Free My Forbidden Mentor by Laura Mills Page B

right?” she asked.
    “Everything is fine. I always check over the horses each time before training,” he informed her, his hand sweeping along Thunder’s long silvery tail.
    “That seems like a good practice,” she commented.
    “It is, and I’ll expect you to do the same in time,” he replied.
    Melissa carefully watched his procedure, studying the motions of his hands as they skimmed along her gelding’s form.
    “Why don’t you go on and warm up Thunder while I put Clara in the corral?” he suggested while he straightened.
    She climbed atop her gelding and was situating herself in the saddle when she heard his voice from behind, “Off you go,” he said, and she experienced a stinging sensation on the left cheek of her behind.
    Melissa expected him to slap Thunder on the rump but didn’t expect to be the one receiving the smack of his hand on her own behind. There wasn’t any time to make a remark because Thunder jumped forward into a trot. Melissa’s mouth hung open, at the same time reaching her hand back to rub her stinging behind. Thankfully father wasn’t around to see that, she winced. I suppose I shall have to confront Lord Blackburn about that kiss and how things like that should never happen again.
    As Thunder trotted to the outskirts of her family’s land Melissa turned to see John’s progress and found a giant grin on his face just as he locked the corral gate. Her focus switched to a field of wild flowers she loved so much. Yes, she thought, it’s crucial that I deal with this now before he gets any wrong ideas.
    As the morning hours flew by John introduced basic instructions that Melissa soared through. The position of her body while riding needed work, but that was to be expected. John had his own inventive ways for effective positioning and Melissa would be the first student he tested them on.
    They brought Thunder back to the barn to cool off and retrieved two fresh horses for a short breather ride. They discussed details of different horse breeds, details that would bore the average person but intrigued them.
    Carrying on about horses John thought of how nice it was having a conversation with a woman that understood his passion. It was a nice change of pace from the common conversations of the high society females that usually waited around the track. She was different but what completed her unique personality was her natural beauty, and it was her beauty that stimulated his inner struggle to view her only as his student. Being Monday hadn’t changed anything, hadn’t made him forget that incredible kiss he experienced, the one she had participated in. In fact, it was all he could do not to glare at her mouth in excess. Still he thought he had acted cool and calm about the situation. Of course, the slap on her behind was meant to shake her nervousness, and it had worked.
     
    When they returned Melissa needed to verify their arrangement to make sure they agreed upon the reality of their situation. To have a relationship with a man, even a fleeting one she noted as she glanced at the profile of her mentor, had not been her top priority, and in the case of her mentor it would no doubt be temporary. She couldn’t risk the possible pain she would endure if she let their business arrangement turn intimate and personal. No, she would set him straight now.
    They rode at a pace of leisure toward the barn when Melissa cleared her throat to inform him, “Lord Blackburn, I think it’s necessary for us to both agree upon our training arrangement,” she began and broke off as she took another glance toward him, curious of his reaction. When he didn’t respond she continued, “That being strictly professional. I feel it’s better that way.” He had to know what she was referring to. Figuring his impossible attitude had taken over she faced forward to let her words sink in.
    He’d heard what she said but he knew differently. She had responded to him when he kissed her and he couldn’t ignore