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He saddled the beauty of a horse while stroking the horse’s neck and whispering to him. He spoke with such honesty my body swayed in awe.
“You have a way with animals,” I said as he scooted past me and saddled the horse.
“I’ve been around them since I was a small boy. They respond to me for some reason. Are you ready, Your Majesty?”
“I am.”
I lifted my leg, intending to get in the saddle but instead, two large hands grabbed either side of my waist. Arne lifted me effortlessly onto the horse and then mounted behind me on the saddle. His thick thighs imprisoned me in place but there was no complaining on my part. I could stay imprisoned like this for quite some time.
I brushed aside any thoughts of impropriety. As the queen, I would decide what was proper.
“Shall we?” He asked, his hot breath fanning over my earlobes. I shuddered in place while I nodded. No words would come from me, I was too befuddled by his presence.
We rode slow and steady through the lands of the kingdom. Every once in a while, Arne would stroke the horse’s neck and speak to him which pressed his groin further against my butt. I wanted to turn around and see what those full lips felt like against mine, but this man behind me wasn’t my betrothed. Of whom there were three. Already quite a crowd even if I hadn’t met the third. Would it be wrong to kiss a man to whom I had no betrothal?
My life was too damned complicated.
“It will be okay,” he spoke into my ear.
“What will be okay?” I asked as he closed his hands around mine. I was white-knuckling the reins in an attempt not to hold his hands.
“Whatever has such a beautiful woman sighing like that. It will all be okay, I promise you.” Although I missed watching his lips form words, he spoke clearly and so close, I could understand well even over the horse’s hoofbeats.
I laughed at his candor. He was right. My hormones were running overtime. “Why have I never seen you at court?”
“Because I’ve never been to court.”
Fair enough.
“And why not?”
He laughed. It jostled us both in place. “I’d much rather talk about you. What does a queen do in her spare time?”
Spare time. That was the real joke. “Sometimes at night, I like to read. The stories bring me to another time and to another world.”
“I also like to read. Tell me more.”
It was surreal talking to this man about all my secret hopes and dreams, but my soul just cracked open for him as we rode. I told him my goals for the kingdom and even my hopes for my personal future.
The ride was over way before I wanted, but the sun had begun to set.
“Thank you for the ride, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Arne. Maybe we can ride again sometime.”
He chuckled. “That would be nice. Until then, enjoy Horatio. He is yours to keep.”
I turned to the horse and stoked my hand down his side. “I will treasure him. When can I see you again, Arne?” A boldness had built in my chest. I was unwilling to let this man go not knowing when I would have this thrill again.
“When you least expect it. Good evening.”
He bowed and then he was gone. Damn it.
Chapter Seventeen
Rina was the seamstress who showed up to fit me for the more modern yet also appropriate clothing for various occasions. I already knew where to find the casual garments I would wear in private moments, but when I attended official functions, I needed to rebrand myself as a twenty-first century monarch.
My closet would be a much different place once the last of the clothes picked out for me by my uncle or whoever he assigned to do it. I wasn’t really sure. And had allowed Leif and Candace to talk me out of burning the dresses. They pointed out that despite their outdated ugliness, they could be donated to a second-hand store where perhaps someone would like to buy them, if not to wear then to make into curtains or something. For sure there was plenty of fabric in them to do that.
