Jacquie D’Alessandro - In Over His Head

He settled his hands on his hips, looking skyward. "No. And don't think I don't recognize one of those 'girl trap' questions when I hear one." Taking her hands, he gave them what she was certain he meant as a reassuring squeeze.

"Lexie. You're nervous. I understand. But if I didn't honestly think you would love this, if I didn't know you'd be perfectly safe, I wouldn't ask you to try it. Remember what you told me during our first lesson, about how having an experienced instructor will give you the confidence to overcome your fears? Give it five minutes. Give me five minutes. Let me show you how exhilarating riding can be. I'll be sitting right behind you, my arms around you. I swear I won't let anything happen to you. If, after five minutes, you hate it, we'll stop."

Looking up into his handsome, earnest face, her heart performed a slow somersault. How could she possibly refuse him? Besides, with Josh right behind her, his strong arms around her, she'd probably forget she was even on a horse. Probably.

Disgusted for feeling like such a total wimp, but unable to stop the question, she asked, "You won't let go of me?"

"I won't let go of you," he promised softly, his eyes filled with an expression that stalled her breath.

Swallowing hard, she summoned her courage, then jerked her head in a nod. "All right. I guess I can stand anything for five minutes."

A huge smile lit his face. "Sweetheart, you're about to have the best five minutes of your life. So good you won't want to stop."

Holding tightly on to his hand, she allowed him to lead her back to Yogurt. Yeah, she could believe that five minutes wrapped in Josh's arms could win the Best Five Minutes of her life award. She just prayed these weren't about to be her last five minutes.

An hour later, Lexie leaned back against Josh's hard chest. With the back of her head resting against his shoulder, she tipped her face up to the sun, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the warming rays filtering through the palm frees against her skin. The only sounds were the chirping birds, the rustling leaves, and the squeak of the leather saddle as they moved slowly along the shady path.

But the sun wasn't solely responsible for the almost drugging warmth seeping through her. No, that sensation was caused by Josh. His body touching the entire length of hers. Her back to his chest. Her hips and thighs nestled snugly by his. His strong, sinewy, golden-brown forearms cradling hers. His calloused palms and fingers wrapped around hers on the leather reins.

He surrounded her like a down-filled quilt on a chilly night, infusing her with warmth and security and comfort. His heartbeat thumped against her shoulder, his chin bumped her temple with Yogurt's gently swaying gait. With him holding her like this, her nervousness hadn't lasted long. And indeed, at the end of those first five minutes, all she'd wanted was to feel more. More of sharing this experience with him. More of him showing her the proper way to hold the reins. More of feeling him pressed intimately against her back, his clean, masculine scent all around her. Him all around her.

His lips brushed against her temple. "You okay?" His warm breath caressed her cheek.

"Very okay." Turning her head, she lightly kissed his jaw. "So okay that I hereby give you permission to say it."

He didn't pretend to misunderstand, and chuckled. "I told you so."

His deep voice vibrated against her, adding another layer of warmth. Opening her eyes, she noted a flash of deep turquoise between the trees. "This path leads to the water?"

"It does. It's the reason I chose this place for your lesson. They own a stretch of private beach we can ride on. I figured you'd like that."

"How did you even know about this place? And that they owned a stretch of beach?"

"Two wonderful little inventions called the telephone and the Yellow Pages."

Surprise and pleasure washed over her at the fact that he'd gone to such trouble to arrange this outing, and not just at any stable, but one by the beach. For her.

They rounded a corner and suddenly sparkling aqua water and bright white sand stretched in front of them. "You know," he said, "I practically grew up in the saddle, but I've never ridden on a beach before."

Straightening, she smiled at him over her shoulder. "So in a way, this is a first for you, too."

He didn't return her smile. He just studied her for several long seconds with an unreadable expression. She couldn't look away from him, and her smile slowly faded, her heart thumping hard under the weight of his serious regard. Finally he said, his voice low and husky, "Yeah. This is a first for me."

Heat pulsed through her. Heat that had nothing, yet everything, to do with his nearness, his quiet dark eyes, his compelling voice. Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear, "Hang on, sweetheart. Here comes the next best five minutes of your life."

Lexie wasn't sure how it happened, but one second they were standing still, and the next they were racing across the sand, wind whipping her hair into chaos, exhilaration stealing her breath. Safe and secure in Josh's strong arms, they galloped along the shoreline, Yogurt's flashing hooves kicking up sprays of water.

She savored every second of the experience, all of her senses vibrantly alive. The strength of the man behind her and the horse beneath her. The ribbons of golden sunshine reflecting on the azure water, in sharp contrast to the stark white sand. The scent of horse and leather and tropical heat and Josh. The beach was deserted, a pristine sanctuary just for them to share.

As they neared a sign indicating the end of the stable's private beach, he slowed Yogurt down to a walk, then finally halted her. "Well?" he breathed into Lexie's ear.

"Incredible. Exhilarating. Exciting." Turning her head, she pressed a breathless kiss to his chin. Then, slipping her hands from beneath his, she spread her arms, encompassing their tropical surroundings. "Isn't this view terrific? I love the water. Someday I'm going to live right on the water."

He wrapped one strong arm around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Right on the water? Won't that be a little damp?"

She laughed. "I mean, waterfront property." She pointed across the glimmering strip of azure water. "Like over there. See that group of houses? That's a new development. Just to the right of them is some great waterfront property. A whole series of canals and hidden coves. It's peaceful and private and perfect." And someday she would own her piece of it… the piece she'd wanted since the first moment she'd seen it. The only things standing between her and that dream was the wait for the owner to sell, and a big pile of money. All she needed was the down payment. Hopefully, when the time came, she'd have enough.

His arm tightened around her. "Looks nice. Sounds nice, too."

Turning her head so she could see his eyes, she said, "Thank you, Josh, for a wonderful, thoughtful surprise. And for bringing me here. It's beautiful."

"Yeah," he murmured, his gaze roaming her face before settling on her lips. "Sure is beautiful."

She lifted her face, intending to give him a brief kiss, but the instant their lips met, the kiss turned hot, wet and demanding. His tongue explored her mouth with a hunger that heated her from the inside out A long moan purred in Lexie's throat and she wished their position were less awkward so she could touch more of him.

With his mouth insistent on hers, he flicked open the top three buttons of her sleeveless cotton blouse, then caressed the tops of her breasts with one hand, while the other continued down to rest low on her belly.

Breaking off their kiss, he ran his lips across her throat while she raised her arms over her head then back to encircle his neck. His strong, warm fingers slipped beneath the lace of her bra to tease her aroused nipples, while his other hand lightly traced intoxicating circles between her spread legs straddling the saddle. His erection pressed against her buttocks, and she arched back, rubbing herself against him.