by Stella Brie
“Fuck. I’m going to be late.”
Hurriedly grabbing a piece of toast and some coffee to go, I run out to my vehicle. Punching the address into the GPS, I pray it will get me there.
Another twenty minutes, and I pull up to their house. The vehicle’s barely in park before Lev has my door open. Helping me out of the vehicle, he immediately pulls me into his arms for one of his bear hugs. Wrapped up in him, the tension of the week melts away. It’s like coming home. Looking up into his smiling green eyes, I pull him down for a long, long kiss. Man, I missed him.
Minutes later, someone nearby clears their throat. Dragging my lips from Lev’s, I look up to see Shaw waiting for me. I can feel my cheeks turning red, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was even early. Looking down at my watch, I realized I had spent way too much of that time greeting Lev, and I am now officially fifteen minutes late for my lesson with Shaw. Oops.
Groaning, I ease out of Lev’s arms. “I’m so sorry, Shaw. I made it here on time, but I didn’t account for Lev’s welcome.” I stroll over. “I wasn’t sure what to wear. I hope this will do.”
Shaw’s eyes slowly make their way down every inch of me and back up. My nipples tighten as I watch him. Something about him makes me want to do something rash. Keeping my thoughts to myself, I wait until he nods before I turn to Lev.
“Will I see you after my lesson?”
“I’ll be here. Just come find me in the kitchen when you finish.” He gives Shaw a hard stare and walks off towards the house.
Shaw strides off towards the barn, and I follow. He leads me to a grey horse. He describes her as a dappled mare with a calm disposition.
“What’s her name?”
“Sugar.”
“Well, hello, Sugar.” I hold my hand out flat so she can sniff it. Shaw had told me to hold my hand flat and she wouldn’t nip my fingers. I am a little scared as she reaches out, but she only nuzzles me with her velvety soft nose. In awe, I stroke her neck and mane. “She’s super sweet. I guess that’s why you call her Sugar.”
He starts by explaining our lesson for today. For my first lesson, I need to learn about managing and caring for a horse. I follow his instructions as he teaches me how to put tack on a horse, how to lead them on a rope, how to start and stop the horse on the ground.
Once I’ve mastered those items, then I will learn how to mount the horse. Until then, he makes me repeat these steps several times. My arms shake with the effort to put on the saddle, but I get better and faster each time.
Finally, my reward. I get to sit on Sugar. Excited, I can barely stand it. I search around for a stool, but he stops me. Instead of a stool, he cups his hands and describes how he wants me to step into them so he can lift me onto the horse. After trying it a few times, I finally get it right, and he lifts me with ease to sit on top of the horse. Smiling widely, I reach forward and run my hands over Sugar’s mane.
“Next time, I’ll teach you how to mount a horse with a stool, but I’d prefer you had shoes better fitted for stirrups and riding. Speaking of which, I have something for you when we get done.”
Without waiting for my reply, he picks up Sugar’s rope and leads me around the ring a few times so I can get used to her gait. I can now officially say I’ve ridden a horse. A perma-grin is plastered to my face, but I can’t help it.
Finally, he slows Sugar to a stop. He instructs me on how to dismount. Once I’ve followed the steps, he reaches up to help me off the horse. Placing my hands on his broad shoulders, I can’t help feeling how hard his body is as my body slides down his. As my feet touch the ground, I go to step away, and his hands tighten around my waist, holding me to him for a second. Looking up, I scan his face, trying to figure out what he is thinking, but it’s like looking at a brick wall. His hands release me, and he abruptly steps back.
“Is everything OK?” I inquire.
“Yep, it’s fine. Let’s put Sugar back in her stall and go back to the house.”
Determined to show him I took his lessons to heart, I remove everything from Sugar, brush her down, and walk her back into her stall.
Smiling, I turn to him. “Thank you so much for the lesson. That was amazing.”
He searches my face, as if to check my sincerity. “You did well today. I’m sure Lev has supper about ready.”
Shocked, I look at my phone. I’ve been out here with Shaw for three hours! I didn’t even notice the time flying by.
When we enter the house, Lowell swings by and kisses me. “I’d give you a hug, but...” He holds his nose and waves his hand.
“How dare you tell me I stink!” Laughing, I get a whiff of myself and have to agree. “How soon is supper? I have some gym clothes in my car, so if there’s time, I can grab a quick shower and change?”
He texts Lev, who replies that dinner will be ready in 20 minutes. Plenty of time to get a shower.
As I leave to get my bag, Shaw hands me several bags and a box. Looking in the bags, I see a helmet, tan pants, and a shirt. The box holds beautiful, black riding boots.
“Wow. This is way too much, Shaw. I can’t accept it. Would you let me pay you for these items, since you are giving me free lessons?”
Folding his arms, he scowls at the offer. “You need proper boots and a helmet. I can trade the riding boots for cowboy boots, but they don’t really seem like your style?”
Flustered, my hand runs down the soft leather of the boots. “These are definitely my style. Thank you. Once I have a shower, I’ll try everything on to make sure it fits.”
I give him a thank you hug, then walk out to grab my gym bag. Coming back in, I pause, as I can’t remember where Lev’s room is in this enormous house. Spotting the stairs, I make a beeline towards Lowell’s shower, since his room is easier to find.
After a quick shower, I slip into the riding clothes and boots. Looking at the outfit in the mirror, I notice the pants are very, very form fitting. And I’m kind of feeling exposed, because you can see every line of my body in these pants. Every inch. If I ate a donut, I’m sure it would show in these pants. I’m not sure about keeping them.
The polo shirt and boots fit perfectly, though. Heading downstairs with the helmet, I walk into the living room to show Shaw.
As soon as I enter the room, the talking halts. All three of them just blink at me. “Um, the shirt and boots fit perfectly, but I don’t know about the pants. They seem...tight. Also, I wasn’t sure how to put the helmet on?”
Shaw clears his throat, then clears it again. Stepping forward, he takes the helmet and shows me how to look for the symbol for the front. He then lifts my chin, takes the helmet, and puts it on my head. Bending over to find the straps, his face is only an inch from mine. I stare at his hard jaw, beautiful lips, and long eyelashes. He finishes buckling the straps and looks up to find me staring at him. He sways towards me, and I think for just a second he is going to kiss me, but he doesn’t.
Standing up, he drags his hand through his hair. “There, the helmet and the rest of it fit perfectly.” He walks over to stare out the window.
I glance over at Lev, and his eyes shine with both heat and laughter. I’m not sure why they’re laughing. “Are the pants really supposed to be this tight?”
I turn around so he can see the back. A strangled sound comes from behind me, as well as a couple groans. Laughing, he tells me they should fit tight, but also stretchy. I do a few squats, and I’m surprised how stretchy they feel. Kind of like yoga pants, I guess. OK, but I wish someone would have told me what to expect.
As I head back upstairs, I hear laughter roaring from the living room. “You’re really looking to torture yourself, aren’t you?”
“Fuck me.”
Grabbing my gym clothes, I slip into my leggings, sports bra, and long sleeve shirt. Gathering my things, I head back down and put them in the car. I’ll be leaving once supper is over.
Entering the kitchen, I ask Lev if he needs any help. He turns, takes one look at me, and starts yelling for
Lowell. When Lowell comes strolling into the kitchen, he points to me and gestures to the door. Grabbing my hand, Lowell pulls me out of the kitchen and into his lap in the living room.
“What the hell?”
Running his hands down my legs, he points to my leggings. “After the jodhpurs, he couldn’t take the leggings. You, my dear, are too fucking sexy. So, you will stay put in my lap until supper is ready. Or it’s likely we won’t even get any.”
Laughing, I loop my arms around Lowell. “Good, I haven’t even kissed you in a week. Did you miss me?”
Gripping my chin, he gives me one of his smoldering looks, then kisses me in that demanding, controlled way that’s uniquely his. Shaw leaves the room to help Lev finish getting supper ready.
After supper, all three men walk me to my car. I give Lev and Lowell a kiss, and Shaw a hug goodbye. It’s weird. I almost feel like I’m dating three men, even though Shaw doesn’t seem to like me.
CHAPTER 17
KATE
I can’t believe it’s May, and I’ve been here two-and-a-half months. Time’s flying by. During the week, the practice keeps me incredibly busy, but I manage to see Lev or Lowell at least once. Then, on Sundays, I go out to the ranch and have a riding lesson with Shaw and supper with all three.
My friendship with Shaw is coming around, but then again, so is my attraction for the quietly enigmatic man. I haven’t told anyone, because I don’t want to destroy what I have with Lev and Lowell, but I can’t stop thinking about him. Shaw, on the other hand, seems perfectly content to keep me in the friend zone.
It might be for the best. I sent him a bourbon of the month gift to thank him for the lessons and riding gear. This seemed to be the opening he needed to feel comfortable texting me. While he doesn’t send much, he makes me text him whenever I go out with Sarah to let him know where we are going, and then again when I get home. I think he’s just naturally protective.
Rolling my shoulders, I let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, we only had a few patients today, so everyone left right at closing. I have plenty of time to get ready before Lowell gets here.
After a quick shower, I pull on silky lounge pants and a button-down silk shirt. My nipples pebble as they slide against the smooth fabric. It’s a bold move to go completely commando. Since the shirt is silk, Lowell will figure out pretty quickly I’m not wearing a bra. He’ll then start to wonder if I’m wearing underwear. Until he knows for sure, it will drive him crazy. I grin. I love to test his control.
About fifteen minutes later, Lowell walks in with that long, easy gait of his. I’m in the kitchen, pouring a glass of wine, when he comes up behind me. Wrapping his arms around me, he reaches for my glass and takes a drink.
“Hello, my dear. Mmm...thanks, I needed this drink.”
Without replying, I rub my body against his as I stretch up to get another glass. Hmmm, I reach for the glass with a stem. Wait. No, I think I need the stemless. Reaching up again, I exchange the stemmed glass for a stemless one. Hard to decide between stemless or stem, right? Hearing him inhale sharply behind me, I laugh silently. The thin silk of my outfit makes it feel as if I’m rubbing up against him naked. Let’s go with stemless. Pouring myself another glass of wine, I wait.
He lowers his glass to the counter. “Put your hands up on the upper cabinet, and don’t move them.”
Once my hands are on the cabinet, he palms my head as he pulls it back to search my eyes. As if I’d be that careless. My face is as blank as a new canvas. Leaning down, he gives me one of his carefully controlled kisses.
I love and hate his kisses. I love that they represent him so uniquely. I hate the low simmer of desire that leaves me balanced on a knife’s edge. Never spiking, never raging.
As he draws back, I smile and force a yawn in response. “Hello, Lowell. Please excuse me, I must be tired.”
Narrowing his eyes, he studies me for a second before smiling darkly. His hands reach around and unbutton my shirt. Finding my bare breasts, he laughs huskily. “Somebody wants to play, huh?” His fingers lightly caress my nipples, rubbing circles, flicking.
Groaning, I arch my back, pushing my breasts further into his hands. My ass rubs against him for a second until he pulls back, his hands the only point of contact, a whisper, torturing me.
“Please,” slips out of my mouth.
“Tell me,” he commands.
Pressing my lips shut, I wait, shivering in anticipation of his next move.
When he gets no further response, he turns me around until I’m facing him, then lifts me onto the counter to sit. Taking each of my hands, he places them so I’m cupping my breasts in offering to him.
“Mm...a snack, my dear? Don’t mind if I do.”
Leaning forward, he latches on to my nipple, licking and sucking hard until it’s swollen and stiff. Crying out, my fingers twitch as I fight the need to break the pose and clasp his head tighter to me.
As he switches to my other nipple, I’m surprised to feel something cold slide onto the first one. Glancing down, I see a glint of gold.
Fuck me, he brought the nipple clamps. Guess he wants to play, too.
Once his lips leave my other breast, his hand reaches up and clamps the second nipple, too. A small gold chain is attached to each clamp, essentially attaching each breast to the other. Stepping away, he removes my hands so my breasts swing lightly, the clamps pulling at my nipples. I hiss at the sting.
My breasts sway, and the clamps pull and release. Desire shoots straight down to my clit, as if another invisible chain is tying my breasts and clit together. Moaning, I begin to appreciate the addition of the chain. I flood with wetness as my breasts sway. My hand unconsciously moves toward my clit to bring some relief, but it’s captured by Lowell.
“I didn’t give permission for you to touch yourself, or to come.” Lifting me off the counter, he helps me stand. “Leave your shirt open.”
His cheeks are flushed and his eyes glitter with dark lights as he takes a minute to view the picture before him. Reaching out, he pulls on the chain swinging between my breasts to bring me flush up against him. Gasping at the slight pain caused by the clamps, my hands reach out and grab his shirt, fisting tight. My pain becomes a key, releasing him from his control. His mouth crashes down and consumes me. He’s relentless, forcing me to take what he gives and return it with equal measure. This is what I want. Not controlled kisses, but passion and dominance.
Picking me up, he carries me over to the island and lays me down on top of it. I shiver as the cold surface seeps through the silk top. Pulling away from my lips, he spreads open my shirt and trails his mouth down to my breasts, giving me light kisses along the way.
Raising up, his head tilts to watch my face as he releases a clamp. Blood rushes into my nipple, and I cry out at the bite of pain. He instantly soothes the sting with his tongue. Stroking and flattening his tongue against my nipple, until there is only pleasure. I move to clutch the back of his head, but he captures my hand and forces it to the side.
His gaze snares mine until I agree to leave my hands at my side. For my reward, he returns his attention back to my nipple. He plays with it for another minute before sucking it into a stiff peak and placing the clamp back on it. I whimper, then moan. The brief respite from the clamp only seemed to make it more sensitive. A fresh wave of pain and pleasure rolls through me. Moving to my other breast, he repeats the same.
His eyes are flames. At my submissiveness, at my pain, at my pleasure, maybe all of it. He needs it for his own fire. Knowing I make him burn is gasoline to the fire raging within me.
Tugging lightly on the chain, he holds it for a minute before releasing it. My body arches as the pain and pleasure war within me.
“More, please, Lowell,” I beg.
Unbuttoning my pants, he lifts me up and pulls them off me. Pulling my feet up, he lays each one flat on the cold counter and spreads my legs apart. He stands up straight so he can take in the full view. I’m completely at his mercy.
Leaning over, one hand goes to the chain between my breasts, while the other strokes down my wet pussy. Groaning, I hold my breath as I wait for the next round to begin. Will he choose pleasure or pain?
“Breathe.”
As I exhale, his fingers pull on the chain, while his other hand strokes my clit at the same time. The string of desire tying them together becomes a line of living flame.
Gasping, my legs fall open. “More.” My body uses the pain as fuel for the pleasure. I want it all.
“Tell me.”
“I’m yours. My body is yours.”
Groaning at my submission, his mouth replaces his fingers on my clit. Sucking and stroking hard, wringing pleasure against the backdrop of the pain from the clamps. His fingers move down, diving into the pool of wetness soaking me.
Panting heavily, I raise up on my elbows and wait. Looking up, his green eyes meet mine just as his fingers thrust into my pussy. My head falls back as pleasure rolls up through me. When my hips try to lift to meet the thrust of his fingers, he uses his mouth on my clit to hold me in place.
“Please, please let me come.” Quivering, I’m holding on to my control by my fingernails. In response, his fingers thrust faster in and out, while his tongue flicks faster on my clit. Feeling the edge of my orgasm, I cry out, desperate to come. “Lowell, I can’t stop it.”
Lifting his head, he smiles darkly as his fingers curl up inside me. His other hand unclamps my nipples, shooting tingles and pain through my breasts. The sensations prove to be too much as my body slides off the cliff.
Screaming, I come hard. My body clenches tightly on his fingers, milking them as if they were his cock inside of me. Darkness wraps around my peripheral vision as I succumb to the pleasure cascading in waves through me. I lay there, boneless and panting, waiting for the waves to subside. Lowell plants light kisses on my inner thigh as he watches me recover.
