Page 27 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
Arching her brows, she accepted, “Then who am I to disagree?”
“Good, I am pleased we are in agreement,” he said, placing his hand on her arm to guide her towards two horses already saddled to go.
“Yours is the dappled grey mare, who we call Princess, and mine is the brown gelding called Caesar,” he explained.
She noted that the grey mare was standing by a mounting box, to which she started to climb.
“Let me assist you,” the duke suggested, climbing up the first step close behind her.
Though he was gentle with his hold, he held her waist and lifted her body with two strong arms. As she shifted to seat herself aside the horse’s back, he remained standing on the mounting box. Alice looked down to thank him when an unexpected quiver ran through her body. She had noticed that his face was level with her inner thighs, and strange thoughts invaded her mind.
“Do you feel secure enough?” he asked, glancing at her dress to check she didn’t slip.
“I would feel better with my legs astride the horse,” she mentioned, wishing she could open her legs over the beast below her.
“When we are out of sight,” he said, still looking up at her, only now he wore a cheeky grin before he climbed down the step.
They rode out of the courtyard at a steady canter, the duke in the lead, as anyone observing would expect. He led them down the long driveway and then through the outer gate. It wasn’t until they passed over the highway and into a field that Alice moved her horse to his side.
“Can we speed up now, Lord Phillip?” she asked as she wriggled her legs to put one on each side of the horse’s back.
“I wasn’t sure of your skills, but I see there is more to you than meets the eye.” He chuckled. “Lead on, Miss Alice,” he added, holding out his arm for her to take the lead.
Alice set her horse into a gallop, her hair soon loosening from the carefully placed pins.
“You ride expertly!” he called out as he overtook her, laughing.
She wasn’t to be outdone and spurred her horse to go faster. Soon, the two of them galloped side by side. They looked over at one another, laughing with the wind in their faces. Teardrops escaped her eyes, and she wasn’t sure if it was the wind or tears of joy, so happy was she.
The thudding of hooves resonated in her ears, and the race was on as she attempted to outrun the duke. But he wasn’t to be beaten, and soon he was looking back at her, reaching a huge willow tree, and slowing down.
Alice too slowed her pace, the exhilaration of being upon a horse’s back was intoxicating, and she laughed out loud, sharing her joy.
The duke had stopped, and so she pulled up by his side. “We should be safe from prying eyes if we sit ourselves under this Willow tree’s spread, do you agree?”
She knew that she shouldn’t, but the privacy from underneath the overhang was enticing, and she nodded back her agreement. The duke was first to dismount, letting his horse free to graze. He approached her horse and offered his arms to help her down.
Helping her dismount from the horse, his strong hands steadied her by the waist. As her feet touched the ground, she felt his face so close that their cheeks almost touched. Without warning, he leaned in and kissed her, lingering on her lips. Alice was helpless to resist the kiss because she yearned for it.
The slow, soft kiss soon turned into a passionate embrace, and she kept her eyes closed as he tilted her back. Her throat became exposed to his lips, and he planted kisses on her neck, but then, unexpectedly, he leaned down and scooped her up in his arms.
He carried her through the drooping branches with her arms around his neck. The light dimmed as, walking through the overhanging canopy, they entered the protection of the tree.
“Lady Davina has eyes in the back of her head, and we do not wish her to see us having fun without her, do we now?” he said in jest, leaning in for a second kiss.
This time, they were more at ease with one another, and their kiss lingered as he licked her lips. Soon, he was probing his tongue into her mouth, and her mind raced with conflicting thoughts.
I shouldn’t be doing this, but I can’t stop myself.Her thoughts were in turmoil, and still, she didn’t resist his advances.
Instead, she closed her eyes, allowing her body to feel so many new sensations as she responded to his exploring touch. His hands squeezed her breasts, and his fingers roamed down, entering the inside of her low neckline.
Did I choose this outfit on purpose?she wondered.So that his eyes could wander over my revealing cleavage.
Whatever the truth was, she no longer cared. She only wanted to give herself to the duke willingly.
“Tell me to stop if I am too forward,” he whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear.
Her reply was a light moan because she never wanted him to stop. He moved to lay her down as their lips remained pressed together. She didn’t offer any resistance, not even when he lifted the hemline of her dress so that his hands could stroke her inner legs.
