Trust Me Read Online Free Page A

spine. She tried to swallow and the sound came out like a
garbled moan.
    Jon pulled himself
closer to her back. “I have you.”
    The deep, confident
timbre of his voice steadied her. She found the will to move her hand closer to
the horse.
    Hades opened his
mouth, showing his formidable set of teeth. He moved, straining through the
bars of his stall, trying to get his jaws around the glossy red fruit.
    Her body tingled from
head to foot with renewed fear. She cried out. Had she only imagined she felt
his heated breath through her gloves? Hades chomped on the apple. Excitement
pulsed through her, making her heart thump hard against her chest wall. She
caught her breath, watching as his equine head seemed to move in slow motion as
he lifted the apple from her hand.
    Jon hugged her a
little more tightly and, at his touch, she remembered to breathe.
    “Oh!” The sound
forced itself out with her exhalation.
    Jon chuckled, the
sound soft and warm.
    God, she’d done it.
    She’d actually given
this monster of a horse an apple!
    Happiness washed
through her and she gasped with laughter.
    Hades chomped the
apple.
    Jon drew her away and
turned her to face him. His eyes were glowing with tenderness. “You’re very
brave, my love.”
    Heat flared over her
face. A blush of pleasure. But the intensity of the moment was almost too much
to bear. She had to look down.
    “My good girl.”
    Warmth and pleasure
spread through her tummy and tingled down to curl her toes.
    Jon tipped her chin
up until she looked him in the eyes again. He cupped her face and lowered his
head. He didn’t close his eyes but focused more intently on her. She drowned in
the blue depths of his gaze. It made her dizzy. Or was he bending her
backwards? He put his mouth on hers, soft, warm pressure.
    Heavy footfalls,
boots on the paving stones outside, broke the spell. He lifted his head and set
her gently apart from him. Then he glanced over his shoulder and called a
greeting to Mr Riley, the head groom, a man who had served under him in the
Dragoons.
    They spoke of Hades
and jested over his appetite. Neither man bothered to hide his fondness for the
animal. Horses. Truly they were a unifying factor between all men, no matter
their station.
    They spoke then of
preparations for the arrival of Anne’s beloved mare, Neroli. Her heart gave a
little leap of joy. Jon had vowed to her that they would spend the winter in
Scotland, with him helping her to be able to mount and ride a horse on her own
once more.
    She watched Mr Riley
leave then she glanced about and wished she and Jon were still isolated at Applecroft
House, on Mr David Kean’s property, where they had spent their first month as
lovers. She would have knelt down in the straw and served Jon’s pleasure well.
    She wanted to feel something
spectacular. He could do it. He made her feel like she had never felt in her
life, as though she were another person entirely.
    She put her hand
inside his coat and stroked it over his waistcoat, feeling the strength of his
muscles beneath. He bent and put his head into the curve of her neck. Then he
nipped her ear. Hard .
    She squealed and
jumped.
    He licked her
earlobe, and the sudden wet warmth eased the sharp pain and she shuddered.
    “Don’t tempt me, you
naughty wench.”
    She laughed.
    He looked down at her
with a challenging light in his eyes. “Take a morning ride with me.”
    “I’d adore a morning
ride.” She put emphasis on the last word.
    “On Hades.”
      “Oh.” All her enthusiasm drained away.
    He bent and flicked
his tongue against her earlobe again. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
    Since working to
overcome her fear of horses, she’d ridden on one — with Jon, of course. But she
had not ridden on a massive black stallion like Hades!
    He caressed her back.
“You don’t really have to do this. It was just a suggestion. I thought you
might be ready.”
    He had such belief in
her ability to overcome her fears. And she wouldn’t be able