17. Jane
Chapter Seventeen
JANE
“Um, you want me to what?” I squeak as I look up at Asher.
Until right this second, things have been going swimmingly. Sexy space cowboy alien sweeps me off my feet to a new planet where I can leave my craptastic life in the dust. Everything seems fabulous so far until Asher tells me it’s time to meet my horse. The closest earthly creature I can compare it to is maybe a seahorse combined with a dragon and a horse with a sharp tail that looks downright scary.
The horse stares at me, his dark coat shimmering with glints of deep blue. Asher looks down at me, and I see the glimmer of humor entering his gaze. “Have you ever ridden a horse on Earth?”
“No!” I exclaim and lift one of my feet. “I could get anywhere I needed to go walking. I didn’t have far to go. Plus, you know there aren’t many horses left there,” I point out. “Do I have to do this?” I’m hedging, and I know it, but my eyes land on the horse’s tail again. It’s not flowing and made of hair, but thin with a barbed tip, sort of like what I imagined a dragon would have. “Are you sure this isn’t a dragon?”
My husband shakes his head. “It’s a type of horse.” He studies me for a moment. “You are our princess and need to be able to ride. It’s not something you have to do often, but it will seem as though you’re not fully one of us if you don’t.”
I wrinkle my nose, resting my hands on my hips. “Fine. Let’s do it, then.”
A few minutes later, after he has explained the process to me, Asher has his hands on my waist to lift me into the saddle. Once again, I’m distracted. He has this wildly inconvenient effect on me where I can’t think straight if he touches me. My pulse riots, and my belly does a little shimmy. Meanwhile, he’s all helpful.
“I’m going to lift you,” he says.
“Okay,” I chirp.
He lifts me easily, reminding me how strong he is. Next thing I know, I’m sitting atop this land seahorse-dragon. “He sure is pretty,” I say, admiring his shimmering coat. “Now what?” I ask.
I glance over my shoulder to see Asher walking over to his horse and quickly climbing on it. “Stay with me,” he says, appearing to talk to my horse.
“You forgot to tell me his name,” I call as Asher begins moving with my horse following.
“Lazuli,” he calls over his shoulder.
It feels like I’m sitting in a rocking chair at first, but then Lazuli starts moving much faster than I want. There’s nothing for me to hold on to, not even any reins. “What the hell?” I mutter to myself. Lazuli comes to a quick stop, and I steady myself as the horse turns to glance at me. I could swear this horse-alien-dragon understands what I’m saying.
“I’ve never ridden anything like this,” I say apologetically.
Lazuli looks away, actually sighing. This is my life—an alien horse sighs at me.
He begins walking at a sedate pace. Asher circles, looking kind of hot and sexy as he approaches. “That’s all there is to it. How do you feel?”
Lazuli simply keeps walking as I shrug. “Fine? I think. I’m not ready to go any faster.”
“No need,” Asher returns with a grin.
“Is it like the wave?” I ask a few minutes later after we have returned the horses to their field.
“The wave?” Asher looks genuinely confused and puzzled.
“On Earth, they call it the beauty queen wave where you practice your hand thing?” I demonstrate. “For when they’re in parades,” I clarify. “Not that there’s been a parade in my entire life on Earth, but I read about them in school.”
Asher chuckles. “Sure. We don’t have any parades, but I understand what you mean. Are you ready for tomorrow?” he asks.
“I think that’ll be easier than this,” I offer with a saucy grin. We’re walking back to our house, and I can’t wait to get home.
I know there are plenty of other things to do with my life here, but I wouldn’t mind spending all my time with Asher alone.