Chapter 20

Catherine knew she couldn't afford to lose that race. Her honor rested upon it. And not only that. She felt that it would prove something to Dominic, who was obviously terrified of losing to anyone.

As she urged her horse forward, the wind whipped through her hair, sending strands of auburn locks dancing behind her. Beside her, Dominic spurred his own steed onward, his determination evident in the set of his jaw and the gleam in his eyes. She knew that he felt the same. He felt as if he couldn't afford to lose that race, and yet, as in every situation in life, there could be only one winner.

They raced through the rolling hills extending away from his aunt's estate as the rhythmic pounding of hooves echoed in their ears. The lush landscape stretched out as far as the eye could see, bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. Fields of vibrant green dotted with wildflowers welcomed their determination, opening their paths before them.

Her heart pounded with exhilaration as they vied for the lead, their horses running as quickly as they could. She turned to Dominic, noticing that he was slightly behind. That realization emboldened her. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to win!" she called out, as an unintentionally mischievous grin lit up her face.

Dominic chuckled in response, locking gazes with her. "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched, Cate!" He returned, his own grin matching hers in intensity. She didn't even realize that he referred to her as Cate. Or maybe she did, but she simply didn't mind, and he quickly added. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve yet!"

As they raced on, she couldn't help but keep stealing glances in his direction. Her mind kept stating that it was simply out of a need to see where he was and whether she needed to ride faster. But the truth was that his face was more beautiful than anything around her.

His features were animated with the thrill of the race, his hair tousled by the wind and his eyes darker and more prominent with determination. In the golden light of the morning sun, he looked even more handsome, his charming persona accentuated by the intensity of the moment.

As they thundered across the countryside, she felt her heart skip a beat every time their eyes locked. She wondered why that was so. She shouldn't feel anything for this man who forced her to marry him, who did everything wrong. And yet, she was still there, drawn to that raw vitality that seemed to speak of a life lived to the fullest. There was something about him that captivated her, drawing her closer with each passing moment.

At that moment, she realized he had passed her. With a flick of her reins, she urged her horse forward, determined to win. It was more than just a test of skill, of strength. They were both aware of that.

"Afraid you might lose, Cate?" he asked, laughing, the sound rich and full of life. Instead of making her angry, it amused her. It made her hear a flutter. And there it was again, the endearing short version of her name that she had told him he was not allowed to use.

"Usually, those who ask are the ones who are afraid," she replied, thundering ahead.

"That brook over there, do you see it?" he asked, pointing ahead.

"Yes," she confirmed.

"That is the finish line," his voice echoed.

It seemed that they both urged their horses onward, their eyes fixed on the goal ahead. With every stride, Catherine drew closer to the brook, the sound of rushing water growing louder in their ears. Dominic's horse was neck and neck with hers, matching her pace stride for stride.

In the final moments before they reached the brook, she pushed her horse to its limits, feeling the exhilaration of the race propelling her forward. Dominic's voice echoed in the air, his playful taunts spurring her on.

As it turned out, they crossed the brook together, the water splashing beneath their horse's hooves. They slowly came to a halt, and he was the first one to dismount.

"Well, I think it is obvious," he declared playfully. "I was faster."

Catherine dismounted immediately after, shaking her head. "Nonsense," she replied, her voice filled with mock indignation. "We crossed the brook at the exact same moment. It pains me to say it, but it is a tie."

Dominic chuckled, his playful demeanor melting away to reveal a warm smile. "Very well," he admitted. "A tie it is. But I must admit, you gave me quite the challenge."

"I'm surprised you dare to admit it," she replied, eyeing him.

"Well, it is only the two of us here," he said impishly.

"You mean no one else will hear you?" she replied, unable to resist a chuckle.

"Exactly!" he laughed as well.

As they both waited for the laughter to subside, they stood in front of each other. Catherine looked around, staring in awe at the sight before her.

"This place is breathtaking," she admitted, her voice a whisper, almost as if she might disturb the sanctity of the place she had just discovered.

"Do you like it?" he wondered, nearing the brook. She did the same.

"Very much so," she revealed.

"My aunt used to bring me here," he explained, the note of melancholy in his voice a tender indicator of him getting lost in his memories. "As I stared into the brook, everything else seemed to fade away. It was… magic."

They both stared at the brook in silence. They watched as it meandered through the countryside, its clear waters glimmering in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees overhead. It flowed gently over smooth stones and pebbles, creating a soothing melody as it danced along its winding path.

"I spent many a lazy afternoon here," he admitted, his voice trailing off somewhere into the distance, and she knew that he wasn't there. He had traveled back in time, and he was once again a carefree boy.

Now that she knew of his childhood and how similar it was to hers, she could imagine the wealth such a place presented in the eyes of a boy who had lost both of his parents, who felt that no place on earth would ever feel like home. She knew that feeling well. She had come to learn that home wasn't a place at all. It was a person. And her home was her brother. She wondered who was home for this man who was standing next to her. Was it his aunt? She could see that they were very close. It filled her with hope that there was still something good in him, something she was yet to discover.

She focused on the nature around her once again. Tall grasses swayed lazily on either side of the brook, their vibrant green blades rustling softly in the breeze. Wildflowers dotted the banks, adding splashes of color to the tranquil scene. Bees hummed slowly among the blossoms, adding to the sanctity of the moment.

The water itself was crystal clear, allowing glimpses of the smooth riverbed beneath its surface. Sunlight danced on the ripples, casting shimmering patterns of light and shadow on the sandy bottom. Small fish darted to and fro, their silvery scales flashing in the sunlight. If there was anything even remotely heavenly in their world, Catherine had felt it at that moment, in that place.

She felt drawn to the water, nearing the edge of the brook, but as she did so, her foot caught on a loose stone, causing her to stumble precariously forward. With a grasp, she reached out to steady herself, her heart pounding in her chest as she teetered on the brink of falling into the clear waters.

In an instant, Dominic sprang into action, his reflexes sharp and determined, as he reached out and caught her by the arm, pulling her back from the edge just in time, making her land right in his arms. His strong grip steadied her, anchoring her against the sudden rush of vertigo that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Careful there," he said, his eyes staring right into hers.

"I wasn't…" she started, but she completely lost her flow of thought.

All she could see were his eyes, swallowing her whole. His strong arms kept her safe from the rest of the world, and she knew there was nowhere else she would rather be. All reason, all logic, was gone. All that was left was sheer, palpitating desire.

Without a word, Dominic leaned in, his lips brushing softly against hers in a gentle, tentative kiss. The rush of adrenaline from tasting him mingled with the warmth of his arms around her. Something ignited inside of her, something undeniable. She knew that they were alone. That was good, and that was also dangerous. Yet, she could do nothing other than pull him closer to herself, sharing that fleeting moment of intimacy.

She relinquished control, feeling as if the world around them faded away, leaving only the sensation of his lips against hers. Her blood boiled, coursing through her veins, reminding her that she was kissing her husband, a man she ought to despise, yet she was doing exactly the opposite at that very moment. And there was nothing else she would rather be doing than kissing him.

But right then, he pulled away, leaving her lips yearning for more. A pang of disappointment tugged at Catherine's heart, as a million of unanswered questions swirled inside her mind. But as she looked into Dominic's eyes, she saw a flicker of uncertainty there, a hesitation that mirrored her own conflicted feelings. She knew that was for the best, although her body still burned with need to be in his arms again.

"Maybe we'd better head back," he said, sounding solemn.

"Of course," she nodded, wondering if she had done or said something.

The truth was, she couldn't understand a single thing that man said or did. He was a mystery, and with each moment she spent with him, it seemed that the mystery of who he was would only deepen. It was driving her mad.

She walked over to her horse, gently caressing it. She wished to remain there a little longer. She liked that place. It comforted her. But Dominic had urged them to go, and all she could do was agree. That was why she waited for him to mount his horse first, then she did the same.

But at that moment, something happened. A noise she didn't quite recognize exploded somewhere in the distance, startling her horse. It reared up unexpectedly, moving without any sense of direction. Before she could react, the horse threw her from the saddle, and Catherine landed with a thud on the ground below. Pain shot through her as she hit the earth, breath knocked from her lungs by the force of the fall.

She lay there for a moment, dazed and disoriented.

"Dom…?" she called out, but she couldn't pronounce his whole name, and a moment later, everything became dark.