Getting Ahead by Emily Cale Page A

ache. If he were half as commanding in the bedroom as he was out here, she wouldn’t be able to control herself. “Deal.”
    He stepped aside and motioned for her to lead the way. Black Lightning was still standing by the fence, obviously bored by the whole situation. She climbed into the saddle and steered him back around to the starting point.
    “You need to close your eyes and go for it.”
    Amber’s heart pounded. It sounded so easy when he said it.
    “Imagine the best ride you ever had and try to repeat it.”
    She knew exactly what to focus on. Last year, the first event of the season, and she’d come out on top. Every step and every turn was perfect. There was a rhythm that they’d found that she wasn’t sure they’d ever have again.
    “Your horse knows what to do.”
    She leaned in, rubbing his neck for a minute. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself and took off.
    The whole time, she braced for the fall. With each turn, her chest and throat tightened, expecting to be flying through the air. The whole thing took less than thirty seconds, but it seemed to last forever. When they finally made it to the end of the straightaway and Black Lightning slowed, she finally allowed her body to relax. Every muscle hurt from being clenched so long, but she didn’t care. The whole run reminded her how much she enjoyed the thrill. It was nowhere near her fastest time. Her pockets, the space between the horse and the barrel, were far larger than they should have been. It might not have been good enough to put her in the top of an amateur event, but it was enough to remind her of the ecstasy she felt when she competed.
    ***
     
    They barely made it inside the door. The instant the door closed, he pressed his body against hers, covering her mouth with his. At first, his kiss was forceful, his tongue commanding her lips to allow it entrance. As she gave way, his touch became lighter, more sensuous. His hands gripped her hips, steering her across the room to the couch. The minute she’d gotten off Black Lightning, they’d made a mad dash for his quarters. Between the built-up sexual tension and the thrill of actually riding again, her body was ready for anything.
    Grasping at his buttons, she pulled apart the shirt, revealing his chest. She ran the tips of her fingers over his skin and hair, breathing in deeply and trying to control herself. Already, her body ached to have his cock inside her. She could feel it pressing into her thigh, and all she could think of was getting his pants off and being able to explore his body more thoroughly.
    He didn’t let her, though. Instead, he kept his hips just out of her reach, forcing her to focus her attention on his upper body. Rubbing her hands over his muscular chest, she could feel his heart beating nearly as fast as her own. Panting, she tried to keep her mind clear, but it clouded with thoughts of his body, emerging from the water, dripping and completely naked. Her knees felt weak and flimsy as she leaned against the edge of the couch. No longer able to handle her own weight, she placed a hand on the arm and fell back onto the cushions, pulling him down on top of her.
    For a brief moment, he seemed shocked, his eyes big and mouth wide open, but he recovered quickly, pressing his hands against her cheeks and capturing her mouth with his. Once again, she reached for his belt, and he allowed her to remove the buckle and access the button and zipper. As she did, he started fumbling with the buttons on her shirt. Lacking the dexterity to deal with all the little clasps, he yanked the two sides apart, sending buttons clattering to the floor.
    “I’ll get you a new one later.” His low voice hummed against her ear. Reaching his hand down, he clasped one of her breasts in his hand, then fondled it. She thanked God she’d worn one of her nicer bras today. As he released his grip, his fingers traced along the edge of the cup, brushing the lace. A shiver went through her body as