“And they didn’t ask for you to be an expert rider?”
“Nope.”
“Then you’ve got this in the bag.”
“Perfect.”
When I go to help her dismount, I step in too close as she’s swinging a leg over the horse’s rump, and she slides right into me. I lose my balance, reaching out to steady myself. But of course, the only thing to grab is her, so now here I am, gripping her at the waist, while her entire back is pressed up against me.
I groan, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Have you thought any more about our conversation at dinner?” I ask, my voice low. “Maybe a reward for being such a good teacher?”
She laughs, a husky sound that shoots straight to my dick. “I thought you didn’t want any payment?”
“Not payment. Maybe a bonus.”
Flash stomps a foot, anxious to get back outside with her friends.
“Those weren’t the terms we agreed to, Cowboy.”
“Contracts can be amended. Come on, you can’t keep me hanging like this anymore,” I plead, my fingers on her waist pulling her closer to me so she can feel the effect she’s having on my body. “Everyone else is starting to arrive tomorrow. This is our last day together.” I know it’s not really the last day. She hasn’t said anything about moving out of my place, even though she’ll have a room at Chicory Crossing with the rest of the cast. I’ve been afraid to mention it to her.
She glances at me over her shoulder. “I know we went over this, Quint. I’m in charge, and that means I say when and where.”
That sounds like a promise that there’s going to be a when and where and my dick responds. I shift, trying to ease the tightness of my pants. “Fine then. You do know I’m going to last about five seconds at this rate. You’ve kept me waiting so long.”
“Good. Then I’ve got you right where I want you.” She twists in my arms, tilting her head up. Her eyes are sparkling, and there’s a little smirk on her face.
I bend down, hoping she’ll at least kiss me. And just when I think she’s about to, Flash butts me with her nose and I stumble forward.
Aura immediately turns away to address the horse. “Oh, you poor girl, let’s get you undressed and brushed down.”
“Untacked. Not undressed.”
“Right. It’s you I’ve got to get undressed.”
And she leads the horse away, leaving me suffering once again. I shake my head and follow along.
As Aura is brushing down the horse, I remember the surprise I got her and duck away to grab it.
She studies me curiously when I rejoin her, both hands behind my back.
“What have you got?”
“A little surprise for you. Call it your reward.” I pull the hat out from behind my back. It’s a simple tan cowboy hat, with a black band and brown-and-whitespeckled feather.
“Is that for me?” It’s her happy smile. The genuine one, not the practiced, camera-ready one.
“Yes, I think you’ve earned it, Hollywood. You’ve earned your hat.”
“Awww, thank you.”
Her ponytail slides free as she pulls off the blue baseball hat she swapped out to cover her helmet hair and reaches out to grab the hat.
“I could have just stolen yours,” she says.
I let out a low whistle, snatching the hat from her and plopping it on her head. “You might not want to do that unless you mean it.”
She snaps the lead rope onto Flash’s halter and we start walking side by side out to the pasture.
