Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Gabriel
He was back to his normal routine of visiting the stables, stopping in the expansive library, and altogether making excuses to spend time at Rawhide. He wasn’t supposed to have become either a fixture or a regular, but he enjoyed the Ranch and its people too much not to.
The only place he rarely visited was the Dungeon, and simply because he didn’t have the partner he really desired.
There were willing submissives who visited the Ranch frequently enough, but no one who held his attention.
He needed to decide what he wanted before he wasted anyone’s time, especially the sweet individuals he met through the Ranch.
Even those resident Ranch submissives who wanted someone casual didn’t quite grab his interest, and it wasn’t fair to string someone along when his heart wasn’t in it and he couldn’t focus.
Try as he may, he couldn’t deny that Eris had him wrapped around her finger, and she wasn’t even at the Ranch anymore. But she consumed all of his thoughts, his fantasies, and he was hers whether or not she knew it.
“Gabriel, I was wondering when I would run into you.”
He stopped walking through the halls, turning in surprise as Derek stopped beside him.
He was used to seeing him around the Ranch, but rarely did Derek seek him out for conversation.
They chatted here and there but he was a busy man, and since Gabriel didn’t have an attached submissive or an attached anything at the Ranch, other than his own personal vendetta to torture himself over Eris, he didn’t usually have much of a reason to speak with the Ranch owner.
“Hello, Derek,” he replied conversationally, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Something I can do for you?”
Derek chuckled, gesturing towards his office door.
Gabriel was intending to head out for the day, considering he was doing little more than stewing after his horseback ride, and he hadn’t even acknowledged how close he was to the front entranceway and Derek’s office.
“Step into my office for a moment if you aren’t in a hurry.
There’s something I’m needing to discuss with you. ”
Trepidation danced down Gabriel’s spine as he nodded and followed the tall man into his office.
He couldn’t think of any particular reason why Derek would seek him out.
As far as he knew, he hadn’t gone against any rules of the Ranch by hanging around, chatting with the members, and being kind to all the submissives and Littles that he happened across when he visited.
He went out of his way to be respectful whenever he was at Rawhide to avoid causing any sort of issue.
“Have a seat,” Derek instructed, and Gabriel followed without question. The door was firmly shut behind them, and Gabriel eyed the other man as he casually took a seat and folded his hands on the desk.
A heavy moment passed, and Gabriel seriously considered whether or not he really had done something to get himself removed from the Ranch. By the time Derek spoke, Gabriel could admit he was a little unnerved.
“I received an interesting email from a prior visitor.”
Somehow, that was worse. It gave Gabriel nothing to work with, and if for any reason someone had filed a complaint against him, it would be a serious strike against him with the Ranch.
He tried to be respectful and listen to the submissives he partnered with, but he hadn’t been with anyone there since Eris.
He would sometimes watch, or hold a conversation with the residents, but for the most part, he stewed over missed opportunities and went horseback riding.
His rides were almost exclusively reserved for Magic when he was available. “Was there a complaint about me?”
Derek grew quiet for a beat, doing nothing to alleviate Gabriel’s nerves until he chuckled.
“No, nothing like that. This is from one of your prior partners. She is asking about a return visit to the Ranch. The request however is a little different from what we would generally offer for a visitor.” Something in his eyes sparkled.
“You didn’t spend a good deal of time with her, however, I think, given what I know about your time together, that you would be the ideal person for her return visit.
Not to mention, she asked about you by name. ”
Swallowing, Gabriel tried to not get overly excited. Just because Derek was hinting at something in no way meant this had to do with Eris. “Can I ask who it is?”
“Eris Montgomery.”
Despite himself, he felt the sudden rush of blood in his ears at the mention of Eris’ name. He’d hoped she would return, but he hadn’t let himself actually believe it could be a reality. Hope is the thief of truth, after all, when hoping for something hopeless. “Eris wants to come back?”
Derek grinned, sitting up in his chair. “I thought that would draw your attention. You were specifically mentioned in her email, so I’m certain she would be agreeable if you happened to be here at the same time she is.
It’s part of her request for her return, though it will be another short visit from what I can tell.
Another five days here at Rawhide Ranch. ”
Five days was basically a business week. It amounted to less than one full week and sent both longing and despair through him. He would take all the time he could get with Eris, but would five days be enough?
“It’s more than just a request to revisit with the hopes of seeing you,” Derek continued, and Gabriel met his gaze again. What more could there be when he was going to see Eris again?
“She’s mentioned a particular kink that I know isn’t everyone’s tastes, but it might align with yours.”
Swallowing, Gabriel decided he didn’t care what the kink was. He would give anything a try if it allowed him to see Eris again. “What is it? I thought we were open with each other last time.”
“That’s left to be seen. You’ll have to see how you connect after so long apart, and if that spark is still there. I wouldn’t bring this up if I didn’t think it would be of interest to you. Tell me, Gabriel, have you ever had an interest in primal play?”
“Primal,” Gabriel repeated, folding his arms. He had plenty of experience with primal play, but it was always off the Ranch.
He hadn’t run into a submissive during his time at Rawhide who specifically wanted a primal experience, and in all the time he’d spent with Eris, they’d never even crossed the topic. “That’s what Eris is looking for?”
Derek frowned, his brows pulling together in the middle.
“I’m asking about your experience level, Gabriel.
I know during the initial intake it was listed that you are a primal Dominant, but I’ve never seen you connect with anyone else who expressed an interest in that.
Not here anyway. And as it sits, Eris’ interests verge into CNC, and you know how careful we like to be matching visitors with Dominants. ”
Gabriel was well aware. He knew Derek wouldn’t ask him this without reason, so Eris had to be extremely interested.
It helped that she had already been to the Ranch once before, so the initial process was taken care of.
But if she was coming back for a primal experience, this would be nothing like her first time at Rawhide.
“When I spent time with Eris, I knew she was holding back on her desires. I mentioned it to my friend Felix here and there during his stay. She never would break down that final wall and let me in. She’s withholding that desire, or at least, she was during her prior visit. ”
“Do you have any idea why she wasn’t completely open with you?” Derek asked honestly.
“No. I tried to be a very attentive Dom, but Eris always held herself back. I would ask her during our play and each time we were in the Dungeon, but she never expressed an interest for something rawer. She enjoyed what we did together, and she never brought up a desire to want more. Even when I felt like she was holding back, she never gave me an indication of which direction to go to offer her more.”
Derek nodded, leaning his chin against his hand propped on the desk.
“Sometimes kinks that lean towards darker tastes are harder to talk about. You may have connected, but if she had reservations, even things she was unwilling to share with you, then she might not have been comfortable enough after seven short days to divulge her deepest desires. She was here a little longer last time, but five days is a short window of time.”
“So Eris is really willing to come back?” Gabriel asked carefully, wondering how she would react to a response email. If she could have the rest of her fantasies fulfilled, would she chance another visit?
“It appears so, or she wouldn’t reach out to us about the matter.
” Derek gave him a pointed look, and Gabriel sat a little straighter.
“Eris is quite interested in being your submissive again, and she is keen on trying more of a CNC and primal experience than the last time. You have to understand my concerns since she never conveyed this interest, previously.”
“People change,” Gabriel replied slowly “Perhaps she is more comfortable in her own skin, and ready to dive deeper.”
“Perhaps,” Derek allowed, surveying Gabriel.
“You are here several days a week, but you do not stay on the property that often. Are you willing to stay for the duration of Eris’ visit?
If you are, I can include that in my response.
We are more than happy to have Eris back at the Ranch, but if you are unwilling to be her Dominant for a primal experience, I want to know about that first.”
“I’m willing,” he replied, almost too eagerly.
“If Eris had let me know about this previously, I would have done my part to include it during her visit.” He hesitated, shifting around in the chair before continuing.
“Eris is fond of horseback riding. She loved going to the stables and taking one of the horses out for a ride. I know there are loads of paths off the main road to explore…”
He let his sentence trail off, watching for Derek’s reaction.
He had never tried chasing someone out on the grounds of the Ranch, away from the beaten path, but he didn’t want to spook anyone either.
They could ride out far enough into the property to avoid giving anyone a scare, and that’s how Gabriel would prefer to enact a CNC fantasy.
There was lots he could do with Eris in the Dungeon, even in the submissive’s visitor rooms. But if she had any desire at all to be hunted…
He liked the rush of doing that outside, uninhibited. Already there were ideas swirling in his head, things he would want to speak with Eris about to give her the experience she deserved.
And if he got it right this time, if they could connect the same way again, this second chance could lead to so much more. But only if she came back to the Ranch, and that spark was still there.
Derek nodded once. “It’s an idea, certainly.
We have an outdoor play area that might be the perfect fit.
” He looked Gabriel over once more before smiling.
“Take care and be mindful of all her limits if this does go through. I trust that you are capable, or we would not be having this conversation right now.”
“Of course.”
“I’d hoped you would be up to the task. Even through an email, I can feel her excitement. Eris is eager to return to Rawhide, and I believe she’s thrilled at the prospect of seeing you again.”
That brought a smile to Gabriel’s lips, lightening the mood in the office significantly. “If she will put her trust in me again, I’ll give her anything she desires.”