"Drake I can't." Lillian whispered as she took a step away from the giant next to her husband. Drake chuckled and reached out to grab her wrist before she could retreat too far. He pulled her closer to the horse he held at his side and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Relax Lillian. Nato looks like a savage, but he is the calmest of my stable. You will be secure on his back, trust me." He said and she shook her head again. She looked at the cream colored gelding. He was a beautiful animal with soft brown eyes that gazed at her with a gentle urging, asking for her to trust him as well. She sighed and held out her hand to the male, palm up so that he could get her scent. Nato reached out his muzzle to her and he lipped her hand, probably searching for a sugary treat. She reached up then and stroked his soft face, Nato pulled against the reigns to bump her shoulder with his nose.

Drake had been watching this display of affection and was amazed when his wife laughed and tugged her other hand free so that she could cup the animal's head while continuing to stroke his face. Nato instantly relaxed at the gentle caress. It was true that Nato was the calmest animal he owned, but he had never seen the animal take to a person so quickly.

"You really do have a way with animals Lillian." He said and she turned her shining green eyes up to him. She shrugged and patted Nato's neck before turning to face Drake again.

"I love horses, but I prefer to admire them from the ground. Allister wasn't kidding when he said that I never developed an ability to stay in the saddle on my own." She said, a small blush spreading across her face. Drake ignored the spark of irritation at the mention of the other man, thankful that after today the blasted male would be gone and he would have Lillian to himself.

'Is that jealousy my lord?' That cynical voice chided and it was all he needed to push the feeling away as he neared Lillian again. He pressed a hand to the small of her back, forcing her near the saddle once more.

"Maybe you just need the right teacher. Do you trust me Lillian?" He asked and watched as she bit her lip, hesitating to answer. Finally she nodded, but he could see the fear in her eyes. He sighed and grabbed her about her waist, lifting her small frame up and into the saddle with ease. She gave a startled cry and latched onto the pommel of the saddle. Drake was glad that he chose Nato who stood still despite the noise and the sudden shift in weight. Drake patiently coaxed Lillian into swinging her other leg to the side so that she straddle the horse like a man. He had asked Lillian's father and it had been confirmed that she had only ever tried to ride side-saddle.

"Drake…ladies aren't supposed to-"

"In society that's true, but you're safe here. This is your home now too Lillian. Which means that you can forget about society and all its rules." He assured and although she continued to blush, she quieted down and followed his instructions. She sat tall and still as he adjusted her feet in the stirrups. Drake had to ignore the desire that licked at him as he held her slender ankles in his grip. It seems that last night had done little to quell the need for this woman.

Once she was settled in and looked more confident he moved away from her side and stood a few feet away. He looked her up and down and gave a nod of approval. Then he motioned for the stable hand to bring his own mount. Lillian's eyes widened at the animal that was brought out. The stallion was two hands taller than her own gelding and was precisely why he had chosen to not have her ride in front of him.

Goliath was staying at his stables while the races were out and in order to keep him in form Drake used him to walk the grounds. His black coat gleamed in the morning sun and he tossed his head defiantly against the hand's grip. Drake stepped forward and grabbed the reigns before the stallion got any ideas about bolting. Drake lead the stallion closer to his wife and mounted quickly, tightening his hold on the reigns so that the animal didn't take off in anticipation. Goliath was always looking for a chance to run, which is what made him a champion.

"Lillian, meet Goliath."

"He's beautiful." She whispered and Nato eyed the stallion and snorted in greeting. Lillian giggled and patted her mount's neck to calm him once more.

"I'm sorry Nato, you are just as lovely I promise." She cooed to the animal, Nato's ear was back and at the words he tossed his head, making Lillian laugh once more. Drake couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he watched his wife. She seemed to have calmed down as well since he first brought her outside to meet the horse. He urged Goliath closer and helped her grab the reigns, instructing her on how to hold them. Then they waited as the stable lad tied a lead rope to both Nato's and Goliath's reigns, connecting the two animals.

"For now I'll lead so that you can get a feel for moving with the horse. It'll be easier now that you are riding astride. Keep your thighs pressed to the animal's side…" He had to pause as his mind betrayed him with ideas of what else she could wrap her thighs around. He shook his head and continued, his voice growing a bit raspier.

"You can apply pressure to one side to help turn the animal along with the reigns. It'll soon become second nature and you'll learn how to move as one with Nato. He's even tempered so he won't give you any trouble." Drake explained and although Lillian looked a bit pale she nodded and took in a deep breath to calm her racing heart. Drake nudged Goliath forward, keeping the stallion at a steady walk. The lead rope tugged Nato forward and the gelding began to walk, keeping at Goliath's side.

The first initial move startled Lillian and she inadvertently kicked Nato's side and the gelding reacted by trying to trot ahead, but the lead rope held him back and forced him back to a walk. The jolting though had shook Lillian's resolve though and she was gripping the reigns so hard her knuckles were turning white. Drake turned to admonish her about watching her reactions, but stopped when he saw the fear dancing in her eyes. He took a calming breath and reached over to grab her hand.

She looked up and he maintained eye contact as he rubbed his thumb over her hand, urging her to ease her hold. She relaxed under his ministrations and he gave her another reassuring smile.

"Relax Lillian. You're going to be fine…let's try again. Avoid kicking him until I say it's okay. You won't hurt him, but he will react to what he thinks is a command." Drake explained and she nodded once more.

"I'm sorry Drake. This is part of the reason I never ride. I always get startled by the littlest things and spook the horse I'm riding." She apologized with another blush and Drake chuckled as he patted her hand before removing it.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"You'll get it. I believe in you." He whispered and she shined her bright eyes at him and he saw a brief flash of determination. She nodded and they continued to walk as Drake watched her, impressed that once she allowed herself to relax and release her fears, Lillian was actual a decent horsewoman. She moved with ease, following the animal's motions as if it were second nature. Maybe all she had needed was the confidence to give it her all, without someone telling her that it must be done a certain way.

After he was confident that she could handle it, he stopped them and reached down to untie the lead rope. Lillian's eyes widened in surprise,

"Drake I-"

"Don't start doubting yourself now Lillian. You've proven that you can handle this and I want you to trust that everything will be alright. Don't let your fear take over now that you've gotten over so much." He encouraged and she swallowed as she watched the only thing that had been reassuring her of her safety disappear. She had been able to relax because she knew that if her mount started to get too far ahead, the rope would keep her near Drake. But she wanted to make him proud and so kept her fears to herself. Maybe if she could do this with him it would help her plight.

"Ready?" He asked and she nodded as she took a deep breath and gently nudged Nato's side as she had seen Drake do earlier. She squeaked when Nato took that first step, but forced herself to maintain her upright posture. Moving with the animal as she had been before and was surprised that she was actually doing it!

"I'm riding…" She whispered in awe and swung her head to the side to see her husband smiling back. Her face broke into a wide grin as she laughed and said with more force,

"I'm actually riding!"

Drake laughed at her elation and warned her against getting too excited. She continued to giggle, but couldn't take the bright smile off her face. Not that Drake would want it any other way. Lillian's joy was infectious and he had never experienced this feeling before. Pride in another. Since she proved that she could stay in the saddle he began to turn them towards a few farms he had to check on. Along the way he pointed out different parts of his-and her home.

"I want you to feel comfortable here Lillian, but I would suggest taking a stable hand if I am unable to accompany you. My lands stretch for sixty acres and I wouldn't want my new wife getting lost." He teased and she giggled, but nodded and he noticed that her cheeks were flushed once more. They seemed to turn a soft shade of pink whenever he called her his wife. A strange warmth spread in his chest and he cleared his throat to chase away the sensation.

He took her to meet several of his tenants, all of which were instantly enraptured with the new Duchess. Lillian smiled at everyone they met, and although she remained reserved due to her shyness, the tenants fell for her all the same. Lillian had an aura around her that relaxed one's soul and brought them closer. That's exactly what she was doing with Drake anyways.

As they moved along the path once more he chanced a peek at her. Lillian seemed much more confident in the saddle and it made him smile. But it wasn't just her newly developed riding skills. He was starting to realize that just having her near was enough to relax him and bring a certain kind of peace to his mind. He couldn't place the foreign feeling, but he knew instinctively that Lillian had a stronger hold on him that he wanted.

"Could…could we…" Her soft voice broke him out of his thoughts and he glanced over to see her fiddling with the reigns. He motioned for her to continue and she bit her lip, drawing his attention to the rosy temptation and planting sordid ideas in his mind once more. He growled low and forced his body to behave.

"Do you think we could try to go faster?" She asked timidly and his eyes widened in surprise, but then he grinned and nodded. He moved Goliath closer to Nato and showed her how to hold the reigns for better control of her mount. Then he told her to give Nato a firm kick and the horse would quicken the pace. However, Drake didn't realize that Lillian was stronger than she looked.

When her heel connected with the horse's side, Nato tossed his head and leapt forward. Lillian cried out as she bent over the animal that was now galloping away. Drake reacted instantly and spurred Goliath after the pair. He lifted himself so that he was parallel with the animal's back and the two began to fly across the grassy fields. Nato's ears were back, hearing the other animal closing in and his male pride spurred him to run faster. Drake urged Goliath on and the champion had little issue catching the runaway.

Drake pulled up alongside Lillian and turned to reach for the reigns, but froze the action at the image before him. Her hair was flying behind her in the wind, her cheeks were flushed brightly and she was gripping the reins tightly. But her eyes shone with such pure enjoyment that he couldn't believe she wasn't afraid. She was actually laughing and moved with the animal as if she had been born in the saddle. He had never seen someone pick up the ability to gallop on instinct, but here was this tiny woman doing just that. If he didn't know better, he would assume she was encouraging the horse to outrace him.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he reached out once more and this time grabbed the reigns. He pulled hard on both sets, bringing both animals to a slow halt. He then wasted no time in dismounting and moving to Lillian's side. He grabbed her waist and pulled her from the saddle so that she fell against his chest, her legs feeling like jelly. He cupped her cheek and forced her to look up at him.

"Lillian, are you alright?" He asked, checking her for injuries he knew weren't there. But some primal need to make sure had taken over his movements. She looked up with bright eyes and then suddenly burst into laughter. He froze in his inspection and looked down at her in shock, once more surprised that she didn't seem to be afraid. She reached up and wiped the corner of her eye and smiled up at him.

"I guess I kicked him a little too hard…or maybe he wanted to show you that he's not a lag to be taken lightly." She laughed and Drake could do nothing but stare at her incredulously. This woman was a mystery he would never solve. When he expected one response, she gave another. Every time he thought he had her figured out, she would surprise him yet again. He felt a sudden stirring in his gut and crushed her against him. She gasped in surprise as his hot lips suddenly laid over hers and forced them apart. But as with the other times he touched her, she instantly relaxed and responded to the kiss. Her fingers sliding up his arms as he bent her back to deepen the kiss.

He pulled back and gasped for air, forcing himself to stop before he took her here in the open field. He swallowed and willed his pulse to slow as he looked into her deep, green eyes and saw the same answering heat. He groaned and set her away from him as he calmed his sudden urge to ravish his wife…for now.

"Come…we should be heading back to say our goodbyes to the others." He rasped and was thankful when she simply nodded and turned to retrieve her mount. He helped her into the saddle once more and grabbed Goliath so that they could head back. He looked around and grinned, despite things.

"You made it quite a distance without falling. I'm impressed Lillian. For someone who claims they can't ride, you did amazing today." He said and turned to see her urging Nato into a walk to come up to his side. She gave him a sudden heated look that burned straight through him and made his blood boil down to a certain organ. She patted her animal's neck and with one more sizzling glance she whispered,

"Maybe I just needed a teacher to show me what I was missing out on." She quickly kicked Nato, not as rough this time and the horse cantered away, leaving Drake gaping after the woman for a few minutes. The implication in her words were undeniable and it made him stand at attention abruptly. He growled and kicked his horse forward to catch the blasted woman that was determined to cause him immense grief.

'Then why are you grinning like a fool?'