“No, not at this pace,” she admitted, enjoying the sway of their bodies to the horse’s steady movements. At least she didn’t have to worry about the open air feeling cooler as they rode away from the protection of the buildings, not with the heat of Kurt’s body spreading a slow warmth inside her. It was going to be a long ride.
He chuckled, the deep vibration in her ear popping up goosebumps under her sweater and jeans. “Think about the other rides you like to take at a faster, rougher pace.”
“Kurt…”
“Are you going to remind me you’re not sleeping with me again?”
How could he annoy and amuse her at the same time? Unable to answer her own question, she said, “Why waste my breath?” and settled back against him to enjoy herself.
They rode at a sedate walk for thirty minutes, Kurt pointing out the woods he played in as a kid, the trails he rode with Caden and the areas where they used to gather to party as teens. Guiding Atlas through a large herd of black cattle, he stopped to talk to his hired hands, addressing each by name, and told her what physical condition they wait for the cattle to achieve before sending them to auction to get the highest price.
Kurt brought up his sister when they rode away from the others, relaying the sad tale of Brittany’s death in a car accident as they traversed across the sweeping meadows blanketed with wildflowers and prairie grasses, bordered by forests of ponderosa pines, Douglas firs, spruce and aspen trees, the miles and miles of acreage broken up by an occasional island range. Her heart ached for the young girl who had turned in the wrong direction for help in coping with her mother’s death.
“Eighteen is so young to lose a parent and twenty way too young to die. I am so sorry. Is that why you moved to Houston? To get away from the painful memories?” Having buried her mother when Leslie had still been in her teens, she could empathize with their grief.
“No, that decision had more to do with my dad laying the blame on me for failing to get Brittany under control.”
The bitter sadness and underlying temper in his voice drew her head around, anger for the way Leland let his heartache get the better of him churning in her abdomen. “You know you did everything possible, don’t you?”
An indefinable emotion entered his eyes as he squeezed her waist and said gruffly, “I do. And it helps Dad finally admitted he was wrong to do so.” Kurt steered Atlas closer to the woods edge and Leslie caught the gurgling flow of a rushing stream coming through the trees. “I’ll take you fishing in a few days and then grill our catch,” he stated before turning Atlas around to start the trek back.
“Just don’t expect me to touch, clean or debone the things,” she replied, wrinkling her nose at the thought.
“You’re such a city girl,” he mocked, nudging the horse into a trot that jogged her against that hard frame.
His forearm muscles rippled under her hands as she clutched him, her mind shifting from slimy, flopping fish to the bulge her butt kept bouncing against. “Yes, I am,” she admitted, her breath catching as he leaned down to whisper, “Hold on, sweetheart.”
With a kick to his sides, the stallion took off, galloping at a speed that whipped her hair around her face, stole her breath and invigorated her senses. They sped by a shimmering lake, the deer getting a drink blurring along with the ground whizzing by below them. Leslie didn’t know what produced the full body buzz enveloping her by the time Kurt slowed Atlas down – the wild ride or being nestled so close to Kurt again, his thick quads bunching against her hamstrings, his wide chest cradling her shoulders and the sure grip of his hands controlling the strong horse as easily as he had her after getting her naked.
Hours later, as she sank her sore body into a hot bath later that night, the draining, emotion packed day had her second-guessing her hasty decision to end their Dom/sub relationship. Leslie moaned as the heat and soothing water loosened her muscles, but admitted she could use Kurt’s dominance right now to ease the tension of constantly questioning whether she’d made the right choices regarding the threat on her life.
Kurt awoke Monday dreading the day ahead. Rolling out of bed after spending another night without Leslie’s soft, naked body curled around him was only one of the reasons for his foul mood. Padding naked into the adjoining bath, he contemplated the merits and risks of yanking those tight jeans down, bending her over and spanking her ass until she begged for more and his frustration with her stubbornness abated. God knows he’d seen as much need for that action reflected in her eyes as he felt, and damn it, if something didn’t break in her case soon, he would quit suppressing that urge.
Stepping in the shower, the second reason for his ill temper intruded on the enticing image of Leslie’s reddened backside filling his head. He’d refused to come home on the anniversary of Brittany’s death in the last eight years, but given his father’s attitude since Kurt had returned, regardless of his acknowledgement Kurt wasn’t to blame, he was bracing for Leland’s mood to be as sour as when he’d driven Kurt away.
Funny, he mused as he lathered up. After knowing him less than two months, Leslie had turned to him the other day with confidence he’d done everything possible to help his sister after hearing the bare bones of his past. If he weren’t already in love with her, the warmth of that unconditional support that obliterated the cold from his father’s condemnation would have tipped the scales.
Kurt got dressed and headed into the kitchen, not surprised to see the vase of fresh flowers next to Brittany’s picture in the den. Babs always remembered this day, as well as holidays and his sister’s birthday.
“My two favorite girls,” he said as soon as he saw Leslie standing at the griddle next to Babs. “What are you cooking up this morning?” He dropped a kiss on Leslie’s head on his way to the coffee pot.
“Cinnamon rolls just came out of the oven and the eggs are about ready. Your dad refused to come out this morning.” Babs sighed and Leslie frowned, casting him a concerned look.
“Didn’t you expect that?” He squeezed Leslie’s shoulder as he snatched a warm roll. “I’ll take him a plate after I have a cup of coffee and eat this. I refuse to eat a cold breakfast to cater to him.”
Roy came in just then and made himself at home grabbing a plate and joining him, Leslie and Babs at the table. Having their silent support went a long way toward tempering his irritation and by the time he finished eating, he was in a somewhat better mood.
Tugging on Leslie’s hair as he stood, he said, “As soon as I see to a few things, I’ll return and take you riding again. I have a docile mare you’ll like.” Her eyes lit with pleasure and she leaned her head into his hand, a gesture lost on the other couple, but not on him.
“If you think I can handle riding solo, I’m game. I’ll be ready when you are.”
“That’s my girl.” Satisfied, he filled a
plate for Leland and took a fortifying breath as he strode down the hall.
His father’s strident voice reached him as he entered the master bedroom, dashing his hopes for another surprise change of heart today. “Don’t argue, just cancel the damn appointment!”
“If that’s what you want.”