Save A Horse

by Jennifer Wedmore

  He licked her faster, putting a little pressure with his tongue on her and sucking harder. “Yes, baby.”

  Ryley shattered with a cry and laid there panting. “It’s my turn to play and I get to be on top.”

  TC grinned at her and stood up. “Don't move, I want those jeans off now.”

  Ryley got off the couch and kneeled in front of him. She looked up at him from under her lashes as she slowly unhooked his belt and pulled it from his waistband.

  Then she unbuttoned his pants, and slowly slid down his zipper. “Hmm… commando? That is sexy. I can’t wait to see what you have hiding in here.” She pushed his pants down his thighs to his feet. Ryley sat back on her heels and stared at him. She was the luckiest woman alive, his cock was thick and just the right size. She couldn’t wait to get her hands and mouth on him soon.

  “TC, sit on the couch please, I need to take your pants all the way off...”

  As soon as he sat, Ryley pulled his pants from his ankles and leaned in to take his cock in her mouth. She took his cock to the hilt and hummed.

  “Holy shit, what did you do?” Ryley pulled back slightly and sucked hard as she moved up his cock. She licked the tip and swirled her tongue around it. She lightly nipped the tip of his cock and used her teeth to add a slight bit of pain to contrast. In apology, she took him to the back of her throat again and hummed more.

  “Good god, woman, I can’t last much longer. Come here so I can fuck you now.” Ryley pulled his cock out of her mouth with a pop. “Can I have a real ride now?” TC smiled and spread his arms. “Use me and abuse me, because I’m all yours.”

  She didn’t hesitate and straddled his legs and lowered herself until his dick nudged her opening. Ever so slowly she lowered herself, taking him inside her. They moaned in unison. Ryley seated herself to the hilt and waited, savoring the fullness of him and their connection.

  With a wicked grin, she placed her hands on his chest and lifted herself up and then dropped down. His eyes flew open, and he moaned. Ryley assumed he wasn't expecting her to move so fast. She laughed to herself and moved her hips in such a way that she was grinding on his cock.

  Then she started bouncing on his cock, lifting and dropping, then grinding on him. She started panting and could hear his breathing matching her own.

  “Please come for me, baby, I don’t want to leave you behind.”

  Ryley couldn’t reply, but she yelled out her own release and TC followed quickly. She dropped to his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She could have died and gone to heaven and ask to be returned to his bed. Nothing could compare to the connection she felt when they were connected at the most basic level.

  Thirteen

  His mate was amazing, that was all he could think. With her laying on his chest he felt a surge of contentment, this was how he wanted to spend his life. He shifted them on the couch, so they were stretched out.

  Ryley nuzzled into his chest and sighed. They couldn’t sleep on the couch all night, it was too small, but it was perfect to hold her for a while. He waited until he heard her breathing even out and he slipped off the couch trying not to disturb her.

  He stood by watching her sleep for a minute and he couldn’t help the smile that came across his face. He needed to send Gerri Wilder a massive bouquet of flowers. He wasn’t looking for his mate, but now he couldn't let her go.

  He pulled on his jeans and snuck out of the room to grab a blanket. He ran up the stairs, into his room, jerked the sheet off the bed and ran back down the stairs. He lightly covered her up and then lifted her in his arms and tucked the sheet around her, then went back upstairs to his bedroom. Starting tonight, he hoped to never slept alone again. He laid her down, removed his pants and climbed into bed with her.

  ***************

  “Well aren’t you bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning.” TC smiled and looked back at the horses in the pasture.

  He laughed at Graham. “Are you jealous? Do I have to remind you I'm not a damn rabbit so not bushy tailed?”

  Graham shook his head at the old joke. “What does have you smiling so early in the morning?”

  TC smiled, what could he say. He was happy and wasn't letting anything get in his way.

  “Life is good, that’s all. I met my mate and she’s everything I didn't know I was looking for. This interview could really bring new eyes to what we do here and allow us to help a lot of animals. We just have to hope the crazies don't come out of the woodwork or assholes who lost their animals to our care don’t come looking for them. They don't want them but don't want anyone else to care for them. People are stupid. Speaking of crazies any news on the douche who had Sparky? Has he been by anymore?”

  Graham slammed his hand against the fencing they leaned against. “Dick hasn’t been by. I think we scared him away last time. You charging at him full speed scared the shit out of him. He hopefully moved onto greener pastures.”

  They watched the sunrise for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts. Sparky was a horse they took in three months ago. He was badly neglected, his ribs were sticking out and he couldn’t even walk. He had to be sedated and brought in a truck. He had a long road to recovery, but he was now approachable and loved people. They had to keep him safe and not allow the dickwad to retain or regain his rights to him.

  “That reminds me we have a pregnant mare being brought over from the local humane society,” Graham broke the silence first. “They said she is close to her due date but badly malnourished, her coat is missing in lots of spots and her mane is a knotted mess. They found her wandering in a field. They don’t know if she was abused or abandoned so they haven't been able to examine her but hoped you could help. She is expected here around ten a.m.”

  TC exploded in anger. “God damn people! How do people do that to animals and to a pregnant one? Fuck let’s go get ready for her, make sure the hands know to stay farther away than normal. We can’t take the chance of hurting the baby if it's still alive. I'm sorry for yelling at you Graham, you know it’s not personal.” TC felt bad for yelling at Graham but knew he was mad at the situation and the assholes who hurt animals. Not at him personally.

  Graham slapped him on the shoulder and nodded.

  TC watched Graham walk away with his head down. The work they did could wear on a person. Seeing what humanity was capable of doing to an innocent animal tore a person up. It was hard to trust, hard to not judge everyone by a few bad seeds.

  There wasn't enough good in his daily life to allow people in easily. Being a shifter, it helped that he knew he could trust his mate instantly. They belonged together and knowing he had her brought him peace and happiness. He wished Graham could have that too.

  TC walked toward the mare barn to see what needed to be done to get ready for the pregnant horse.

  When they got a new mare in, they moved the others to an open pasture for a bit so the new one could get used to her surroundings and adjust. Being pregnant this was going to be harder on everyone involved. The other horses would need to be moved to a new barn temporarily. Hopefully, this change did not set back any of their progress.

  This mare would probably need a bigger space, more time and less distraction. He had to get her comfortable fast, so he could help with the birth when it was time.

  Fourteen

  Ryley woke to sunshine pouring into the bedroom. It only took a moment for the events of the night before to come rushing back. She sat up and looked around the room. She realized quickly she was in TC’s room, and she had no clothes.

  Thankfully her room was across the hall, and she could sprint. She got up, wrapped the sheet around her body and crept to the door. She opened it and peered out. Not seeing anyone she bolted out the door.

  Just as soon as she hit her door, she heard, “Ooh you are doing the dash of shame. I'm so proud of you!”

  Ryley laughed and went into her room, she didn’t bother to shut the door because she knew Kat would just follow behind he
r.

  She grabbed clothes and walked into the bathroom. “I'm jumping in the shower. I know you won't wait until I get out to talk so give me a minute.” She laughed at the look on Kat’s face and turned on the shower.

  No sooner had she stepped in then Kat walked in and she could hear her moving things around the bathroom counter. She assumed Kat was clearing a spot to sit. This could be a long shower.

  “Before you ask, I'll just tell you it all. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I decided to head downstairs and get a drink, maybe sit on the porch. I don't know, I just needed to get out of the bedroom. When I got downstairs, I found TC in his office working. He invited me in for a drink, and we were chatting. One thing lead to another, and here we are.”

  Over the shower, she still heard Kat squeal in excitement. “Don't stop now, tell me how it was?”

  Ryley finished washing her hair then replied, “You need to get a sex life of your own and stop living vicariously through me. Speaking of... It was out of this world! Holy Shit Kat, it was so good. He was tender when I wanted him to be, and he let me lead when I wanted to. He took care of my needs as well as his own. He is the most considerate lover I have ever had in my life. Not that there has been many, but you know what I mean.”

  Kat sighed. “I'm a bit jealous. It makes me wish humans had a way to just know who our person was. It's not really fair you know. Why can’t we just have that ping you are mine moment? It would make dating a lot easier and so much less stressful. I'm jealous over that more than anything. I'm tired of dating losers and deadbeats. I want my connection.”

  Ryley understood where she was coming from. They had both sworn off dating because of the men they had met recently. It wasn’t worth their time or effort. They had decided to let fate take control and just let love come on its own.

  “So, I noticed you were wrapped in a sheet coming across the hall. Should I ask why you didn't put your PJs back on?”

  Ryley groaned. “Um… my PJs are downstairs. Can you run down and get them? I don't want anyone wandering in and seeing them just lying on the floor. They should be by the couch across from his desk.” Kat apparently enjoyed her predicament a lot because she laughed hysterically, but Ryley heard her leave the room.

  She took the opportunity to finish up and get out of the shower. Kat was right, it wasn't fair shifters had that sense of who their mate was. Gerri had an extra ability to match shifters with their mate even if they were human. How could she tell a human’s mate or was it that she could say who belonged with the shifter regardless of origin?

  Could a human go to Gerri and be mated or only shifters? Was it something about them that allowed Gerri to “know” who their mate was? Ryley realized she was sitting on her bed entirely dressed and didn't even remember any of it. Kat hadn’t come back up yet either so Ryley decided to head down and check on her.

  As she came down the stairs she could hear arguing. Kat and Graham were at it again. Those two were oil and water, too bad they weren't mates. It would be fun to watch that courtship. Ryley walked in to see Kat waving her PJ's at Graham. “You were staring at my ass, of course, I smacked you.”

  That was not what Ryley expected to hear.

  “I'm sorry,” Graham didn’t sound sorry, “but you were bent over with your head under the couch. What is it with you two and being in that position?”

  Ryley choked on a laugh, he was digging a bigger hole every time he spoke.

  “You did not just imply we stick our asses in the air for some douchenozzle to come along and stare at it?” Ryley could see Kat was getting really steamed up, so she stepped farther into the room to draw their attention.

  “Kat, honey, can I have my clothes, please?” She turned to Graham. “Good morning, how are you today?” She hoped she could sidetrack the screaming bout but wasn’t hopeful.

  “I actually came in to tell you Gerri Wilder called. She heard about the letters you received and asked if she could come by here and chat with you. She had some friends who could watch over you for a bit if you and Kat wanted. Kat, she also said you had lunch with her, and she didn't want to miss a second one. So, you could meet here instead.” He cleared his throat. “Is she setting you up with someone?”

  Oh no, Ryley thought, this was not going to go over well. “Thanks, I'll drop these upstairs. Is it okay if I look around outside?”

  Ryley was inching towards the door and watching the anger build on Kat’s face. She was not sticking around for the next part of the conversation.

  “Yeah, don’t get too close to the horses, remember the rules. TC will find you pretty quick. We have a new mare coming in today. You can see firsthand how things work around here.” Ryley could see Graham was distracted by the glares Kat was sending his way but he answered her questions, so she was getting out while she could. No sooner did she clear the doorway when she heard yelling again.

  “What gives you the right to ask if I'm getting set up.” She could hear Kat still yelling as she ran back up the stairs and then back downstairs. This time Graham was yelling back. Outside was a safer place to be for now.

  Fifteen

  TC crooned to the scared mare. He was sitting across from her, just the two of them. The goal was for her to get used to him, being around him and his voice. He would slowly move closer to her, murmuring and giving her treats so she associated him with good things. It was a process that could take a while, but he had to speed it up. He pulled his inner stallion forward a little more, so she could smell his scent.

  TC hoped the combo of horse and man would soothe her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ryley walk up to the barn door. He put his hand out low to the ground indicating for her to stay. He saw her nod, and he focused back on the mare. She was watching him, listening, he could see her ears twitching every time he spoke.

  She seemed less frightened than most animals he took in. She may not have been abused as much as neglected and uncared for. In all honesty that was his hope, because it would make her care a lot easier. She wouldn't distrust humans because she didn’t have much interaction with them. He went with his instincts and stood up and turned to Ryley.

  “Good morning, love, thank you for waiting there for me. I'm not sure about her condition or how she will take to people yet. I don’t want you to get hurt so, please stay there a bit longer. I'm going to try walking up to her and see how she does with my presence. My stallion is pushing to get out and soothe her. He senses her as one of his herd already.”

  Ryley smiled with tears running down her face. “I'm not going anywhere. You do what you need to do.”

  TC nodded and turned back to the mare.

  “Hello, beautiful, I'm here to help you.” He kept talking to her in a soothing, quiet voice, making his way closer and closer to her. She wasn't shying away or shaking at all. He took that all as a good sign. “I bet you're hungry, aren't you? Ryley, my love, can you walk behind me to the door in the back. Grab a bucket of feed and bring it back to me? The humane society said they were afraid to get close, so they didn't feed her. Who knows how long she has gone without food.”

  Ryley gasped and quickly moved to the door. “How did they load her in a truck to get here?”

  TC watched her walk in the room and raised his voice a little, so she could hear him but not enough to spook the mare.

  “They said they put some treats out and walked away from the back of the trailer. She just ate them and went right in. The call of food was probably stronger than her fear of people.”

  She walked back to TC, set the bucket down and went back to the doorway to watch. TC picked up the bucket and walked toward the mare, still crooning at her. She nickered at him and pranced in place. He took a chance and reached out to touch her. She didn't move away and allowed him to rub her head and neck. He kept talking to her, and opened the stall door, he stepped inside, and she waited patiently.

  TC poured some food into the feed bin and stepped back to watch. He didn't want to give her too much and make her sick. Th
e mare eagerly ate the food, no hesitation, no watching him stand in the corner. “Well she does not appear to have a trust issue, so we got lucky. I'll let her eat and keep refilling small amounts for the next few hours then I'll try and examine her to see how far along she really is.”

  TC poured some more food into the bin, patted her neck and exited the stall. “She's going to be just fine in no time. Would you like to walk around with me? I'll show you the property and some of the other animals we have here?” TC walked up to Ryley, wrapped her in a hug and gave her a kiss. “Now that is the way to start a day.” TC loved the sound of her laughter, it was something he wanted to hear for the rest of his life. He had it bad, this thing called love.

  “Good morning, I would love to see more of the ranch and the animals. Can you tell me about the mare, and how she came to you?”

  TC loved her interest in what he did, he hoped it was more than just the interview too. “The Humane Society here got a report of a horse wandering around, she looked in bad shape, so they went out and brought her in. Sometimes vets send us leads on horses, sometimes family members or neighbors turn someone in for abuse. The police send us cases too. Everything eventually goes through the police for the area the animal is in, then the information and animal is funneled to us. We operate on word of mouth, so vets talk, police share information, animal rescues, those type of groups help to spread our name and what we do.” TC guided Ryley to the pasture where the animals who were completely rehabbed grazed.

  Ryley gazed at the horses and sighed. He hoped it was in pleasure. “You have done amazing things with these animals.”

  TC felt his chest expand with pride. One positive word from his mate was worth more than a million words from someone else. “These beauties are all horses we took in from different situations. They are now happy, friendly and great with people.” TC clicked his tongue, and one of the horses came trotting over to the fence.