Seduced by the Sheik (The Raminar Family #1)- Elizabeth Lennox Page 0,36

open fields near the palace.

“Not a chance,” Amit vowed. “You’re not ready for that. Not yet. But soon.” With those words hanging in the air between them, he led her to the side of the mare and lifted her into the saddle.

“Okay, now hold the reins in one hand. I’m going to lead her from the front. Are you okay?” he asked, adjusting the stirrups for the length of her legs.

“I think so,” she said, although she looked terrified.

“Relax, Harper,” he soothed, stoking her thigh.

“I’m relaxed,” she lied, her knuckles white from her grip on the reins.

He laughed softly. “You’re tense and Hiccup knows it. See how her ears go backwards, then twitch?”

Harper’s eyes turned to look at the head of the mare. “Yes. Is that a bad thing?”

Amit moved to her side, still holding the reins in his hands. “It’s not a good thing. Horses sense feelings and emotions, Harper. But Hiccup doesn’t understand what’s going on. You’re riding her, but you’re not enjoying the ride. She doesn’t like that.”

“Right,” she grumbled, still not relaxing her death grip on the reins.

“I’m serious, Harper. Hiccup loves taking people on rides.”

“Doesn’t this hurt her back?”

He sighed and squeezed her thigh. “Actually, you’re not riding on her back. You’re on her shoulders. Think of what it’s like for a toddler to ride on a parent’s shoulders.”

Immediately, Harper shook her head. “It’s not the same.”

“It’s exactly the same. And if the toddler pulls at the parent’s hair, it hurts. So relax,” he urged, putting one of his hands over hers. “If you’re tense, then you’re more likely to pull on the leathers, which will hurt Hiccup’s mouth.”

“Oh!” her hands relaxed, but the tension didn’t leave her body. “Okay. I can do that. No pulling on the reins. Got it.”

She’d stared right at Hiccup’s ears the whole time and Amit shook his head. “I think the only way to prove to you that this will be fun is to show you. Let’s walk, okay?”

Harper tried to take a deep breath, but it was hard, being so high up and not sure if she was hurting the horse or…what was happening. But as Amit led her through the gates of the corral, there was a slight swaying motion as the horse clopped along that she had to admit was rather pleasant.

“Are you okay?”

She hesitated, still staring at the horse’s ears. “Define okay?”

He laughed again, thinking she was adorable. “You’ll make it.”

Around and around, they walked along the fence line of the corral. Thankfully, it well shaded so the sun wasn’t beating down on her. Also, there was a giant fan moving the air around. So even the temperature wasn’t an issue. In fact, there wasn’t really a problem with riding, other than her fears, which she tried very hard to ignore.

After several minutes, when she hadn’t been thrown off, bitten, brushed against a fence, or anything else, Harper started to relax. And after a few more turns around the corral, she actually liked being on the horse. Hiccup was sweet, she finally accepted. Reaching out, she stroked Hiccup’s neck, feeling a sort of odd bond with her. Amit caught the action and smiled approvingly.

After about a half hour, Amit finally led Hiccup over to the fence, then reached up to help her down. “That wasn’t as bad as I antici…” she didn’t finish because Amit’s strong hands held her against him, her body sliding down his and she felt every inch, every tingle, and every muscle against her own. Her body came alive and she looked into his eyes, realizing that he was feeling the same sparks she did. The heat in his eyes was just as strong as the heat in her own body and she opened her mouth, ready to say something, but the words didn’t come. Nothing occurred to her. No words could adequately describe this moment and she felt…electrified.

“Yes!” The screech, startled them. He released her, but kept an arm around her waist as they turned to watch as Tarin and Gaelen, on massive stallions, barreled through the gates of the corral. A laughing little girl was seated in front of each man, both shrieking with delight.

“Again!” Elsa commanded, with Ellora nodding in agreement. They were both grinning hugely. Harper suspected that their cheeks probably hurt from their joy, but it was their voices that captured everyone’s attention. Even the stable hands stopped to watch, beaming. Word of the silent princesses had obviously reached the stables. It felt as if the