Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Christian
I stood in the barn, the afternoon sun slanting through the open doors and warming the hay-strewn floor.
The horses were restless and snorted and shifted in their stalls after the morning ride, and I figured it was a good time to clean them up.
Geraldine had tagged along like she’d promised and leaned against the wall in that black dress that hugged her tight, her boots crossed at the ankles.
She looked out of place but damn good, and I caught myself grinning as I grabbed a hose from the rack.
Cosmo was off unloading more feed, and Damian was holed up somewhere and probably stewed about us.
That was fine by me because I had her to myself for a bit.
“Ready to get dirty?” I said and turned the hose on low and tested the water with my hand.
She smirked and pushed off the wall. “I thought you were cleaning them, not me.”
“I’m gonna do both,” I said and nodded at the stalls. “Grab that sponge over there. We’ll start with Rusty because he’s easy.”
She picked up the sponge from a bucket and walked over, her hips swaying just enough to make me notice. “So, what’s the plan?” she asked and stood next to Rusty’s stall. “Do we just scrub him down?”
“Yeah,” I said and handed her the hose. “Wet him first, then scrub. I’ll get the soap. Watch the spray because he likes to shake.”
She took the hose and aimed it at Rusty’s flank, the water hitting his coat in a steady stream. He snorted and flicked his tail, and she laughed and stepped back. “He’s already messing with me,” she said.
“I told you,” I said, and grabbed a bucket of soapy water from the shelf. “Here, trade me.” I took the hose and gave her the sponge and dipped it in the suds. “Start at his neck and work down. He’ll stand still for you.”
She nodded and pressed the sponge to Rusty’s coat and rubbed in slow circles.
I hosed him down as she worked, the water mixing with the soap and running off in foamy streaks.
She leaned in close, her dress riding up a little, and I kept my eyes on her hands, steady and sure.
“You’re good at this,” I said, and moved the hose to his legs.
“Beginner’s luck,” she said and grinned and wiped a strand of hair from her face with a soapy hand. “He’s kinda cute when he’s not bouncing me around.”
“He’s a softie,” I said and turned the hose up a notch. “Hold on because I’m gonna rinse him.”
I aimed the spray, and Rusty shook hard and sent water flying everywhere.
Geraldine yelped and jumped back, but not fast enough.
The spray hit her chest and soaked her dress, and she laughed and held her arms out.
“Damn it, Christian!” she said, water dripping down her legs. “You did that on purpose.”
“Maybe,” I said and smirked and shut off the hose. “It looks good on you, though.”
She looked down, the wet fabric clinging to her curves and outlining everything, and damn if it didn’t make her hotter.
Her skin glistened where the water hit, and she shook her head and was still laughing.
“You’re trouble,” she said and tossed the sponge at me.
It bounced off my chest and left a wet spot on my shirt.
“I learned from the best,” I said, and caught it and dropped it back in the bucket. “Come on, let’s finish Dusty. She’s next.”
We moved to Dusty’s stall, and I handed her a dry sponge. “Same deal,” I said. “You scrub, I rinse. Try not to drown yourself this time.”
“No promises,” she said and started on Dusty’s neck, her hands moving smoothly and quickly. I hosed the mare down and kept the spray low, but she flicked her head and splashed us both. Geraldine squealed, and I laughed and wiped water from my face.
“You’re soaked now,” I said and stepped closer. Her dress was sticking to her, the black fabric dark and shiny, and her hair was damp and curled at the ends. She looked wild and sexy as hell, and I couldn’t help staring.
“Guess we’re even,” she said and squeezed the sponge over my arm and let soapy water drip down. “Payback.”
“Fair,” I said, and grinned and shook it off. “Let’s wrap this up before we’re both swimming.”
We finished Dusty quickly and rinsed her off, and led both horses out to the paddock to dry. Geraldine followed me, her boots squishing in the wet hay, and I grabbed a couple of towels from the barn and tossed one to her. “Here,” I said. “Dry off before Cosmo sees you and loses his mind.”
She caught it and rubbed it over her arms and smirked. “It’s too late for that. Where’s he at, anyway?”
“Feed run,” I said, and wiped my hands. “Come on, I’ll show you something while they’re busy.”
I led her out the back of the barn and past the paddock to a spot tucked behind a stand of trees.
It was a little clearing and hidden from the house, with a rickety bench and a view of the creek winding through the pasture.
“I found this years ago,” I said, and sat on the bench and patted the spot next to me.
“It’s a good place to hide when Damian’s on a rant. ”
She sat close, her wet dress brushing my leg, and looked out at the water. “Nice,” she said. “Quiet.”
“Yeah,” I said and leaned back and stretched my arm along the bench. “Are you holding up out here?”
“Better than I thought,” she said and turned to me, her knee bumping mine. “You’re making it fun.”
“Good,” I said and grinned and let my hand rest on her shoulder. “You’re not bad company.”
She laughed softly and leaned in, her face close.
“You’re not either,” she said, her voice dropping.
Then she kissed me, her lips warm and wet from the water,er and pressed firm against mine.
I kissed her back and slid my hand to her neck and pulled her in.
She tasted like soap and sweat, and her damp hair brushed my cheek as she shifted closer, her chest against mine.
“Christian,” she said between kisses, her hands grabbing my shirt.
I groaned and moved my mouth to her jaw, then her ne,ck and tasted the water on her skin.
She tilted her head back and breathed fast, and I slid my hand down her side and felt the wet dress stick to her curves.
Her fingers dug into my shoulders, and I pulled her onto my lap, her legs straddling me on the bench.
“Damn,” I said, my voice rough and kissed her harder.
She rocked against me, her breath hitching, and I slipped my hand under the hem of her dress and found soft skin on her thigh.
She moaned low, and I moved higher and teased her with slow strokes, and felt her tense up.
“You good?” I asked and pulled back just enough to see her face.
“Yeah,” she said, her eyes half-closed and lips parted. “Keep going.”
I grinned and kissed her again and worked my fingers under the edge of her underwear, and slowly and deliberately.
She gasped and gripped my neck, and I kept it steady and watched her face flush as she moved with me.
Her breaths got sharper, her nails bit into my skin, and I could tell she was close.
“Come on,” I said against her ear and pushed a little more, and she shuddered hard, a quiet cry slipping out as she tipped over the edge.
I held her through it and eased off as she caught her breath, her head dropping to my shoulder.
“Shit,” she said after a minute and laughed soft. “That was wow.”
“Yeah,” I said and rubbed her back and grinned. “You’re welcome.”
She lifted her head and kissed quickly, and was still shaky. “You’re trouble,” she said, echoing earlier, and slid off my lap and smoothed her dress. It was still wet and clung tight, and she looked even better now, all flushed and loose.
“Worth it,” I said and stood and adjusted my jeans. “We should head back before they send a search party.”
“Probably,” she said and grabbed the towel, and wiped her face. “Lead the way.”
We walked bacslowlyow, her shoulder brushing mine, the heat still buzzing between us. The barn came into view, and I could hear Cosmo’s whistle again and meant he was close. “Keep that dress,” I said and smirked. “It’s a winner.”
“I planned on it,” she said and bumped my arm. “Thanks for the lesson.”
“Anytime,” I said and meant it. We stepped into the yard, and I knew Cosmo and Damian would notice her wet and messy, but I didn’t care. That hidden spot was ours now, and I’d take that win all day.