Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
I put my left foot in his hands and prepare to hook the other over the saddle.
Looking down, I realize how close Colton is.
Close enough that his face is practically in my butt. Or the side of it anyway.
Dear Lord, please let my ass look cute in these sweats. Then again, does anyone’s ass look cute in sweats?
Colton’s eyes are piercing when they meet mine. “On the count of three, I’m gonna lift ya. Push off the ground with your other foot. Ready?”
“No. But also yes?”
“I need a straight yes, Dallas.”
Why do I feel like he’s not talking about mounting the horse? “Yes.”
“There we go.” Then he looks away and starts counting off way too quickly. Next thing I know, he’s pushing my left leg upright and I’m trying to toss my right leg over the curve of the saddle.
My stomach lurches as I fly upward. I somehow manage to swing my leg over the horse, and then—
Holy God, I’m actually sitting in the saddle, and I’m not falling off this time.
I feel very high up as Colton hooks my feet into the stirrups. His hands linger half a beat too long on my calves, and the heat of his touch spreads up my legs and gathers low in my core.
He hands me the reins. “Remember, the horse picks up on your energy, so be confident, yeah? You got this. Now what you wanna do is keep your legs relaxed—”
“Right. That’s what Nash told me.”
Colton flashes me a smirk. “I’m a better teacher than Nash.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“You’re not falling yet, are you? And there are not one but two handsome cowboys in the vicinity.”
“I am handsome.” Dean squints at us. “But why are you guys talking so much? Let’s go.”
Colton gives me a few more pointers: keep my thumbs up, squeeze with my legs to change speed or directions, keep my back straight but my hips loose. I wouldn’t say he’s being overly kind, but he is taking his time with me, which makes me hate him slightly less.
Slightly.
When he’s done, he climbs back onto his horse and pulls on his gloves.
“That’s it?” I ask. Cream Puff ducks his head to munch on some grass.
Colton nods. “That’s it.”
Dean urges his horse into a walk. “Woo-hoo! Let’s go, guys! Best day ever!”
I’m a nervous wreck at first. Horses are so much bigger when you’re on them, and it takes me a while to get used to the rhythm of Cream Puff’s movements. Practicing on that saddle in the barn the other day didn’t help one freaking bit.
Colton rides beside me as we head out into an open pasture beside my apartment. At one point, he reaches over and presses a hand against my spine.
“Remember to sit up straight. If you start hunching over, you’re gonna get hurt.”
Why do you care? “Okay.”
“You actually look decent in the saddle, Dallas.”
I glance at Dean, who’s far enough ahead of us that he’s out of earshot.
“You’re actually a gigantic dickhead,” I reply.
He grins, the skin at the edges of his eyes crinkling. “Still salty about…well, that stunt I pulled with something else salty, huh?”
My stomach turns over at him bringing that up. “You’re rude.”
“You liked it.”
I scoff. “You’re the one who—never mind.” I shake my head. “Let’s move on, yeah?”
“I ain’t letting you out of my sight. Something happens to you, my dad’ll have a shit fit. It’s not a good look for us if people are getting hurt on the ranch. Even if they are amateurs.”
“Aw, be honest. You’re still sore you made the amateur move of not locking those handcuffs.”
His eyes meet mine. “Would an amateur make you come that hard?”
I decide not to answer that question and focus on staying in this goddamn saddle. Doesn’t help that my center meets with the pommel as the horse walks, stoking sparks into flames.
I don’t want to be turned on by Colton’s teasing. His obscenity. That fucking squint.
But I am, and that kills me.
It’s beautiful out here. A mist has settled over the pasture, and we chase it toward the strengthening sun. The world is painted in shades of green and gold, and it smells like fall: earth and leaves and a cool cleanness that sends a rush through me when it hits the bottom of my lungs.
The world opens up around us as the mist dissipates, and I feel the vastness of it inside my chest as we plod forward. There’s something soothing about the horse’s steady, certain stride. My mind begins to clear as my body settles into an even rhythm.
“Lainey!” Dean exclaims. “Look! You’re doing it!”
The horse hits a divot, and I lurch a little to the side. Colton is there to catch me, though, curling his hand around my side to help me straighten. It’s all I can do not to shudder.