Chapter 19
“Are we continuing your riding lessons, or putting a pin in that while you sort out everything?” I asked Madison while she unpacked her few belongings in her nest suite. The others had all left for their respective jobs, but I had the morning clear.
I was pretty sure the answer would be delaying lessons, but felt compelled to check anyway. Lessons were how I’d been able to spend time with Madison, so I wasn’t eager to give them up while we explored our potential connection.
“I’ll probably have to change times once I have a work schedule, but I’d like to keep going with them.” She paused, tightly clutching the folded sweater she was about to put in a drawer. “Actually, never mind, I guess I don’t have any way to pay for them right now.”
It took my brain a half second to compute that last bit. “What do you mean, pay?”
“You can’t teach me for free.”
“The hell I can’t.”
“Leo—”
“It’s my time and I get to decide if I’m taking payment for it or not. Consider a lifetime of free lessons a courting gift, because you’re not putting a single dollar into my hands for it.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I’m trying to find a balance and you’re all making it difficult.”
“Balance with what?” I continued hovering in the doorway, too nervous to step over her threshold without a direct invitation.
The whole space smelled like her raspberry tarts now that she was letting her scent out.
More than anything, I wanted to gather her up in my arms and soothe the furrow between her brows with my purr.
“I let Tyler give me anything I needed and it left me in a really vulnerable position.” She gingerly tucked away her sweater and reached for another item out of the duffel bags, folding it carefully. “I don’t know what a safe amount of acceptance is with you guys.”
Madison had been hurt, all of us understood that, but rather than be frustrated with her, I was simply more pissed off than ever at Tyler. “Would it help to take steps that would ensure you’re safe no matter what happens?”
“What kind of steps? Also, you can come in here, you don’t have to hover.”
The tension in my body collapsed on my first step inside, and I had to focus on not letting my knees go out from under me.
“Take advantage of the free housing and put money aside. You won’t have to spend a penny on essentials with all four of us stepping up.
I’m not wealthy with my job, but Alve obviously is, so it’s a good opportunity.
You could sell off the jewelry from Tyler you don’t want to keep.
Amass a little nest egg you know you can rely on if it comes down to it.
As much as I would like to say what happened with Tyler will never happen with us, I know the only way you’ll believe that is through continued proof. ”
Madison stared at the garment in her hands. “I want to trust you guys, I promise I do. It’s not even that I don’t…”
I gave in to my desire and wrapped my arms around her, letting my fingers thread through her hair. “I know. I’m not taking it personally.”
It took her a second before she relaxed and wrapped her arms around me in return, her cheek resting against my chest. We were all alone in the quiet of the apartment, and thank goodness for that, because otherwise, I might’ve missed her quiet purr rumbling in response to mine.
“We’ve been speedrunning things,” I said softly, “but we can take it all slow. Everyone has to get to know each other. I’m going to trust that fate knows what it’s doing and that even if it’s not obvious right now, we’ll all end up discovering a comfortable way to coexist. Hopefully with fewer felonies in the future. ”
I preened when she giggled.
“I hope for that, too. I don’t know how to date. Maybe I’ve been out of the game for too long.” She melted a little more when I scratched her scalp.
“Considering more than half the pack is in their thirties, I think we’ve all been out of the game for too long.”
Madison curled her fingers in my shirt. “Why though? I thought you’d have people tripping over themselves to date you.”
“Interest has to be reciprocal.” I sighed. “I haven’t entertained a single possibility since we met. I guess us being scent matches explains why every other person in existence suddenly paled in comparison to you.”
She groaned, burying her face against my chest. “I felt so guilty liking you when I was still with Tyler.”
“You liked me?” I had sort of suspected, but the verbal confirmation was exactly what I needed. “Were the lessons because of that, or because you developed a spontaneous love of horses?”
“It was a convenient excuse to see you, but I really did fall in love with Eclipse, too, and I’d love to keep riding.”
“Well, in that case, why don’t we head over to see him? You don’t have to ride, but he would love the attention, and I’ll get to appreciate the view of you doting on him.”
I earned myself another giggle. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Hello there, beautiful boy,” Madison cooed at Eclipse.
Eclipse soaked up her attention like a sponge. It was cute as hell to watch the two of them together. I couldn’t tell who loved the other more. Eclipse was a pretty social horse with people, but he definitely had favorites, and it was easy to see Madison had immediately become one of them.
“I could put him on a lunge line so you have a little more freedom. You won’t have to worry about him sprinting off, not that he would.”
“I wouldn’t say no to a short ride. I can practice getting him all tacked up.”
Madison beamed as she collected everything she needed, double-checking with me that she was correct for each piece she selected. In no time, Eclipse was ready to go and Madison was swinging onto his back with the help of a mounting block to reach.
Once Eclipse was on the lunge line, we went out into the arena. We were alone for now, but not for long, so we might as well take advantage of the space.
“Take him wherever you’d like,” I instructed, letting her practice guiding Eclipse. He responded beautifully and she grinned from atop him. I still had to follow them, but the long line let me get fewer steps in. She took him on a few loops, her body relaxing slowly.
“How long until we can go faster?”
“We could attempt trotting,” I offered, “but there’s a specific pattern of movements you have to do so you don’t get jostled right out of the saddle.
” I carefully explained posting and had her try a few times while Eclipse was only walking.
“Good, that’s pretty much all you have to do, but you have to match his gait.
Give him a little squeeze with your thighs. ”
I made a clicking sound as she did so and Eclipse took off into a trot.
“Holy shit,” Madison gasped, struggling but eventually hitting the correct timing. “I thought I was gonna fly off for a second there.”
“Not impossible,” I said with a smile. “I learned on a way bigger horse and took a few tumbles while I was learning. Whenever you get tired of that, gently pull on the reins and say ‘whoa’ like we talked about.”
She did a couple more loops at a trot before giving herself a break. “I feel like my brain might be starting to scramble.”
Eclipse came to a stop and I walked over. “You did great for your first time.”
Her cheeks flushed and sweet raspberry filled the air around her. “You’re probably just saying that.”
“I’m not. You’ve just learned to walk on him, so trotting already and not falling off is good to see. Are you ready to get off, or do you want to walk him for a bit?”
“We can walk. I’m already feeling the ride in my thighs, but I’m determined to get more comfortable with it.”
I followed next to them while Madison circled the arena, surprising me by trying another stretch of trotting and getting the hang of it slightly faster than before.
“Hubris,” Madison said with a laugh. “I think I bruised a butt bone that time.”
“Hop down and walk it off.”
She swung her leg over, balancing her weight on one stirrup and I locked my hands on her hips, lowering her carefully. By the time her feet met the ground, I was drowning in raspberry tarts. She shivered under my touch.
I held my breath as she spun and stared up at me with wide, dark eyes.
Her gaze dropped to the bob of my throat before gliding up to my lips and darting away again.
Curiosity overwhelmed me. I held still as she tentatively laid her palms against my chest, and when her eyes met mine once more, I was done for.
The second my brain registered she was rising up on her toes, I was bending to meet her.
Madison tasted like sugared pastry and sin.
Her moan as our lips collided was a shock of lightning down my spine, my hands gripping her tighter. She was soft and pliable beneath my touch. Instinct pounded through me, demanding I scoop her up and disappear into some hidden alcove where I could claim her.
A throat clearing had me reluctantly pulling away.
Jax gave me a wave from the opposite end of the arena. “I see you’re putting your management powers to good use.”
Madison pawed at me. “Who’s that?”
“Jude’s brother, Jax. He’s helping me run things while Charlotte’s pack are taking parental leave.”
Jax walked closer with a smile, extending a hand, which Madison shook. “Nice to meet you.” He introduced himself to her, not missing the opportunity to give me sly eyes.
“I’m Madison,” she replied. “I’m friends with your brother, but we haven’t had a chance to meet yet.”
His eyes widened for a fraction of a second. “You’re Madison from Best of Nests?”
“I shop there a lot, but I don’t work there.”
“Right, right. Jude’s mentioned you before.”
“Jude’s amazing. I’m really glad to meet you, Jax.”
He gave her another easy smile. “Great to finally meet the famous Madison, too. I see Leo is giving you some private lessons.”
Madison’s cheeks flushed even darker. “Yep.”
“I’ll leave you to it. Try not to get into too much trouble,” he said with a wink.
I didn’t have much time to worry that he had ruined the mood or made Madison uncomfortable, because as soon as he turned his back, she snuggled into my arms with a roaring purr.
Maybe it wasn’t an alcove where we gave into primal urges, but it was pretty fucking awesome all the same.