She led Misty along the wide aisle to the stall she’d reserved and coaxed her inside. The mare stood obediently still, waiting for the tack to be removed and the soothing sponge bath she knew was coming.
“People make adjustments,” Liz pointed out. “Alex and I did. So did Katie and Reece. So do a lot of people.”
“Yeah, I hear you. Maybe I’m just not at that point yet.”
“Maybe. But don’t wait too long,” Liz warned. “Or what you want may not be there when you decide you’re ready for it.”
Trish disconnected and stuck the phone in her back pocket. She really didn’t want to think about everything Liz had said to her. She and Jake had only really known each other twenty-four hours, yet there were people she’d known for years she didn’t link with this way. And last night had been beyond incredible. She could still feel the heat on her skin from the wand and the aftereffects of the little charges racing through her body.
And the Shibari rigging. The man definitely was an expert. She shivered at the remembrance of the rigging he’d constructed so artfully, the silk so cool on her skin yet at the same time hot. The way he kept adjusting it so her body wouldn’t be strained in one position for too long. She had a sense he’d been holding back, too. Jake Keenan gave off the vibes of a full-out Dom who didn’t give his subs any wiggle room. So why had he held back with her? Was he testing her?
He’d taken such good care of her afterwards. The tenderness he showed her was incredible. And sleeping in his arms had been pure bliss, her abused body soothed by the balm he’d massaged into it and the warmth of him curled around her.
The bath this morning hadn’t been too shabby, either. Jake apologized for the absence of bath salts, but that actually made her feel better. It meant he didn’t bring his subs home on a regular basis. She was special. They soaped each other and lazily rinsed off while he told her in very explicit terms what he planned to do with her the next time they were together. She was still pulsing with sensation at the memory.
Could she be happy settling in one place? Getting off the circuit?
Could I be driving myself any crazier?
She removed Misty’s tack and set it on the top of the stall door for the time being. Then she lifted the sponge from the bucket she had waiting, squeezed out the excess water and began to run it over the mare’s skin.
“You can sponge her all you want to, but it won’t make her any better.”
The edgy voice sliced into the stall, and Trish squeezed the sponge convulsively. The sound of the voice set her teeth on edge.
Don’t say anything. Ignore her. She’ll go away.
But getting rid of Lily Kirklin was easier said than done. For the past four years, she’d been a pain in Trish’s ass at every competition. The past few months, she’d made it a point to arrive early enough to select the best stall location for her horse, the best parking place for her truck. If anyone from the media came around to interview her—a reporter, a feature article writer, a blogger, a photographer—Lily made it her business to edge Trish aside, elbowing her way into the situation with her flashy clothes, brash voice, and sexpot attitude.
And every time Trish won a competition, Lily could be heard trash talking her wherever the rodeo competitors hung out. She tried not to let it bother her, but it was really getting old. The woman could better use her time and energy perfecting her skills, and she wouldn’t have anything to complain about.
“Hey!” A hand slapped the stall door. “Did you hear me in there? You’re lucky that nag of yours has lasted as long as she has. I think both of you are about at the end of the trail.”
Trish tossed the sponge in the bucket and turned. Lily stood framed in the stall opening in one of her tight, glitzy T-shirts wearing ten pounds of makeup and a black cowboy hat with rhinestones. Her sidekick, Donna Lamson, stood just to the left of her.
“Aren’t you just a bit overdressed for the middle of the day?” Trish gave the woman a sly smile. “Or are you off showing one of the judges your, um,
assets
.
”
“It’s not me trying to get an edge with the judges,” Lily sneered. “Everyone knows exactly how you get all those firsts.”
“I get them with hard work and a top performance.” Trish drew in a breath and let it out slowly. She was not going to let Lily bait her. She had work to do, and it didn’t leave time for a catfight with a piece of trash like Lily Kirklin. “Think whatever you want. But we both know the truth.”
“Am I interrupting something?”
The last person Trish expected to see here today was Jake, but she was damn glad for the sight of his rough masculine face and his lean muscular body. Lily let her gaze travel the length of Jake’s body, her lips upturned in a predatory smile.
“Back again, handsome? I’d be happy to show you around the rodeo.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already got a guide.” He looked at Trish. “Ready for lunch?”
“I am. Just let me finish cleaning up here.”
“A word of warning,” Lily sniffed, her gaze directed at Trish. “I know you’re cheating, and I’m going to prove it. Your reign as queen of the rodeo is going to come to an end with a big bang.”
“Whatever. Now excuse me. I’m busy.”
“Whew!” Jake took off his hat and fanned himself with it. “She could have fried you with that gaze.”
“Tell me about it.” Trish picked up the bucket and let herself out of the stall. “I just can’t worry about her.”
“I know her kind. She’ll make any trouble for you if she can.”
“I’m ready for her. My reputation speaks for itself.” She cocked her head. “Are you really here to take me to lunch?”
“I am.” He winked. “I had a taste for something, and since I didn’t think your body would be available, I figured the next best thing would do.”
“Don’t you have stuff to do at the ranch?”
“Yeah, but we’ve got stuff pretty well under control. I can take a lunch break without things falling apart.”
Trish dumped the water, squeezed out the sponge, and carried them back to the stall where she hung the pail on a nail. When she turned back to him, he was so close his body was touching hers.
“Um…” She tried to sidestep.
Jake put his hands loosely on her upper arms. “I’d love to kiss you right now, but I don’t want to do anything that would embarrass you. This is your professional arena.” His gaze burned into hers. “But stick this in the back of your mind. Right now, I wish we were alone so I could strip you out of those clothes. I’d take one of those ropes from the tack room and tie you spread-eagled to those nails in the wall, then tease your sweet pussy with that wand until you begged me so hard to let you come you’d do whatever I wanted.”
Heat surged through her body like a blast furnace, her nipples hardened, and in an instant her panties were soaked. When she squeezed her thighs together, Jake caught the slight movement and a muscle jumped in his cheek. She ran her tongue over her lower lip, and his hands tightened on her arms.
“Do you know what it does to me when you do that thing with your tongue?” he asked.
“No.” She did it again, more slowly. “Tell me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re a little tease, you know that? I think I need to plan some suitable punishment for you.”
“Is that right?”
“Uh huh. You don’t compete again until Saturday, right?”
She nodded.
“So I’m thinking tomorrow night might be the appropriate time for me to hand out a little discipline.”
She frowned. “Not tonight?” Did he have other plans? She hated the fact that the thought bothered her. Then the words popped out before she could shut her mouth. “Do you have something to do?”
“Yeah, I do.” He moved his head so close to hers she could feel his breath on her face. “I’m spending tonight with you. But I want to give you some time to recover from last night.” He rubbed his hands lightly up and down her arms. “I have to take good care of my sub.”
“Is that what I am?” She tilted her head slightly. “Your sub?”
“At least for now.” That muscle jumped again. “I told myself I wasn’t going to push you, Trish, and I’m not. But I’m not going to let you ignore the fact there’s something more than sex between us. We’ve got two weeks before you pack up and leave. Let’s see where we are then, okay? Meantime, your free time belongs to me.”
“Okay.” She whispered the word.
Other Doms had given her orders or made dictatorial statements like that before, and she’d just nodded and played the game. The words hadn’t really meant anything. Now, though, with Jake, she knew already she was skirting danger yet she couldn’t turn away from him.
“For now, I need to feed another kind of hunger.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I meant it when I said I was here for lunch. One of the hands has a brother who runs a barbecue place during the rodeo. Cain says it’s the closest thing to heaven so I thought we’d try it. And it is lunchtime.”
Trish looked at her watch, shocked to see it was twelve-thirty. Where had the morning gone? Of course, she’d gotten a late start, thanks to that incredible bath and some slow vanilla early morning sex.
Her stomach chose that moment to send out a loud grumble, and Jake chuckled. “Yeah, you’re hungry. Come on.”
He might be circumspect about kissing her in front of people, but he had no qualms about linking his fingers with hers as they strolled to the food area. They took their barbecue and drinks when they got them and found a picnic table beneath a shady tree.
“Not too many people around right now,” Jake observed, looking over the area.
“It’s Thursday,” she reminded him. “Kids are in school, people are working. Most of the people here today are either in the barns where the livestock exhibits are or at the cattle auctions.” She looked at her watch again. “There’s a junior horse show this afternoon, too, so people will be heading that way.”
“It’s nice being here when it’s not crowded. I’ve usually only shown up on weekends when it’s crazy.”
They munched in silence for a while, the heat of the sun eased by the gentle breeze blowing. The air was filled with the mingled scents of barbecue and funnel cakes, cattle and horseflesh. Trish never got tired of that particular perfume.
“When we were together Tuesday night, why didn’t you bring up the fact you were into BDSM?” Jake’s question cut into her thoughts and startled her.
Trish set her barbecue sandwich down on the paper plate. “It isn’t something you just go around blurting out to people.”
“True. But what about when we were naked with my cock inside you?” He leaned closer. “That would have been a good time to whisper to me about it.”
Trish took a sip of her drink while she collected her thoughts. “I didn’t bring it up for much the same reasons you didn’t, I’d guess. If you put it out there and the other person isn’t into the life, it can ruin a growing relationship.”
“Is that what we have here, Trish? A growing relationship?”
She concentrated on chewing a French fry, trying to figure out the best answer. “Maybe. I don’t know. Isn’t it too soon to tell? I’m just wondering why neither Reece nor Liz said anything to either of us.” She took another bite of sandwich, chewed thoughtfully, and washed it down with a swallow of her soda.
“Maybe they figured we’d find each other without it.” He put his own sandwich down and reached over, taking one of her hands in his. “Maybe they saw the chemistry already working between us and didn’t want to derail it.” He squeezed her hand. “And we do have chemistry, Trish. You know it, and so do I.”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts.” He touched his fingers to her lips. “Let’s just enjoy each other and see what happens, okay?”
She wanted to tell him this had nowhere to go, but every nerve in her body was snapping in his direction and deep inside her a voice was whispering
Go for it
. “Okay.”
“Yeah?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Yes. Let’s just see what happens here. But no expectations. Will you agree to that?”
The look he gave her was burningly intense. “We’re going to test each other. Find out what I like, what you like, and what works for both of us. That sound good to you?”
She thought about it for a minute. How could she possibly turn down two weeks of hot D/s sex with a man who pushed all the right buttons with her? “It does.”
“One rule, though.”
“Uh oh. Am I going to like this?”
“I hope so.” He leaned across the table. “No matter what I suggest, if it’s something that’s not in your wheelhouse, you tell me right away. And I mean immediately. There’s no penalty for being truthful.”
She studied his face for a long time. “Okay. But you act like that’s something important. If there are things you want that I’m not into, you can find another sub at Rawhide, can’t you?”
“I don’t want just anything here, Trish. Despite the fact you’ve given notice that in two weeks you head for the hills, I’m hoping to build something. Something that will make you want to come back. And stay.”
Her stomach wanted to tie itself in a knot, but she forced herself to relax. “Let’s make a deal. I’m good with everything you put on the table but that. No pressure, Jake, please?”
He took a long swallow of his drink and put the cup down. “Okay. I’ll be good. I promise.” Then he winked at her. “Or very bad. Your pick.”
“I’ll go for good,” she said and gave him a smile.
“Then how about dinner tonight? Someplace nice, where we can talk and just spend some time with each other.” He chuckled. “Outside the bedroom.”
She could feel herself already getting in too deep, but she couldn’t make herself walk away. She’d just have to stick to her plan and not let herself fall apart when the two weeks were up.
They walked over to throw their trash in a barrel. As they turned to head to the parking lot where Jake had left his truck, Lily and Donna suddenly materialized in front of Trish.
Trish lifted an eyebrow. “Are you stalking me? Is that all you have to do today?”
“Just keeping a sharp eye out,” Lily snapped. “Don’t think getting into the pants of the locals will help you when I expose you for the cheat that you are.”
Before Trish could respond she was gone, walking briskly across the open-air food court.