Page 80 of Stables

The main entrance opens to a swirl of giggles as Lori and Char run in with a black and white blur of a dog dodging past them. Their hair is plastered to their foreheads, and Lori pulls the blanket away from Jack’s face.

Caesar trots into the middle of the room near his bed and shakes, mud and water flies over the wall and floor.

“No puppy!” Paisley shrieks as she gets sprayed, but she’s laughing so hard she nearly falls over backwards.

I need to get Char one.

A big breed to keep her safe if I’m not there.

Fuck, if I can ever handle her being away from me.

“I’ll get some towels.” Mason disappears for a moment down the hall, then returns with a fluffy armful.

Char unfolds one and wraps Paisley in it, rubbing some of the excess droplets from her cheeks.

I take one and drape it around Char, my palms working up her arms as she takes care of Paisley.

Mason does the same with Lori.

I don’t mind that I’m getting wet, only that Char could be cold.

This is what it’s like? Having someone who you care more about than yourself?

It’s foreign, but it feels right.

When she turns to me smiling, I don’t miss the rigid peaks of her nipples poking through her thin shirt before she nestles against me.

They rub against my stomach as she buries into my arms.

I’m not sure if I’m ready for her to brush the bulge in my jeans. My control is becoming tenuous. I might just rip off her clothes in front of everyone and rut her like a stallion.

“Ready to go home?” I ask her quietly.

Her cheek moves in a nod against my ribs.

“Mason, I’ll bring your towels back.” Keeping my girls dry until they get to the truck is my priority.

Paisley just got over being sick, no need to tempt fate.

Holding one over Char while carrying Paisley is a feat I didn’t know I could do. But I get them both loaded in record time.

The rain turns into a constant drizzle as I drive through the dark. It isn’t long before the heater catches up sending Paisley to sleep in the back.

Char threads her fingers into mine and leans against her seat with a lazy smile. “That was nice, thank you.”

Heat blossoms through my chest. I was hoping she’d have a pleasant time.

“Did you want to come help next week? Mason was thrilled you could bring your own horse.” I pull her hand up to kiss her thumb. “He said you did such a good job on Misty, there’s hope you’d whip me into shape.”

Char snorts, then giggles softly. “It’d be good for Whiskey to get some more experience in different settings. Maybe Juniper too if it’s all day. He’s not used to cattle, so that would be a great way to desensitize him.”

Pulling up to her dark house feels more comforting than when I go to my own.

Maybe I need to make a point of bringing over more clothes?

The downpour has lightened enough I don’t need the towel. Tucking a sleeping Paisley into my shoulder, I carry her up onto the porch, waiting for Char to unlock the door.

There’s a thumping sound coming from the barn.

---