Page 41 of Saddle and Bound

I turn towards the cow, trying to focus on the task ahead of us. "So, princess, ready for your first milking lesson?"

Rosie comes closer, the smell of her vanilla shampoo mixing with that of hay and animals. It's a combination that shouldn't be so seductive, yet it is.

"More than ready," she responds with a determined smile. "Where do we start?"

I try to maintain a professional tone as I explain the procedure, but it's difficult when all I can think about is how easy it would be to slide those straps down her shoulders...

"Alex?" Rosie's voice brings me back to reality. "Are you okay? You seem... distracted."

"I'm fine," I respond too quickly. "Now, let's see how you do with milking."

I guide her through the steps, trying to focus on the task and not on how close she is, on how her hands brush against mine as I show her the correct technique.

Rosie tries hard, but it's clear she's never done anything like this before. I should be amused by her clumsy attempts, should tease her as I normally would. But all I can think about is how adorable her concentrated expression is, how much I want to kiss that frustrated pout from her lips.

"Come on, princess," I say, trying to sound playful and not as desperate as I feel. "Don't tell me a simple cow is too much for you."

Rosie gives me a challenging look that makes my knees weak. "Never underestimate me, cowboy. I'll show you."

And as I watch her determined to master this new skill, I realize I'm in trouble. Serious trouble. Because it's not just physical attraction. It's something more, something dangerous and unfamiliar, yet decidedly and unmistakably clear. And the thought of camping on the weekend, of having her all to myself under the stars...

I watch Rosie, her tongue sticking out slightly between her lips with effort. It's such an innocent gesture, yet it makes me have thoughts that are anything but pure.

"There, like that," I guide her, placing my hands on hers to show her the correct movement. The contact sends an electric shock through my entire body.

Rosie looks up, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, time seems to stand still. We're so close that I can count the freckles on her nose, feel her light breath on my skin.

"I... I think I got it," she says softly, without moving away though.

I clear my throat, trying to regain control. Trying to push away the lingering thoughts of the ambiguous gestures we just shared. "Good, then... try on your own."

I step back, suddenly feeling cold without her body close to mine. I watch her as she resumes milking, this time with more confidence.

"I did it!" she exclaims after a few minutes, a radiant smile on her face. "Look, Alex! I really did it!"

Her enthusiasm is contagious and I find myself smiling too. "Well done princess, maybe there's hope for you after all."

Rosie gives me a light punch on the shoulder, leaving a milk stain on my shirt. "Oops," she says, not looking sorry at all.

"Oh, you want to play it like that?" I respond, dipping my fingers in the milk bucket and splashing her lightly.

Rosie jumps, looking at me with wide eyes. For a moment I fear I've gone too far, but then I see a flash of mischief in her eyes.

"You..." she starts, but doesn't finish the sentence.

She takes a handful of milk from the bucket and splashes it on my chest, leaving a white trail on my shirt.

Her laughter is full of joy, yet there's something different in the air, something more subtle and intense. "Now you've really done it," I say in a low voice, my eyes shining with an unspoken promise. Without thinking too much, I take some milk again and splash her neck.

The liquid slides down her smooth skin, creating an almost hypnotic contrast with her complexion.

She looks up and, for a moment, we're alone in this universe made of glances and sighs. Her eyes meet mine, and the world seems to stop. There's a spark in that look, something dark and inviting, and I know she feels it too. The game has taken a turn that neither of us had foreseen, but now we're trapped, and neither of us wants to get out.

Her chest rises in a deep breath, and I can clearly see the effect all this is having on her. Her heartbeat accelerates, visible in the way her throat contracts, as if trying to control the wave of sensations coursing through her body. But there's no control, not anymore.

Without a word, her gaze lowers to the milk dripping down her skin, then slowly rises back to me, and that slow and deliberate gesture hits me like a shock. I feel an irresistible urge to move closer, but I hold back. The tension building between us is almost unbearable, as if every second we're walking on a very thin wire.

Her lips part again, and I wish she would say something, but at the same time I don't want to break the silence.

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