"Hey, baby. Are you here?"
"We're outside."
"Okay. We'll be out in a minute."
"See you then."
I disconnect the call and sit here, waiting on females. I wonder how many men around the world are patiently waiting on a girl right now.
I lay my head against the headrest and close my eyes as the heat from the heater blows against my face. I cannot believe I didn't think of a rodeo to add to the list. In all the time we've been together a rodeo never crossed my mind. I really need to get my head in the game if I'm going to make a bucket list of sorts. I never want there to be something she hasn't experienced or more importantly that we haven't experienced together.
"Damn."
I open my eyes and look at Fisher following his sudden outburst. His eyes are bulging out at whatever he's staring at straight ahead. Directing my eyes to his line of vision, I see exactly what he's staring at.
"I would say that's an accurate description."
I'm sure he's looking at Karsyn, but the one I'm looking at is the one beside her. They are dressed similar and they could pull off sisters. Kinzleigh is wearing a pair of tight, boot cut jeans and black, pointed toe boots with a turquoise pattern. Her top is long sleeved, black, and hanging off the shoulder, revealing her creamy white skin, and her necklace that matches mine is hanging over it.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Most likely." It doesn’t take that smart of a person to assume what he’s thinking, because I constantly stay in that frame of mind with Kinzleigh.
I can't take my eyes off of her. She wore her hair down and curly just how I like it. The length has grown over the months, ending at the small of her back. It looks like her makeup is more dramatic than she usually wears it. Her eyes are bolder than they usually are. The gray and black smoky thing she has going on makes the green in her eyes more prominent, and her plump lips are stained a fire engine red.
We both open our doors at the same time, stepping out of the truck as they reach the edge of the sidewalk that runs in front of parking. I round the truck and grab Kinzleigh by the waist, pulling her into me. I back up to the driver side of the truck to give us some privacy. Pressing her up against the door of the truck I scrape my hand along the contour of her body, stopping on her ass covered by the tight denim jeans. "If we weren't in public right now I'd strip you bare and fuck you against the side of this truck."
She looks out from under her long eyelashes, thicker from the makeup. Her perfume is toxic to my control, causing it to slip. "You look beautiful."
I trail one hand down to her thigh and lift her leg to hook around my waist, placing my hand back over her ass when she keeps it there. I continue to look at her, not able to look away. Without thought my other hand runs up her side, taking position cupped on her breast. What does me in is when I press my erection against her, the top two of her front teeth scrape lightly against her full bottom lip. The bright white against the red has me raging with arousal. It's the sexiest thing I've ever seen. "Are you ever going to stop turning me on to the point of embarrassment? Do you think I'll ever be able to look at you without wanting to take you in the very spot I sight you in? Will I ever be able to put my hands on you without my insides turning into an inferno?"
She tilts her head back as I press into her further, placing her red lips so close they are almost touching mine, and slightly puckered as if she's about to kiss me. She stares at me bright eyed, blinking slowly as she stares into mine. "I hope not, because that would be a tragedy."
If I didn't think she could get any sexier she just did. I grab her by the thighs and pick her up until she's higher than me looking down. Her hands are resting on my shoulders. I spin her around holding onto her tightly. "Don't ever change."
"I won't. What you see is what you get."
"That's what I'm counting on."
I want to kiss her so bad, and I still might. Whether I am sporting smeared red lipstick or not is to be determined.
"Hell no! If I have to watch that I should at least be drunk. Guys, I hate to break up this never-ending love fest that you two always have going on, but I'm getting bored. I don’t need to witness another second of your sexcapades or I might scream. Can we go? We still have an hour drive." Add in the mouth of Karsyn and the dick is no longer in a hardened state. Nope, it's completely soft.
I slightly shake my head at Kinzleigh and we both laugh at the same time. I set her down and she adjusts her top that has ridden up from picking her up. "Let's ride."
"Kinzleigh, you're sitting in the back with me. This is a girls weekend we're just letting boys be in it."
If I hadn't come to know Karsyn that statement might piss me off, but the girl is hardcore and funny as hell. I would probably pay a lot of money to be a fly on the wall if Fisher could ever get past the man-hater walls she has up, so I choose not to say anything at all. Instead, I'll check my hot wife out in the rearview mirror.
Kinzleigh
We checked in our hotel as soon as we arrived and grabbed dinner at one of the local restaurants. I've caught Fisher glancing at Karsyn off and on since we left. I might have caught her looking once, but I can't be sure. The girl has a poker face like I've never seen before. You can never tell what she is thinking.
"Kinzleigh, do you want to go ahead and walk over with me? I have to get changed and get my horse ready so I can get in my lineup before the show starts." Our hotel is just across the street from the coliseum, but I hate to just bail on Breyson.
I look at him, but as usual he knows what I'm thinking without me having to say anything. "Go ahead. I have to shower anyway. We'll meet you there?"
He gives me a half smile. He seems a little let down, but he'll never admit it. The truth is I've never really had a single friend before. Shortly after Adalynn and I became friends she started a thing with Braxton. Londyn has been with Briar since I met her and they have been my only real friends since me and Breyson started dating, so it's always kind of been him and me against the world. My relationship with Presley has been almost non-existent since New Years last year. She still agreed to be part of my wedding party, but things just aren't the same. Something is just off with her and I can't put my finger on it. I really could kill Konnor sometimes.
"Okay," I say. Karsyn hands him two tickets and walks to the door of our room, opening it. I grab my jacket from the chair and pull it on, removing my hair from underneath the collar.
I follow her outside, walking in the direction of the large dome building across the street. "So...what do you think of Fisher? He's really outgoing like you are."
She shrugs. "He seems quiet to me."
"This is the quietest I've ever seen him."
"He's a football player isn't he?"
I roll my eyes. "Yes, so?"
"So...I don't date football players. You know this. Besides, I need my man to be a tad bit livelier. You know, someone that can keep up with me."
I link my arm in hers. "Describe him."
"Who?"
"Your dream guy."
"I quit dreaming long ago, Darlin'. Dreaming ends in disaster. Me, I don't need a Mister right. Mister right now suits me just fine. Assholes are what I prefer; the emotionally detached."
She sounds like the total opposite extreme of what I was Pre-Breyson. "Are you ever going to tell me about him?"
"Who, sweetie?"
"The one that broke your heart."
"Not much to tell. The dumb bastard slept with my best friend, his spirit girl. Why they invented that stupid shit I'll never know. I knew what spirit girls did behind closed doors, but I thought I was avoiding it because his was my best friend. Firsthand, I realized I was wrong. I got burned by the fire once, I won't go near it again."
She pulls back the fence so that we can walk under it. "But you loved him?"
"Something like that, but it wasn’t like your little white picket fence relationship. It didn't matter though. It never does. Most men think with their cocks pri
marily, and the ones that learn it gets them nowhere become taken quickly." She looks at me and winks, referring to Breyson.
“What happened to him?”
“Oh, you know, he knocked her up and was forced by his parents to marry her. They live somewhere in a rundown singlewide trailer. He works in a local factory and she does nails at a small salon. Neither of them have a pot to piss in. They got what they deserved. One day when he gets the balls to admit he fucked up I’ll have the pleasure of telling him to stick it where the sun don’t shine, because I sure as hell don’t need him.”
She pulls out a pack of cigarettes from her purse and packs them on the heel of her hand. Removing one from the box she lights it. "You smoke?"
"Sometimes. It depends on my mood. Right now it’s going downhill fast." She inhales and blows out a puff of smoke, mixing with the fog that is expelled each time we breathe into the cold air. I bundle up into my jacket as we continue to walk across the pavement, now halfway to the coliseum.
"One more question and I'll drop it."
She looks at me while she continues to puff on the cigarette. It looks foreign on her, like it doesn't belong. "You're relentless." She turns her head and blows out the smoke she's holding in her lungs before looking back at me. "Shoot."
"How can you decipher the good guys from the bad guys if you don't let any close to you?"
"That's the beauty of not wanting either, peaches. I only need a man for one thing. When I need my occasional fix there is always someone happy to oblige. Until then, I keep them at a safe distance." She loves pet names I've discovered, churning them out in a rotation so she never gets bored.
I wonder if this is how I always sounded. No wonder Presley was always trying to set me up back then. I want to scream at her to follow the light, but I know it won't do any good. Something, or someone, perhaps, will break her. Until then I'll just inconspicuously drop hints about a certain someone that has his eyes on her. Plant a seed, water it, sit back, and watch it grow.
We finally make it to the section reserved for the horse trailers and trucks. There are people scattered everywhere in wranglers, button downs, and cowboy hats. Some even have numbers pinned to the back of them. Karsyn looks at me. "You want to know what gets my engine revved up?"
I can't wait to hear this. "There is really no telling with you..."
She stops and throws down the cigarette bud, putting out the orange glow with the section of her boot that covers the ball of her foot. Our arms are still linked together, standing side by side. "You see that guy over there by the red pickup? The one that doesn't have a trailer because he doesn't need a horse."
I look in the direction she is discretely pointing in. "The guy standing next to the truck bed with his forearms resting over the side next to the tool box?"
"That would be him..."
"What's so special about him? I can barely see his side profile, much less his face."
"It's not because of the distance from him to us. It's because you don't study the beautiful physical attributes of the male population. Look at his hindquarters covered in that tight pair of wranglers. On one side he has a glove tucked in his back pocket while the other has a snuff ring worn in the denim. Do you see it?"
I cannot believe I'm looking at another man's butt. I feel like I'm cheating even though there are no sexual thoughts being tossed around in my mind. "Yeah, so..."
"The glove is to avoid rope burn and the ring is the result of the can that resides there constantly, holding the tobacco he needs in his bloodstream to calm the adrenaline he will have after his ride. Watch his cocky stance against the side of the truck as he talks to the other guy that's leaned over the tailgate; his friendly competition."
"Okay.... you’re still not telling me anything."
"That my little blonde bunny is a bull rider. That is what gives me lady wood. He's built to be tough and born to compete for the longest ride. Total asshole, but amazing in bed. Tonight, that one's all mine. You're about to find out why I continued to be involved with rodeo after high school. I didn't want to continue barrel-racing full time, because it consumes every weekend and I'm a pre-veterinary major. It's too much travel to make decent money at it. The schedule is too complex to do it and for me to go to school at the same time. I had to choose and my love is for animals, so I chose school. It's a more permanent way to get the same outcome. Occasionally, I go to close rodeos and just run the flags around the arena with the other show girls, ride barrel, or both. Dad is big in the livestock and brings cattle anyway, so it usually works out. He wants me riding barrel tonight, so I guess I'm doing both."
"So, you're just going to sleep with someone that you have never met before? How do you avoid emotional attachment? Isn't that kind of, I don't know, scary? You don't know where he's been."
"Do I hear judgment in your tone, shortcake?"
"No! I would never judge you. I'm just trying to understand. I've only been with two people; one I knew all my life and the other, the one I gave my virginity to, I married."
"Welcome to world of rodeo. This is where the rowdy boys stay, the cowboys. They bleed and sweat getting ready for that eight second ride. They are wild, rough, and ready to rumble under the sheets but nothing more. They are bred to be heartbreakers. Everyone knows you don't fall in love with a cowboy. Emotional attachments are mental. If you want a piece of that you shut down your mind. You don't ask questions. Like them you ride, get off, and do it all over again. You may get bucked off the first time, but the rush keeps you coming back for more."
She starts to move forward, pulling me with her. "My trailer is just over here. I have to get ready and get my horse. This is the side of me you haven't seen yet. This is my first love."
The way she talks about it has my excitement peaking. Not the whole cowboy thing, but the show itself. It sounds so different than anything I've ever been involved with. I'm ready to see what this rodeo is all about.
***
Karsyn walks out of the horse trailer. She looks flashy and dolled up in her rodeo attire. It's almost like a country version of a beauty pageant. The sparkles, the vivid colors, and the eccentric fashion are eye catching.
Her denim jeans are a dark blue with a rhinestone pattern on the back pockets. She's wearing a turquoise, long sleeved button down tucked into her tight jeans. She is showing off leather chaps over her jeans that are black in color with a turquoise pattern like my boots and matching tassels hanging from the outer edging. Even her boots and hat match in solid black.
She walks past me, towards her horse that is tied to the back of the trailer. Even the horse is full of color and dressed out for the occasion. She's just as beautiful; a buttercup color Palomino with turquoise ankle wraps and matching saddle. Everything on that horse is made for show; the gear is catching light and making it sparkle like diamonds when it moves. It's completely different than the type of reigns and gear I've seen at the ranch. "Is it safe to assume this is your favorite color?"
"Among a few others," she says, now brushing out the mane. "Didn’t you notice, sweets? I have a very colorful personality and my wardrobe usually matches. Who the hell am I kidding? I’m a damn lunatic, but I would consider myself fun. Anyway, I buy rodeo gear like some girls buy shoes and handbags. My horse is always decked out in reflection to my outfit and spoiled. After all, she is the one that does all the work."
Ever since Breyson bought Divinity for me I've formed a love for horses I never knew I had. They are the most beautiful creatures. Learning about them has become a hobby. Each one is beautiful in its own way no matter their pattern or color, size or sex.
I walk towards them. "What's her name?"
"This is Lucy. Before you ask, yes, it's because of the television show. I had an undying love for the ditzy redhead married to the sexy Cuban that I had a total crush on. Don't judge."
I hold up my hands in front of me. "I wasn't going to say a thing. I like it. It actually suits her. The story behind it gives her character. Do you mind
if I pet her?"
She is holding onto the reigns. "I'll give you something even better. Come get on. You can ride her to my lineup. She's friendly and she really likes girls. We have enough time that I can show you behind the scenes, the gut of the rodeo, and then bring you back to the main entrance. The boys should be here by then."
I won't lie. I'm really excited. The grin on my face probably reflects the way I feel on the inside. I reach out and pet her, letting her get familiar with me. "Hello, Lucy. It's nice to meet you." I always find myself talking to horses like I'm talking to a person. It may be crazy, but Divinity seems to like it.
I grab her saddle and mount her. Sitting on top of her like this makes me feel like a beauty queen, which is totally different than leisure riding. I can see why Karsyn has developed a passion for horse fashion. It actually gives me an idea for the wedding. "This look fits you."
"If I ride Divinity in the wedding will you help me doll her up like this? Maybe even the other horses for the bridesmaids? I wouldn't really know what I was doing."
She flashes a smile, petting Lucy on the nose. "You hear that, Luce? We've rubbed off on her. You want to be in a wedding?" Lucy starts rubbing her nose up and down Karsyn's hand. It looks like she's saying yes, but based on Karsyn's hand no longer moving to pet her, I'm guessing she taught it to her as a trick. "What Lucy wants, Lucy gets." She winks. "We would be honored to help you become a beautiful bride, Darlin'."
She turns and starts walking towards the back of the coliseum, leading Lucy through trailers and other horses standing around. She makes it a point to walk right by the red truck she pointed out earlier. The cowboy is still standing in the same position. As we pass she discretely holds her arm out to the right of her, letting her fingertips brush across his lower back, not much higher than his butt. She is bold. I don't know why I'm surprised anymore.
He turns around like he's about to say something until his gray eyes slowly take in her body. "I'm sorry, Darlin', I didn't see you there." She has a seductive smile on her face. This is flirting I'm not used to. Even with Presley it was natural. This is more like predator and prey; only he's the prey. It seems backwards.
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