Page 31 of Waiting for Ru
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JASIM DIDN’T LIKE the look on Paolo’s face and wondered what he’d done now.
“What were you thinking?” Paolo snapped.
Jasim hauled himself up onto Dream, his favourite Argentine mare. “What’s the problem?”
“If you have to ask, I wonder if you’re losing your mind.”
“Careful, Paolo.”
“We have a waiting list of young people desperate to work here and you bring this one off the boat from Ireland? What happened over there?”
“He needed a break. His employer sold up and left him with no job. Give him a chance.”
“We’ve already had our first argument. He took exception to me calling the newcomers nags.”
Jasim chuckled. “He’s most likely never seen polo ponies before. He’ll learn.”
He clicked Dream on before Paolo said anything else because Jasim couldn’t explain his decision to offer Ru a job. Jasim sighed.Lying to myself?He could explain, he just wasn’t going to.
He’d not had a good night. He’d found himself jacking off thinking about Ru and even after he’d come—hard—his mind had still raced. He’d considered taking one of his horses out for a night ride, to try and clear his head, but when he balanced the risk of damage to himself and/or the horse, alongside the chances of actually banishing Ru from his thoughts, he decided on a swim instead. That hadn’t helped either. Nor had spending longer than usual in the gym. Thirty minutes sitting on the replica horse, swinging a mallet, and he was still frustrated. Hours spent on admin followed, on the phone with sponsors and suppliers, and this was the first chance he’d had to get out for a ride.
Once he was on the long stretch where the grooms galloped the horses, he urged the mare on. She instantly picked up speed. Dream loved to run. He wouldn’t have done this if they’d had a match tomorrow, but the next was in a week’s time. He pressed harder with his thighs, had a sudden vision of Ru beneath him, and the horse gave him all she had.
A flat-out gallop didn’t banish Ru from his head, didn’t banish thoughts of fucking him, and Jasim slowed to a canter. No hint that Ru was gay, not in his clothes or his demeanour, and yet Jasim thought he was. He ought to be wishing the opposite, that Ru was completely straight. Yet he could so easily picture Ru beneath him, staring up at him, that sweet smile on his face, and a canter turned back to a gallop.
Jasim rode until he was soaked in sweat and knew he was going to have trouble walking when he got off. The last thing he needed now was to lose focus. He had to concentrate on what he lived for. Polo. He wanted his team to win the biggest game of the season. The Trafalgar Cup. One more game and then they’d be in the playoff. Since they’d lost their last two games, it wasn’t the surety he hoped for at the beginning of the season. He slowed Dream again, gradually dropping to a walk. The other three members of his team were coming the next day to practise. Somehow, he had to make them want this cup as much as he did.
As Jasim made his way back, he saw the grooms stick and balling in the field, part exercising the horses and part practising their polo skills. Sometimes he watched and gave advice. Today, he wasn’t in the mood. If he was being honest, there were only a couple who showed real potential. He dismounted and led Dream into the stables. There was no one around to look after her, so he did it himself, then carried her saddle to the tack room at the end of the line of stalls.
He heard someone whistling in there before he reached it and when he pushed open the door, he saw Ru, sitting at the table, in Benning Park colours of blue and khaki. Ru’s face lit up when he saw him and the breath caught in Jasim’s throat.
“Have you been riding?” Ru pushed to his feet. “Do you need me to get someone to take care of your horse…um pony?”
“I’ve done it.”
Ru chewed his lip. “I was supposed to go and get someone if I heard you come back. I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter, but why couldn’t you have done it?”
“I’m not allowed to touch any of the horses other than Cookie and Joni. I’m not complaining!” He gulped. “Paolo doesn’t know whether I know what I’m doing, so I get it. Oh sorry, I forgot to call yousir.”
“You don’t need to call mesir. What are you up to?”
Ru sat down again. “Cleaning bridles. Which has turned out to be more complicated than the average bridle. But I’ve fathomed out how to take them to pieces, martingale, reins and all. The bit is in a bucket of water and now I’m sponging the leather with saddle soap. Would you like me to show you how to do it?” Ru gave him a shy smile. “You can show me how to put it back together.”
Jasim laughed and sat opposite. “Why don’t you show me what you’re doing?”
“You have to make sure the sponge is wet but not too wet, then lather up the saddle soap. Then you pick up the pieces of bridle and go over each part with the soapy sponge before putting it on this clean cloth. The soap needs washing off in a couple of minutes. This is one I did earlier. It’s dry now. Want a go?”
Jasim took the sponge and cleaned the last piece of leather.
“Oh you’re a natural. Anyone would think you’d done it before.”
“A few times.”
Ru laughed and Jasim had to fight not to look at him. “There are a few more bridles out there if you need a bit of practice. Now for the bit.” Ru pulled it from the bucket. “It’s been soaking and I can clean it with my toothbrush. An old one. Not the one I’m currently using. I was lucky I’d brought a new one with me. I use toothpaste too. It was a tip my… I check the bit has no sharp edges and it’s not worn.” He ran his fingers over the metal. “I know you know all this. I’m not trying to be clever. I just want you to understand I know what I’m doing.”
