One More Chance

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Catherine stared back at Christian in a mixture of surprise and shock. Was this the same man who had ignored her the whole of yesterday and been harsh with her this morning? Nevertheless, she was secretively quite glad by the way that things had played out. After all, didn't she just promise herself to ferret his secrets? What better way than by riding with him? She mutely nodded her agreement and waited for him to pull her down.

She barely noticed him instructing Fred to lead her horse while Fred rode his. Then he walked her to his huge black stallion and hoisted her up on it. Up close, the Christian's warrior horse was every bit as magnificent as him - all muscular and strong. Within seconds, Christian had jumped up behind her and motioned for the army to continue.

Although the stallion was big, it wasn't big enough to allow for space between the two of them. Catherine found her back plastered to Christian's chest. She could feel his muscular thighs on either side of her own. An awareness went through her reaching all the way to her very toes. It was such a pleasurable feeling that she was tempted to relax and lie back, further into his chest. Catherine thought that would be too forward and tried to pull her thoughts away from the feel of his body close to hers. To distract herself, she questioned him, "Where did you get the horse? He looks magnificent."

*************

Christian wasn't sure what possessed him to tell her to ride with him. Didn't he vow to himself that he would keep his distance away from her. Then, why on the hell were they in his horse and she so close to him that he could feel nearly the shape of the whole of her back? He tried to tell himself that he had made the best decision given the circumstances. It would be prudent to travel as fast as possible so that they could reach the castle soon. Her horse needed the rest and hence, she had to double up with someone. Naturally, if one of his knights took her up on the their horse it would be odd given he was her husband. So, this was indeed the best course of action he kept telling himself. Anyway this would be infinitely better than if she pushed her horse until it became lame. Then, they would have to travel together all the way till the castle. Atleast, this would ensure that it was only for today that they rode together like this.

Her question penetrated into his thoughts. He was ready to respond to her gladly if that would out his thoughts away from her. "It was a gift from the king when I took up the position of the commander to his army," he replied.

"When was that?"

"Three years ago"

"You must have been quite young."

"Hmm"

"How old are you now?"

"Twenty and eight"

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That means he was twenty and five when he became the commander of the army. That was such a young age. Why it was barely a year more than hers now. He must have been truly good to have become a commander at such a young age. She knew that the position of commander wasn't only given to the best on the battle field but also to those who were intelligent and can come up with good strategies. To have been able to do so at such a young age, she thought in admiration. She had thought he would be more than thirty, given his achieve events and fame. Why, twenty and eight was not even half a dozen years more than her. That really told her that she knew next to nothing about him. Wanting to find out more, she continued her questions.

"Where do you stay, if you are not on the king's mission or battle?"

"The King's castle"

"You don't have a place on your own?"

"Nope, I am a younger son. My brother is the Duke of Newcastle. He has his estate on the north side. I visit him occasionally."

"Do your parents stay with him?"

As quick as his replies for her other question were, Christian did not reply to this for a long time. His body stiffened behind her and she could feel him tense.

After what seems like an eternity, "They are dead," he replied.

"How?" She asked.

An answer to that question was not forthcoming. She decided to leave it be. She would learn more later.

*************

Christian was glad that she did not pester him into answering her question. The last was too painful to answer. He wanted to leave his past where it was. Soon after her questions, she had quietened down and fell asleep against him. Her head had fallen back onto his shoulder. To make her more comfortable, he had slowly lifted her from her astride position on the horse to lay her sideways against him where both her legs hung from one side. She must have been really tired because she hardly responded while he moved her. Now her head was snuggled up against his chest and she was sleeping soundly. All was fine except for the fact that it made him a tinge bit uncomfortable. Her new position meant that one of his arms was directly in contact against a very feminine part of her and it was wrecking havoc into his thoughts. The constant galloping of the horse had caused her breasts to bounce up and down and was rubbing against his arm making him feel things that he would rather not.

To make matters worse, he knew he wasn't going to satisfy himself with her tonight either, or any other nights unless she gave any indication that she might be interested in pursuing the physical side of being married. Then again he told himself it was not fair to expect anything from her including physically when he had no intention of getting close to her. What if that mislead her into thinking that he wanted more in their marriage. No, it was best that it was kept a business arrangement like this, unless she consented to something physically with no strings attached. He meant what he said. He had no need for heirs and his brother could take care of his family's succession.

He glanced down at her sleeping form. She looked so soft and vulnerable. Her eyelashes were long and nearly rested on her cheeks. Her skin was porcelain like and he itched to run his fingers over her. Her breathing was calm and it gave him a serene feeling. It was a wonder how she could transform herself into a swords-woman fighting full grown knights or a loving daughter who took care of her father with every ounce of her being. She had not complained on so far in this journey when there were plenty of reasons to do so, the foremost being his relatively poor treatment of her. She truly was a wonder and he knew he could have done worse in getting a bride. No, he could have done far far worse he amended as the images of Felicia and Elisha came into his mind. Truly fate had chosen to smile upon him.