Page 10 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
She doesn’t reply at first, and just when I think she’s done talking to me—
“I grew up on a ranch, albeit a tiny one in comparison. It’s just down the road. Horse grooming is one of the first things my father taught me.” She frowns again, but this time I’m not sure why.
“I grew up learning how to fly,” I tell her. “From my mom. Not the same thing at all.”
A smile turns up the corner of her lips. “This ranch is big. I’m sure there’s something you’ll be good at, if not horses.”
“I’ve got a year, so I’ll have to find something to do,” I grumble.
She frowns. “A year?”
I wave my hand. “Nothing.”
Word of why I’m here and the rules behind it clearly hasn’t spread to the staff, at least not to Carly. I’ve only met her and the housekeeper so far.
The horse whinnies and shifts her feet, distracting Carly. She runs her small hand down the animal’s flank, and it’s the first time I’ve ever been jealous of a horse.
“I’d better get back to work. I have another horse besides Ivory to groom.” She glances my way and I can’t miss the interest and curiosity. “See you around, Austin.”
She grabs the lead and guides the horse down the center aisle of the stable. I watch the perfect sway of her ass in the snug jeans.
“Count on it, Carly. Count. On. It.”
This year may suck, but at least I’ll have a good view.
4
CARLY
I’d say the second-most beautiful.
I can still hear the words in Austin Bridger’s deep rich voice.
Austin Bridger…
Wow, is he good looking. Dark hair, dark eyes, a sculpted jawline, and that adorable dimple in his chin. And that body…my God.
There’s a good reason I dropped the cloth I was using to wipe Ivory’s face.
Attraction, pure and simple. In fact, attraction is too tame of a word.
More like captivation. It’s startling, and so is he.
Once I turn away from him, I don’t dare turn back until I hear him leave the stable. Then I let out a breath I only now realize I’ve been holding. My nipples are hard. And lower… I never thought I’d feel desire again. Or anything close to this. But now—
I lean against Ivory’s soft body and breathe. Simply breathe.
Dr. Lake said I’d be interested in men again, but I didn’t believe her. No way could I possibly. Not after what I’ve been through.
“It will catch you unaware,” she said during a recent session. “I know you don’t believe me, Carly, and that’s okay. But it will happen. Those feelings are still inside you, and they will return.”
“Soon?” I asked, trembling. I wanted to be normal, to feel like a woman. But it was difficult to trust even Dr. Lake. She hadn’t been there.
“Probably not,” she said, “but it will when you’re ready. Did you get a vibrator like I suggested?”
I warmed at the question. She’d recommended I begin to take back my sexuality by getting a sex toy to use solo. To relearn my body and find pleasure in it. There aren’t any adult stores around—if there were, I’d be too embarrassed to enter, anyway—so I ordered it online.
I nodded.
