A Slave to Love

Chapter 58: Eliza

"Eliza," I whispered. "Eliza wake up."

She groaned, "No. I'm far too tired."

I kissed her neck, catching her scent again. My head fogged. I swallowed hard and pulled away. That was enough incentive for her to open her eyes and sit up.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes checking me over once quickly before she wrapped her arms around my waist.

I stiffened, holding my breath as I dropped my arm around her. "I'm fine," I said quickly. She smelt too good. Mother had made me drink more than my fill before leaving the house but after all these hours it was difficult. I wasn't used to being around humans...

"Blade?" she asked quietly. "Are you mad?"

I looked at her sharply. "Mad?"

She winced, looking guilty. "About us...I know you wanted to wait." 

"I didn't want to wait." I shook my head, "I wanted it just as bad as you did; I just wanted to do this right."

"Sorry." She kissed my jaw softly.

"Don't apologize, I don't regret it," I closed my eyes, leaning my cheek against the top of her still damp hair. "Are you okay?"

She shifted a little. "Just a tad sore. It hurt more than I thought it would."

Now it was my turn to wince. I hadn't really done a good job of controlling myself strength wise, I had been too distracted. At least I didn't go hard enough to hurt her badly enough to bleed. That would have ruined everything. "Sorry."

She flicked my nose and I jerked in surprise. "Who said I didn't like it?" she laughed, pulling away to stand up on her long legs. "Anyways we can discuss this tomorrow; people must be wondering where we are. And I rather continue to come here with you then be stuck at home with Mother." She stooped down to pick up the rose I'd given her while I dressed. I insisted on getting her clothes since I rathered she didn't traipse around naked through a forest. I gave her my shirt before I went for her dress since it was getting a little chilly.

When I came back she had braided her hair. I handed her back her dress and it took her some time to put them on, even with my help. She grumbled about unnecessary garments and corsets while I laughed at her.

"Ready to go?" I asked her once her dress was on completely.

She sighed. "I suppose I am." She wrinkled her nose as we walked back to our horses. I gave her a leg up on Prince while I went over to Prancer.

One of the things Eliza had always wanted to try was to ride astride a horse, not side saddle. It wasn't proper for a lady to do so, but as long as no one saw I let her do it. Not because I wanted to ride side saddle but because I found it particularly hard to say no to her about anything.

Of course the first time I tried her side saddle she fell off Prince from laughing so hard, and proceeded to laugh the whole way home while I struggled to get more comfortable and not fall off the weird saddle.

Nowadays I was pretty good at it, but the sight of me still sent her into giggles.

And just like every time I sat in the saddle, she looked me over, lips pressed in a tight line to keep from giggling before she burst out laughing. She spurred Prince on and galloped off, her laugh echoing in the empty forest.

I took off after her, encouraging Prancer to go faster until we were neck in neck. Eliza stood in the stirrups, bent over Prince's neck just like I showed her. Her skirts streamed out behind her, as did the long ribbon on her hat.

We raced nearly the whole way back to her house, but switched our horses back before leaving the forest.

By the time we got to her door, the sky was slowly turning a dark blue and the moon was shining brightly in the sky. I left her at the barn door since she liked to care for her own horse. I couldn't kiss her goodbye, it was deeply frowned upon. So I could only tip my hat at her, bid her goodnight and leave. Or pretended too. I tied up my reins by a tree and went up to her house, knocking gently.