One Knight Only_SKelly Page 8

  "Tad..." Drina whispered his name.

  "Ssh." He ignored her while he rode toward a shaded patch of grass. "Don't distract me. My riding skills aren't great to start with and now I've got a load up it's even harder."

  She blinked. "I am not a load."

  He pulled their mount to a standstill and slithered down from the saddle. "Yes you are. You're a load, a burden and a pain in the ass." He held up his hands to her. "Now get down here so I can yell at you some more."

  Eagerly she jumped into his arms. "Okay."

  He hugged her then set her on her feet. "I should put you over my knee and spank the daylights out of you."

  She tried vainly to suppress a giggle. "Okay."

  "Stop it." He was smiling, then his grin faded and he tugged her down to sit on a convenient log. "Talk, Drina. I need to know why you put me through a couple of weeks of hell. If you didn't want me any more all you had to do was ask me to leave."

  She hung her head and toyed with the trim on her gown, unable to meet his eyes. Her heart was still pounding and in the back of her mind she knew this was a little miracle—a second chance to try for happiness with Tad. She had to get it right this time.

  "First, I'm sorry. And second, I'm an idiot." The words popped out, simple and straightforward.

  Tad rested one foot on the log, leaned his elbow on his knee, and stared at her, the very image of knightly intensity although he probably didn't know it. "Accepted and agreed. Go on."

  "I'm not married. Never have been." There. That was important to get out.

  "I know." He stared at her.

  Dammit. Why didn't he say more? She couldn't tell what he was thinking. "I think that about covers it? I lied in the stupidest way possible, and I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am." She paused. "How did you find out?"

  He moved then, walking to stand directly in front of her, making her crane her neck backward to see his face.

  "Does that matter? I don't think so. What does matter is that you hurt me, and by default us. I thought we started something unique that night and in spite of everything I still think there's a possibility here. Between you and me. A chance for a relationship that might be special."

  She swallowed, feeling the lash of her own stupidity flailing at her heart. "There was. And yes, there is. I've been so miserable, I can't find the words. Nor are there words enough to apologize to you."

  He leaned forward and grabbed her by the forearms, lifting her to her feet and on upward until she was standing on the log, nose-to-nose with him.

  "So, Drina Ashford. We're going to have a long talk. And after that, we're going to start over."

  "We are?"

  "Yes, we are."

  "Are you sure you want to?" She felt a tear creep down the side of her nose.

  "Very sure." He moved close and kissed the tear away. "Very very sure."

  Then he kissed her mouth—gently, softly, almost reverently. His arms went around her and she was once again where she wanted to be—pressed tight to his hard body. Her breasts ached and a little groan worked its way from her throat as she opened her mouth and welcomed him inside.

  "Tad..." She whispered his name on an indrawn breath.

  "Yeah. I won't let this go, Drina. I can't. It's too special." He whispered the words against her lips as one hand found her breast and cupped it through her gown. "God. I'd fuck you here and now if I thought we could do it without being seen."

  She shivered in his arms. "And I'd fuck you right back."

  "Ever done it on a horse?"

  She sputtered out a surprised laugh. "No. Is it possible?"

  Tad grinned. "No clue. And no, we're not going to find out." He pulled her from the log and toward the horse. "Come on. We're going to get changed and leave the fair. Any fucking that takes place from that point on will be done thoroughly and at length in comfort, in your bed. No horses, and pass on the cranberry bogs. For tonight, anyway..."

  Once again he swept her onto the back of his horse and turned them toward the stables.

  Drina sighed and leaned against him. She felt rescued in the truest sense of the word. Whoever said there were no knights in shining armor anymore was wrong. Or maybe they had been too afraid to look for them.

  Thankfully, Drina was no longer afraid.

  She snuggled into Tad's arms and grinned happily to herself. "Hey." She glanced up at him. "How do you feel about doing it on the beach at moonrise?"

  He rolled his eyes. Then squeezed her breathless. "For you, I might just put up with the sand..."

  THE END

  About The Author

  Sahara Kelly is always happy to explain to editors that her spelling errors aren't really errors, since she was born and raised in England, where an extra "u" is quite in order. She likes to think it adds colour to her writing. Sadly, it's not a widely held belief, so she'd like you to know she still retains a lot from her English childhood even though you won't see much of it in her stories.

  Arriving in America with her almost-complete collection of Leslie Charteris' Saint novels, Sahara's new life eventually expanded to include a husband, offspring, and a certain amount of acclimation to her new surroundings. (She still cherishes that extra "u", though!) Life in New England became complete with the publication of her first novel just after the birth of her son, and over two decades later she's still writing.

  This book begins a new series of stand-alone self-published stories and she's looking forward to many more. Being freed of any restraints has opened doors--not just for Sahara but also for many of her writing colleagues. She believes it has widened the range of books available to readers and is a win-win situation for everyone.

  To find out more about Sahara and her writing, please drop by her website at

  www.saharakelly.com

  She has quite a few books available for your eReaders from various publishers. There are also some older releases that she has edited and re-issued at a greatly reduced price. To find these books, search "Sahara Kelly" here at All Romance eBooks.

  Any books with the "An SK Private Label Story" logo line on the cover are original works not published elsewhere, as are books from the "Misfit Toys" imprint.

  COMING SOON

  from

  Sahara Kelly

  SK Private Label Publications

  KNIGHTS OF PLEASURE

  "I dare you…"

  Three words that send Susannah McGill on a journey to a Renaissance Faire and into the arms of two fascinating and attractive men. She surrenders to the sensual lure of their intriguing suggestion, knowing that Logan Kent and Tyler Adams are more than ready to offer her something new.

  But it's possible she might underestimate the appeal of a unique erotic ménage with these naked Knights of Pleasure…