Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Eris
Playing with fire never felt so damn good. Gabriel was still gone when she’d finished her shower, but she felt better washing all the dirt and grime off of herself. She twisted her hair up in a towel while waiting for his return.
She was kind of disappointed she hadn’t thought to bring along another pair of sunglasses now that hers were missing, but it was a minor inconvenience.
She hadn’t paid attention to how far they were from the main house, just knew they were near the wooded area.
And that would open up plenty of possibilities for the next few days.
It was only midday, and her mind thrilled at what Gabriel might do if she ran off in the dark. Out there between the trees she could see him coming, hear him crunching twigs and branches as he chased her. Would it be more exciting at night?
She eyed the front door again. He hadn’t come back yet, but she knew post-ride care could take a while. She’d ridden around on Magic for a half hour before she’d gotten any sense that she was being watched, and then however long it had taken for Gabriel to hunt her down and fuck her.
Heat flared between her legs at the memory.
Her ass hurt more from the bite mark than the two thumbs he forced between her cheeks, and she hoped he stuffed his cock into her ass over the next few days.
Anal play was one of her favorites, but she rarely found a partner who knew how to make the experience more enjoyable than uncomfortable.
And just like that, the cloud of happiness that she was floating on shrank. This was a limited-time deal, just like her last experience at Rawhide. Only this time, she didn’t know how she was supposed to say goodbye.
Closing her eyes, she thought about meeting Gabriel at the Ranch last time.
“May I sit?”
She glanced up from the loveseat she was situated on, watching some of the guests of the Ranch play in the Dungeon. She’d only arrived earlier that day at the Ranch, and after sipping a glass of wine until she felt a little bit more courageous, she decided to dress in leather and go downstairs.
Maybe she’d made a mistake. The short, tight leather dress felt like it was made for a Dominatrix, and Eris was anything but.
There were other options for outfits, and when she had chatted with Sadie on the way down, the Little had mentioned that she should dress in what made her comfortable. No one was here to judge.
Unfortunately, her outfit choice seemed to make it difficult for people to know what she desired. Everyone was so nice, but she felt on edge trying to get things to work in her favor.
She didn’t want nice, but telling people about that was a double-edged sword. If she didn’t want nice, what did she want?
Someone passing by paused beside her, and she felt the intensity of his stare before their eyes met.
He reached out, steadying her hand where she held a silk scarf.
Silk felt safe, like a teaser kink. It couldn’t hurt, but it could sensitize or take away her sight.
Eris wasn’t entirely sure why she picked it up, but since she was just sitting down here like a lurker, she wanted something to help her feel more adjusted.
“Is this your first time at Rawhide?” he asked conversationally, giving her wrist a gentle squeeze before pulling back. There was a breath of air between them, but at least now she could focus on the conversation for a few minutes before she had to do this all over again.
When she’d first spoken with the Ranch and mentioned her friend who’d referred her, Master Derek had discussed with her about whether she wanted to be partnered with someone during her stay or if she preferred to explore on her own.
Now, she doubted her choice to explore freely.
She was too hesitant, and she was getting nowhere fast.
“Does it show?” she asked, peering up at the man through her lashes.
Oh, he was handsome. She didn’t have a history with blonds, always going for men with the stereotypical tall, dark, and handsome look.
But his blond hair gave him a sophisticated look, the stubble on his jaw so pale it was hard to see until he shifted in the light. And he had gorgeous dark eyes.
Smiling, he held out his hand. She frowned, thinking he wanted to shake, but when she placed her palm in his, he twisted her wrist slightly and kissed the top of her hand instead. “I’m Gabriel.”
“Eris,” she said, her mind suddenly jumping around. He at least gave her butterflies when he looked at her, whereas everyone else was kind but she felt no reaction from them. “Are you one of the people who lives here?”
Gabriel chuckled, holding her hand for another moment before letting go. When he nodded toward the couch, she bobbed her head in agreement, her heartbeat picking up as he sat down beside her.
“No, I’m not a live-in. I do come to Rawhide Ranch regularly though. I’ve never seen you here before, which is how I guessed this is your first visit.”
Turning her gaze away, Eris felt her cheeks burn. Was it embarrassment, or enjoyment because this handsome stranger had noticed her? She fisted the scarf, self-doubt creeping in all over again.
“Rawhide Ranch doesn’t shame,” he continued, drawing her attention once more. “Whatever brought you here is meant to be an experience, something you can enjoy for however long you are here. If you let yourself give in to your desires, and not hold yourself back, you’ll have a better experience.”
She frowned. “What do you know about my desires?”
His lip quirked up on one side, and he nodded toward the scarf she was strangling. “Silk and leather. Two opposing sides, but they can work together if you give it a try. Why deny yourself when you clearly came here for something?”
Eris considered what had brought her to Rawhide.
She wanted a heart-stopping experience, something she’d never had before with boyfriends or dates.
She needed a level of trust that short flings and tragic relationships couldn’t offer, but this stranger would probably think she was absolutely nutty if she blurted out that she wanted him to chase her.
She hadn’t even disclosed that in her emails, or during her conversation with Master Derek when she arrived. It felt wrong. She needed a thrill, not a hunt. She was a shit runner, so even rushing through the halls at the Ranch, she would likely twist her ankle and make herself look like an idiot.
Would that even be allowed? There were Littles, and other guests, and watching someone chase and hunt her down, and not in the playful way, might be a little much. Not asking about it when she had the opportunity felt like a grievous oversight.
She didn’t think, even if the option was there, that she could handle actually telling anyone about this desire.
She needed to come to terms with it herself first, and that wasn’t going to happen while she stewed over it in the Dungeon.
Maybe she could make a trip to the outdoor play area and see what that was all about, but the January weather wasn’t promising.
She even spent the majority of her time with the horses, Magic in particular, indoors.
“Do you always leave people in suspense?”
Surprised, Eris loosened her stranglehold on the scarf and glanced at Gabriel. He looked more amused than annoyed that she’d gotten lost in her thoughts, but embarrassment burned her cheeks anyway. “Whoops.”
Smiling, he held his hand out, and she hesitated before passing over the scarf. “Is this something you picked for nerves, or for pleasure?”
She gave him a hesitant laugh. “Maybe a little of both?”
Instead of responding, he unrolled the silk and dragged it across her inner wrist. It made the skin a little sensitive, but nothing special. Even though her eyes followed the silk, she felt his gaze on her.
“You don’t strike me as a silk girl. It’s a little too soft.”
Eris barked a laugh, glancing up again. “Is it the leather dress?”
“The leather dress is fun,” he admitted, eyeing Eris briefly before returning his gaze to her face.
It didn’t feel predatory, like she would expect if she wasn’t at Rawhide. It did feel a little obsessive though, and that gave her the thrill she wanted.
Reaching out, she clasped his wrist. “Look at me like that again, and we can leave the leather dress on the floor.”
Gabriel stood at that, the scarf disappearing into his pocket, and held out a hand.
Eris accepted the help, her feet beginning to ache in the tall heels she’d put on before coming downstairs.
Truth be told, she wasn’t much of a stilettos girly.
“Let’s get you properly introduced to the Dungeon, Eris. ”
The door opened and she bolted upright, a pang of disappointment hitting her that Gabriel was back before she got to the naughty part of her memory. It wasn’t the delicious, toe-curling sex from this morning but it was still hot as hell. Anything with Gabriel made her wet.
She was surprised to see containers in his hands, as though he’d stopped for food somewhere along the way. He caught her curious eyes and smiled. “Chef Connor gave me some to-go containers for dinner tonight.”
Immediately, she perked up. The food at Rawhide had been divine the last time she’d visited, and it was hard to compare the meals to anywhere else she had eaten before. Coming back, she knew she wanted to devour at least three meals a day, when she normally skipped breakfast half the time.
Gabriel set the containers on the table, wrapped in little to-go packages just for them. Delighted, Eris sat up and started pulling off lids as Gabriel turned to kick off his boots. Everything was warm and smelled scrumptious, like he just picked this up and headed back. “Did you walk back here?”
Shaking his head, Gabriel sat beside her. “There’s a lot of ground to cover out here, and we can’t keep the horses with us all the time. We have access to a golf cart while we are out at the cabin, so long as we respect the property. Since we’re doing a lot of outdoor activities, it’s a good idea.”
“Golf carts are fun,” Eris mused, trying to think of the last time she actually sat in one. She didn’t play golf or go to many places where she had a reason to ride around in one. After being chased earlier, the idea that she wouldn’t have to walk all over on her sore legs held some appeal.
“They are convenient,” Gabriel replied with a grin. “I think it would be nice to look around the property when you’re ready. Aside from the horses there’s another area I think you’ll take an interest in. I can’t say I know much about it myself despite my visits.”
“Visits?” she asked curiously. “Like, since last time.”
Gabriel paused, and she wondered if he’d meant to let that tidbit slip. “Yes. I’m here fairly often.”
“So like before,” Eris said thoughtfully. “How close do you live to the Ranch? I flew out here. I thought you lived out of state, too, but that wouldn’t make sense if you visit a lot.”
Mischief peppered his gaze, and that familiar heat flooded her. All he had to do was look at her, and she wanted to be his little vixen again. The week had only just started, and already, she was enraptured.
“Close enough,” he said carefully, picking up a dish.
It was a little like a buffet meal, and Gabriel had pulled out plates and silverware for them to each take out a healthy sum of food.
She piled her plate from one dish as he took some from another, and, unabashed, she filled her plate with almost as much food as he did.
“Eat up, little vixen,” he said mischievously, her fork stopping halfway to her mouth. “You’re going to need it for the week I have planned.”