Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Jack
I’ve been carefully grooming my horse for the past ten minutes, but only half my mind is on the job.
The other half is wondering what the heck is going on with Seb.
Ever since I arrived on Thursday night, Seb’s been acting strange.
He’s… edgy. Sometimes it seems as though he doesn’t want to be in my company, and I’m worried that I did or said something to offend him, and then other times, it’s almost as though…
Shaking my head, I give a huge sigh.
Seb’s been nothing except friendly and professional until this weekend.
The last couple days, I get the feeling that maybe he could feel more, but it’s just a feeling.
Isn’t it?
Whatever it is, I’d forgotten how soothing it can be to be around horses.
The decision to work from the Vale for a few days a week is the best one I ever made, and not just because it’s given me the chance to get to know Seb better.
I’ve been riding again, which means caring for my mount, because I was taught about horses by Uncle Warwick, and in Uncle Warwick’s stables, one looks after one’s mount and tack or one doesn’t ride.
I’ve also used the tennis court a few times since Seb reopened it, dragging Seb or Chris or whoever else was around out with me.
I’ve always tried to keep fit and active, but a couple hours a week in the gym isn’t the same—and certainly not as social.
Being away from the city and not living alone for four days a week has eased all my stress.
“Lana will stand there all day and let you do that,” a voice says, and Chris comes up beside me.
“But then she’ll expect us to groom her all day, too, and we just don’t have the time. Plus, the other horses are starting to look jealous.” He takes the brush from my hand and drops it in the grooming bucket.
“Is this really how you want to spend your whole Sunday?”
I laugh.
“There are worse ways to spend a day,” I say, “and this lady deserves to be spoiled after you named her Lana Del Neigh.” He’s got a point, though, so I unclip Lana from the crossties and lead her toward her stall, but not before she shoots him a vaguely displeased look.
Chris falls into step beside me.
“That was all Seb’s idea. His deep, dark secret is that he loves her music.”
I wouldn’t say I’m a fan myself, but I can see the appeal.
“There are worse secrets, I guess.”
“Which is why we let him name a horse after her. What were you thinking about so hard that you lost track of time?”
I shrug.
“Nothing. Just distracted.”
Chris makes a disbelieving sound.
“I don’t suppose this distraction is about five ten, brown hair, dark eyes, frighteningly efficient, and totally oblivious?”
I miss a step and only narrowly avoid slamming into a wall.
Lana stops, and her look this time is utterly contemptuous.
“Ahhhh…” I straighten and pull my composure around me like a cloak—although somewhat tattered.
“Hold that thought. I’ll be back.” I leave Chris in the walkway and take Lana back to her stall, making sure she has everything she needs before giving her an affectionate pat and leaving her to it.
Chris is waiting patiently when I get back, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“You’re a dick,” I tell him.
“Oh, I know. Come on, let’s go for a walk. We’ll do a circuit of the arenas so I can check on the lessons, and then I need to get back to base before the next lot arrives.” Sunday is a busy day at the riding school, I remember as we head out of the stables, and it’s kind of surprising that Chris took the time to track me down.
Although, maybe not so much, since he seems to have something to say.
We wander to the arena where the intermediate class is currently in progress and lean on the fence, watching.
I tamp down my impatience for as long as I can.
“Are you going to say something or just stand there looking smug?” I finally burst out.
Chris grins, the bastard.
“Are you into Seb?” he asks bluntly.
Fuck. Am I that transparent?
Well, obviously.
“Yes.” No point prevaricating, right?
Chris isn’t stupid. Maybe he knows something that can help.
Maybe he’s going to tell me that Seb isn’t interested and I need to back off.
“Good.”
Or maybe not.
“Good?” Hope rises. I keep it tightly leashed—just in case.
“Yeah. But are you ever going to fucking do anything about it? Or just sit around pining with your thumb up your arse?”
Why do I like Chris, again?
“I’m taking it slow,” I protest. “It’s complicated because Seb works for me.”
“Fuck me,” Chris mutters.
“You two are one worse than the other.”
Hope breaks free from its leash.
“Uh… does Seb…?”
“You need to talk to him about that, but I really think you should talk to him about that.” The words are accompanied by an intense stare.
Chris is clearly not about to break any confidences, which I respect, but a heavier hint has never been dropped.
“You know, I think I might head back to the house. Seb should be back from lunch with his folks, and I really need to talk to him.”
“That’s a good idea,” Chris says, grinning broadly.
I ignore it and walk away.
The distance to the house has never seemed so long, not even when I was a kid and my legs were shorter.
The closer I get, the more nervous I become.
What if Chris is wrong?
Or what if Chris is right, but for some reason, Seb’s decided it’s better for us to stay just friends?
After all, there has to be a reason Seb hasn’t initiated anything.
Like’s there’s a reason you haven’t?
By the time I let myself in through the mudroom, I’ve made up my mind that, nerves or no nerves, I’m going to act.
If Seb isn’t interested, that’s fine.
We can still be friends.
We’re mature, responsible adults, right?
Which is why I’m going to find Seb, then sit him down and rationally explain how I feel and that I want to take our relationship to another level.
I find Seb in the kitchen, skolling a glass of water over the sink, and take a moment to watch his profile, the long line of his throat as he swallows.
Oh, man.
Seb puts the glass in the sink and turns, catching sight of me where I’m hovering just inside the room.
“Hey. How was your ride?”
I clear my throat and take a few steps.
“Good. Thanks. Uh, how was lunch?”
“Meh.” Seb shrugs.
“My sister just had a baby, and not to sound self-absorbed, but I might as well have not been there. The kid is seriously cute, but the way my parents act, she’s the first baby ever born anywhere. I’m surprised they even remembered lunch.”
Forcing a laugh, I take another step.
“Uh, can we talk?” I gesture to the table.
The kitchen isn’t the location I envisioned for this conversation, but going somewhere else might throw me off my rhythm.
Not that I have a rhythm yet.
Seb suddenly looks wary.
“Sure.” He moves toward the table, and so do I, and then we’re only two steps apart and his lips are still wet and?—
I don’t remember closing the distance between us; I only know that Seb’s lips under mine are the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.
His surprise is tangible at first, but he doesn’t stiffen up, just kisses me back with an enthusiasm that makes my dick hard.
When Seb finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard.
Anxiety tightens my chest as Seb studies me, his face expressionless.
Oh fuck. It was a mistake.
He doesn’t ? —
Seb surges forward and takes my mouth with such force that I stagger back a step.
It doesn’t stop me from responding.
The next time we pull apart, Seb’s pupils are blown, his face flushed, and I’m harder than I can ever remember being.
“That was… um…” What the hell do I say?
You just fulfilled my dreams?
Luckily, Seb seems to get it.
“Yeah.” He takes a step back, grabs the back of a chair, and sits down.
“I need a minute.”
I huff a laugh and also sit.
For a long moment, comfortable silence settles over us.
I regulate my breathing and try not to lose myself in reliving our kisses.
Finally Seb reaches out and takes my hand.
“I think this might get complicated, but I want to do it anyway.”
It isn’t until early that evening, after we’ve spent the afternoon in bed not being employer and employee, that we actually talk about our relationship.
Seb’s worried that things could turn out weird for him, since he’s basically sleeping with his boss.
I get why he’d feel that way, but since I have no intention of behaving unprofessionally in “work” situations, I don’t see that it’s going to be an issue.
It’s not like we work together in an office environment.
We both agree not to ever bring our personal relationship into the “workplace.”
“But we can talk about work when we’re just hanging out,” Seb decrees.
“Because I like my job and you’re a good person to talk to. If you weren’t my boss, I’d still talk to you about work sometimes.”
I grin a little.
“Aww, you like talking to me? Also, can you stop calling me your boss? It’s a little…”
Seb quirks an eyebrow, a wicked expression crossing his face.
“A little… naughty, maybe? Does it make you want to be the boss somewhere else?”
My face gets hot.
“Stop,” I protest, but even I can hear that I don’t mean it.
Oh God, do I have a kink?
My friends will never believe it.
I’m the most vanilla person in the world.
Although wanting to roleplay office relationships in the bedroom isn’t that much of a kink.
Seb laughs delightedly.
“You do! Well now, that’s something we might like to explore.”
My heart starts beating so hard, I’m sure Seb can tell.
“I… really?” Did I pull off sounding nonchalant?
Not really.
“Of course.” Seb leans over and kisses me, and within seconds, we’re both distracted from the conversation.
Who wants to talk when we could be doing more interesting things?
It’s much later before we speak again, sweaty, breathless, and exhausted.
“I think I need to eat something,” Seb mutters, and it’s punctuated by the growl of a stomach.
I’m not sure whose. My brain hasn’t come fully back online yet.
“What time is it? Is Dave here yet?” He can’t be, because if he is, he would have let us know—probably by knocking on the door and making lewd comments.
It’s not like we were all that quiet, especially this last round.
Seb’s a noisy bastard.
Groaning, Seb hauls himself out of bed, crossing to where he dropped his pants before.
He fishes in his pocket for his phone and groans again when he looks at the screen.
“It’s nearly seven thirty,” he says, “and Dave has been and gone. He says he left food warming in the oven, and that hopefully we’ll come up for air before it catches fire and burns the house down.”
I’m not sure whether to laugh.
“I guess we should check on it.” And eat.
Because, man, I’m starving.
“What else did he say?” There’s no way Dave didn’t make some cheeky comment about what we were doing.
Something more inflammatory than just hinting we’d be too busy to notice dinner burning.
Seb flushes bright red.
“Never mind.”
We get dressed, because even if Dave’s left, a working property is rarely completely without people.
Something might need attending to at the stables.
Wandering the house naked would be great, but not while there are other people on the property.
As we head downstairs, I wonder what the best way is to get Seb’s phone away from him.
I really want to see Dave’s message.
It’s probably rude but funny as hell.
Well, funny now that I finally have Seb in my bed.
The whole world is funny now, just a regular fountain of joy.
I can’t remember the last time I was so happy.
Almost giddy.
Hell, I’ve got it bad.
We push through the kitchen door, and I nearly run into Seb when he freezes.
Dave didn’t leave. In fact, he called in reinforcements.
Chris and Lisa also sit at the kitchen table, all three sipping coffee.
Well, I assume that’s what they’ve been doing, since coffee cups sit in front of them, but right now, they’re staring at us with big, stupid grins on their faces.
Dinner with a side of good-natured teasing, it is.