Read Online Forbidden Angel by Sandra Lea Rice - Free Book Online Page B

to his own mount.
    Adrian knew she watched him. He could feel her gaze on him as surely as if she’d touched him. Young and innocent, Angeline didn’t recognize the effect she had on him. If he couldn’t control his wayward thoughts, his reaction to her would soon become all too apparent.
    He placed his hands on her waist, took a second to enjoy the feel and scent of her, then lifted her up to the saddle. Reaching for his horse’s reins, he swung up and gave her a nod. “Ready?”
    “Yes.” Angeline loosened her hold on the reins and Shahid bounded forward. At her laugh, a light, tinkling sound of sheer delight, he grinned and sent his gelding into a canter to follow.
    They rode for a while in silence, then slowed to a walk.
    “You ride well, Angel.” He’d heard of her escapades with horses and wondered if they were true. Observing her, he had no doubt they were. She was fearless on horseback and possibly a better rider than even he. In England, he’d been considered one of the best.
    “I learned to ride on my father’s hunters,” she admitted. “You mentioned some missing cattle?”
    Adrian tilted his head toward a hill. “The men reported seeing them just up ahead.”
    At the top of a knoll, the trees opened into a clearing. Adrian brought his horse to a stop, pulled his hat lower to shade his eyes from the sun, and scanned the area. “There they are,” he pointed.
    Angeline rose in the saddle to see. “What should we do now? If you’ll tell me, I can help.”
    Adrian glanced at Angeline, noting her flushed face. If he hadn’t been so distracted by her presence, he would have insisted on her wearing a hat. He frowned, and wondered if she possessed one. If not, that was easily remedied.
    “I’ll let the men know where they are. We should turn back. It’s already quite warm and the sun will burn your fair skin.”
    “Not yet, please.”
    With a sense of foreboding, Adrian considered her plea, then, tossing caution aside, said, “Come, I’ll show you a favorite place of mine.” He urged his big gelding into a canter.
    They rode in companionable silence until they reached a grouping of trees. He heard her draw in a deep breath as she gazed around. A waterfall cascaded over the boulders of a small cliff and into a pond below. Streaks of shimmering color danced above the tumbling water, while the sun glinted off the spray like diamonds.
    “This is beautiful.” She smiled at him and his heart missed a beat.
    He cleared his throat, steadied his voice. “I come here as often as I can to relax and think.”
    Adrian swung from his horse and reached to help Angeline down. Her face glowed with pleasure and his breath hitched in his throat. He’d been right to question the saneness of bringing her here.
    His gaze met hers, then dropped to her lips. They parted in invitation. No man could mistake that for what it was, nor could he mistake his body’s reaction to the enticement.
    One kiss. He lowered his lips to hers. He would stop with just one kiss.
    Shahid took exception to his closeness and nuzzled Angeline. Her eyes widened, then she yelped—and tumbled into the pond, taking Adrian with her. They both came up sputtering.
    “Bloody hell,” Adrian gasped at the shock of the unexpectedly cold water. He grimaced, while Angeline brushed the water from her eyes.
    When she started to laugh, he found himself laughing with her. It had been such a long, long time.
    “Well, this was indeed a surprise,” she said, still laughing.
    He took her by the arm. “Come on. We need to dry off.”
    She hesitated and glanced out toward the middle. “How deep is the pond?”
    “Not very. Maybe ten feet or so.” His eyes narrowed, suddenly suspicious. “Why?”
    “Could we go for a swim? There’s no one to see us if we were to shed our—”
    “Absolutely not,” he choked. “Don’t even think about it.” He shoved her unceremoniously toward the bank.
    “One would think you’d never seen a woman unclothed