A Vow Of Hate

“Easy for you to say,” I quavered.

“Grace,” he said, his voice holding a warning tone. “Listen to me.”

“I am!”

“No, you’re letting your fear get in the way again.”

My voice trembled when I spoke. “Killian, please.”

He grabbed the rein with one hand, keeping the other one on my waist. “Ride the wave,” he instructed, his voice deep and calm. “Don’t fight Coal. Rock your hips to his movement, back and forth. Feel it. Feel him. Loosen your spine, relax your muscles.”

I tried, but every time the stallion moved a step, I tensed up again.

Killian lowered his head, his lips brushing against the curve of my ear. “I’m in control, Princess. You just have to move with Coal. Now, clutch him with your thighs.”

I gasped and quickly did like I was commanded. Killian clucked his tongue in approval and I flushed under his silent praise.

His fingers tightened around my hips. “Don’t just bounce on him. Rock your hips, baby. Move it. It’s all in your spine and your seat. Don’t try to ride him. Don’t force it. Let him take you on the ride.”

Coal trotted and Killian gripped my hips, moving me up and down with the stallion’s momentum. “There you go. That’s more like it,” he praised, his voice softening into a sweet caress.

My heart seemed to beat right out of my chest. Heat bloomed up my neck and my face until I felt heated and out of breath. Eventually, the movement started to feel more natural to me.

The fear was still there, simmering under my flesh and digging into my bones. But slowly, my muscles started to relax on their own. My spine loosened, like Killian had instructed me.

I squeezed my thighs, feeling Coal’s strength. He was a beast, but a warm and gentle creature. Killian leaned into my back and I could feel his smile.

With a shuddering breath, I relaxed into the saddle and allowed myself to move with Coal’s rhythm. Up and down, rocking my hips in the seat, feeling the stallion and letting him take me on the ride.

Killian shifted behind me, leaning in closer. My brow furrowed when I felt a hardness poking into my back. When I realized what it was, I let out a barely audible gasp.

Yes, I was a virgin, inexperienced, knowing very little about sex. But I wasn’t innocent. I watched porn a few times. I knew enough about the male anatomy to know what was currently pressing against the curve of my ass.

But fuck – I didn’t know how to react. Do I lean back into him?

Except he made the decision for me. Killian shifted again and I no longer felt his erection pressing into me. I almost whimpered in disappointment.

“Perfect, baby,” he whispered roughly in my ears. “You’re a natural, Grace.”

Sweet hell, I almost combusted right there.

Fire blazed through my veins and I nodded, licking my lips. “Thank you.”

We did one more lap around the open field before we slowed to a stop. “How do you feel?” Killian asked.

“I… I don’t… know,” I stuttered.

He grasped my right hand in his and brought it to my chest, pressing my open palm over my beating heart. “Let me ask you again, how do you feel?”

My heart thudded, adrenaline coursing through my body. I felt hazy and… almost intoxicated.

“I feel… exhilarated. Like I had just done the impossible,” I breathed through the lump in my throat. “I feel heady and fuzzy. And happy. I feel… warm.”

“Good,” Killian praised, releasing my hand.

He dismounted first. Coal neighed in response, stomping once. I leaned down to Killian and he pulled me off the horse. It was a clumsy attempt and I stumbled into him, once my feet were on the ground. My legs were shaky, but he wrapped one strong arm around my waist, anchoring me to him.

Killian helped me to a stack of hay, before leading Coal back into his stall.

When he returned, he found me still perched in the spot he had left me. “You look beautifully flushed,” Killian noted, coming to stand in front of me. Our shoes touched and he was close enough for me to reach out and touch him.

I looked up at his face, into his dark eyes. “You think I’m beautiful?”

“Oh, is the lady looking for a compliment?”

My lips pursed. “Fine. You know what, don’t say anything else. I’m leaving.”

He chuckled but when I made a move to get off the hay, Killian leaned forward and braced his hands on either side of me. He caged me between his arms. “I know very well how to tame brats, Gracelynn. So, don’t be a brat.”

I flushed, feeling the heat rise up to my cheeks. “How dare you–”

“Gorgeous,” he said and I shut up.

“Fascinating. Delicate. Graceful. Dazzling. Stunning. You’re not just beautiful, Grace. You’re bewitching and so fucking divine. I want–”

My fingers gripped the collar of his shirt and I pulled him to me, slamming my lips against his. I gasped and he groaned.