Page 10 of Saddle and Bound

I ignore the provocation and approach, feigning interest in the horse. "I thought maybe you could teach me something about horseback riding. You know, since I'll be here for a while."

Alex raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my request. "Really? I thought you preferred to stay away from all this."

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "Well, I decided to give this place a chance. Unless you're not up to the challenge of teaching…”

I see a spark in his eyes. The challenge has been issued, and I know he can't resist. "Oh, I'm more than up for it, princess. Get ready for the lesson of your life.” He says it with that usual arrogant grin, and I have to resist the urge to tell him exactly where he can shove it.

He won’t be laughing for much longer.

He rolls up his plaid shirt sleeves, revealing his forearms.

I’ve never found forearms sexy in my life, but I swear on the universe, I could faint at the sight of his.

How he manages to wear a shirt in this heat… it’s a mystery. Maybe it’s to protect himself from the dust.

As Alex begins to explain the basics of horseback riding, I glance at my watch. The girls should be in position in a few minutes. My heart beats fast with anticipation.

"So, first we need to choose the right horse for you," says Alex, leading me towards the stalls. "How about..."

At that moment, a loud metallic noise resonates from the other side of the stable. Alex turns sharply.

"What the hell...?" he mutters, heading towards the source of the noise.

It's the signal I've been waiting for. With a quick movement, I grab the water bucket I had previously hidden and dump it completely over Alex.

His cry of surprise echoes through the stable, immediately followed by the laughter of the girls who come out of their hiding spots, smartphones in hand to capture the moment.

Alex turns around slowly, completely soaked, his hair sticking to his face. For a moment, I fear I've gone too far. Then, to my relief, I see a smile forming on his lips.

“Well, princess”, he says, shaking his head like a wet dog and spraying me with water, “I have to admit I didn't see that coming. You got me.” The girls applaud and laugh.

“Consider this your warning, cowboy.”

Alex approaches, a dangerous glint in his eyes. His wet shirt clings to his body, outlining every muscle. I swallow, trying to maintain focus. "Oh, don't think this ends here," he says, his voice low and full of challenge. He moves closer until we're only inches apart. I can feel the heat of his body despite his wet clothes. "This is war, Rosie. And I assure you, you have no idea what's coming."

His intense gaze almost makes me forget how to breathe. I lift my chin, refusing to back down. "All talk, cowboy," I reply, my voice huskier than I'd like. "We'll see who has the last laugh."

"Oh, you can bet on it," Alex murmurs, so close I can feel his breath on my skin. For a moment, the world around us seems to disappear. Then, suddenly, he steps away with a smirk. "Better go change. But remember, princess: revenge is a dish best served cold."

As I watch him walk away, I feel a shiver run down my spine, and I'm not sure if it's from excitement or the challenge. Maybe both. "Wow," Lexy whispers in my ear. "If the sparks between you two were real, we'd have just witnessed a fire." I shake my head, trying to dissipate the tension. "Don't be silly. It's just... competition."

But as we leave the stable, amid laughter and jokes, I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, this stay at the ranch will be much more dangerous and exciting than I had imagined.

?

The rest of the day passes in a whirlwind of activity. Between the preparations for Dad’s wedding and the work I can manage remotely, I barely have time to think about the prank I pulled on Alex. Barely.

Somehow, that damn cowboy always finds his way into my head, and at one point, the silence in my room while I worked was so deafening I could practically hear my thoughts about him screaming at me.

And that's how I gave in to my weakness once again and found myself touching myself, thinking about him without even realizing it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

I swear this is a first for me.

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