44: 44 Shreds of Doubt (AVOT)

44 Shreds of Doubt (AVOT)

As the sky draped itself in the dark hues of twilight, Daisy found herself waiting for Rhain to return from his work. With each passing hour, a subtle worry had begun to thread itself into her thoughts.0

"Lord Blackthorne often gets buried under his responsibilities and might be late," Armand reassured her gently. But his words, though comforting, did little to help her feel restless. 

Resolving to keep herself occupied, she retired to a smaller drawing room. Its quaint charm was accentuated by an open terrace that offered a panoramic view of the night sky. Nestling herself in a cozy corner near the fireplace, she decided to delve into the world of the supernatural, that she had already begun reading yesterday. 

As she flipped through tales of dragons and fairies that she had already read, her curiosity was now suddenly drawn to the folklore of vampires. According to the text, these nocturnal beings were born of a cursed pact, made by a power-hungry sorcerer seeking immortality. The curse, while gifting eternal life and extraordinary abilities, also brought with it an insatiable hunger for blood.

Daisy was riveted by the narrative, despite a strange unease gnawing at the edges of her consciousness. It spoke of vampires as night dwellers, their skin pale and cool, devoid of life's warmth as they lurked in the shadows of existence.

A shiver slid down her spine as she read, the evening chill prickling her skin. And then, suddenly, a cold touch grazed her bare shoulder, causing her to jump in surprise. Her heart pounding, she turned to find Rhain standing behind her. His presence, so sudden and silent, had startled her.

"Oh, Lord! You scared me," she exclaimed, her hand clutching her racing heart.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to," he replied, his voice carrying an undertone of concern. He moved around the couch to join her, and Daisy watched him with new eyes, taking in his pale skin, his elegant yet cold demeanor, and his predatory aura. He was also sensitive to sunlight. 

But then, she stopped herself, reminding herself that vampires did not exist. They were mere figments of folklore and fiction. She swallowed the absurd thought, blinking at Rhain who was now observing her with a puzzled look.

"Is everything alright?" Rhain asked, his brows furrowing as he reached for her.

She simply nodded, pushing the absurd idea from her mind and let him pull her into his comforting embrace. His fingers ran soothingly through her hair as he placed a soft kiss on her head, warming her despite the chill of the night and his body.

"You arrived quite late today," Daisy noted. 

"I had much work to attend to," Rhain confessed. 

"Then you must be famished. Shall we dine?" She asked, concern painting her words. 

As she spoke, a peculiar thought intruded on her mind again - vampires fed on blood. Shaking her head, she attempted to dismiss the silly notion.

"I've already had something to eat, but I'll gladly accompany you," he responded, his smile not reaching his eyes.

"I...I'm not hungry either," she mumbled, attempting to shove away the nonsensical whispers that echoed in her mind.

Rhain fell silent for a moment before suggesting, "How about I teach you to ride then?"

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Aren't you tired?"

"No," he responded.

Daisy nodded in agreement, eager to learn something new.

He guided her to the stables, where Onyx was leisurely resting. After unlatching the gate, Rhain led the magnificent creature out and began the careful process of saddling him. 

With practiced ease, he laid a soft blanket over Onyx's back, followed by the saddle, cinching it snugly but comfortably around the horse's broad girth.

Saddled and ready, Onyx was led out of the stables. "Ready?" Rhain asked, extending a hand to help her mount the towering creature.

Once she found her place on the saddle, she winced, reminded of the soreness between her legs. At Rhain's questioning gaze, she merely nodded, hiding her discomfort.

"Alright. Grab the reins," he instructed, handing them over to her. "They're your communication line with Onyx. A gentle pull to the right or left will guide him. Squeeze your legs into his sides to ask him to move forward, and sit deep in the saddle, pulling back on the reins to ask him to stop. Remember, you must be firm, but never harsh."

Despite her initial discomfort, Daisy tried her best to follow his instructions. She pulled the reins, and squeezed with her legs, but her actions were clumsy and uncoordinated. Onyx, sensing her nervousness, started to become restless, his ears flicking back and forth.

Seeing her struggle, Rhain calmly approached. "It's alright," he reassured, his voice soothing both her and Onyx. "You're doing good. Just breathe, and remember, it's a partnership. Trust Onyx, and he'll trust you."

Guided by his patient instructions and constant encouragement, Daisy slowly started to gain confidence. She corrected her grip on the reins, started giving clearer signals, and most importantly, began to trust Onyx.

Rhain allowed her to ride in the garden until she was confident. "Are you ready to pick up the pace?"

"Yes," she responded. 

"Very well, you take the lead," Rhain encouraged, securing himself on the horse behind her. 

A gentle hand settled on her waist as they moved forth into the night. Leaving the familiar boundaries of the estate, Daisy allowed her excitement to dictate their pace, speeding up, eagerly embracing the exhilarating sensation of the wind whipping her hair back and the ground swiftly passing beneath them. Regardless of where they ended up, she knew Rhain would guide them back safely.

Rhain's grasp was secure yet tender, never hindering her movements even as they raced through the moonlit night. Eventually, their journey led them up and to a cliff's edge, the world sprawling beneath them in an unending spectacle of shadows and silhouettes. 

Upon reaching the top, Daisy slowed down, awestruck by the view unfolding before her.

Despite the slight discomfort from the ride that add to her soreness, she paid it no heed. Her eyes swept across the scenery spread out in front of them. Darkened forests stretched out as far as the eye could see, their lush greenery hidden by the cloak of night. The breeze up there was cooler, fresher, carrying the scent of earth and wildflowers, creating a harmonious blend of nature.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Rhain asked. 

"I did, very much," she admitted. "I'd forgotten how freeing this can be."

"Then we shall find you a horse of your liking," he declared.

"Oh, Rhain, you don't have to," she protested lightly.

"Daisy," he interrupted, his voice firm yet gentle. "Remember what I told you. You are no trouble to me," he reassured her, his hand moving up to rest lightly on her arms. His lips then descended on her shoulder, leaving a feather-like kiss that made her eyes flutter closed.

Sensing her response, Rhain left a trail of soft kisses along her neck, finally burying his face in the crook of her neck. Daisy sighed softly, her body reacting more intensely now that she was aware of the pleasure he could bring her. Her pulse quickened, the rhythm throbbing lower and lower as his lips found a sensitive spot just behind her ear. A sense of bliss washed over her as he gently nibbled, making her sigh again in pleasure.

The involuntary squeeze of her thighs spurred Onyx into motion. Startled, she took hold of the reins to stop him, but God, she didn't want Rhain to stop. With a low a chuckle at her reaction that made her cheeks burn, he grabbed her jaw, turning her head to kiss her over her shoulder.

She melted into him, succumbing to the raw intensity that radiated from his kiss. A shudder ran through her as his grip tightened around her jaw, his dominance stirring something deep within her. As she grappled with the reigns, striving not to squeeze her thighs together again, his invading tongue stirred a rhythmic pulse deep within her, a pulse that seemed to settle between her legs. A soft whimper escaped her when he took her lower lip into his mouth while his other hand wandered, tracing the curve of her breast.

Her hold on the reins wavered as Onyx began to stir, matching her own restlessness. Rhain broke their kiss abruptly, his voice husky as he murmured into her ear, "You're losing control."

Her grip on the reins tightened as she attempted to regain her composure, wary of their unstable position on the horse. But her control wavered once more as Rhain's hand boldly cupped her through her dress, while nibbling at her neck again. 

"Hmm... Shall we return home?" He suggested, his voice a velvet whisper against her ear. "We can continue where we left off. I have more lessons I can teach you."

His proposal was enough to ignite anticipation within her, and she nodded in silent agreement. He took control of the reins from her weakened grasp, directing Onyx to carry them back home. The rhythm of the horse's hooves pounded in sync with her heartbeat, and despite the cool wind, she couldn't shake off the heat enveloping her.

Once they passed through the familiar gates of their estate, Daisy was breathless as if she had been running. Rhain dismounted with ease before helping her down. Her initial steps were accompanied by a wince, the previous soreness now amplified due to the quick ride. Rhain paused, his eyes scanning hers.

"Are you in pain?" He inquired. 

She shook her head in denial, "No."

He assessed her for a moment, a contemplative look on his face before he unexpectedly swept her into his arms. Daisy didn't protest this time, silently conceding to his care. 

What was he planning on doing? She knew she shouldn't have lied. What if the pain got worse? She clutched his shirt, the anticipation was too much to bear.

pqdm.com