Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(26)

“There are no more available horses,” the stable boy told him.

“What about that one?” asked Evelina, pointing to the only one left in the stall.

“That one is being used to pull the wagon to town,” said the stable boy. “Lady Isobel told me to have it ready, so I need to hurry.” The stable boy ran over to take care of the horse and cart.

“I suppose I could stay here,” said the squire.

“Nay,” said Claude, not sure he wanted to travel alone with Evelina. “Your place is at my side, Squire.”

“But there are only two horses, my lord,” said Felix. “Did you want me to run alongside as you ride?”

Claude shook his head. “Nay. That will take too long. The handmaid will have to ride with you.”

“Evelina is going to ride with me?” Felix sounded much too excited at the suggestion. “I will hold you tight so you don’t fall off the horse, Evelina.” He leaned lazily on the stable door and smiled.

Claude didn’t like the idea of Evelina riding with Felix now. He thought back to the other day when Felix and Evelina sat on the back of the cart together talking and laughing. He wanted Evelina to laugh and be lighthearted around him. Nay, this would never do.

“Get on your horse and stop gawking.” He kicked the gate. When it swung, Felix fell to the ground. “The girl will ride with me.”

“My lord?” Felix jumped up and brushed off his clothing. “But I thought you just said she was riding with me.”

“I can see now that having her on your horse will only be a distraction. The way the two of you will be chattering away, it is sure to slow us down.” He mounted the horse and directed it out of the stall. Then, reaching down, he extended his hand to Evelina. “Let’s get a move on,” he said.



Evelina stared at Claude’s hand, not understanding at first what he wanted.

“Give me your hand.”

“Oh,” she said, tying the pouch of coins at her waist and reaching up, letting him help her mount. She plopped down across his lap in the sidesaddle position with both legs on the same side of the horse.

“Not like that,” he grumbled. “Spread your legs.”

“S-spread my legs?” she repeated, feeling that heat rising in her body again. Why had her mind wandered to wanting him to say that in bed?

“Ride like a man,” he told her.

“I don’t think I can.”

“Then let me help you.” He took hold of her gown and hiked it up to her knees.

Evelina reached out and slapped him.

“Bid the devil, if you don’t stop slapping me every time you are near me, I swear I will tie you to a rope and pull you behind the horse instead. Now spread your legs.”

Before she had a chance to object, he’d picked up her leg and placed it on the other side of the horse. She felt like a strumpet with her legs spread and her gown pushed up to her knees. Her bottom end was wedged in between Claude’s legs and pushed up against his groin.

“That’s better,” he said with his mouth pressed up against the side of her head.

“I’m ready, my lord.” Felix directed his horse out of the stable and Claude followed.

As soon as they got over the drawbridge, Claude directed the horse into a run. Evelina jerked and almost lost her balance.

“Don’t worry; I’ve got you.” Claude’s arm slipped around her waist and pulled her closer to him. With his body pressed up against hers, she felt heady. Safe in his embrace, the wind blew her long tresses up into the air. With her eyes closed, she focused on the feeling of the warm sun on her face and the scent of Claude’s leather doublet. It felt right to be in his embrace, and she couldn’t stop wondering how it would feel to kiss him.

“You need to wear a wimple,” he growled, bringing her out of her daydream.

“I lost it on our last ride and no longer have one.”

“Well, get your hair out of my face. It is blowing into my eyes and mouth.”

“So sorry, my lord.” She reached up and pulled her hair to one side.



Claude could barely concentrate on the journey with Evelina sitting wedged between his legs. With his arm wrapped around her small waist, he felt like he wanted to protect her as much as he did Rose. Her scent filled his senses, and her hair kept blowing in his face, embracing him in her essence of rosewater and fresh air.

He tried to sound gruff because he didn’t want Evelina to know her presence was affecting him. Hell, he was even starting to feel randy with their bodies pushed together like this. Perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea to have her ride with him after all.

And then she moved her hair to the side, exposing her long, smooth, milky-white neck. It took all of his control not to lean forward and kiss her. He already knew what her hair tasted like, but now he wanted to taste her skin and her lips as well.

They’d been riding for about an hour when he felt himself getting hard with the bouncing motion of her bottom end against his groin. If he didn’t get away from her quickly, it was going to prove to be a very embarrassing situation for him.

“We’ll stop to rest and water the horses just up ahead at that brook,” he called out to Felix.

“Aye, my lord,” said Felix.

“I am glad we are stopping because I need to use a bush,” Evelina told him.