Page 51 of Revelry
He tentatively moved it, turning it each way and testing what pressure I could stand. He scrutinized the joint and I wondered if I’d ever had someone pay that much attention to me in my entire life.
I decided no.
The rough pads of his fingers scraped deliciously over my sensitive skin and I thought I was going to go up in flames. How was I so turned on from someone inspecting my ankle? What magic did Tate have that he sent me to a quivering mess just by checking if I’d hurt myself?
“I think it’s okay, not broken. It’s just going to be sore,” he said, pinning me with his stare. One arm still around my back and his hand over my foot, we stared at each other and I noticed he had light flecks in his gray eyes and the way they tilted at the corners so seductively had me falling into a trance.
“Um, hello?” Jack interrupted. “I’ve got a broken thumb?”
Tate blinked and the spell was broken. He helped me to my feet and turned to look at Jack’s thumb before declaring it was indeed broken.
“Let’s get back to the main house and I can splint it for you,” Tate said. “Gertrude will ride with me.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tate
My heartbeat was finally returning to normal.
And then I had to go and share a horse with Gertrude. Her ass pressed into my crotch, rocking into it with each step Fitzwilliam took. I dragged my mind out of the gutter long enough to try and put some distance between us before she felt just how much I was enjoying our ride.
I’d helped Jack onto Chester’s back, then snagged Sunshine’s reins and she trotted alongside us as we made our way back to the ranch house.
Gertrude was strangely quiet on the journey back. I expected her to pepper me with questions about why I’d been ignoring her over the last few weeks, but she didn’t. Which was just as well because what would I tell her? Seeing my father sent me into a massive OCD spiral which I’d only just pulled myself out from? Because I’m a grown-ass man who hadn’t left the house properly in weeks and I finally pulled myself together after a session with my therapist?
I don’t know what it was about Dad’s visit this time that sent me into such a deep, dark place. I bumped into him every few years when he could orchestrate something. I’d known I would see him eventually because he’d been trying to get in to see me at the vet clinic.
No, I couldn’t tell her that. But what was I going to do with her? I’d tried avoiding her and all that had done was make me think about her more. It killed me not to open her messages but what did I say? “Hi, I’m Tate and I’ve got debilitating issues?”
Normally I couldn’t get the pint-sized raven-haired beauty to stop talking but today she was silent.
“Are you okay?” I asked through gritted teeth when I couldn’t take the silence any longer.
“I am. Are you?” she asked, echoing our meeting from months ago. She turned to face me but I couldn’t look into her eyes. They would be my undoing.
I harrumphed in response, not trusting myself to speak. I’d been terrified when I heard Jack on the phone with August telling her Gertrude was injured and couldn’t walk. I knew how serious injuries could get on a ranch, so I’d rode out of the stables like a madman. I only calmed when I saw her mane of inky locks.
Gertrude leaned back against me, her hair brushing over my face, teasing me with the sweet scent. I fought not to bury my face into it and inhale. My eyes fluttered closed, my knuckles tightening on the reins as she rocked into me, rubbing herself against my already hard dick. I pushed out a shaky exhale, willing myself to calm down.
There were some tough moments in life, I’d experienced more than my fair share. Now I had to add one more thing to the list; sharing a horse with Gertrude.
I replayed our kiss. Her soft, puffy lips that moved in waves against mine and drove me wild. She’d worked me up with her breathy moans and quivering hands eagerly roaming my body. Then everything had been ruined by my littleissue.
But right now, nothing could be spilled, no mess could be made and I was more aware of Gertrude than ever and the pleasure I could find in her delightful body. My grip on her thick thigh flexed, fingers digging into her soft flesh. I liked the fullness of her body, she was pliant, not breakable. She could take whatever I gave her.
Just when I was ready to drag her off the horse and have my way with her, the ranch came into view. Wrenching my focus from her thighs and her chest expanding with her heavy breaths, I concentrated on getting my dick to go down.
I pulled Fitzwilliam to a stop in front of the porch and swung out from behind Gertrude. I dropped to the ground, my legs shakier than I would have liked after our ride together. I scooped her up and slipped her off the horse, her arms circling my neck. Her inquisitive stare drilled into me but I knew if I dropped my eyes to her violet blues, then I would be a goner.
Leo came rushing out and tried to help by taking Gertrude from me, but I moved her out of reach with a low growl, not wanting anyone else to put their hands on her.
She wasmine.
“Oh dang, it’s like that is it? Interesting.” Leo gave me a shit-eating grin and I frowned before nudging past him.
“Help Jack,” I called over my shoulder.
I entered the house and turned into the open plan kitchen where the scents of Thanksgiving dinner overwhelmed me, my stomach rumbling in delight. I placed Gertrude on one of the dining chairs.
