Yet she found she didn’t care. She’d enjoyed every moment of their time in bed and would lie down again with him if he so much as wiggled his finger at her.
“But he lied. He and his brother must’ve been watching me this whole time. Then they acted like they didn’t know my name.”
But how had he known she was in town? She’d done her best to keep a low profile, but Forever was a small place and strangers stuck out like a black cat in a wedding-dress shop. Had Shannon or the two werewolves she lived with found out and told him? If he knew, then it was more than likely that Blane knew as well.
A sudden image of both brothers lying beside her, their cocks primed and ready, swamped her with desire. What would it be like to have both of them at the same time? They looked so much alike, and yet they were so different. Reese was the dark side of Blane’s brighter, outgoing personality. But weren’t the two sides what made the idea of taking both brothers exciting?
“But they know about me.” The element of surprise she’d counted on was gone.
Why did Reese have to turn out to be such a sneaky jerk? She uttered a curse. He had a point that she’d lied to him first, but did that make up for his lie? She bit her lower lip, unwilling to forgive him yet unwilling to erase her culpability, either.
The horse’s nicker broke her out of her reverie. She jerked up then let out a breath once she figured out that he wasn’t going to buck her off his back. Counting herself lucky to have made it back to the house in one piece, she set her mind to figuring out what to do with the animal. The rental land didn’t include a barn, but she did remember seeing a shed behind the house.
She clucked to the animal as Reese had done to his horse and pulled on the right rein. She’d figured out that using a horse’s reins was similar to using a car’s steering wheel. Pull left to go left and right to go right. Going forward and backward were different, but so far she hadn’t had to go in reverse. Fortunately, the horse heeded her instructions and carried her to the back of the house.
The structure she’d remembered was less of a shack and more of a lean-to. Although the sides looked flimsy enough to collapse under a good wind, the structure appeared to have lasted many years. Both ends of the lean-to were open with one board crossing the opening on the far side. The horse would be crowded inside, but at least he’d have shelter. Urging the horse forward, she got as close to the lean-to as possible then pulled back on the reins.
She glanced down at the ground. “That sure is a lot farther down than I remember from the first time.” But the first time, she’d had Reese to concentrate on, and falling into his arms hadn’t taken any courage.
The horse dropped his head to the ground then lifted it back up to crane its neck around to her. His dark eyes stared at her, and his message was clear.
“Okay, okay. I’m working on it. Just give me a minute.” But the animal was right. She had to get off his back. Putting the ball of her foot into the stirrup, she lifted her bare ass off the saddle then swung her right leg over the rear end of the horse. She was on the ground and letting go of pent-up air easier than she’d dared hope.
She met the stare of the horse dead on. “See? I bet you didn’t think I could do it, did you? But I made it all the way home and got off in one piece.”
The horse shook his head as though disagreeing with her. “Okay, so you helped. So tell me, Mr. Smarty-pants, how do I get the saddle off you?” She yelped when the horse stomped his foot. “Hold your horses, if you’ll pardon the expression. I’m working on it.”
She studied the saddle, bending over to peer at the straps running along his belly. After a few tries of pulling one strap then unbuckling another, she let out a whoop of victory. She took hold of the saddle and tugged. The saddle and blanket under it weighed more than she assumed, and she shrieked as the bundle sent her falling backward onto her butt.
The horse nickered then blew out its nose. “Funny. Just yuck it up, big guy, and see if you get any water and food tonight.”
Picking herself up and dusting off the twigs and dirt that stuck to her bare skin, she took the reins and led him inside the lean-to. She ducked under the board, getting out the opposite end, then looped the reins around the board.
She patted the horse’s nose, enjoying the soft fur against her palm. “I’m sorry I dragged you along for the ride, but I’m sure Reese will be along shortly to take you back home to your comfy stable. Until then, I’ll fill a big bucket with water and grab some apples for you to snack on.”
Daring to get closer, she pressed her cheek against the horse’s face. “I wish men were as easy to understand as you are.”