pocket
before her leaned over to look.
Briann was bent over the foot, her back to the front of the
horse her braid hanging down in front of one shoulder and Slade was now bending
over, his back to the rear of the filly, their heads separated by scant inches
as they each studied the foot, trying to detect any small injury. Then Slade
with one finger indicated a place just above the bulb of the heel, almost
covered by her hand.
“Look at that. Is it a cut?” His finger nudged her hand
back as they both lowered their heads for a closer look. His cap fell off as
they bumped heads, then each turned to look at the other. His eyes moved
quickly from her eyes to her mouth, remembering the sweetness of her kisses the
night before. Without straightening up, without thinking, he captured her
braid in one hand, holding her head steady when he leaned toward her. “Bri,”
he whispered softly as his lips touched hers.
Their heads were nose to chin, but it did nothing to curb to
fire that ignited as his lips touched hers. She slowly released the horse’s
foot and without allowing the kiss to end, they stood up. He folded her in his
arms and kissed her long and deep, reveling in her eager response.
He wasn’t drunk or dreaming and she was in his arms,
returning his kiss with a fire that took them both by surprise.
“Hey,” came a good natured yell from someone passing the
stall, “Get a room. This barn is G rated.”
Awkwardly they ended the kiss and stepped apart. It had
happened in the cold light of day, with at least one witness, so there was no
way to deny it or pretend it hadn’t happened. They just stood there for a long
uncomfortable minute looking at each other, neither knowing what to say, then
Slade bent, retrieved his cap and extended one large hand and took one of hers.
When he spoke, there was a roughness in his voice that
caused her skin to tingle. “Did you see that place I was trying to show you?”
Grateful for something else to occupy her mind, she nodded.
“It was so small. Do you think something like that would make her feel so
bad?” She was surprised at how normal her voice sounded. It certainly didn’t
reflect what was going on inside of her at the moment.
He shrugged. “If it’s getting’ sore, it might be just
enough to keep her from focusin’ on you.”
“I guess I’d better get some Corona to put on it. Maybe
it’ll feel better then, before I have to ride her this afternoon.” She started
to move past him, but one of his arms stretched across her waist to fasten at
her hip. He turned her to face him and slowly dropped his head for a quick
kiss, his other hand slipping up to cradle the back of her head.
“You’ll just have to get used to this.” He whispered, still
holding her face close to his. “It’ll probably happen a lot. You just taste
so damn good.”
He released her and his eyes followed her as she went to the
tack box in front of the stall and lifted the lid. She rummaged around for a
minute and then returned with the yellow, red and black tube of salve.
Slade lifted the filly’s leg and held it while Briann
applied a generous glob of the thick yellow salve to the tiny cut, making sure
she got some of it into the split. Being careful not to look at Slade, she
stood up and watched as he gently lowered the animals hoof into the shavings
that covered the floor of the stall. Then he stood up as well.
“Have you had lunch?” He asked, looking at his watch.
She shook her head negatively. “No.”
“That’s part of why I came lookin’ for you, this mornin’,”
Slade started. “I have to meet a man in a few minutes for lunch and would love
for you to come with me. I think you’ll enjoy goin’.”
She looked down at the pants and shirt she’d changed into
after the halter class. “I’m not sure I’ll make much of an impression.”
“You are perfect,” he said, his eyes openly appraising her
body
before her leaned over to look.
Briann was bent over the foot, her back to the front of the
horse her braid hanging down in front of one shoulder and Slade was now bending
over, his back to the rear of the filly, their heads separated by scant inches
as they each studied the foot, trying to detect any small injury. Then Slade
with one finger indicated a place just above the bulb of the heel, almost
covered by her hand.
“Look at that. Is it a cut?” His finger nudged her hand
back as they both lowered their heads for a closer look. His cap fell off as
they bumped heads, then each turned to look at the other. His eyes moved
quickly from her eyes to her mouth, remembering the sweetness of her kisses the
night before. Without straightening up, without thinking, he captured her
braid in one hand, holding her head steady when he leaned toward her. “Bri,”
he whispered softly as his lips touched hers.
Their heads were nose to chin, but it did nothing to curb to
fire that ignited as his lips touched hers. She slowly released the horse’s
foot and without allowing the kiss to end, they stood up. He folded her in his
arms and kissed her long and deep, reveling in her eager response.
He wasn’t drunk or dreaming and she was in his arms,
returning his kiss with a fire that took them both by surprise.
“Hey,” came a good natured yell from someone passing the
stall, “Get a room. This barn is G rated.”
Awkwardly they ended the kiss and stepped apart. It had
happened in the cold light of day, with at least one witness, so there was no
way to deny it or pretend it hadn’t happened. They just stood there for a long
uncomfortable minute looking at each other, neither knowing what to say, then
Slade bent, retrieved his cap and extended one large hand and took one of hers.
When he spoke, there was a roughness in his voice that
caused her skin to tingle. “Did you see that place I was trying to show you?”
Grateful for something else to occupy her mind, she nodded.
“It was so small. Do you think something like that would make her feel so
bad?” She was surprised at how normal her voice sounded. It certainly didn’t
reflect what was going on inside of her at the moment.
He shrugged. “If it’s getting’ sore, it might be just
enough to keep her from focusin’ on you.”
“I guess I’d better get some Corona to put on it. Maybe
it’ll feel better then, before I have to ride her this afternoon.” She started
to move past him, but one of his arms stretched across her waist to fasten at
her hip. He turned her to face him and slowly dropped his head for a quick
kiss, his other hand slipping up to cradle the back of her head.
“You’ll just have to get used to this.” He whispered, still
holding her face close to his. “It’ll probably happen a lot. You just taste
so damn good.”
He released her and his eyes followed her as she went to the
tack box in front of the stall and lifted the lid. She rummaged around for a
minute and then returned with the yellow, red and black tube of salve.
Slade lifted the filly’s leg and held it while Briann
applied a generous glob of the thick yellow salve to the tiny cut, making sure
she got some of it into the split. Being careful not to look at Slade, she
stood up and watched as he gently lowered the animals hoof into the shavings
that covered the floor of the stall. Then he stood up as well.
“Have you had lunch?” He asked, looking at his watch.
She shook her head negatively. “No.”
“That’s part of why I came lookin’ for you, this mornin’,”
Slade started. “I have to meet a man in a few minutes for lunch and would love
for you to come with me. I think you’ll enjoy goin’.”
She looked down at the pants and shirt she’d changed into
after the halter class. “I’m not sure I’ll make much of an impression.”
“You are perfect,” he said, his eyes openly appraising her
body
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