The next morning Nathan gave me my first horseback riding lesson. His teaching started in our room, early. He produced a few shopping bags with a proud flourish.

"First, you need the proper attire to ride. I took the liberty of buying you a few items." He pulled out a pair of black pants and showed me how they had leather patches, making them function a little like chaps. "And here is a shirt that buttons to the pants so that it won't be riding up and distracting you."

“I didn't know I needed special clothes just to ride a horse.” I grabbed the pants when Nathan tossed them in my direction.

"Here's your helmet. Got to protect your head." He rummaged in the bags some more. "And boots, of course, to protect your feet."

I was a little overwhelmed by all the equipment. "What are you wearing?"

"A t-shirt, jeans, and boots." He laughed at my "are you kidding" look.

"I just like shopping for you. It's fun." He slapped me on the backside. "Get dressed so we can head out."

I stripped out of my clothing, but before I could put on my items, he pounced. "On second thought, maybe you need the lesson to start right now."

He took me over to the sofa, and hastily undid his pants before sitting down.

"Come on, Darby." His voice had deepened. "Mount up." His eyes had a wicked glint in them, and he winked at me.

He grabbed my hands and helped me straddle his lap.

"When you ride, it is important to keep your toes up, heels down. Don't ever let your feet point downwards. Do it like this."

He positioned my toes on the edge of the cushion, and I gripped his shoulders to help keep me balanced.

"Keep all of your weight on the balls of your feet, and let your heels drop." His voice had roughened with desire.

Once I was in position, I felt awkward. I had to concentrate hard to keep my heels down.

“This is really difficult.” I squirmed, uncomfortable in this position.

Nathan circled my clit with one slow, patient finger, and I soon forgot my awkwardness and surrendered to the sensations he was producing in me.

He took hold of my waist and helped me maneuver down onto his cock. He lifted me up, and I slid back down. We repeated this rhythm over and over until I had it on my own. My leg muscles were screaming for mercy, but I wasn't worried about that all. Not as long as the rest of my body was feeling so good.

I watched Nathan’s face as I worked my body against his. His gaze never wavered. My husband could be so intense at times, but I always found it so sexy. And right now I could see his love for me hovering just beneath his intensity.

Soon I was coming apart in my pleasure, and Nathan had to grab me and hold me close so I wouldn't fall. He ground his cock up into my body and moaned out his own satisfaction.

While I was getting dressed in my new riding garb, I reflected that I was already thoroughly enjoying my riding lessons with Nathan, and we hadn't even made it out to the barn yet.

***

WE STROLLED OUT TO the clean and airy barn and found two horses in their stalls.

"This time of year we mostly allow the horses to stay in the pasture around the clock unless it is storming, but I asked Maxwell to bring a couple in for us."

He stopped in front of a beautiful dark gray horse and opened the sliding stall door.

"This is Bella. Once I learned you were interested in riding, I bought her from a man in Tennessee just for you. She's bombproof."

“Bombproof? A bombproof horse? What does that mean?” My voice got a little higher on the end. I was excited to learn to ride, but I didn’t want to think about bombs while I was doing so.

Nathan stroked Bella’s mane. "That means very little will upset or startle Bella. The calmer your horse, the safer you will be. I watched videos of her in action and decided she was probably the one. I sent Maxwell to check her out further, and bring her to the estate. He said she rides like a dream, and I rode her yesterday, as well. Can't be too careful with your safety."

I hugged him. “Thank you. I love how you are always thinking of me, and trying to keep me safe.”

I was also thrilled that I wasn't going to be riding Savannah's horse, although I would never say that to him, and touched that he had bought a horse with me in mind.

Nathan looked at me with quiet support in his eyes. "I know what you are thinking, Darby. Don't worry. Savannah hated to ride. She hated animals in general."

I smiled at him, grateful he understood what I was thinking without me ever saying a word.

He showed me how to slip the leather bridle on, and fit the bit into her mouth. She was so lovely, with dark, gentle eyes. I knew we were going to be great friends.

Nathan led her out of the stall and taught me how to tie a slipknot to secure her.

"You don't ever want to tie a horse so firmly that they can't break free.”

“Wait. I want to tie her, but she still needs to be able to get free?” My nose wrinkled as I asked my question.

“Sometimes a horse will panic, and it will hurt itself if it can't free its head."

That made sense.

I practiced the knot several times until I thought I had it. Then, he slipped a saddle pad on her back, and helped me lift the saddle up, and tighten the girth securely.

"When you get a little more comfortable, I have a soft, lightweight, nontraditional saddle you can use. It's less fuss than this heavy western saddle."

Nathan brought over a mounting block and helped me mount Bella. He had me practice mounting and dismounting several times, first with him holding her head for me, and then with me holding the reins.

“Let’s work on your leg position again.” Nathan showed me how to grasp the reins correctly, and he tapped my feet to remind me to get my heels down.

I blushed thinking of his earlier "lesson" in the room, and he laughed at my pink cheeks.

Nathan saddled and mounted his own horse, and led the way out of the large barn. I enjoyed watching him handle his majestic horse.

“Watch me. This is neck reining. It’s basically how you control and steer your horse.” He turned the reins to the left, and the huge black horse easily moved left. He made the same movement to the right.

“Now you try it with Bella.”

I felt awkward, but imitated his movements.

“Oh, wow! I can’t believe I can move an animal this big with such a little motion. How much does she weigh? It’s got to be a lot.” My eyes lit up as I realized I was guiding this majestic creature all by myself.

“Bella weighs about 900 pounds, probably. Lucky, here, weighs around 1,200 pounds.” He pulled back gently on the reins. Lucky took a few steps backward. “Try to back Bella now.”

When I pulled back on the reins, Bella stepped backwards, and I giggled. This was fun!

We worked in a large round pen for a while, until I was ready to hit the trail.

We rode side by side, enjoying the view of the woods and pastures. Occasionally, we spooked a deer or spotted a wandering peacock. The morning was glorious, fresh and clean. I loved spending time with Nathan, no matter what we were doing, but I was particularly enjoying riding horses with him.

“When can we go faster?”

“Feeling brave already?” Nathan smiled over at me.

“Not really. My thighs are already getting sore, and the ground still seems a long ways down.”

Nathan laughed. “Well, we can try a couple of different gaits for a minute or two, but I think it’s better if you stick to walking for a while.”

So, we mostly walked, but he did let me try a trot and a canter, and we laughed like children the whole time.

Afterwards, he helped me groom Bella, and my heart thundered when he crowded up against me to show me how to brush her thoroughly. Soon we were kissing as much as we were working, and he freed the horses to make their own way back into the pasture where the other horses were grazing. He pulled me into an empty horse stall, laid me down on a blanket, and made love to me with great tenderness.

I felt so close to him, and every day I loved him more and more.

My morning had been perfect. I should have known it wouldn't last.