Page 119 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

“Nay.”

“Yer neck?”

“Nay.”

His hands were still around her waist.

Neither of them seemed to notice then Gordon’s expression hardened again, and his brows tightened in his frown. “Heavens woman, ye are too careless with yer own life. Do I always have to worry for ye? And fear that ye would get hurt? What would I have done if ye⁠—”

He stopped, his jaw tightening instead of the rest of his words coming out. Ailis watched him struggle with whatever he had nearly said.

“What if I what?” she croaked, her heart hammering too fast because the hard planes of his body were pressed into hers.

“It is nothin’,” he said and released her quickly.

“It is nae nothin’. Ye were about to say somethin’.”

“I was about to say ye have the sense of a reckless bairn.”

Ailis’ temper flared. “Daenae insult me,” she fired back at him.

“And ye nearly broke yer neck.”

“I was tryin’ to learn!”

“Tryin’ is nae enough when ye fall from a horse.”

She pulled away from him. “I daenae remember askin’ ye to save me.”

His brows lifted, and he scoffed. “Then I should leave ye to yer death?”

“Aye!” she yelled.

“Well, I cannae do that.”

“Why nae? It isnae as if ye care for me. Ye have made it abundantly clear that ye daenae care what I do or if I stay here, Me Laird. All ye care for… All ye have cared for is yer clan and yer duty. I daenae ken why ye came here, but whatever it is that made ye come, ye might as well…”

“I was goin’ for a ride meself, and I saw ye here,” he blurted out, interrupting her ramble before she could finish.

She stared at him, her breath slowing. “Then ye should have ignored me.”

“I couldnae do that.”

“Why nae? Ye have nay problem ignorin’ me all the time. Dinnae act like ye care now.”

He took the reins from her hands, and his fingers brushed hers softly. “I will teach ye how to ride.”

“What?” Shock made the question croak out of her.

“I will teach ye,” he repeated, as if the words did not already confuse her enough, “if ye will let me.”

His words softened her, but she did not let them completely. “I daenae need ye,” she countered.

“I ken ye daenae, but I cannae watch ye break yer neck tryin’, so please… let me teach ye.”

Gordon’s expression softened by the smallest fraction when he pleaded, and it made her swallow. That quiver in his eye was one she rarely saw.

“Yer hands are shakin’,” he commented, and she looked down at her hands. Gordon sighed and moved closer to her. “Ridin’ a horse requires ye to be in control at all times. Fear willnae let ye control the horse. Ye need to overcome that. Stay still, take a steady breath and remember, the horse only follows yer lead.”