Page 29 of Loving Victoria

“Is that so?” Caleb wrapped his arm around me from behind, pressing me against his chest, his other hand coming around my throat. He tilted my head to the side and sucked at my neck. I had no doubt he was going to leave a mark. Shivers went down my spine and pooled between my legs. If he didn’t stop, I’d be begging him to rip my jeans off and fuck me from behind.

The whirring sound of the barn door’s wheels on a track had us separating before that could happen. I grabbed the bridle and held it out to Caleb. I didn’t know how to put it on either, so now would be a perfect time to make it seem like this was all we were doing.

“Wrap your arm around and bring the muzzle down. Lay the bit across your palm like this and bring it up to her mouth.” Caleb demonstrated as the thudding of boots drew nearer.

“It’s about time you finally learned how to tack your own horse.” Thomas appeared at the stall door.

I turned and stuck my tongue out at him.

“Were you going for a ride?” he asked.

“I was just about to. Why?”

“I need help with something and figured it was time you earned your keep.” He smiled to let me know he was teasing.

“Bite me,” I teased back.

“I see someone already did.” He eyed my neck, then glanced at Caleb, his eyebrow arched.

My hand flew to my neck to cover the fresh mark.Shit.There was no hiding anything now.

“Come find me when you’re through. We have much to talk about.” Thomas gave me a stern look, then glanced at Caleb. “Nice hair, Caleb.” Thomas smirked before turning and leaving.

I stood there frozen, not knowing what to do. Caleb was in the middle of giving me a lesson, and now Thomas needed my help.I really wanted to spend more time with Caleb, but I was curious what Thomas had for me.

Caleb spun me around and kissed me. “Go. See what he wants. I’ll untack Wind Dancer.” He gave me a swat on the butt.

I pursed my lips at him, then let myself out and jogged after Thomas, relieved Caleb helped make the decision for me.

“What do you need from me?” I asked when I caught up with him.

“I need you to work with Alex. We need a new software program to use, but we haven’t been able to lock one down. We want you to work some magic and help us find the right one. And I need Alex using this software too, because it’ll be integrated with the breeding program, but it would also be useful in her clinic too.”

“All right. I can arrange a meeting and work with the company to see what deal we can come up with. Would you be opposed to sponsorship? How about secondary advertising?”

“Depending on the logistics, we can work that out when we get there. I knew you’d be the perfect person to help. Plus, now you have an actual excuse to give your mother when she calls again.”

Well, fuck.

“She called you, didn’t she?” I winced. I hadn’t wanted to get them involved in my little white lie, but mom had dragged them headfirst into it now.

“Just finished a lovely chat with her. She is biting my head off because I’m keeping you here too long when you need to be home, planning your amazing wedding I stopped you from having.” He smiled a commiserating smile as we walked to the main house.

“Thanks. I’ll call Alex, and we can schedule a meeting.” I switched into business mode and let the events of the last thirty minutes fade away. Well, maybe not all of them. What Caleb and I did in the stall would be engrained in my memory forever to use on replay when I finally had to leave King’s Ranch.

CALEB

“How about we go out on Sunday? Go into town and have dinner?” Andrew suggested Saturday morning. His cup of coffee was halfway drained. Tori had made it her mission to make coffee every morning since she’d learned how. I wasn’t complaining. It felt nice to have someone take care of me for a change. And it helped that Tori handed me my coffee every morning with a kiss as I left for work. Even though it had only been a few weeks, it was like we’d been together for years.

I should have been terrified about what that meant, but I wasn’t. She had firmly planted herself into our lives and had captured my heart. I hadn’t expected it, but I was ready for it all the same. I wanted her there. It hurt thinking about going back to the way things were. With Tori’s enthusiasm and daily dose of joy, I realized our existence had been lonely without her.

“Like a date?” She batted her eyelashes at Drew.

“Please tell me you’ve been on dates before, sunshine. It’ll break my heart if you say you’ve never been asked out on a date.”

“I’ve been on dates.” She laughed. “It’s just been a while since I’ve been on a good one.”

“Then let us show you what a date should be like, princess.” I wanted to take her out for a fun evening.

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