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“What caused this flare-up, Tyler?” Finley asked.
“I just tried to brush her,” the dark-haired guy said. He pulled a brush from behind his back, and the horse started kicking again.
“Someone hurt her with a brush before,” Kieran said. Nellie looked in his direction when he spoke. She stopped trying to kick her way out of the paddock and pranced a few feet away from Tyler. “Lose the brush,” Kieran called out, and the trainer tossed the item over the fence. Nellie volleyed her attention between the handler and Kieran before settling on the newcomer. “No one’s going to hurt you here,” Kieran told her. His voice was softer and gentler than he dreamed he was capable of, and Nellie seemed slightly appeased. Her eyes weren’t as big, and her pawing decreased. “That’s a good girl,” Kieran said as Tyler slowly approached with a carrot. Nellie accepted the peace offering, and the handler moved around her with more confidence.
“Atta girl, Nellie,” Tyler cooed as he gently petted her neck.
“Amazing,” Finley said softly beside him. Kieran felt his stare and turned to meet his gaze. “I’ll be damned if Cash wasn’t spot on about you.”
Kieran clamped his jaw tight and swallowed his response. He guaranteed Cash hadn’t pegged him right or he wouldn’t be there. Once Nellie settled down, they returned to the barn to continue working. By the time they finished, Kieran ached in places he never knew existed.
“I think you’ve had enough for one day,” Finley said as he handed Kieran an ice-cold bottle of water from the refrigerator in the break room. “You did great work.”
“Don’t take pity on me,” Kieran replied. “I will pull my weight around here.”
Finley gestured to the completed tasks on the clipboard. “You have, and you’ve earned a shower and a fresh change of clothes. I’ll show you to your cabin and let you retrieve a few more outfits from the store. There will be basic supplies like soap, shampoo, and deodorant in your cabin to get you started, but Cash will advance part of your check so you can go into town and buy the supplies you want.”
Kieran didn’t mention his expired license. He was stretched too tight, overstimulated, and needed some quiet time to process. He’d worry about getting a ride to town with someone at a different time. “Thank you.”
Finley stopped outside a cabin and gestured to the door. “Cash has a set of keys so you can lock the place up for privacy. You have your own bathroom and access to satellite television. It’s a pretty sweet setup. Harry, or someone on her crew, cleaned the cabin and stocked it with the essentials. You’ll keep it clean going forward, okay?”
“Yeah, of course,” Kieran replied, then winced when a muscle spasmed in his lower back.
“I have a special salve my mom made for aching muscles. I’ll make sure you get some too. You’re strong and fit, but you’ll need it for the first few weeks.” A protest danced at the tip of his tongue until Finley added, “We all need it from time to time. Dinner is at six sharp. Don’t be late.”
“Or Harry will make me pay?” Kieran asked.
Finley laughed and shook his head. “Not about that, but the rest of the hands will devour your share. They’re like animals.”
Recalling the lunch he’d had, Kieran couldn’t blame them. “I won’t be late.”
“See you at dinner.”
Kieran watched him walk away before heading to the general store. He chose two more outfits and a few packs of socks and underwear. Kieran might double up on his socks to cushion against the leather boots. He already had blisters forming and thought the extra padding might help. Kieran filled out the form on the clipboard, marveling again at the honor system Cash trusted the ex-cons to use before heading back to his cabin.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The space was barely big enough for the full-size bed, loveseat, and television, but it was a thousand times nicer than his previous accommodations. The décor was a standard Western theme of bears, moose, trees, and mountains on a red-and-black plaid background. No orange in sight, thank fuck. He had a microwave and coffee pot on the counter and a small refrigerator nestled below it. The bathroom was barely big enough to turn around in, but Kieran liked how the shower curtain and small rug matched the rest of the cabin. He looked at the mirror and studied his reflection. He looked tired and weary, but he couldn’t deny the shimmer of pride in his eyes after a day of hard work.
Kieran’s gaze shifted to the shower. He hadn’t washed by himself for too long and couldn’t resist the lure any longer. He turned on the faucet, expecting it to take a long time to heat, but steam filled the room before he stripped down. Kieran stepped beneath the spray and moaned when hot water pelted his skin. The water pressure would probably feel average to most people, but it felt like a massaging caress to him. Kieran’s body came alive in ways it hadn’t during lockup, nerve endings sparking as his blood traveled south, plumping his dick and making his balls tingle.
There was no need for him to abstain any longer. Kieran could touch himself now without everyone on his cell block listening and knowing. He could moan and cry out as much as he wanted. Kieran tried to resist the pull, to maintain the mastery of his body, but the need was too great. His brain made a last-ditch effort to correct course, reminding him that just his hand wouldn’t be enough for long, and he’d seek pleasure with another person, opening himself up to rejection and betrayal. Kieran’s need to come, to feel alive, overrode the voice of reason that helped him during lockup. He tried to blame his weakness on his exhaustion or the water’s enticing sensation against his flesh, but he knew the source.
Kieran conjured up his image now, those green eyes and plush lips. He imagined Finley on his knees, begging for more with his gaze as Kieran fed his dick into Finley’s greedy mouth. The urge to fist his cock and get himself off fast pressed against his brain, but Kieran ignored it. He grazed his callused fingertips over his rigid flesh, relishing the tremors in his body and the need clawing at his gut. His balls tightened from the simple caress, and Kieran tilted his head back as he lifted his free hand to pinch his nipple and twist it.
The pleasure was so acute he cried out, nearly choking on a mouthful of water. His need to come overtook his desire to draw out the pleasure. The drag of his callused palm over sensitive flesh created the most delicious friction. Kieran would’ve preferred a slicker glide, but he didn’t want to stop and reach for the conditioner. His mind returned to mesmerizing eyes and a wicked tongue dancing around his cockhead, sucking it into a hot, welcoming mouth. Kieran shot his load after a few strokes. The intensity of his orgasm sent him to his knees, where tears of joy and shame racked his body.
Kieran remained there, panting through his anguish until his legs felt strong enough to support him. His body already craved the next orgasm before the tides of pleasure from the last one faded. He tipped his head under the stream and reminded himself he’d done nothing to warrant his guilt. Finley’s image formed behind his closed eyes, and he jerked them open and reached for the soap.
He made a deal with himself. He could jerk off as much as he wanted to, but he wouldn’t think of Finley Ashe while doing it. Should be easy enough now that the man was out of Kieran’s system.
The tantalizing aroma of tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Italian sausage greeted Finley when he entered Cash’s house. He wanted to arrive before everyone else to have a private conversation with his sister and perhaps grab a little snack while he was there. Harry was at the stove with her earbuds in place, humming and swaying side to side. Knowing her, she had the volume turned up so high an elephant could sneak up on her. He could’ve been a dick and scared her, something he’d done more times than he could remember, but Finley wanted to stay on her good side. Harry wouldn’t divulge coveted information if he scared her.
He helped himself to a few grapes from the fruit dish and leaned against the island, knowing she’d eventually turn around and spot him. A bowl of ricotta cheese sat on the counter along with dozens of cooked lasagna noodles resting on foil-lined cookie sheets. Kieran was in for a treat because Harry’s lasagna was the best. She made her meat sauce from scratch using tomatoes and herbs she grew on the ranch. Finley had mowed through the first handful of grapes and reached for a second when Harry turned around and squealed.
His sister covered her heart with both hands and aimed a mutinous glare at him. Then she briefly closed her eyes and cycled through a few deep breaths before meeting his gaze again. Harry removed her earbuds and dropped them into her apron pocket. “You’re an asshole, Fin.”
Usually, he’d feign innocence, but this time, his wide-eyed expression was legit. “What did I do? I was only standing here.”
She put both hands on her slim hips and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t play dumb with me. You knew damn well I didn’t hear you come in. You should’ve let me know you were here.”
