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I tucked my fingers beneath the fabric and we simply stood still, letting me finally start to warm up. The world around me stilled, as I let myself sink into her touch, and closed my eyes. She slowly slid her hands up to my arms, and gently rubbed them back and forth, pressing more heat into my skin.
Eventually, she pulled her arms away from my frame and disappeared. But I remained frozen, standing a moment longer, taking a deep breath and soaking in that singular, blissful moment. Then I shrugged the blanket off, and as quickly as I could, I picked up the rest of Darla’s riding tack from the trailer, and whisked back out of the crisp, winter’s night air.
Tenley was talking softly to the mare, running her hand over her face, and I paused to watch for a moment when I stepped back into the barn. She may not know how to ride, but she had a way with these animals. A love and passion for them, which obviously made her really good as a vet.
Bells rang outside, snapping me from my brief spell.
Hustling over, I ran a quick brush across Darla’s coat, picked out her hooves, and tossed the saddle on her back. The movement helped warm me up, along with being a little sheltered from the outside air, and the blanket from earlier. Tenley watched closely and I reached under the horse’s belly, grabbing the cinch.
“Come here.” I waved Tenley over and stepped sideways. She looked at me and then back at the piece of equipment that I was holding. A vital piece of tack that, if not done right, would cause us to fall off.
Gingerly, she grabbed the cinch from my hand and stepped up to the latigo that was tied neatly around the ring. I pointed at the piece of leather, she unraveled it, and let it dangle in front of her. I moved to her back and wrapped my arms around her.
She inhaled sharply, her breath rising in a fog as my fingers brushed across her own hand. Quietly, I guided her hand as she moved the latigo through the ring on the cinch and back up through the D-ring on the saddle. Looping it again, I silently helped her tie off the cinch tightly and then let my arms fall to my sides.
And neither of us moved.
It was as if she wasn’t breathing; the entire world sucked in its own oxygen and held it.
Waiting.
My own skin danced with goosebumps as my heart thumped loudly in my chest. Alone. We were entirely alone.
I remained locked, frozen, and bound behind this woman as her hair swayed in the soft breeze. It whispered across my chest, my breath hitching. She didn’t move, her hands stretched forward, still gently locked on the end of the latigo.
So I took my chance. Reaching forward with my left hand, I tenderly brushed my fingers across her shoulder and traced them slowly, ever so slowly, down her arm. Tenley flexed her hand as I threaded mine into hers. Squeezing tightly, she softly began to lower our interlocked fingers to her waist.
I raised my other hand, and she placed her palm in mine. She trembled, the solitude around us so silent, I could hear my own heart.
Breathlessly, I allowed her to guide my fingers back to her body where she gently pressed it against her stomach.
Everything was still.
Even the muffled chatter from the outside world faded away.
Tipping her head back, she rested it against my chest and closed her eyes.
Pressing my left palm against her hip, she began to slide my other hand up from her stomach. The tips of my fingers were barely brushing against the fabric of her dress, but I could feel every breath she took. The pounding of her heart, as she continued to guide my touch higher and higher, thumped beneath my skin.
Her lashes fluttered as my stomach danced with desire, a slow burning heat forming.
I watched the movement across the plaid dress, as her fingers delicately moved mine like a whisper upwards. She paused, hesitating for a moment against her sternum, just below the buttons shaping her dress’s neckline.
Her chest was heaving. My entire body was sucked in, wrapped into this one moment as I waited.
Then she slowly trailed them upwards.
I inhaled sharply as she took her time with my hand that danced as light as a feather from one button to another.
Slowly, as if time stood still, up the middle of her chest.
One by one.
It felt as if the fabric disappeared beneath my touch as I squeezed her hip harder than intended. She slipped just the tips of my fingers beneath the neckline of her dress and gently swept it to the right. Up to her collarbone.
Then slowly she let go of my hand. But she didn’t open her eyes, nor did she pull away from me. Her chest continued to rise and fall heavily, matching my own. I remained still, frozen for a moment.
Softly, I gradually traced her skin, dragging my fingers from one side of her collarbone to the other. Sliding back to her neck, I paused and then wrapped my hand around her throat. A quiet gasp left her mouth. My heart felt like it was about to explode as I traced my thumb up to her jawbone and tipped her head sideways.
