“I’ll help you up,” he said, positioning himself behind her. “And I won’t let you go.”
His hands settled on her waist, and even through her stays she could feel their warmth. Her breath caught as his thumbs brushed just below her ribs. When he lifted her as if she weighed nothing, his body pressed briefly against hers, leaving her breathless.
Sitting sideways on Midnight’s back, Diana felt a rush of exhilaration. “I’m actually on a horse.”
Graham was standing close, one hand resting on her knee to steady her and the other on her hip while he remained standing on the mounting block. The contact made every part of her body aware of his presence.
“How does it feel?”
“Like flying.” She looked down at him, acutely aware of his hand on her leg. “Like freedom.”
His gaze intensified, and he tightened his grip on her hip slightly. They didn’t break eye contact as he released her leg to grab her other hip and lift her down, and her body slid against his. She felt that familiar beat of his heart when her feet landed on the mounting block.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Graham lowered his head slightly and she held her breath waiting for the moment that his lips touched hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck to encourage him.
“His butler said he may be back here.”
They both heard the voice and Graham jerked his chin toward the sound.
“He hadn’t returned home since he called on Diana.”
Diana’s blood ran cold.Elias.How had he known she was there? And who was he speaking to?
Graham cursed under his breath and motioned for her to step inside the building. “Stay here,” he whispered. “Don’t make a sound.”
As footsteps approached, Diana pressed herself against the wall, trying to steady her uneven breaths hoping that her brother hadn’t seen her.
“So this is the man?” another voice said outside of the stables.
Diana covered her mouth to keep from gasping.
Her father was on the other side of the wall.