitzen …”
He saw that her eyes were swimming with tears. It took all his willpower not to step forward and pull her into his arms. With difficulty, he resisted the impulse. It was not the time or the place for it.
At that moment, David walked into the yard, leading Thor, the black colt, who was kicking backwards. The spell between them was abruptly broken.
“Mrs Drake,” said the apprentice, smiling broadly. “I hope you are well, on this fine day?”
Susannah smiled back. She looked genuinely pleased to see him.
“Indeed I am, David,” she replied. “Hard at work, I see?”
He nodded self-importantly. Jasper could almost see his chest puffing out with pride. It had been a good decision to let the apprentice work with the black colt; it was giving him so much more confidence in his skills. And he was always at hand to assist if he ran into difficulty.
He turned back to Susannah.
“We should all get back to work,” he said slowly, his eyes gleaming. “Do you want to help this morning … Mrs Drake?”
She exhaled slowly, returning his gaze. “I think that is a wonderful idea … Mr Stone.” A pause. “What would you like me to do? I am totally at your command.”
***
The morning seemed to speed by. As David worked with Thor, he and Susannah worked side by side with the other horses.
He watched her covertly. She was gentle and patient with them; her genuine love for the animals seemed to shine through. But even more than that, she became totally absorbed in the task. It was as if the black cloud of grief and torment that had been consuming her since the sudden death of her husband was totally forgotten in that brief space of time.
He could see the woman that she really was. He could see the woman that she shouldalwayshave been, if not for what had happened to her over the years of her marriage, as well as since her husband’s death.
It was almost noon, the sun high and bright in the sky, by the time he called a break, leading the horses back into their stables. When he returned, she was sitting down, fanning herself.
