Surrender of Trust (First Volume of the Surrender Series) by Mariel Grey

high
handed commands to her servant. He was a peer, after all. Lucy
selected her favorite horse, Heather Mist. Like Thor, Heather Mist
was a three- year old filly descended from excellent blood lines.
Though her blood was not quite as exalted as that of Thor or Zeus,
she was a fine horse and fiercely competitive. Heather Mist could
give both Thor and Zeus a run for the money.
    They mounted their steeds and cantered from
the stables. Lucy observed Chalifour from the corner of her eye.
Thor was a hand full. Would Chalifour be able to control Thor? Lucy
amused herself and imagined Thor galloping off and leaving the
arrogant man sprawled on the ground.
    Lucy and Chalifour started out at a trot.
Their gait gradually increased in speed until they were in a
full-out gallop. An exuberant rumble of laugher escaped Lucy's
throat and she found herself gleefully racing against Chalifour.
Their horses tore down the path.
    Both riders alternated between glancing at
one another and at the path their horses were thundering down. It
was a dead heat with neither gaining or giving ground. The horses
were rival competitors. Both horses instinctively knew this had
evolved into a race and neither horse wanted to lose.
    Lucy broke off first when they reached a
large fenced meadow. Chalifour followed suit and slowed Thor to a
canter. They cantered along the fence at the edge of the pasture.
The grass was a lush green spread dotted with small clusters of
yellow flowers. Unsure what she should talk about, Lucy chose a
safe topic and expounded on the minute differences between several
of the horses grazing in the field and aspects to consider when
breeding one horse with another.
    Lucy glanced at Chalifour and found him
looking at her with an odd expression. Did Chalifour have a glimpse
of her legs when her gown billowed up? She hadn't expected to ride
and wasn't dressed appropriately in her heavy riding habit.
    "What is it?" Lucy asked anxiously, hoping
she had not embarrassed herself yet again.
    Chalifour appeared surprised, as if
unaccustomed to being questioned directly."Why do you ask?"
    "Well, you were looking at me so oddly."
    "It's just I rarely see women so unabashedly
joyous. You were truly happy tearing across the countryside on your
horse. It's uncommon to see anyone so free with their emotions. I
also find your knowledge of horse breeding impressive. Your
expertise greatly exceeds my expectations. Very few women, I
imagine, possess the knowledge you do. I simply find it surprising,
that’s all."
    Uncomfortable with the frank appraisal, Lucy
urged her mount forward and Chalifour followed. After a spell, Lucy
slowed her horse and came to a stop. Chalifour did likewise and
they walked the horses for a few moments before Lucy halted,
breathless.
    Chalifour dismounted with ease. Turning to
Lucy, he reached up to help her off her horse. His hands encircled
her small waist and he pulled her effortlessly from her horse. A
bolt of energy surged through Lucy's body. In that instant, their
eyes locked and Lucy's breath hitched. Chalifour stood motionless,
holding her for a fraction longer than necessary, then released
her.
    Completely out of sorts, Lucy found herself
babbling, "See how lovely this meadow is. We sometimes let the
horses breed here instead of in the breeding stall. Naturally they
seem to prefer it here. It’s lovely, isn't it?" Facing the field,
she felt, rather than heard, Chalifour move behind her.
    "Yes, it's quite lovely."
    Chalifour’s deep, low voice drawled
dangerously close to Lucy’s ear and caused her to shiver
involuntarily. Lucy’s heart fluttered. Her breath rasped. The heat
of Chalifour's body radiated through Lucy’s thin gown and seared
her back. Lucy was afraid to turn around. Chalifour was entirely
too close to her, certainly much closer than was proper. A warmth
spread through Lucy’s entire body and crept up her face.
    Self preservation prompted Lucy to move away
from Chalifour. Without turning, she walked to