Page 65 of Shattered Mind

Maybe the boots were too much.

It feels like we’re moving out of the safety of the friends with benefits zone and dangerously further into relationship territory.

At the time, I didn’t think of how buying Liv boots as a gift could perhaps confuse things, but looking at it now, I can see how it may be a little misleading. I’m so far out of my depth here it’s not even funny.

I watch as Liv pulls on her new shoes and stands, testing the feel of them on her feet before turning to me with a smile. “Are you ready to go?”

I nod. “Yeah. Do you know how to mount?”

She looks between me and the two horses I’ve tacked up for us before a sly, knowing grin appears on her lips. “I heard no complaints from you,” she says before winking at me.

A surprised laugh bursts out of me, and she quickly follows, breaking the earlierawkwardness between us.

I move towards Storm, double checking the saddle is secure. “This is Storm. She’s my personal horse, and I trust her with my life, so you’ll be safe with her, okay?”

Liv eyes the horse behind me. “Is that Casper?”

“Yeah,” I nod.

“He looks so different.”

I turn to look at the stallion with pride. “He’s come a long way. Finally getting his weight up. Todays only the second time I’m riding him, so we’ll take it slow.”

I approach her from behind and place my hands on her waist. Her breath hitches as my fingers twitch at the feel of her curves beneath my grip and I revel in the visceral reaction my touch draws from her. Memories of the way she felt as I held on to her as I fucked her from behind assault me and my dick hardens against the zipper of my jeans.

I clear my throat before speaking into her ear. “You need to put one foot in the stirrup and hoist yourself up and over. I’ll help you, okay?”

She shivers against me as my breath brushes against her ear before she gives me a small nod. She does as instructed, mounting Storm without any mishaps, which is surprising given the fact that both of our bodies are wound tight with pent up arousal.

Once I’m certain she’s settled on Storm, I untie her and Casper before climbing up on the horse and guiding us away from the barn slowly.

Caspers gait is cautious at first as we fall into step with Olivia and Storm. His ears twitch back and forth in observation as he becomes accustomed to the new surroundings.

I’ve kept his training only in the round pen, and this will be the first time he has explored any further than that soI’m extra mindful of anything that could possibly spook him.

I lead us towards the back of the ranch where the creek runs along the bottom of the sprawling hills butting up against the mountains. The ride takes around an hour and a half at the pace we’re moving, but the awe on Liv’s face as she takes everything in makes the journey worth every minute. Her eyes shine with happiness as the wind blows her long, dark strands around her face.

“It’s so beautiful out here,” she says breathlessly.

I don’t take my eyes off her as I respond. “Yeah, it is.”

“You must’ve loved growing up here.”

I come to a stop next to a tree beside the creek and climb off Casper, tying him off on a low branch before repeating the action with Storm and helping Liv down. “I did. You never get bored, that’s for sure.”

“No, I don’t imagine you would,” she says, running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it.

“What was it like growing up in London?” I ask as I grab two cans of soda from the bag strapped to Storm and pass Liv one.

Liv contemplates her answer a moment. “It was okay, I guess. I had friends and family and school, but nothing like this. It’s city life. It’s busy and hectic and absolute chaos and I loved it at the time,” she spins, taking in her surroundings, “but that was before I’d experienced this. I don’t think I could ever go back to living in the city after living somewhere so beautiful.”

I frown a little. “You think about going back?”

She turns to face me and shrugs. “Sometimes. After Savannah started getting serious with Hunter, I very briefly wondered whether I should stay or not. I know I’ll have to go back eventually to sell my parent’s house, but I don’t plan on staying there.”

“When do you think you’ll sell?” I ask as I take a seat in the grass next to the water.

Liv sits down beside me before answering. “I don’t know. It’s something that weighs heavily on my conscience. I know I need to pull on my big girl pants and do it, I just… can’t. Every time I’ve attempted or even thought about going back to their house, I freeze up.”

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