Page 64 of Rope Me In

After a while, he brings Big John to a stop near where I’m standing—still safely outside the pen—then hops down. “Your turn.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

Kade unlatches the gate and opens it with the hand not holding the reins. “Come in here, and we’ll go slow.”

I stare at the horse then into Kade’s soft hazel eyes. “Please don’t let me die.”

He purses his lips as I step into the pen, closing the gate behind me so I’m trapped between him, the horse, and the metal piping. “I promise,” he says, his voice low and sincere. “Nothing is going to happen to you. Trust me, Lemon.”

“I trust you,” I say without hesitation. Not only because I want to say the words, but also because it’s true. After last night and how he went out of his way this morning to care for me—making sure I ate, drank, and took ibuprofen and giving me that mentholated balm—I feel as though I can trust him, no matter how stupid that may be, especially considering my past. But I have to go with my intuition on this one, and it’s telling me that, despite the rocky start we had, I can trust him.

When Kade’s eyes light up and his entire face softens, as if those three simple words had a profound effect on him, I know I’ve made the right choice. He squeezes my bicep gently before he pulls back, motioning for me to stand at Big John’s neck.

“Stroke his neck and shoulder; chat with him for a bit.”

Even though I watched Kade talk to him, it feels silly to talk to a horse. I tentatively press my hand against the beast’s warm neck, his soft hair tickling the skin of my palm.

“Breathe, Lemon. Remember, horses feel your emotions. They’re sensitive animals, but you have no reason to be scared of Big John here.”

I do as he says and exhale, stroking down the horse’s neck. “Hi, Big John. You’re a big boy, aren’t you?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I feel heat creep up my neck. Why is this embarrassing?

“That’s it. You’re doing great.”

His praise has me flushing harder as I remember him praising me last night. For crying out loud—I’ve turned into a horndog after one intimate moment with him. Well, more than a moment.

But if Kade notices my reaction, he doesn’t say anything about it.

“Do you want to try to sit on him?”

I stroke Big John’s neck and look into his soulful brown eyes. “Don’t hurt me,” I tell him. The horse snorts, and I jump back, bumping into the wall of Kade’s chest.

“That was his way of saying he’s not going to hurt you,” he says, his mouth now near my ear. I allow myself to stay in his warm embrace, relishing the way I can feel his chest rise and fall as he breathes. Just as I’m about to step back, Kade leaves a lingering kiss on the top of my head like he did as I was falling asleep. I tilt my chin up at him, and he looks almost as shocked as me that he did it.

He recovers after a second and smiles so his dimples are showing. “You can do this. I know you can. I’ll be right beside you.”

I nod. “Let’s do this before I change my mind.”

The look of pride he gave me last night returns, and I can’t help but feel fueled by it. Nobody has ever looked at me like that. Not my parents, not Derek, no one.

“Okay. I’ll give you a leg up. We don’t have mounting blocks around here, but I’ll be sure to get one for the future.” Kade has me follow him to the center of the pen then adjusts the stirrups for me so they’re shorter. Once he’s done, he motions for me to stand near the saddle.

“You’re going to put your left leg in the stirrup and take hold of the reins and the saddle horn with your left hand. Then I’m going to help swing you over by supporting your right leg and pushing you up.”

I shake my head at the thought of him lifting me up in any capacity. “Kade, no. Isn’t there a rock or something?”

“Lemon.” He lets out a sad sigh. “I don’t know what’s going through that pretty head of yours, but whatever you’re thinking, stop. Let those thoughts go, or I’ll spank them out of you again.” He taps my butt to emphasize his point, and I jump. Then he brings his lips to my ear. “Now put your foot in that stirrup, and let’s get you on this horse.”

My gaze meets his. He looks like he did last night before he spanked me, all authoritative and sexy. I find myself nodding and doing as he asks. Kade stays at my back as I wrap my left hand now holding the reins around the horn, my body tensing as I realize this is actually happening. I’m about to get on a horse.

“Just breathe through your fear, darlin’. Remember, I got you.”

I exhale the rigid breath I’ve been holding as he bends down to grab my booted calf.

“Bend your knee, and then when I count, you jump on three. Got it?” he asks.

“Got it,” I answer, bending my knee.

“Good girl.” His words send shivers up my spine as he starts to count. “One…two…three.” I jump on three, and Kade hoists me up with strength I didn’t expect. I let out a squeal as Iawkwardly flop on top of Big John, who, to his credit, doesn’t move an inch.

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