Sheltered(23)

I don’t answer her. Instead I just growl as I take her hand and walk out of the bedroom, with Bear following us. Being in the bedroom with her is too much temptation and I’m not strong enough to last much longer knowing there’s a soft surface for me to fuck her on. Hell, I’ll take a hard one right now, but I’m trying not to go too fast.

“I think we both could use some fresh air,” I say and lead her to the back of the house.

When we get there, I jump on the Gator and hold my hand out for her to get in with me.

“What is this? Some kind of golf cart on steroids?” The look she has on her face is adorable and it makes me laugh. God, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much. “I thought you said I was going to get to ride a pony.”

“A horse, Cricket. And yeah, this is a fancy golf cart made for the farm. It’s going to take us out to the horses. Unless you want to walk a couple of miles in your new shoes.” I make a point to look down at her feet and then back up at her.

“Fine. But I better at least see a pony,” she says before getting in.

I immediately pull her right beside me and wrap my arm around her before I take off. She melts into my side without hesitation. When we get to the top of the little hill behind the house, most of the plantation from either side is visible.

“Is this all yours?” she asks as she looks around. “It’s so beautiful.” I hear the awe in her voice as she looks down one side and sees the fields of peach trees.

We both woke up before the sun, mostly because we went to bed so early. Or maybe because I was excited to just be with her today. Either way, I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride before breakfast and she seemed to like the idea.

“It goes on for miles,” she says, and I don’t know if she’s thinking about how isolated she is or if she finds that comforting. I don’t ask because I don’t want to bring up the reminder that I’ve taken her when everything feels so normal right now. A normal couple. I like it even if I know we will never be normal. Even if she comes to accept what is happening and chooses to be here. The obsession and need I have for her will never be normal.

“On the other side of that little hill is the barn. But you can look back and see the house behind us.”

She turns back, and I laugh when she curses.

“Are you kidding me? That thing is a freaking mansion.” She whips around to look at me. “Ryker, who are you?” Her voice is soft now and laced with curiosity.

“I invested well, and my family comes from money. My daddy started a business when I was young, and when I got older I helped him run it. I still do, but I’m taking some time off at the moment,” I say, looking at her and winking.

“Hmmm.” She makes a sound but doesn’t say anything else. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I feel the need to impress her.

“I took over the family business, but I more than doubled the profits in the first year. When I made my own money, I used it to buy my daddy out so he could retire. Now he and my mom get to sit back and live the good life while I’m the one working and building my own way.”

“And now you like peaches and horses?” she asks, and I’m surprised when she gives me a playful nudge.

“I like peaches because they remind me of you. The way you smell. And I like horses because I’m a man raised in the south.” I watch her cheeks pinken once again. She bites her lip, looking away from me.

When we get to the barn, the horses are ready to go, but I take Blair inside to see the ponies like she asked.

“They’re so cute,” she says, smiling from ear to ear as she feeds them apples.

“You better stop, or Diamond is going to get jealous,” I say and point to the white horse at the end of the stable.

“Who?” she asks, looking up and seeing the mare. “Oh, wow she’s beautiful.” Her face lights up.

“She’s yours,” I say and lead her out to her.

“Mine?” Her eyes are wide with shock, but her face is nothing but happiness.

“She’s gentle and should be a good first horse for you. She’s smart, so if you give her a command she’ll listen,” I say as I help her mount the horse and give her the reins. “I’ll be right beside you the whole time, so you’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” she says, sounding a little nervous but excited. “Who is that?” she asks, looking at my horse.

“This is Memphis. He’s her stud,” I answer and then wiggle my eyebrows at her.

She rolls her eyes, but she laughs, and every time I hear that sweet sound I know I made the right decision to bring her here.

I give her a quick lesson on how to lead Diamond, and then we take off at a slow pace. “See how Memphis is ready to go faster? His feet move up and down and he wants to take the lead. But he also doesn’t want to go without his woman, and she’s protecting her rider.”

“Will he be okay to go slow?” Blair asks as she reaches out to pet Diamond’s mane.

“He’ll wait for as long as it takes,” I answer without taking my eyes off of her, letting my words sink in.

As we make our way to the creek, Blair is chatting away about always wanting to ride a horse but never being able to. She tells me about seeing one at a circus she snuck into and how she thought all horses had feathers on their heads until she was in middle school. She talks nonstop, and the sound of her happiness makes me happy, too. I stay quiet, but I hang on every word she has to say.