“Come to the pool house tonight at eleven. The door will be open. Don’t be seen.”
Ru gulped and nodded.
As Ru showered, then dressed, all he could think about was that night. He was excited, yet a little disappointed. It wasn’t what he’d had in mind for a relationship. The little he’d gleaned online had him imagining dates, going to the cinema, meals together, holding hands, sharing kisses… Ru shivered. That spontaneous kiss had been…hot. An arranged time to have sex was not. Was that what Jasim wanted? A weekly, twice-weekly, more than that…secret hook-up?
Did he want his first time to be with Jasim? Despite that brief search about getting paid for his virginity, Ru knew he never would have plucked up the courage to arrange an auction, let alone have the skills to set it up. At least Jasim was old enough to know what he was doing and Ru knew he’d be kind.
Except…Was this, whateverthiswas, just going to be based around sex? Jasim snapped his fingers and Ru came? Literally.Oh God.What if sex was all Jasim was prepared to offer? He’d sort of told him that, hadn’t he? It had to be a secret. So there would be no dates, no going to the cinema, no meals together. Ru didn’t understand why, but at least Jasim had said that he’d tell him.
Ru told himself not to google, that he’d end up freaking himself out, but he couldn’t help it.What to expect in first time sex?Then he added the wordgay. Deluged with information about tops, bottoms, fingers, prep… he quickly sank. How could he ever know enough? Maybe it was better not to assume anything.
He took one of his apples and went to see Cookie and Joni. By the time he was back from the vets, they’d be out of quarantine. They were happily grazing in the paddock, but rushed over when they saw him. Ru climbed the fence, dropped down into the paddock and walked around with them, sharing his apple and talking to them quietly.
“I’m going away for a few days. When I get back, we’re going to have a go at separating the pair of you. You’ll have lots of ponies to make friends with.”
In his heart, he knew they’d be better off with people who’d ride them. They were never going to be first choice in these stables. The grooms all wanted to ride the polo ponies. He’d ask for tips from the vet about how to separate them. He knew the obvious thing to do was just part them so they couldn’t see each other, but he also knew how irritating the constant whining and pacing could be. Worse from Cookie than Joni, he feared.
Being out in the paddock with them only worked as a temporary distraction and his mind returned to Jasim andthe pool house at eleven.Ru released a shuddering breath. On the plus side, he’d be getting over one hurdle. His inexperience. Goodbye virginity. Being with someone who knew what he was doing would be a…good thing. As long as Jasim used protection.Am I supposed to ask him?Ru swallowed hard. He didn’t have anything. No condoms, no lube. Not difficult to guess that he wouldnotbe fucking Jasim. Though he didn’t see why he shouldn’t want to. Hedidwant to.Oh God, but not yet.
He wasn’t sure how far things should go and how quickly, and he had no one to ask. Well, he could ask his brother, but he didn’t want to. What if it hurt? What if Jasim didn’t care?What if I freak out?There was no way he wasn’t going to freak out.
Cookie nudged him with her head as if she sensed his anxiety. Jasimwouldcare. He wasn’t a monster. Ru liked him. That was important. None of this would be happening if Ru didn’t like him. Everything would be fine. No one would do this if it was horrible. He was going to enjoy it. Hopefully.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, will you stop panicking!
Ru was still out in the paddock, still thinking about what he’d gotten himself into, when Rodrigo turned up to take the two horses into the stables.
“Hi, Ru. You okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” Ru was surprised to be asked. Rodrigo hadn’t been mean to him before, but hadn’t gone out of his way to be friendly. Maybe nearly drowning had made people want to give Ru a chance.
“Need a hand?” Ru asked.
“Are you supposed to be doing anything? You got concussion, didn’t you? Those morons…”
“I’m all right. Cookie and Joni are easy to work with. They’ll come without halters.” Ru opened the gate and called the horses to him. Rodrigo walked with him back to the stable block.
“They’re sweet horses,” Rodrigo said. “Joni can move though. I took her out this morning. Wow. She’s lively.”
Ru laughed. “Yeah, she’s fast and quick to stop too. I’ve been over her head a few times.”
“Not your first concussion then?”
“Probably not.”
“For all we do for them, they can inflict some damage accidentally. Though I don’t think it always is accidental. Tia is always trying to step on my foot. She just wants to get my attention, but I wish she’d find some other way. She only does it with me too.”
Ru thought that was the most anyone other than Poppy had said to him.
He worked side by side with Rodrigo, grooming Joni while Rodrigo dealt with Cookie.
“Which of you have the equine nurse qualification?” Ru asked.
“Me, Mike and Diego.”
“Jasim’s going to let me have a week with the vet. I was thinking of doing the Level Three diploma.”
“You should. I did a degree in Madrid. Mike and Diego trained with an equine vet in Kent.”
