The hate they gave

"I thought you could ride a horse?" came Lucian's question when she was now gripping his forearm tightly instead of the saddle horn, and they'd ridden out of the main palace gates after riding for some time. As if just realizing what she had been doing, Ave quickly put her hands back on the saddle horn and away from his since he'd slowed down a bit after they left the palace walls.

Clearing her throat, she said defensively, "Of course, I can ride a horse. It's just that I have never ridden one sitting in such a position before, and you were speeding like we were being chased." She didn't even ask him before she moved her leg and straddled the horse while it was still moving, catching Lucian by surprise.