Page 72 of Sizzling

Storm chuckled and leaned closer to me. “That’s a thoroughbred, baby.”

Okay, so clearly, I had never ridden a thoroughbred, and I was now questioning my agreeing to ride today. Because I was not getting on that thing. And … had he just called me baby? Was it on accident? Or just a saying he tossed out at women and he’d not meant to when speaking to me?

“Come with me,” Storm urged, pressing his hand against my back.

We walked in the direction of the monster he’d called a horse. I stopped several feet away and refused to go any closer. Storm seemed amused, but I was trying to decide if that thing could get out and maul me.

“This is Sword. He’s one of our champions,” Storm informed me.

“I bet. All the other horses run scared of him. How could he lose?” I asked.

That got a full laugh out of Storm, which distracted me momentarily. I liked that sound. The deep rumble made my chest feel light and my stomach flutter.

Trying to focus on the current issue, I found my voice again. “I am not riding that horse or one like it.”

Storm slid his hand further around me until his arm was around my back, and then he turned me to look down the row of stalls. He pointed at a stall much farther down on the opposite side. “Your horse is down that way.”

“And it’s dainty and old, I hope,” I replied.

“She’s perfect for you,” he told me.

I didn’t know if that made me feel relieved or not. He let out two short whistles, and I opened my mouth to ask him what he’d meant by perfect for me when a white mane appeared up ahead as the horse stuck its head out from the stall.

As we got closer, I realized the horse wasn’t solid white, but was covered in dark spots. Almost like someone had decided to use it as a canvas for their artwork.

When the horse turned its head in our direction, my hand flew to my chest. “Oh my God,” I breathed.

I’d never seen a horse that beautiful in real life or photographs. The eyes were ringed with dark spots, making them stand out more against the white. The comparison to art hadn’t been wrong.

“What do you think?” Storm asked.

“She, he—it’s stunning and not massive, like Sword. Does that mean it’s not a thoroughbred?”

“She’s an Appaloosa. Nine years old and very gentle.”

My gaze swung to look up at him. “This is the horse I get to ride?” I asked.

He nodded. There was a pleased gleam in his eye. “Yes. This one is yours.”

I moved closer to her. “What’s her name?” I asked, wanting to reach out and touch her, but not sure if that was allowed or if Storm needed to prepare her first.

“Noor,” he replied, then nodded his head in her direction. “Go on, you can pet her. She’s an affection hog, and she shines when praised.”

Stepping up to her, I placed a hand on her neck and gently ran it down. “You are stunning,” I told her.

She turned her head toward me, as if to nuzzle me. I giggled without thinking and leaned in closer to her.

“I’ll let you two get acquainted, and I’ll go get her tack,” Storm told me.

I nodded, not wanting to look away from her as she studied me. The dark brown of her eyes was striking. I wondered what she was thinking. Who did she belong to? Was she a horse they kept here for women they took riding? The idea of her not having a specific owner bothered me. She should belong to someone. Know she was loved. That she was special.

I pressed a kiss to her soft mane. I knew all too well what not belonging felt like. The idea of her living the same life seemed terribly unfair. Even if her accommodations were fit for royalty.

The smile spreading across my face was so big that it was almost painful. I’d not been this happy in … well, I couldn’t remember. The warm sunshine, wind in my hair, and the freeing feeling of riding on Noor across the smooth, even pasture made the bad stuff seem unimportant. I knew it was brief, but right now, I wanted to embrace it. I wished Dovie would come riding. She’d love Noor.

A large body of water came into view, and Storm slowed to almost a stop on a large black thoroughbred he’d introduced as Poseidon. Noor immediately fell into step beside him. She was smart and seemed to read what I wanted before I even told her. I figured this was where we turned around.

“You not only get on a horse like a pro, but you also canter with ease,” he said, his eyes narrowed.

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