“Wolfstan.”
He laughed and nudged Sergeant until he leveled beneath Rebecca and held out his arms. “Take my hands.”
“What if I fall?”
“I won’t let you fall.” When uncertainty lit her gaze, Wolfstan went on, “Trust me, Rebecca.”
“I do . . . It’s just . . .”
“Are you afraid of heights?”
“I’m heavier than you might think.”
“I am stronger than I look,” Wolfstan countered.
“I do not think you understand. I ammuchheavier than I appear.”
Wolfstan allowed his gaze to dip over her figure. There was nothing heavy to his eyes. She was all delicious curves and sweet, puckered lips. Her eyes were the color of summer meadows and turbulent seas, depending on her mood, her rich copper hair had featured so many times in his dreams it was laughable.
But heavy? No.
“You must not believe me when I say I am alotstronger than you give me credit for.”
Her eyes narrowed on him.
He grinned in answer.
“Very well,” she yielded after a considerate pause. “But if you let me fall I shall never forgive you.”
He nodded, motioning with his gloved fingers for her to take them.
With a deep breath, she unclasped one arm from the tree as she lowered to her haunches and reached for his hand. Her fingers gripped his tightly as she tested his strength before releasing her remaining arm and reaching for him.
He slid his fingers between hers.
“Now what?” she asked.
“You launch yourself into my arms.”
“Be serious.”
“I have never been more serious in my life.” Wolfstan was sure the devil danced in his eyes. “Take the leap, Rebecca Flowerdy. My chest is broad.”
The corner of his mouth lifted when she rolled her eyes. But take the leap she did. His muscles contracted, and he caught her in his arms as he’d promised. Her lips grazed the shadow of his jaw and the puff of her breath on his cheek was the most erotic thing Wolfstan had ever felt in his life.
He could not savor the moment, though, for Sergeant did not expect the added weight and reared, dislodging Wolfstan and Rebecca without an ounce of shame.
***
REBECCA BRACED HERSELFas Wolfstan caught her up in his arms. The horse bucked, and her heart gave an uneasy beat as she shut her eyes to the fall. Arms of steel tightened around her waist.
A loud grunt fired in her ears as the jarring impact knocked the breath from her lungs.
The landing could have been worse, Rebecca told herself. She was no stranger to tumbling from horses. She had tumbled from her fair share. It was still hard, but not as hard. Wolfstan had borne the brunt of it.
Several seconds passed as she listened to the hooves of yet another horse grow dimmer and fade into the chirps and croaks of the songs of the forest. Then, slowly, she became aware of the rise and fall of Wolfstan’s chest beneath her. Goodness! She lay flat on her back over him!
“Bloody hell.”
