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Taking her time, she stroked her pussy through the lessening contractions as she worked to calm her breathing and pounding heart. Nan didn’t realize she still clutched the remote in her other hand until the fog cleared and the soft pulses against her clit still continued. Turning it off, she breathed a sigh of relief as the lingering, throbbing ache of her abused nub slowly ebbed. Compared to the orgasms she’d achieved under a hard-edged Dom’s painful commands, this one was just a small pop, but hey, she mused, pushing away from the door, she would take what she could get. And right now, she felt pretty damn good.
After removing the toy and washing up, Nan changed into denim shorts and a blue tee sporting a large teacup, the tea bag string hanging over the side reading ‘tea shirt’. Returning downstairs, she slid behind the wheel, her body relaxed, her optimism restored as she drove out to Dan’s place hoping she’d given him enough time to get himself under control.
As the neat, dark red, white trimmed buildings of the Shylock ranch came into view, Nan experienced a quick spurt of excitement. Parking in front of Dan’s two-story log and cedar siding home, she slid out of her car unsure if it was the anticipation of spending time with Belle or more time with Master Dan she was looking forward to most. Her orgasm left her relaxed enough to shove aside worries over what his reaction might be to hearing more about her ordeal, and as she strolled toward the horse stable, she vowed to continue thinking along positive lines.
The scent of fresh hay and a soft whinny greeted her as she entered the dim, cooler interior of the smallest outbuilding and she spotted Pete and another man outside Belle’s stall. The young filly caught sight of Nan, her ears perking up as Pete adjusted a halter around her head.
“I think she’s grown in the short time since I saw her last,” she said as she joined them. Smiling, she held out her hand to the dark-haired Hispanic next to Pete. “Hi. I’m Nan.”
“I’m Morales. Nice to meet you,” he returned with an engaging smile, squeezing her hand. “The boss said you would be out. He hasn’t returned from his ride yet, but you can take Belle out to the corral, if you want.”
“I’d love that. Pete, how are you?”
“Ma’am. I’m good. It’s nice to see you again, and it looks like our girl here is happy to see you again, too.” He stroked the filly’s neck and she put her head over the stall gate, giving Nan a nudge.
With a laugh, she pulled a sugar cube from her pocket. “May I?” she asked the guys, figuring they would know the foal’s diet.
Pete shrugged. “Sure, she likes her treats.”
As Nan held her palm out flat for the horse to take the sweet cube, Pete clipped a lead to the ring dangling from the halter around her nose. Handing her the end, he stepped back and opened the gate. “Go on out that side door, which leads right into the corral. We’ll be in here if you need help.”
“Thanks guys.” Beaming, she led her baby out into the late afternoon sunshine, Morales’ voice reaching her before the door shut.
“Think she’s the reason for the boss taking off the way he did when he returned? Damn, I’ve never seen him so pissed.”
“Me either, but…”
The door shut, bloc
king the rest of Pete’s reply, but Nan heard enough to know Dan hadn’t calmed down by the time he’d returned to the ranch. With luck, his ride would give him the time and space he needed to work through the shock of her revelation. She had to remember she’d had months to come to terms with those scars, and how she got them, and she still couldn’t cope well with the memories. As she moved to the center of the corral, let the long lead out and tugged Belle into walking a wide circle around her, she decided it would be in the best interest of her female friendships to reveal that ugly remnant of the abuse as soon as possible. They might not forgive her if one of them heard it from someone else.
Not that she didn’t trust Dan, but if she agreed to hook up with him Friday night at the club, there was a much better chance now of her stripping naked than before she’d agreed to his offer of help. She sifted her fingers through her hair, pushing it back away from her face and tightening her grip on the lead as Belle tossed her head, eager to pull away when she spotted her mama out in the pasture. Dan mentioned she’d finished weaning just two weeks ago, so it wasn’t surprising she still wanted the comfort of her mother. Nan pulled with steady, gentle insistence until Belle settled down and then clicked to encourage her back into a slow walk.
“I know, sweetie, it’s hard being away from mommy, isn’t it?” Sixteen years had passed since Nan lost both her parents, and she still missed them. The only thing she could be grateful for now was they’d been spared knowing about the trauma she’d endured. Shaking her head, she tilted her face up to the sun, letting the heat wash away the cold chill her thought provoked. She didn’t want anything to mar the enjoyment of getting acquainted with Belle.
Dan reined in Tank as he spotted Nan in the corral with Belle. Slowing the steed to a trot and then a walk before pulling him to stop, he and Tank’s chests heaved with their labored breathing from the vigorous ride and effort it had taken to reunite a stray calf with its mother. He hadn’t planned on working when he’d lit out across the pasture, but when they’d come across the problem, the physical exertion turned out to be a welcome diversion from his thoughts.
His first inclination upon returning to the ranch had been to release his rage on his punching bag again but didn’t think his bruised knuckles could handle it. A shiver racked his body as he eyed her across the field, wondering about the torments she’d suffered. Leaning his forearm on the pommel, he let Tank graze as he enjoyed the view of Nan’s long bare legs, as sleek and toned as the filly’s. She’d succeeded in introducing Belle to the lead already, the young mare now trotting around her in a graceful circle even though she kept turning her head to seek out her mama.
Dan straightened on a deep inhale as Tank shifted under him. Hell, he swore, given his volatile reaction to her nightmares the other night and to learning about her scars today, maybe he wasn’t the right man, the right Dom to help her through this. Maybe someone who didn’t have a history with her, or a valued friendship would be better suited to aid in her recovery. Someone with more objectivity, like… fuck it. It didn’t matter which name he picked; he didn’t like the thought of turning her over to anyone else. Damn it, she was his, for now at least, and he would see this through if it killed him.
With a booted nudge, he prodded Tank toward the stable, and the woman who had succeeded in twisting him up in knots without realizing it. “She’s looking good,” he complimented her as he reached the rail and dismounted. “It’ll be another eighteen months before we can start on saddle training and riding, but at the rate she’s growing, she’ll be a hand taller than her mama and a good hundred pounds heavier.”
Nan smiled as she slowed Belle and met her halfway in the corral until the filly butted her head against Nan’s chest. Even wearing a bra, the move jiggled the full mounds and Dan had no trouble recalling the softness of her lush figure. She laughed and opened her hand with a sugar cube, which promptly disappeared into Belle’s mouth. Giving the saddle cinch a loosening pull, he tossed over his shoulder, “You’ll spoil her if you keep that up.”
“Good. She deserves to be spoiled. How was your ride?”
Necessary. He slid the saddle off Tank and tossed it over the rail before looking back and nailing her with a direct gaze. “Long and rigorous enough for me to settle myself down.”
She blew out a breath but didn’t glance away as she replied in her forthright manner, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. You are the one who insisted on knowing.”
That tart reminder almost teased a smile out of him. Almost. Before Dan could think straight again, he needed to see for himself the physical damage she was living with. “You’re right. Let’s turn these two loose and put our gear up.”
Nan flicked him a wary look as he hefted the saddle over his shoulder, grasped her elbow and led her into the tack room in the back of the stable. Since the stalls were cleaned and the stable was empty, he guessed Bertie had already given Pete and Morales another chore, which worked well for him.
Hanging up the lead, she turned to face him, one slim brow winging up with her wry look as he walked over to shut the door. “Why do we need the door closed and locked?”
Dan wished he knew if the pink tinge staining her cheeks came from too much sun or was a positive sign of anticipation. Tossing his hat on top of the saddle he’d placed over a wooden horse, he stalked toward her only intending to look at her back. “I need to see, here, where we’re alone and you don’t have to fret over anyone else looking.” At her shaky nod, he took her shoulders and turned her around. “Brace your hands against the wall,” he instructed, sliding his hands under her tee shirt and pushing it up.
