“Thank you,” she whispered with watery eyes.
Graham brushed his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear. “You are indeed quite welcome.”
“Can we still have my lesson?”
Graham nodded, trying again to stop his thoughts from going to aplace they shouldn’t. “Let’s get her saddled.”
Within minutes, Luna had been saddled by the groom that was nearby, who had insisted on taking over when Graham tried to saddle her himself. But he sent the servants away afterward since the fewer who knew about their lessons, the better.
“Ready?” Graham asked.
Diana nodded eagerly.
He gripped her hips and set Diana in the seat. “Up you go.”
Diana settled into the sidesaddle with growing confidence, and Graham adjusted her stirrups. When he looked up to check her position, she appeared to be the happiest woman in all of London.
“How does that feel?”
“Perfect,” Diana said softly, her eyes meeting his. “Everything about this feels perfect. I love her.”
Graham’s hands lingered on her leg longer than necessary, and he saw Diana’s breath catch. And she didn’t look away from him.
“We should begin,” he said, though he didn’t move away.
“Yes,” Diana whispered, but she was looking at his lips now, and Graham felt his control slipping.
He forced himself to step back. “Let’s start with some simple movements.”
Diana guided Luna with Graham’s instruction. She improved each time she did so, and became more confident in the saddle.
“Excellent,” he said as she completed another circle in the alley and returned to the mews. “You’re a natural. Although I do believe we are going to have to get you a proper riding habit.”
“Thank you.” Diana beamed. “I’ve never had a riding habit before.”
He took the reins and tied them to a wooden beam. “Here, let me help you down.”
Her hands came to rest on his shoulders as he reached up to help her from the saddle. But instead of setting her down quickly, he liftedher down slowly, her body sliding against his until she was standing pressed against him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer.
“We shouldn’t,” he breathed, even though he made no effort to back away.
“I know,” she whispered back, but she also did not attempt to move. “But I must thank you properly.”
“Diana—”
She silenced him by pressing her lips to his, and Graham was lost. His hands tangled in her hair as she kissed him with a sweetness that quickly turned desperate. When she made a soft moan of pleasure against his mouth, he just about came completely undone.
Her hands moved from his shoulders to his chest, and he groaned against her mouth. Every touch, every soft sigh she made, wound him tighter. This was dangerous, this overwhelming need that threatened to consume every shred of his control.
But Diana was pressing closer, and he knew he was already lost. His lips moved to her throat, tasting the salt of her skin, and she arched against him with a gasp.
“Diana,” he managed, his only attempt for one of them to come to their senses as he backed her deeper into the mews where they would be less likely to be seen.
She pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes dark with desire. “Don’t stop.”
The breathless plea shattered his control completely. He captured her mouth again, more urgently this time, his hands exploring her back. His control had evaporated and all that remained was an overwhelming need to have her in his arms.
