Chapter 166
Aria’s POV
The horse’s hooves softened their rhythm as we turned from the main riding trail, disappearing into the edge of a dense grove.
An immediate hush fell over the air. Aiden’s breath hitched, his arms banding around my waist, pulling me snug against his chest.
“No one for miles. We can… catch our breath.” His voice dropped to a raw rasp, a sound of untamed hunger I’d never heard before.
Aiden guided the horse into a snug clearing, enclosed by a thicket where dappled sunlight danced on the ground.
He swung down first, then reached for me. But as my body slid along his, his grip on my waist didn’t loosen. Instead, his hands anchored me, drawing me flush against him.
My voice came out a breathless whisper, “Aiden A tiny thrill of alarm warred with a much louder hum of forbidden excitement.
His mouth devoured mine, a stark departure from the sweet brushes we’d shared before.
This was raw hunger, a primal craving.
My eyes flew open in shock, but then fluttered shut as I surrendered.
His tongue, hot and insistent, plunged into my mouth, tangling with mine, stealing my breath and buckling my knees.
My fingers dug into the solid muscle of his shoulders, the only thing keeping me upright.
“God, you’re so tempting, Aria p>
His words ripped from him, ragged and desperate, “I want you, now p>
My whisper hitched, “Here? But… what if someone sees?” My gaze darted around the secluded grove, paranoia pricking at me.
His hand, hot and possessive, slid beneath the hem of my riding shirt. “No one will come here,” he promised, his voice a low growl of conviction.
My mind screamed stop, but my body, a traitorous beast, surged against him. His touch ignited a wildfire in my veins, and I found myself arching into him, a silent plea.
Aiden nudged me back against the rough embrace of a thick-trunked tree, his hard body pinning mine.
One hand, deft and quick, worked at the buttons of my riding breeches. The other slid under my top, his thumb a deliberate caress over my nipple, sending a violent shiver through me.
His lips brushed mine as he hushed, “Quiet, sweetheart.” The command was implicit, undeniable, intensified by the blazing hunger in his eyes. Refusal became an impossibility.
Faint echoes of laughter drifted through the trees – other riders, undoubtedly.
A jolt of delicious terror slammed into me, mixing with the heady rush of arousal. I bit down hard on my lower lip, fighting back any sound.
Aiden’s lips curved into a wicked smile, his pleasure at my delicious apprehension palpable.
His movements grew bolder, one hand dipping into my underwear, his knowing fingers immediately finding the hot, slick core of me.
He grazed his teeth on my earlobe, his voice a low, satisfied rasp, “You’re soaking wet, Aria p>
A breathless gasp escaped me. “Aiden, please… someone might hear.” My words were a flimsy shield, crumbling as my hips instinctively bucked against his fingers.
He nipped playfully at my earlobe, his voice dark with challenge, “No one will notice a thing, unless you get too loud, sweetheart.” And his fingers, oh, his fingers… they quickened their rhythm.
My fingers clawed at his shoulders, my body convulsing with exquisite pleasure.
The illicit thrill of our secret tryst sharpened every nerve ending, every brush of skin a spark.
Aiden’s free hand unzipped his own riding breeches, and I instantly felt the undeniable heat of his erection pressing insistently against my belly.
He lifted my hips, a silent command for me to wrap my legs around his waist, then drove into me with a single, powerful thrust. A silent gasp tore from my throat, and I bit down hard on his shoulder, a desperate attempt to choke back the scream that threatened to betray us.
His rhythm was fast, primal, each deep thrust a raw, undeniable pleasure. The faint sounds of the stable-a distant whinny, muffled laughter-and the deliciously illicit thrill of being discovered, all conspired to heighten the moment. My core clenched around him, a velvety vise that surprised even me.
“You’re tighter than usual,” Aiden whispered, his lips grazing my ear. “Like the thrill of it? The risk p>
I couldn’t answer, could only arch into him, a silent plea for more. My nails dug into his back, tiny crescents forming with each exquisite plunge. The thud of approaching hoofbeats grew louder, but Aiden’s movements didn’t falter; if anything, they grew more desperate, more intense.
“Someone’s coming!” I hissed, a panicked whisper against his skin.
“Then you’d better keep those pretty sounds to yourself.” He flashed a wicked grin, eyes gleaming, then plunged deeper.
I bit my lower tip until I tasted blood, pleasure and terror a potent cocktail that strung.every muscle taut. The hoofbeats passed, close enough to send @jolt through me, then faded into the distance. I released a ragged sigh of relief, only for an even more exquisite sensation to follow. Each of Aden’s powerful strokes found my core, sending waves of pure sensation rippling from my spine.
“Aiden… I’m close I whimpered, a breathless plea.
“Together,” he growled, his voice equally strained, his movements intensifying until it was a blur of frantic friction.
Finally, with one last shattering thrust, we broke apart, falling into a million pieces together. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, my body shaking from the aftershocks. He held me tightly, a silent anchor, until our breathing finally calmed.
“That was even better than I imagined.” Aiden kissed my forehead, his voice a low
caress.
I mechanically straightened my clothes, my fingers still trembling slightly. Aiden led Chaser over, helped me mount again, then with a single, fluid motion, vaulted onto the horse’s back himself. He embraced me from behind, his lips close to my ear: “Shall we continue the lesson p>
I didn’t spot the rider until she was practically bearing down on us, a blur of white horse and elegant rider at full gallop. My relaxed, post-lesson haze evaporated instantly.
“Lucas, what a coincidence!” the woman trilled out, sickeningly cheerful.
Lucas? Who the hell was Lucas? My head whipped to Aiden, confusion swirling.
Aiden’s expression darkened, a
barely perceptible shift, as he looked
at our unexpected visitor. “Elena
Pierce,” he stated, his voice cooler than a winter morning. My mother’s friend’s daughters Then, with a
subtle shift, his hand found the small of my back, a possessive
gesture. “And this is my wife, Aria p>
I snapped to attention, forcing a polite smile. “Hello, Ms. Pierce p>
Elena’s eyes
swept over me,
assessing, dismissing. “I apologize for startling you earlier. Hope I didn’t
frighten you, Mrs. Carter.” Her gaze lingered on Aiden a beat too long, a silent communication I couldn’t decipher.won’t chisturb you two further,” she added, though her tone suggested she’d have preferred to camp out. With a quick kick, her white horse bolted, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.
I couldn’t help but watch her go, that name “Lucas” echoing in my mind. A sourness curdled in my gut, sharp as vinegar. The green monster of jealousy stirred. Was I imagining things, or had that little name-drop been a perfectly aimed dart? Trying to shove down the nettles of jealousy, I forced out, “Her horseback riding skills are impressive p>
“They’re average,” Aiden replied dismissively, a single word that instantly eased the knot in my stomach. I looked again in the direction Elena had disappeared. Now that I thought about it, her riding *had* seemed pretty basic. If Aiden said it was average, then by God, it was average!
But still, something prickly lingered. Why had she called him “Lucas”? The thought of the man who’d just been driving me wild having some intimate nickname with another woman—a nickname I knew nothing about-made my chest tight with discomfort.
My newfound excitement about learning to ride suddenly deflated like a burst balloon. Just as these thoughts were swirling through my head, Aiden’s deep voice cut through my thoughts from behind me.
“Lucas is the name my grandfather gave me. My mother used to call me that.” He paused briefly. “Elena’s mother probably told her p>
“Oh… is that so?” The tightness in my chest miraculously loosened. I hadn’t expected an explanation, but he’d offered one, and just like that, the ugly tendrils of jealousy began to recede.
Aiden’s gaze assessed my features, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “Shall we continue p>
“Yes, absolutely!” Why wouldn’t we? I still had so much to learn!
“Good,” he replied, and resumed his patient instruction.
After Elena’s interruption, I found myself more focused, sharper. Maybe that brief
flash of jealousy had actually cleared my head, because I actually started to get the hang of the basic riding techniques.
“Got it now?” Aiden asked for what must have been the seventh time.
I nodded shyly. “Yes.” And this time, I really did!
“Should I get down and let you practice alone?” he suggested, a hint of challenge in
his voice.
“No!” I blurted without thinking. “It’s getting late. I want to go fast, like they were doing! Could you… take me for a proper ride? Together p>