by Ashley Erin
“I have a question and maybe I should be embarrassed, but I have no shame. Why are there three words for a baby horse?” He cocks his eyebrow at me causing me to throw my head back and laugh. His facial expression is ridiculous and it takes me a moment to focus on his question.
“Foal is gender neutral whereas a filly refers to a girl and colt refers to a boy.”
“I think I knew that.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Why not? Besides, you looked stuck in your head and sometimes that’s not a good place to be.” He turns Chandler to head towards home, silently waiting for my reply.
“Why didn’t you answer my text?” Blurting the words out, instead of feeling embarrassed, I just feel relieved to voice the question that’s been turning around in my brain since I sent it. Alex is usually quick to respond, and he hasn’t mentioned it.
“I left my phone at home, the battery died while I was working. What did your text say?”
Crap. “An old friend of mine, Lydia, has a horse that’s been injured and she’s decided to come to me instead of going elsewhere.”
“Okay.” He looks over his shoulder at me, confused.
“She’s the woman I caught having sex with Graham, my ex. The same woman who is still with him. I texted hoping maybe you could be there, for moral support.”
“Of course I will be there.” The tenseness I didn’t realize I was holding leaves my body and I sigh. Having him there will make it so much easier.
“So . . . What brought on this impromptu ride?” The trail widens and I nudge Ollie to catch up so we can ride alongside each other.
His lips tilt up as though my curiosity amuses him. “I like you for more than what your body does to me, Lia. I missed talking with you while I had my head shoved up my ass. I want the friends part of this as much as the benefits part.”
Grinning, I can’t stop the internal swooning happening. The Lia in my head does a happy dance, complete with a backflip that in real life would break my head.
“You know you look fucking sexy sitting in that saddle.” Lowering my voice, I ask Ollie to stop as I reach my hand up and start teasing the dip in my shirt that shows off my cleavage.
Alex’s eyes follow the movement, before looking around, scanning the area. We’re close to the house, but silence surrounds us. He swings off Chandler, tying him to a tree, before dragging me off Ollie. “It’s amazing how graceful you look, even when being removed from your horse.”
Suddenly finding myself on my back, Alex’s hips rocking into mine, I moan as the pressure builds between my legs. “Is friend time over?” My voice is husky, my eyes heavy with arousal as he inches down my body.
Lifting my hips as he ignores my question, his hands remove my jeans and thong in one swift motion. My head ignores the possibility of being caught when he buries his face between my legs.
“You have no idea how beautiful you are. So perfect and ready for me.” His tongue strokes me in long, slow motions, before delving into me on a groan. I push myself more firmly against his mouth, feeling no shame in asking for more.
His tongue strokes me, pressing all the right buttons and hitting spots that make my ears ring. Alex’s stubble scratches my skin increasing my sensitivity and it doesn’t take long for my body to start contracting, pleasure pulsing through my extremities as his tongue brings me to my climax.
Alex leans back on his heels, licking his lips while smirking. Standing, he lifts me off the ground, kissing me with force and passion, my taste still on his lips. “I love the way you taste.” He presses back into me, hands wrapped around the small of my back as his lips move over mine with the perfect amount of pressure. Too soon he pulls away, handing me my jeans before untying the horses.
My legs are shaking so I lean against a tree to get support in redressing. My mind is a jumbled, gooey mess so I don’t bother responding, focusing instead on straightening my clothes and picking twigs out of my hair.
Ollie snorts as I hop back in the saddle, less gracefully than normal and kick him into a trot, leading Alex out of the woods and towards the barn.
We break through the tree line, the horses eager to get to their pens and eat. Chandler starts trotting towards his girls when he sees Emma pitching hay over the fence. Alex looks over at me, winking as he leads Chandler over to be untacked and fed.
Instead of turning Ollie out, I ride over to the outdoor arena to work him a bit. He’s had a few days off and the ride with Alex was a good warm up.
Ryan is by the gate to the arena and lets me in, leaning against the fence watching me as I go through some quick stretches and a little more warm-up. Ollie moves off each leg perfectly, his movements smooth.
Ryan hasn’t ridden a reining pattern since he was nineteen, but still loves the sport. I’ve been trying to convince him to train one of the colts and enter into the Futurity.
Ollie is our best Reiner, his spins are incredible and his stops are envied throughout the show circuit. We canter our circles, the rush of speed thrilling me. Movement outside the arena catches my eye. Alex, Emma, and Dane join Ryan against the fence as they watch me ride.
The rush of riding a pattern fills me, I love this sport. Moving the reins, I spin Ollie to the right and then the left before finishing off with two sliding stops. The dirt flies on either side of us as we slide. Cheering makes me grin as I walk him around to cool him off.
Patting him on the neck, pride fills me at how effortlessly he completed each task.
Everyone else clears away from the fence, only Alex remaining, his eyes bright with awe. That’s the first time he’s seen me ride like that. I usually work Ollie early in the morning, before everyone is awake. It’s our time together, the time when my thoughts are quiet, rather than running in a million different directions at a speed that would overwhelm most.
When I was a kid, the way my brain functioned was hard to deal with. It didn’t take my parents long to realize I needed an outlet, a way to organize the many thoughts going on all at once. They helped me figure out how to sort through everything, focus without getting lost in the noise. Horses are a major factor in allowing me to focus. They draw my attention, making me feel grounded and purposeful. The older I get, the better I am at keeping my brain quiet.
Sliding off, I lead him to the tie stall and remove his tack. A shadow blocks out the light in the barn, warm lips kissing the back of my neck. “Seeing you ride like that, holy shit, is that ever sexy.”
Turning in Alex’s arms, I suck his lip into my mouth, biting it. Groaning, I lick his lips begging for entrance to his mouth. Alex lifts me, backing me into the stall. My back hits the wall, his hips pushing into mine. Devouring his lips, I want so badly to push him down into the straw.
Being around Alex is like being with the horses. He helps slow down my thoughts, focusing only on what’s happening in the moment. He’s one of the few people that can do that and he doesn’t even know he’s having that effect on me. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy having him in my life in any capacity I can have him.
“Hey, Lia . . .” Alex drops me unceremoniously and I move away from him to stand next to Ollie as Dane walks into the barn. “I was wondering if–oh, hey, Alex.”
Leaning into Ollie, I hide the smirk as confusion fills his face. It hadn’t escaped anyone’s notice that Alex and I haven’t spent any time together over the past several months, and Dane has been so preoccupied with finishing moving his stuff over to Emma’s that he probably thought we were still avoiding each other’s company.
“So, Lia, thanks for answering my questions about sliding stops. Maybe when we train up the colt you’re picking out for me you can teach me.”
He sneaks a wink at me before exiting the barn. Loosening the cinch, I pull the saddle off Ollie’s back. “What’s up, Dane?” Proud at how casual my voice is, I grin at the suspicious look on his face.
“Oh, yeah. I was hoping I could leave my office in your house. Until Alex finds a place, all the rooms are taken a
t ours.” He leans against the wall, watching me groom Ollie.
Alex is looking for a place? I guess it makes sense, why would he want to live with Emma and Dane, especially once they’re married. Not having him close makes my stomach sink.
“Lia?” Dane waves a hand in front of my face, arching his brow at me.
“Yeah, not a problem. I don’t need it.”
My mind is racing. Where would he move? Since Emma and Dane are getting married, will he still stay here? Or will he move somewhere that isn’t quite so isolated?
Gripping Belle’s rear right leg, I lean my weight back stretching it as far behind her as she can go. I release her leg after doing some adjustments and grin at the groan she lets loose.
“Feels good, doesn’t it, girl?” Cooing at her, I move to her other leg giving it the same attention as the first. An audible pop sounds and she starts licking and chewing, happy with the work I’m doing.
I’ve already given her a massage, and now I’m finishing up adjusting her so everything is where it should be.
Emma stopped by last night because she’d noticed some tightness when she was riding Belle yesterday, so I woke up early to fit her in before a full day at the clinic. Belle is so expressive and her enjoyment of the treatments is apparent in her responses.
I love my job, helping horses feel better physically, which then changes how they are mentally. Watching horses start out really tight and sore before becoming more relaxed and pain free, it gives me an immense sense of joy and accomplishment. Horses like Belle are simply maintaining a strict routine, others require more intensive treatment due to injuries. I love them all.
Every day I count my blessings to have a job I love. I enjoy my clients, the horses, and the results of my work. Rarely do I have days that I dread. Today is one of those rare, challenging days. And it’s all because of one person.
It’s not that I haven’t seen Lydia around, this community is very small, but never close encounters. I’m grateful I don’t have either of them in my life anymore, but the sting of betrayal is still there, and I’m not sure how I’m going to react to seeing her. Her horse, Patty, is finally well enough to be trailered over here. The vet’s work is done, now my job begins.
“Good morning, Lia! How’s she doing?” Releasing Belle’s leg, I straighten and grin at my best friend. Her cheeks are flushed and she has that in love glow radiating from her.
Part of me twinges in envy, but I remind myself I once did serious and it didn’t work out so well for me. Now all I want is no-strings fun. The reaction in my body is instantaneous when I think of all the fun Alex and I have been having over the past couple of weeks, and the envy fades.
“Good morning. She’s feeling much better now that I’ve worked on her a bit. Her hips were out again this morning, they’re back in now. I thought we could leave her a couple weeks, but we will need to start treating her weekly again.”
“You’re awesome.” Emma smiles at me, the lighthearted friend from my childhood stands before me and not the shell of a woman who arrived here one year ago. “Have you seen that older brother of yours? He was gone when I woke up this morning.”
Laughing at her expression of censure at Dane, I shake my head. “No, but he probably tried to wake you up and wasn’t successful. You sleep harder than anyone I know these days.”
“That’s not a good enough excuse.” Laughing, I take Belle’s halter off and pat her shoulder affectionately. Resting my hands on my hips, I enjoy a few moments with one of the best people I know.
“How are wedding plans going now that you have a venue?”
“Better. I ordered this wedding planner online and it’s been really useful. There is so much to decide on, I’m pretty sure if your parents wouldn’t kill him, Dane would be flying us to Vegas for a quick wedding,” she laughs, shrugging. “I’m enjoying it, though.”
The door to Emma’s house shutting draws our attention from chatting and watching Belle trot to the hay stack, we turn to watch Alex bound down the steps. My heart flutters a little at the sight of his messy brown hair.
Carefully controlling my features, I watch passively trying not to devour the way his hoody hugs his muscles, or the perfect fit of his jeans stretching on his muscular thighs. I know every inch of that body, it’s spectacular. Part of me wants to lean in to Emma and confess what’s going on, but I refrain. I will tell her, sometime, but not right now.
“I’m going to go help Dane and Jesse repair some fences. Samson busted into the pen with the mares.” Alex nods a friendly greeting at me and I smile in return. My body responds in a much more reactive way, thoughts of the previous evening playing out like pictures in my head. I love the way his hands feel on my body, the way he can move me easily and the way he challenges me in bed.
“He always did prefer to be with the mares. He thinks he’s quite the stud.” Licking my lips, I grin as Alex follows the movement before looking away.
Emma laughs. “He really does.” She smiles at Alex when he affectionately kisses the top of her head. “Make sure you tell Dane he’s in trouble for sneaking out this morning.”
“Will do. We will be back in time for breakfast.”
Alex walks away and I drop my eyes from his ass to study a scuff on my boot, a smile pulls at my lips when I feel the vibration of my phone. Stuffing my hands into my back pockets, I refrain from checking the message that will surely leave me hot and bothered.
“I’m glad he seems to be over whatever had him acting so weird. In fact, he seems quite jovial these days.”
We watch him until he disappears from sight.
Emma audibly sighs after a moment and I look up in concern. “What’s wrong, Em?” Climbing the fence, we head over to the house to start cooking breakfast, her feet kicking at random rocks causing them to tumble over the driveway.
Our houses look over each other, sharing a driveway. I love that our ranch style home faces her Victorian one. Emma’s ten acres are basically enveloped by the vast amounts of land my family owns, kind of how our families always were one close unit.
We bypass her house, heading to my large kitchen where we gather for breakfast daily.
“With Dane living with me full-time now, Alex has been talking about moving. He’s even started looking for a place to rent in town. I know that it’s only twenty minutes away, it’s not like he’s moving to Edmonton, but I hate the idea of him not being so close.” She leans into the fridge, grabbing all the food we need to make breakfast, before turning back to me and crossing her arms.
“What if he moves in here with me and Ryan?” The question escapes before I can second guess myself, but the excitement that lights up Emma’s face is worth it. I try to swallow the accompanying guilt I feel at not sharing my ulterior motives to inviting him to stay here, and ignore the shaking in my hands as the risks of my suggestion run through my mind.
I hate keeping secrets from her, but this whole arrangement is less complicated with no one knowing.
Her grin turns mischievous. “I like the idea of him living here. Close to you. And still close to me. I need my big brother.”
“Em, don’t get any crazy ideas. You know I don’t want anything serious, and from what you’ve said, neither does Alex.”
Pouting, she gives me a playful shove. “Doesn’t mean a girl can’t dream about her two best friends hooking up.”
Grateful my cheeks don’t heat with guilt, I pull Emma in for a side hug. “Why don’t you spend your days daydreaming about all the disgustingly dirty things you do with my brother? I’m okay, really.” Turning on the stove-top, I heat up some olive oil and try to keep my tone light.
“I know you’re okay. I never doubt that you are, you’re stronger than me, but I know that Graham hurt you. You might be over him, but you’re not over what he did.” She cocks a perfectly sculpted brow at me, causing me to scowl. “Anyways, even if it’s not Alex, I have hope that someone will bust his way into your life and you won’t be able to refuse him. Eventually
you will find someone who breaks through your reservations and shows you it is okay to trust again.” She winks at me, her face breaking out into a look of mischief. “Speaking of dirty things, Dane and I tried this new position last night . . .” She widens her eyes at me and waggles her eyebrows.
“I don’t want to know! Gross, that’s my brother.” Emma laughs and starts prepping the eggs for stuffed French toast.
Despite the amount of work it creates, I’ve continued to enforce the mandatory breakfast, including Jesse in that rule since he started working here.
Glancing at Emma to make sure she is preoccupied, I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the text message.
Alex: I’ve been envisioning you wearing your cowboy boots and hat while riding me, your tight pussy clenching around my cock. Your hands gripping my chest, eyes locked on mine.
Squeezing my thighs together, I swallow hard before finishing reading the message.
Just as you are about to orgasm, I flip you onto your back and pin your hands above your head, taking away the control you like to fight for. I take you hard and fast until you are biting my shoulder to stop yourself from screaming my name. Your throat raw, voice hoarse from how loudly you shout as you come.
My chest heaves as I struggle to suck in enough air. Sex with Alex is never boring. He is incredibly creative in the bedroom. Smirking at his control comment, I daydream about tying his hands above his head so he can’t move. Alex needs the same control I do, he’s been betrayed in a different way, but it doesn’t diminish the damage to a person’s soul.
Something changes inside your heart when the one person you trust the most in the world betrays you. The cut is deeper than most people could ever imagine. Despite the knowledge that not every man will do that, a baser instinct takes over to protect yourself. I often wonder if I will ever be in a place where I can completely succumb, give in and trust my partner to push my limits and take me over the edge I used to crave. Just one more thing Graham stole from me.
