Chapter 26
Spankings due
Oliver
I couldn’t risk being in her camper one more time.
It’s torture on a level I don’t know if I can endure.
All I want to do is frame her face with my palms and taste those fucking lips.
How much longer can I handle this?
Damn it all, I will. For as long as it takes.
She’s worth the pain. I don’t want to push too fast, or this thinly veiled tolerance she has for me will bleed over into how she feels for ‘Biggie’.
I want her to say my name with the same reverence.
Sophia not being in my bed is making it harder to sleep.
And watching her load her horse into her trailer, a hollow pit forms in my guts knowing it could be weeks before I get to touch her again.
My only option is to get ready for her.
TheBigO: What style of furniture do you want in our bedroom?
I’m careful to screen shot so my name doesn’t end up in the photos.
Watching her, I can see the moment my text comes through.
Look at that smile.
And the way she bites her lip as she types…I did that.
Purposefully, I loop my ropes slowly to give myself a little more time until she replies.
I don’t want my phone to ding where she can hear it.
Once the familiar vibration rattles in my pocket, I make my way over.
“Just about set?” I glance at the back loading door to make sure she latched it.
Hopefully she doesn’t catch me doing that.
When she turns towards me, her eyes narrow slightly.
Not as fiercely as before though. Progress?
“I’ll be fine.” Her chin doesn’t jut out as normal when she talks to me.
Another improvement.
“We both gotta go the same direction. It won’t hurt you one bit to have me driving on the same road behind you. Besides, I promised your dad.” I have to cross my arms to keep from reaching for her.
Her nose wrinkles. “Fine,” she sighs exasperatedly. “But only because he asked.”
“Uh huh. Nothing to do with those dark clouds we’ll be driving into?” I point at the gray sky that looms east of us.
When she takes a long inhale, following my gesture, I can see her shoulders slump.
“You’re right. You’re always right. Whatever.” Her palms fly up, then she steps past me to grab her door handle. “I’m ready. Or do I need to wait on you, old man?”
A smirk ticks up her cheek as she climbs into the front seat.
“Respect your elders, little girl.” My dick twitches at the thought of bending her over my knee.
I might just have to see how well she holds up to me once I have her in my bed.
There’s even a temptation to remind her of this conversation.
Later.
She gives me an exaggerated salute. “Yes, sir.” Then she slams her truck shut.
Definitely spankings due.
The sleet is coming down so fast, my wipers aren’t keeping up. It thickens on the edges, accumulating into clumps of slush that slide off with audible thumps every so often.
I swear, next time there’s any event, her and I are riding together.
Fuck.
I can’t imagine how stressful it is for her as we hit the top of Snoqualmie Pass and the downpour shifts more and more into snow.
Her brake lights are glaring beacons through the heavy downpour.
Then her trailer fishtails.
“Sophia—” Panic laces my tone as I uselessly yell at my windshield. “—be careful, baby.”
She manages to pull out of it, slowing even further on the slick road.
“Good girl,” I murmur to my empty cab.
This is too much for me. There’s no way I’m letting her go solo again.
Not when the weather is shit.
I want her safe. An irrational thought of tying her to my bed and keeping her there sounds almost sane.
She’d kill me.
The back end of her trailer bobs over a bump, then the right side drops.
Shit. Pull over!
Her brakes flash again and she eases her truck to the wide shoulder.
I pull in behind her and let out a long breath.
Hell. I’m tempted to jump out and kiss her, just to put my mind at ease.
Grabbing my heavy coat, I thread it over my arms before stepping into the deluge.
“I think I got a flat,” she yells over the passing traffic, tugging a thin jacket around her.
My fingers flex wanting to grab her. But I ball them into my pockets.
Just because I feel what’s going on between us, doesn’t mean she does. “Go get in the truck, I’ll take care of it.”
“I know how to change a tire.” Her eyes flash under her drenched hair plastering over her head.
“And I’m proud of you for it, but get in the damn cab,” I growl. “Don’t need you catching pneumonia to prove a point.”
Swinging open the toolbox fastened under the flat bed of my dually, I pull out the star wrench I always carry.
With a ratchet strap to hold up the axle and my small floor jack, I head back towards the rear end of her trailer.
“Sophia? Why are you still out here?” My tone gentles seeing her quivering bottom lip.
She looks like a drowned rat, practically soaked through.
“I need to check on Misty to make sure she’s okay. Can I go inside?” A shiver shakes her from head to toe.
“Yea.” I drop all my shit on the ground, then shed my own coat. “Here, put this on at least?” I don’t wait, but settle it over her wet arms.
Jesus, it’s cold.
“No, Oliver, I can’t—”
“Are you checking on your mare?” I start wrenching on the first lug nut.
There’ll be time to argue with her later. Apparently she’s gonna be out in this crap until I’m done, so I better hurry.
The smaller man-door on the side creaks when she tugs it open, then she disappears.
“Oh shit,” she gasps loudly enough I can hear her.
Sophia’s head pops out. “She cut her leg. It doesn’t look awful, but—” Her eyes well. “—could you, um—”
When I nod, a clump of icy slush falls off my hat brim.
She has no idea I’d do anything for her.
I see the injury as soon as I climb in. Working my palm down her rear leg, I tug near the hoof to get her to raise her foot.
Even with her wide eyes and ears back, Misty obediently lifts, letting me inspect the wound.
“I think she’ll be okay. I can tape it up until the vet can check it.” Glancing over my shoulder, Sophia’s gaze is fixated on my side.
“You’re steaming, Oliver.” Her lips twist to the side.
“It’s because I’m so hot,” I say sarcastically, then straighten.
I’m fucking freezing.
But the weak smile she gives me makes it worth it.
My thin t-shirt is glued to my skin offering absolutely nothing for protection.
Her chin drops, then snaps close like she’s going to say something.
I want to press her up against the wall like I did last night.
And also crawl into a hot tub and never get out.
“I’ll be right back.” Hopping into the slurry of icy rain, I trot back to my truck to get my Henley first, then the roll of vet-tape from the rear seat.
The dry layer lasts less than a second in the onslaught, but it’s all I have.
Part of me wants to just work on the flat.
But I know the horse is more important to her.
She tries so hard to act tough, yet she wears her heart on her sleeve now that I know what to look for.
I’ve seen glimpses. They’ve become cherished moments.
“Let’s get her taken care of.” I give my best smile through the shivers. “Keep her calm.”
With both of us, it goes quickly.
Once Misty is doctored up as well as I can do, I dive into addressing the tire next.
I’m just pulling the mangled one off when Sophia hops out of the trailer and closes the door.
“Thank you for your help.” Her arms wrap her waist snugly.
“Thank me by getting where it’s warm. Please?” I look up imploringly as I wrestle the spare on.
Luckily it’s a full sized, and not one of those little donuts that are only good for fifty miles.
“Okay,” she squeaks before rushing to the cab.
It only takes a few more minutes and I’m done.
I’m also soaked to the fucking core and so damn cold I’m not shivering anymore.
But she’s ready to go.
I’ll get my coat later. For now, I just want to sit where the heater can pour over me and get the feeling back into my fingers.
Giving her a quick flash of my headlights to signal her, I wait until she’s on the highway, then drop my forehead to my steering wheel for a second.
This sucks.
All I want to do is comfort her, yet I’m the one who decided to withhold the truth.
My own resolve is slipping.
How much more can I take before I lose control?