Page 12 of Dangerous Stakes

“Now, be a good girl and let’s get Tank into the trailer. Do you want to follow me back home and unload him or do you trust me to do that?”

“It isn’t a matter of trusting you. I just want Tank to know it may be a new barn, but that he’s still my boy.”

He smiled. “Somehow, I thought you might think that. Best be on your best behavior when we get there. The girls know you’re coming, and I suspect will want to meet you.”

“Do you think I’d be mean to children?”

“No. I’ve seen you spend hours talking to young riders and signing autographs. I’m more worried about you learning to behave around their mothers.”

“Why, because their mothers would prefer to find their proper place under the dressage master?”

“Some might, but never have and never will. I don’t claim what isn’t mine. Besides, threesomes are overrated.”

“I don’t know,” she giggled. “You and another man might be fun. Certainly, I’d be getting enough at that point.”

Rory growled at her. “I never got high marks in shares well with others. And don’t you worry about getting enough. I mean to ensure that need is well tended to.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her body against his in the same way a cat in heat would rub against a person’s legs. “I’m awfully glad to hear that.” She pulled his head down for another kiss.

* * *

Susan was quickly discovering that Rory had not misled her; he tended to take control when they kissed. What might start as soft and seductive quickly turned to passion and dominance. It was a heady mix that she found herself responding to. The butterflies in her lower abdomen started to flutter when she thought about him taking control in other sexual matters, as well. He ended the kiss and caressed her backside.

“Now off with you. I’ll wait until I see you behind us. If you want, we can just go to dinner as is and leave from the barn. Or I can pick you up at your place.”

“Would you be returning me to my place this evening?” she teased.

“Only if you want me to. I’d prefer to have you in your proper place for the night and well into morning.”

She laughed again. “Promises, promises,” she said as she turned to walk away.

Rory’s response was a sharp slap to her backside. It had more heat than just an affectionate pat but held the promise of so much more.

Tank stood watching her go. She heard Rory say, “It’s all right, big fella. I mean to take good care of you and your mistress.”

She turned so she could watch them as she walked away. Tank looked at him expectantly. Rory dug in his pocket and pulled out what looked to be a berry flavored alfalfa treat. Tank’s ears flicked forward as he deftly removed it from his hand. Rory laughed. He loaded Tank into the trailer and then finished loading the other horses. He waved her on toward Gina’s barn and headed back in to check that everything had been collected and packed away into the truck. She made sure she was waiting for him in her truck when he was ready to leave.

CHAPTER 6

The drive to Rory’s farm wasn’t overly long but was mostly highway. As they turned into the drive of Second Chance Farms, Rory was glad to see that all his other students had turned out to welcome Tank and Susan. He pulled into the unloading spot, got out and got his stable hands to start unloading horses, equipment, and tack from the show. He waited until Susan had parked and joined him in the trailer.

He bussed her lips quickly. “See? Now that wasn’t so hard to follow my lead, was it?” he teased.

She laughed. “Don’t get used to it. It’s not my normal inclination to follow.”

“Aye, we’ll work on that, as well as your piaffe.”

She turned to look at him. “What’s wrong with my piaffe?”

“Nothing wrong, but neither of you is putting much effort into it. That will change with your first lesson. Now, let’s get him unloaded, the introductions and hero worshipping over with, and go to dinner.”

“Oh, I’m just their new distraction. You’re the one they worship.”

She unhooked Tank and led him out of the big rig and into his barn. She didn’t have to ask which stall was his. He’d called ahead and had a large stall with a small private paddock at the far end of the breezeway prepared for him.

Apparently, the kids had decorated it in anticipation of their arrival. Susan hesitated a moment and seemed to be quite touched as she knew they had only known earlier in the day that she would be joining them. She led Tank into the stall and removed his halter. The big horse checked the feed bucket and finding no grain, began to munch on hay in the hayrack.

Once he’d gotten everyone settled and they had the barn to themselves, he asked, “So, are we going to dinner from here or do I pick you up at your place?”

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