Free Seducing Anne by Lynch Marti, Chanse Lowell, Shenani Whatagans Page A

better control than most, but even I have my breaking point.”
    She chuckled and watched him mount the horse behind her. “Oh, I should very much like to see that.”
    “That is something I cannot allow or place bets over.” Bareback on a horse with her was going to be interesting. “Are you ready for this? We have no saddle. Do you trust me to keep you astride?”
    “Please do not think to teach me a lesson. Bareback is the only way to go when no one is watching.” She leaned forward, gave the horse a command and patted its neck.
    The horse was calm as Guy walked them out of the stable.
    Once in the open air, there were shouts coming their way.
    It seemed Henry was closing in on them. Lucky for Guy, he knew a few ways to avoid angry, jilted men.
     

Chapter 5
     
    Anne clutched onto Guy’s arms as they rode further into the Whitehall Park forest, taking the horse into a gallop.
    The pace seemed fine with Anne. In fact, the harder he pushed the horse, the more relaxed she became.
    Clearly, challenges and being pushed were something that made her flourish, rather than wither.
    She was truly breathtaking.
    He gripped his thighs into the beast and once he saw a thicket of downy birches ahead, he sighed in relief.
    Henry’s men, and maybe even him included, were still in pursuit.
    “We can lose them up here,” he said in her ear.
    She lowered her head as if taking the challenge head on.
    Once in the thicker part of the trees, he slowed the horse, slid off and tied the creature to a trunk.
    He helped her down and then took her hand, leading her a few feet farther away from the horse.
    “Wait here,” he said, setting her against the thicker of the trees in their vicinity.
    He broke down two or three branches from the next tree over, then jammed the jagged tips into the ground.
    The leaf screen he created should hide them perfectly, and the white bark of the birch in the moonlight would mask his silver brocade doublet and cream-colored breeches.
    “Tuck your skirts around you,” he said, facing her and helping her do just that.
    She followed his command, and once the thick layers of fabric were out of the way, hugged tight to her legs, he cocooned himself around her, making his body into a shield.
    “Keep quiet so they do not find us,” he whispered, leaning in and taking his time to settle in close to her.
    Her breathing stopped as she stared into his eyes.
    There were various messages hidden in her look—fear, excitement and maybe even adoration? It was clear though that she was invested and would not give away their spot to Henry or anyone else that might come looking for them.
    Horses passed by several feet away, and the men even discussed maybe taking her horse back to court since they’d easily found it tied to a tree.
    Henry’s deep voice carried as he said, “She’s here. I shall find her. Go back if you like, but I will not leave without her.”
    Upon hearing this, Anne let go of her skirts, keeping them tucked with her legs alone, and gripped Guy, holding her body up against his chest for protection.
    Her trust in that moment overwhelmed him.
    He leaned in, ready to kiss her, worried this might be his only opportunity, but then he closed his eyes and simply breathed her in.
    This would be taking advantage of her in a weak moment. That was the exact opposite of what he wanted. He wanted to have her when she was clear of conscience and wanted it, too—not because she was a little scared, trapped and confused.
    Guy stroked her hair down her back with one hand and held her with the other. Her legs braced them up against the tree.
    It was an awkward position for both of them, but he was confident in the shadows at night in the forest right then that they were invisible.
    Henry snorted louder than his horse and yelled for her.
    She stiffened and tucked her head tighter into Guy’s chest.
    “Anne! Get away from that brute this instant! Come back with me—your sovereign lord who loves you dearly!” Henry