leverage in an argument if I remained on the ground and not in the saddle. “I don’t want to go to Mantle.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then why are we going?”
“Because I will be able to catch a decent night’s rest there.” He gestured at the saddle. I ignored him.
“You can do that in Currington.” I named a port town a few miles north of us. From there, I should be able to catch a boat to Bolien.
“Why would I go to Currington?” Still not understanding I had no intention of mounting, he nudged me closer to Brutus.
“So I can take a ship to Bolien.”
“Absolutely not.”
“The agreement was to take me to Lisbon. You have.” I made continuing motions with my hands, trying to get him to make the connection.
“I hate guessing games. Tell me what the problem is.”
“You’re treating me like a child! I am an adult, perfectly able to see myself to Currington safely. Let me go.”
“I may have agreed to do so before your little meeting, but the moment you met with the man at the bakery, you changed the rules. It’s not safe.” Around us, people were becoming aware we were having an argument. That meant somebody would probably lose and look foolish. They began to watch.
Noticing, Colton impatiently regarded me. “Get on the horse.”
“No.”
“This is not open for discussion. Either get on the horse willingly or I’ll throw you on.”
“I will not.” Putting my hands on my hips, I faced him head on. I would not be pushed around any longer.
Before I really knew what was happening, his hands were at my waist and he backed me against Brutus’s flank. Surprisingly, the horse didn’t shy or move away. Though he didn’t exert any pressure on my waist, I felt each separate indentation of his fingers. How easily he could force me to do what he wished.
Leaning close, his words were spoken almost directly into my ear, “I am not discussing this. You are going to get on the horse and we are going to continue to Mantle. Do you understand?”
It was the tone that straightened my spine. I did not belong to him and it was time he knew it.
Though I didn’t want to, I looked him right in the eye. “No.”
This time he stepped directly into me, increasing our contact. His shoulders blocked out my view of anything but him and I had the sudden thought he could do almost anything right now and I could not stop him.
His fingers tightened “You have no choice in the matter. Get on the horse.”
“I said no.”
I felt the expansion of his ribs around the breath he sucked in. “Why must you be so difficult?”
“Why is it so important we go to Mantle?” His smell, the feel of his chest against mine and the sounds of his breathing spun my senses. If we stood this close much longer, I would be a gibbering idiot.
“Because.”
“That answer didn’t work when I was two. Try again.”
He lowered his head, touching his forehead to mine. “Sweetheart, the only thing standing between myself and a good night’s sleep is you. Please get on the horse.”
“Not without answers.” I spread my palm over his chest, giving him a push. “Now step back. I cannot breathe when you insist on hovering.”
“Then I will not hover.” His sudden step back surprised me.
I scanned his face, noting the darkened skin beneath his eyes, the pull of gravity on his normally straight posture. The man was exhausted. Perhaps I should get on the horse and save this argument for another day.
“Very well.” I waited for him to cup his hands for a leg up into the saddle. I waited until he’d mounted behind me before saying, “It was worth a try.”
The breath he blew out brushed against my earlobe, raising goose bumps along my skin. “If you say so.”
I settled against his chest, my elbow nudging his arm out of the way. After a moment or so of adjustment, we both reached a comfortable position. The warmth of his body and the play of his muscles against me were fast leading my thoughts down a very
“Neither do I.”
“Then why are we going?”
“Because I will be able to catch a decent night’s rest there.” He gestured at the saddle. I ignored him.
“You can do that in Currington.” I named a port town a few miles north of us. From there, I should be able to catch a boat to Bolien.
“Why would I go to Currington?” Still not understanding I had no intention of mounting, he nudged me closer to Brutus.
“So I can take a ship to Bolien.”
“Absolutely not.”
“The agreement was to take me to Lisbon. You have.” I made continuing motions with my hands, trying to get him to make the connection.
“I hate guessing games. Tell me what the problem is.”
“You’re treating me like a child! I am an adult, perfectly able to see myself to Currington safely. Let me go.”
“I may have agreed to do so before your little meeting, but the moment you met with the man at the bakery, you changed the rules. It’s not safe.” Around us, people were becoming aware we were having an argument. That meant somebody would probably lose and look foolish. They began to watch.
Noticing, Colton impatiently regarded me. “Get on the horse.”
“No.”
“This is not open for discussion. Either get on the horse willingly or I’ll throw you on.”
“I will not.” Putting my hands on my hips, I faced him head on. I would not be pushed around any longer.
Before I really knew what was happening, his hands were at my waist and he backed me against Brutus’s flank. Surprisingly, the horse didn’t shy or move away. Though he didn’t exert any pressure on my waist, I felt each separate indentation of his fingers. How easily he could force me to do what he wished.
Leaning close, his words were spoken almost directly into my ear, “I am not discussing this. You are going to get on the horse and we are going to continue to Mantle. Do you understand?”
It was the tone that straightened my spine. I did not belong to him and it was time he knew it.
Though I didn’t want to, I looked him right in the eye. “No.”
This time he stepped directly into me, increasing our contact. His shoulders blocked out my view of anything but him and I had the sudden thought he could do almost anything right now and I could not stop him.
His fingers tightened “You have no choice in the matter. Get on the horse.”
“I said no.”
I felt the expansion of his ribs around the breath he sucked in. “Why must you be so difficult?”
“Why is it so important we go to Mantle?” His smell, the feel of his chest against mine and the sounds of his breathing spun my senses. If we stood this close much longer, I would be a gibbering idiot.
“Because.”
“That answer didn’t work when I was two. Try again.”
He lowered his head, touching his forehead to mine. “Sweetheart, the only thing standing between myself and a good night’s sleep is you. Please get on the horse.”
“Not without answers.” I spread my palm over his chest, giving him a push. “Now step back. I cannot breathe when you insist on hovering.”
“Then I will not hover.” His sudden step back surprised me.
I scanned his face, noting the darkened skin beneath his eyes, the pull of gravity on his normally straight posture. The man was exhausted. Perhaps I should get on the horse and save this argument for another day.
“Very well.” I waited for him to cup his hands for a leg up into the saddle. I waited until he’d mounted behind me before saying, “It was worth a try.”
The breath he blew out brushed against my earlobe, raising goose bumps along my skin. “If you say so.”
I settled against his chest, my elbow nudging his arm out of the way. After a moment or so of adjustment, we both reached a comfortable position. The warmth of his body and the play of his muscles against me were fast leading my thoughts down a very
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