Page 21 of Run, Rabbit, Run

Tacking up went smoothly without any interruptions of the vibratory type. First, she briskly whisked away dust using a dandy brush. She wasn’t sure this animal had ever needed a curry in his life, which was incredible considering he was older and lighter because of it.

Dappled gray horses “greyed out” as they aged. This meant that they lost their dappling the older they became. She would guess he was around six, but she hadn’t checked his teeth. She could always just ask Demetrius… but she’d rather stick nine-inch nails in her eyes than willingly speak to the psycho.

Once she had picked his hooves and checked his legs over, she saw Demetrius approaching from the corner of her eye. He had a handsome brown saddle draped over his forearm with the matching bridle hanging on his shoulder. The tack was gorgeous.

“Be careful when you cinch his girth. He likes to bite.” His tone was casual, and it made her weary. She didn’t like the idea of relaxing her guard around him. Although she had originally attempted to humanize herself in his eyes, Bunny had begun to suspect that she was already fully human to Demetrius.

It made the entire situation even stranger. If he didn’t see her as a possession, a prize, then how could he stomach the torment he was putting her through?

Snapping out of her thoughts, Bunny turned to the horse as Demetrius arranged the tack on the saddle rack attached to his stall. He walked away without another another word.

Bunny plucked the saddle pad up, placing it so that it was high on his withers. She plopped the saddle on top and slid both back, smoothing the hair on his back, before pulling the front of the pad to tent it so it wouldn’t pinch his withers.

Maximus swung his head around and pinned his ears as Demetrius had warned when she began doing up the girth. “Don’t even fucking think about it,” Bunny grumbled, turning to stare him down threateningly.

The horse seemed to think better of it and contented himself with pinned ears and snapping teeth instead. Bunny wasn’t one to make a fuss where it was unnecessary. So long as he wasn’t truly intending to bite her, she wouldn’t react.

Once ready, she slipped the reins over Maximus’ head and followed Demetrius outside. Michael lounged like a lazy cat on a chair in front of the arena, taking long drags of a cigarette.

She briefly wondered how many that made today. Maybe if she was lucky his lungs would shrivel up and she could make her escape while Demetrius tried to revive his poor assistant... But she honestly wasn’t sure if Demetrius would even pay heed to Michael or just start phoning around for a new helper as his current staff lay dying.

The arena was gorgeous, freshly swept, and impeccably maintained. It was surrounded on three sides by seamless mirrors to help riders judge their position and the movements of their mounts. Jumps were set up in the middle. She slowly took in her surroundings, savoring every second she could spend surrounded by splendor.

While Demetrius mounted his own stallion, Bunny stiffened as she remembered that she was wearing a vibrating plug. Apparently, life-or-death situations were also a turn-on for the resident psycho because horseback riding was unsafe at the best of times, let alone when you were playing sick games.

She slid the stirrups down their leathers, measuring them to her arm, then mounted.

Bunny was one to land softly on a horse’s back, an act of kindness for an animal who did so much for the person sitting astride them. Even so, she could feel the plug push further inside of her, and she bit her lip, stomach tightening.

Demetrius called out to her, “We’ll ride for a half hour or so. If you’re good, we can go on the trails next time.”

She didn’t respond, instead letting Maximus walk while her hands slid to the buckle of her reins. This was her element. The buttery leather felt wonderfully pliable in her hands. Bunny’s heels were stretched down on instinct, leg long and solid even as it swayed lightly, perfectly in rhythm with the horse’s stride.

For the first time in what felt like years, she felt peace settle over her.

After a few passes at an extended walk, she pressed her heels into his sides and sat deep, asking for a trot. He complied immediately and she began rising and falling to his outside leg.

Immediately. she regretted it as the plug inside of her woke up. Bunny gasped, faltering and picking up the wrong lead. Her movements became jerky and Maximus answered immediately with a couple of gentle bunny hops. Naturally, he was not the type who would put up with nonsense.

She should have asked for a schoolmaster.

Laughter sounded across the arena and she realized it was two voices, not just one. Bunny shot a venomous glare at Michael, who immediately shut his mouth.

“Come now, Bunny,” Demetrius said as he rode up to her on the outside, “I thought you were a better rider than that.”

“Fuck you. Eat shit,” She growled, curling her upper lip.

“I think the only one who’ll be eating shit today is you,” He chuckled, eyes heavy with mirth. With that, he cantered off.

“Passing is left shoulder to left shoulder, asshole!” She crowed after him, bristling.

The next thirty minutes passed with the occasional buzz, and Bunny faltering when it happened. She was, for the first time, relieved when the ride ended. Bunny dismounted, landing heavily on the ground and feeling the shock shoot up her legs to her ass, gritting her teeth.

Michael was approaching, already holding Demetrius’ horse. He reached his hands out for the reins and she waved him off.

“I take care of my own horses,” She said.

“I don’t think he’s giving you a choice,” Michael countered, jerking a thumb over at Demetrius, standing a few feet away. He used a finger to beckon her, and she knew she was to crawl.

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