Chapter Six
A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY
or
How to Gentle a Nervous Pony
ADAM AND I met for a sandwich in the cafeteria.
“I promise to take you for a proper lunch on the weekend. We’ll go to the resort café. I want to show you the fancier side of the BCR’s business model. And, of course, you’ll have a prime spot for the pony show on Saturday.
I grinned. “Can’t wait.”
“Did you get to catch a training session this morning?”
I nodded. “Yes. Lorraine and Teagan”
“Lorraine was a wonderful find. Kamal suggested her, I interviewed her, and by the time I got to see her in action, I had no doubt she’d fit in here.”
“Were you hesitant to hire a woman? Because you deal with ponyboys?
Adam shook his head. “No, not really. Most people involved in extreme kink respect a person in a position of authority over them, regardless if it’s a woman or a man. They get off on the power and the dynamic. The gender of the person wielding that power is often irrelevant.”
“Have you ever had trouble persuading a ponyboy that a female trainer would work for them?”
“Sometimes they’re a little disappointed to find out they haven’t been placed with an alpha male trainer. They soon discover that Lorraine has her own particular brand of discipline and control.”
“Yes, I can see that,” I said, recalling what I had seen that morning.
“She’s one in a million and I’m keeping her.”
I raised my glass of water. “Hear, hear.”
When we’d finished eating, Adam stood.
“I must get back to my office. Lots of paperwork to take care of when a new session begins.”
I stood as well and shook his hand. “Thanks for bringing me in. I can already tell this is going to be an incredible assignment.”
“I can already tell you’re going to be up to the challenge, Oliver.”
I glanced at my watch. According to what I’d been told, the afternoon ponyboys would be arriving at the grooming barn right about now.
I was sorely tempted to shoot the second set of young men in the showers and getting tacked but decided to go to my room instead for a short rest. I’d be shooting Puck and Kamal in the arena or the paddock, and I wanted to preserve my artistic energy for that.
Upstairs, I unplugged my phone from its charger and sent a text to Grif to see if he was available for a phone call. It didn’t take him long to answer.
YES. Just let me close my door. I’m at the office.
Grif worked as a financial consultant at CIBC. Kind of the farthest thing from what I did, but maybe that was why our friendship worked so well. Plus, I had access to free investment advice.
He sent me a thumbs up emoji a moment later, and I hit the Call button. He didn’t even let it ring fully before he answered.
“Ollie! Hi! Oh my God, how is it? Have you ridden a ponyboy yet? Gotten one to eat sugar out of your hand? Tell me!”
I broke out laughing. “Uh, no. I don’t think they actually put saddles on the ponyboys here. Or ride them.”
“Oh. That’s kind of a bummer.”
“If you say so. And the one ponyboy I’d love to feed sugar cubes to would probably spit in my face if I tried.”
Grif inhaled a sharp breath. “Ooh! Tell me more!”
“The ranch is fantastic. It’s huge and there are—”
“No, no. Go back to the ponyboy that would spit in your face.”
“Grif—”
“What’s his name? I mean his real name, not his pony name. Oh, wait, what’s his pony name? Is it Lightning?”
I sat down on the loveseat and rested my forehead in my hand.
“You’re too much.”
“I’m not the one at a ponyplay fetish ranch who wants to talk about the landscape, my friend.”
“Fine,” I said, hesitating for a moment before I continued. “His name is Puck.”
“That’s his pony name.”
“No, that’s his real name.” I blinked. “Well, I don’t know if it’s his real name, but it’s the name he’s using while he’s here. It’s not his pony name.”
“Cool. What’s his pony name?”
“I don’t know! Jesus, would you let me talk?”
“Sorry. I’m sorry. I just spent the morning going over financial forecasts with four different clients. Can we please talk about sexy ponyboys?”
“If you shut up, we can.”
“Fine. Zipping it. Go on.”
“Thank you. So, his name is Puck, and I swear he is the sexiest motherfucking thing on two legs at this place.” I grinned, now recalling Kamal’s authority and stature. “Although, his trainer, Kamal, is damn hot also.”
Another loud inhale. “Kamal. Oh my.”
“And knows just how to get Puck to behave himself. Which seems like a pretty big ask, actually.”
“Oh, good Lord. A naughty ponyboy? I’m feeling faint. Good thing I’m sitting down.”
“Anyway,” I said, not wanting to talk about Puck anymore because I didn’t want to jinx things. Not that there was anything to jinx. But, still. “I spent the morning in the grooming barn.”
There was a pause. “The, what now?”
I cleared my throat. “The grooming barn.”
Another pause. “What the fuck is a grooming barn? And, are you serious?”
I laughed. “Yes, I’m serious. It’s a barn where the guys are showered, rubbed all over with a loofa, their cocks put in cages, while they’re bound by their wrists to an overhead rail.”
Grif didn’t say anything, but I heard the creak of his desk chair. “What. What.”
“Mm hmm. It’s something to see. Oh, and then they get tacked into their harnesses and collars, and sometimes they get bridles and butt plug horsetails, but I haven’t seen that yet.”
Oh, wait a second. Yes, I did see that.
But I wasn’t going to tell Grif about Puck in the paddock the day before or he’d probably mess his pants.
He sounded breathless when he replied.
“Oh Lord, Ollie. You’re killing me here. My pants are a little tight.”
“No doubt. Anyway, I got some great photos.”
“Anyway, I got some great photos,” he imitated me in a sardonic tone. “Bastard.”
“Oh, come on. Can’t you be happy for me?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Suddenly, my life seems so very boring and conservative. I need to up my game.” There was a pause. “Where do they find their trainers?”
“Not at CIBC.”
“Fuck you.”
I laughed. “Fuck you too. Anyway, I’ve got to go. I’m shooting Puck’s training session this afternoon, and I want to chill for a bit first. It’s been a busy day.”
“Mm hmm. You mean you want to enjoy a quick wank.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
“I wish I could do the same. I officially hate you, by the way. Keep me updated. Please, keep me updated.”
“Sure. Bye.”
We ended the call and I got a glass of water and made sure I had some lube before I sat on the edge of the bed and took myself in hand, recalling the things I’d witnessed that morning and yesterday.
It didn’t take long, and I was glad to take the edge off before lying down and trying to read a chapter of the book I’d brought with me.
But I couldn’t concentrate and gave up after ten minutes.
*
THE WEATHER WAS cooler today. In fact, I had found the outdoors a little chilly that morning, so I grabbed an orange and black plaid button-down and threw it on over my black tank top leaving it unbuttoned.
I’d forgotten to wear my baseball cap earlier, but put it on now, in case Kamal had Puck in the paddock again.
As I approached the arena, I noticed two figures in the nearby corral. When I got close, my heart rate sped up as I realized who they were.
Kamal. And Puck.
They were in the far corner. Kamal stood behind the young ponyboy, who was tacked in the standard gear–body harness, armbands, collar, cage, and boots.
No tail yet, which, to be honest, was a bit of a disappointment.
Kamal leaned close, his hand wrapped around Puck’s wrist, next to the armband which fastened to the one on Puck’s other forearm. He was speaking to Puck, who nodded occasionally and concentrated, his brow furrowed.
I kept my distance as they seemed to be enjoying a private moment. I chose a spot by the nearest fence and busied myself setting up my tripod and camera, which only took a few moments.
When I glanced up, they were in the same position, but Puck’s wide-eyed gaze was on me as he listened to Kamal.
When my gaze met his, the electric shock of cellular-level recognition hit me like a Mack truck.
We barely knew each other, but there was a biological pull between us.
That was for damn sure. Chemistry, attraction, allure, animal magnetism—whatever it was left no room for denial.
I hadn’t felt anything close to this in years.
My hookups had been random and quick, with people I was attracted to, in theory.
But not with this level of instant combustion.
They had been convenient, more than destined.
I was under no illusions that this was anything more than a situational obsession and would likely dissipate once we got to know each other a bit more, since that was always the way of things.
I had already put him on a kinky pedestal, as my ideal sort-of cantankerous brat-boy in kinky pony play accessories.
But I might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
My dick, which had become interested upon my spotting of the mostly naked ponyboy, now went full bore at the same time my gut churned with agitation. The potent current between us attracted Kamal’s attention, as Puck’s chest rose and fell more quickly, and he shifted his feet nervously.
Kamal looked up and followed Puck’s side-eyed gaze to me. The intimidating trainer narrowed his eyes but nodded and lifted a hand in acknowledgement of my presence.
I gave him a salute and returned my gaze to Puck’s. He had turned his head now to watch me. But Kamal said something else that made him wrench his gaze from mine and glare straight ahead, nodding in acquiescence.
Puck seemed determined to behave himself this afternoon and I wasn’t about to disrupt that honourable intention. I’d remain as inconspicuous as possible in order to get the shots I needed, even though my body and mind thrilled to see him so effectively chastened by the older man.