Chapter Twenty-One
Caine
Before I left to get everything ready, I messaged Patrick asking him to get Trance and Sadie ready for my date.
I have the food in the basket that I’ll keep on my lap as we ride out to the river that runs beside our property.
It’s been dry for the past week, so I know the ground is perfect for a picnic.
What I hadn’t expected was the terrified yell from Mikayla as I watched Patrick manhandle her onto Sadie.
I know Mikayla hasn’t ridden before. But I didn’t think she was scared of horses. I picked Sadie because she is an old girl used to new riders.
Even with Mikayla yelling, Sadie remains calm, but that’s the only thing that I expected.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I say to Mikayla as I put the basket down.
I walk over to her and place my hand on her thigh.
“Hi,” she whispers in reply.
“Are you scared?”
Without uttering a single word, Mikayla leans over the saddle and falls into my arms, her body shaking.
“Sweetheart?” I ask as I squeeze her against me. She’s terrified. I hadn’t anticipated this. Had something happened in her past to cause this? Why is she afraid?
My eyes lock with Patrick’s, his brow furrowed in concern.
“I don’t know why I got so scared,” Mikayla confesses softly against my neck.
“Want to ride with me?” I suggest.
We’ll need to get a different horse. We won’t be riding hard, so I’m not concerned about the extra weight, if we get the right horse.
“You’ll have to hold the picnic basket,” I tell her teasingly, hoping the laughter in my voice helps calm her.
I brush the wisps of hair that have fallen from her ponytail out of her face. I’m relieved when her eyes meet mine.
“You got a picnic basket?” she asks with a soft smile.
“Sure did. Got you the entire experience. Then we head home, change and go out for dinner. Pack a bag, ‘cause I got us a hotel room for the night,” I explain.
“What did you do, Caine Montgomery?” Mikayla asks with a playful grin. The light is back in her eyes.
I can’t help myself. I lower my head and take her lips with mine. Mikayla opens for me, our tongues colliding with passion. A moan escapes me when Mikayla runs her fingers through my hair and tugs the strands.
“Ahem!”
I pull back at the obvious sound of someone clearing their throat, but it’s not Patrick. I look into the bloodshot eyes of Jason.
“Found yourself a buckle bunny, I see,” he says with a sneer.
The urge to punch him in the face is replaced by utter amazement when Mikayla stands, her hands on her hips and glowers at him.
“I have no idea what a ‘buckle bunny’ is, but by the sneer on your face, I can only assume it isn’t a loving endearment,” she utters angrily.
“You smell like ass rolled in whiskey, so before my boyfriend punches you, I suggest you go home and slather yourself in soap, soak in it for a few minutes too, because you’re disgusting. ”
“What the fuck?” Jason mutters, his mouth hanging open in shock. His face is turning a dark shade of red, and I can tell he’s both embarrassed and pissed off.
“What are you doing, Jason?” Sawyer asks, running over from the arena where he was riding with the other bronc riders.
I stand and pull Mikayla to my side. “Jason, you’re done. Go home. You’re done here. Never come back. And much luck finding a new ranch to work with your drunk ass.” I don’t have to push him away because Patrick does it for me.
Sawyer grabs his brother around the shoulders for only a moment before he lets go and takes a step back.
“Jesus, you smell like ass. Did you even go home last night?” Sawyer asks as he scowls at his brother.
“I got this,” Patrick says, waving me off.
Knowing that I can rely on Patrick to manage the Jason situation, I guide Mikayla into the barn and find Wind-Song, an older stallion we use for western riding lessons.
“You have to get on first; I’ll ride behind you,” I tell Mikayla as I prepare him for our ride. I walk him out of the barn and prepare him by guiding him over to the steps where Mikayla can get on.
I help Mikayla up first, and hand her the basket, which she holds on her lap. Then I climb on behind her, adjusting her on my lap. She turns her head and looks up at me, trepidation in her eyes.
I kiss away her frown and give Wind-Song a light kick of my heels and a “chi chi” to get him moving.
“You okay, sweetheart?” I ask.
I hold on to the reins lightly, my arms wrapped around Mikayla as the horse trots out to the pasture.
She leans back against me, and I find I much prefer this to her riding alone.
“I’m sorry I freaked out,” Mikayla whispers as she looks up at me.
I hold her closer, reveling in the feel of her warm body against mine. I can’t say I’m upset she’s riding with me.
“Patrick just picked me up, and I had no time to react. I just wasn’t ready,” she explains.
“We can practice later on today. I don’t want you worrying about it, just relax now and enjoy the scenery,” I suggest as we make our way around the back of the ranch toward the river.
“I have never been afraid before. It was just so unlike me,” she says. “It’s just a horse.” Mikayla turns her head and looks straight ahead, but I can see the frown on her face.
“Wind-Song was never trained for bronc riding. He was trained for western-style riding,” I explain.
“But he’s older now, and at Montgomery, we don’t like to push our horses too hard.
He had a few good years, then we opted to use him for training young kids.
I knew you hadn’t ridden before, which is why I picked the horses I did.
I’d never put you in danger.” I place a kiss on her brow, and her spine relaxes against me.
The movement of Mikayla’s ass against my dick is sweet torture. I slow down the horse to draw Mikayla further against me as I nuzzle her neck with my lips. Her skin is soft and salty.
When I feel her shiver, I slowly lower my hand down her stomach into her leggings to the wet heat between her thighs.
“Caine,” she moans as I insert a finger, rubbing my palm against her clit.
“You’re so tight, sweetheart. Need to get you ready for my dick,” I whisper against her ear.
I smile when I hear the basket move, knowing she’s gripping it tighter with her hands.
I slowly insert another finger, rocking her against me as I suck, lick and nip at her neck.
“Caine, please!” Mikayla groans before her entire body goes rigid against me.
Her pussy begins to pulsate around my fingers as she comes. Mikayla turns her face up to me, flushed and beautiful. I take her lips with mine and delve into her mouth, tasting her again, feeling her melt against me.
I’m so hungry for her, but we need a bit more distance for complete privacy to reduce the risk of anyone finding us. I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off her. I have to wait a few more minutes until we come to the clearing where I want to set up, between the trees and the river.
I climb down first and grab the basket before tethering the horse to a low-hanging branch. Mikayla places her hands on my shoulders, and I help lower her to the ground. In silence, we walk hand in hand to a grassy area where the sun seeps through the trees along the river.
I remove the waterproof blanket and lay it on the ground, placing small stones on each corner to keep it from flying away in case of wind. I sit down first, take Mikayla’s hand and sit her on my lap before taking her mouth again.
I want her. I want her so much—it’s a yearning inside me. A need to have her. I turn us and place her back on the ground before removing her tennis shoes and pulling off her leggings.
“Fuck, Mikayla,” I groan before pushing her legs open.
I lower myself toward her wet pussy and lick the perfect little clit hidden there.
“Caine!” she cries out, her legs shaking as she comes apart from another orgasm.
There’s no waiting. I sit up, unbuckle my belt and quickly unzip my jeans. Mikayla pulls my pants down below my ass before I plunge inside her.
I’m a fucking asshole, but I can’t stop. I pause only when she yanks up my shirt to pull it over my head. And I do the same to her.
Consumed with desire, I thrust inside her hard and fast.
“Fuck,” I groan as my balls quickly tighten. I’ve barely fucked her, and I already want to come. “Come, sweetheart,” I coax, bringing my hand between our bodies to play with her clit. “I’m so fucking close, I need you to come.”
“Caine,” she moans, her hands clinging to me. “It’s…” she doesn’t finish, just shuts her eyes tightly when her orgasm hits. “Ah!” she groans, arching her back, and that’s all the invitation I need.
I thrust one more time before shooting inside her.
It takes me a moment to regain my composure. My orgasm painfully strong. I pull Mikayla to me and turn to my side, keeping our bodies connected.
“I can’t seem to get enough of you,” I say breathlessly.
Unexpectedly, Mikayla stiffens in my arms. I look down at her and see she’s frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, forcing her chin up to look at me.
“You left,” she whispers. “Why did you leave?”
I honestly have no idea what she’s talking about, and she doesn’t elaborate. So, I know I need to press.
“What do you mean I left?”
I don’t know if I should be worried. She doesn’t sound angry. Her brow is creased, and she looks… confused.
“When I woke up this morning, you were gone,” she says quietly, her lips down-turned.
She looks almost pensive, like she’s unsure what to think or feel.
I squeeze her tighter. “Sweetheart, I didn’t leave you,” I tell her before lowering my head for a kiss. “I even left you a note.”
Mikayla sits up, pulling away from me and grabbing her leggings, pulling them up.
“Mikayla,” I say worriedly.
I’m beginning to feel alarmed. I sit up, yank my pants up and reach for her and pull her against me.
“Hey,” I begin again. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think,” I tell her, cupping her face.
“I know you’re busy,” Mikayla says, her voice quiet. But she leans her forehead against mine. “Just… please wake me before you leave.”
Wrapping her in my arms, I kiss her brow. “I wake up at five o’clock in the morning, sometimes four, pretty much every day.”