Well, that settled it, the swine. Now Aerity would walk at his side for the simple pleasure of not giving him what he wanted. If he thought he could frighten her away with his words and intimidate her, he was wrong. She’d never wanted to bombard anyone with a series of smacks so badly, but she refused to show him how coarsely he affected her.
Aerity stood taller and looked straight ahead, walking as casually as he. She fought back a smile when, after five minutes passed, he turned his head to stare at her incredulously. When she didn’t acknowledge him in any way, he shook his head and looked forward again.
Her guard had taken to trotting his horse from side to side, making a twenty-to thirty-foot zag behind them.
After half an hour, Paxton finally said, “You’re truly not going to leave me alone?”
“Truly.” She was quite chipper.
“You won’t ride unless I ride with you?”
“Exactly.”
He let out a growling huff and mumbled, “This will be the longest day of my life if I have to continue like this.” He stopped and jutted his chin up at Doll. “Get on the damned horse.”
Aerity bristled and gave a tight smile. “Well, since you asked so charmingly.”
She hooked a foot in the stirrup and pulled herself up, positioning her skirts higher around her thighs so her legs could hang down comfortably. Then she scooted up and looked at Paxton’s handsome, albeit dirty face, near her knee. He glowered up at her and she patted the spot behind her.
Aerity could not have prepared herself for the feel of Paxton’s solid, male body as he easily settled his weight behind her. She was momentarily stunned into inaction, the air halting in her lungs as her body reacted. Her skin had never felt more sensitive—her torso, bottom, and thighs heating to nearly unbearable temperatures. Even the folds of fabric around her hips seemed to caress her in a sensuous way. Aerity had ridden horseback many times with others, but this could not be compared. Their bodies were forced together, him being heavier, naturally pushing her up so she was practically in his lap.
When she made no move, Paxton’s rugged arms came around her waist and took the reins. Her lungs came alive again, sputtering in shallow bursts.
What in Eurona’s name was wrong with her? My lands above . . . Aerity hoped her sister wasn’t experiencing this same sensation.
Paxton’s stubbed cheek scratched up against her softer one as he whispered in her ear. “I assume you want to return to royal lands sometime today. Allow me.”
His voice jolted her back into reality as his hands tightened on the reins. She cleared her throat. Paxton hitched his heels into Doll’s sides and they took off with the guard behind them. Aerity urged the horse faster to make good on her promise to get home before dark. The princess felt the solid mass of Paxton behind her, pressing against her back as he leaned them both forward to gain speed. For once, she felt no fear about the galloping animal beneath her, welcoming the wind on her face.
At one point she felt his nose against her neck, and when she pulled to the side to peer at him, his head jerked up, and he stared straight ahead.
“You . . . smell nice,” he said with seeming reluctance. The princess faced ahead again so he wouldn’t see her smile.
Despite the breeze that cooled as the day wore on, Aerity found herself warm the entire ride back. When they finally arrived at the commons, Paxton slid deftly off Doll’s back. He strode away from her without a word, leaving her abruptly cold in the dusk air. Aerity frowned at his retreating form, wondering why he hated her, and why she couldn’t bring herself to hate him back.
Chapter
31
Paxton’s mind was in a dark place as he returned to the commons. Last night changed everything. He could no longer pretend to be normal. He could no longer ignore reality. He could no longer blend in.
When he got to his tent he began shoving his belongings into his bag. His mind reeled as he packed, images of the beast and Lash marks morphing into the supple body of the princess pressed against him on horseback. So, it was a bit jarring when the tent flap opened and he saw his mother’s face.
“Pax!” She rushed in and threw her arms around his middle, squeezing him tightly. His eyes closed for two beats as he held her, and then pulled back to see her comforting eyes, her brown hair pulled into a bun. His father ambled in and shook his hand. A mixture of surprise and worry filled Paxton.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Is everything all right?”
“We heard from villagers who’d visited the royal market that the hunt was moving northwest, so we brought your cold weather gear,” his father said.