“Rin, take my hand. Then step one foot on here and I’ll pull you up,” Ren instructed sounding a little more patient than before.

“Ok…” I said as I nodded up at him. The horse was much taller than I had initially thought, now that I was standing right at its side.

With some struggling and effort on Ren’s side of pulling me up, I managed to sit astride the horse in front of Ren.

I felt my face flooded with warmth when I realized how close he was to me on the cramped saddle. I could feel his body press against the whole length of my back as he...