Free Abandoned by Becca Jameson Page A

his thighs as he clicked with his tongue and Sadie headed for the door.
    He was touching her in too many places. Her mind went to mush as she tried to concentrate on how high off the ground she was and the clip-clop motion that made her body sway back and forth as they left the barn. It was useless. All she knew were the places Daniel touched her. Her breasts bobbed above his arm, grazing his forearm over and over. His fingers kept touching her bare arm as he held her. His chest was like a rock behind her , and she couldn’t avoid plastering herself to him without rubbing her clit into the saddle.
    And that maddening horn was doing a number on her. What the hell did they put those things there for?
    She held his thighs with both hands, digging her nails into his jeans for support.
    Allison tried to look around as they left the stable and turned to head toward a trail behind the building. The day had been hot. Now she was steaming. And she doubted it had anything to do with the temperature.
    “You okay?” he whispered.
    She nodded, a brief , sharp jerk of her head.
    “Tell me about yourself.”
    Now? She couldn’t think, let alone talk.
    He chuckled into her ear. “I know you’re from New York and you don’t care for horses. What else?”
    She swallowed and released his thighs to hold on to his forearm. “My favorite color is purple?”
    He laughed again. She loved the sound of it, his chest rumbling at her back. “Okay. Okay. You can elaborate on that later.”
    Thank God .
    •●•
    Daniel held his mate tight, far tighter than strictly necessary, but he couldn’t help himself. She smelled so fantastic, like summer. Her shampoo was fruity and only masked her personal scent slightly. Her skin was so soft on her neck he couldn’t stop from rubbing his nose and lips across the space behind her ear. And she shivered every time.
    She held him with iron fingers. He couldn’t decide if she was afraid she might fall or afraid she wouldn’t. Either way , his idea of taking her riding was one of his best-laid plans.
    Now if he could just convince her to relax a little.
    When he had cleared the area around the barn, he tapped Sadie with his ankles to move into a trot. Soon the breeze blew across his face and cooled his heated skin. He was burning everywhere he touched his little mate, and he had no interest in alleviating that burn.
    “She’s so calm. Gentle.” Allison patted the horse’s mane awkwardly with one hand.
    “She’s used to working with children with disabilities. All of our horses are gentle and tame.”
    They came to a clearing. “Whoa, girl.” He patted Sadie as they came to a stop.
    “What’s the matter?” Allison asked.
    “Nothing.” He kissed her temple and then swung his leg over the saddle to dismount. When he reached for Allison’s waist and lifted her down, her eyes widened. “I thought this would be a good place to relax. Get to know each other. Without being interrupted.” He turned back to the saddle, releasing Allison and regretting it immediately.
    But he couldn’t very well continue to hold her and retrieve the blanket he’d secured to the back of the saddle. He lifted it into the air and shook it out so that it fluttered to the ground , spreading open enough for them to sit on it.
    When Daniel glanced back at Allison, he found her rigid and biting her lower lip. Her legs were crossed, pinched together. “Allie? I didn’t mean to imply I intended to claim you right here right now. I just thought it was peaceful here.”
    She didn’t move, but her gaze landed on his.
    He lifted both hands in surrender. “I swear. I won’t pressure you in any way.”
    “What if that’s what I want you to do?” she muttered, her face going red.
    He smiled and sat on the blanket before his legs gave out and caused him to fall. He leaned back on his hands. “Well, there is that. Not here , though. I mean, that’s not what I intended anyway.” He couldn’t seem to draw in enough oxygen ,