She smiles up at me and I know she’s fine. She scared the shit out of me, but she’s fine and that’s all that matters.
“Those were some pretty stunning acrobatics you did there. I’m impressed.”
“Yeah. The product of a lifetime of working at Cirque du So-Lame.”
Her comment catches me so off guard, I throw back my head and laugh. Hard.
“Smart, beautiful and witty—the feminine trifecta!”
“And apparently outrageously good on a horse,” she quips as she tries to stand.
I grab her under her arm to help stabilize her. She loses her balance a little and leans into me for support. Being the guy that I am, I can’t help but use the opportunity to put my arm around her waist and draw her in closer.
“Let me help you.”
“Thank you,” she says, putting her hand over mine where it rests on her side and grabbing my free hand with her other one.
“It wasn’t your fault, you know.”
“Of course it was. I’ve had horses buck on me before and I’ve never been unseated. I should’ve listened to you.”
“You weren’t paying attention. I shouldn’t have been distracting you so much on a horse like Titan.”
Cami looks up at me, her violet eyes sparkling in the evening sun. “You are pretty distracting.”
“You ought to see me juggle.”
“Juggle? So you are familiar with the Cirque du So-Lame.”
“Baby, there’s nothing lame about me.”
When we stop in front of Runner, who didn’t follow Titan very far, thank God, Cami looks up at me, her face as serious as a heart attack.
“You know, that’s one of the things I admire most about you.”
“What’s that?”
“Your humility,” she replies, dead pan. And then she starts laughing. Hard.
“Do you really want me to throw you over the saddle and make you ride all the way back with your ass in the air? Because that sorta sounds like what you’re getting at.”
“Would you really do that?” she asks, doing her best to look wide-eyed and innocent.
“Damn straight. And I’d love every minute of it”
She laughs, but I can tell it’s got a nervous edge to it. I don’t think she really knows what to say. For some reason, I like the thought that I unsettle her.
“Don’t be shy! Tell me how you really feel,” she teases.
I come around behind her and put my hands low on her waist. I know I shouldn’t be flirting with her, but God help me, I can’t seem to stop myself.
I bend down and whisper in her ear. “Trust me. You’re not ready to hear that.”
I’m thrilled when I see goose bumps break out on her neck and arms. It still has to be every bit of eighty or eighty-five degrees, so I know it can’t be the weather. It’s me. She reacts to me like I react to her.
But I’m not sure that’s a good thing at all.
Before she can speak, I continue. “Let me help you up on Runner.”
I hold onto Cami as she stretches to put her foot into my higher stirrup and then swings onto Runner’s back. I’m proud of myself that I resist the temptation to palm her ass under the guise of “helping.” I might be able to keep my job after all.
I climb up behind her and set Runner in motion. As we walk by the snake, Cami shivers.
“Not a fan of snakes?”
“Not particularly,” she admits.
“Well, that one’s not going to be doing much harm now.”
As if it’s trying to argue my point, the snake rattles its tail and its broken body writhes.
“You’re not going to leave it like that, are you?”
Actually, I was. After that snake had gotten Cami tossed on her back and nearly trampled, I would gladly have left it to suffer. But I can’t now. Not only because it would make me look callous, but, when put like she just put it, it would really be callous. And callous I’m not.
Pulling Runner to a stop, I hop off his back and look for something I can use to put the snake out of its misery.
“Don’t look,” I call to Cami over my shoulder. Even after I’m done and am once more sitting behind her on Runner’s back, she keeps her head averted. “Let’s get you home.”
Cami scoots forward in the saddle to give me room, but when she relaxes, her butt is rubbing me in all the right places. I bite my lip to keep from thinking things that will give…ahem, “rise” to certain body parts. I’m torn between wishing the ride could last a lot longer and wishing we were already back at the stable.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Cami
Of all the times for Trick to get quiet, why does it have to be now?
It seems like, without my mind concentrating on his flirtatious wit, all I can think about is his body behind me. How it feels to have his strong arms wrapped around me, how his chest moves against my shoulders, how his thighs and his crotch feel rubbing against my back side. His clean soapy scent surrounds me and, with his face so near mine, I can’t help but think of turning my head just enough to kiss that strong jaw.
Ohmigod! This is the longest ride ever!
After we’ve gone a ways, I have to say something.
“Thank you for doing that,” I say quietly.
That was the wrong thing to do because he has to practically press his cheek to mine to hear me.
“Pardon?”
Even though I know I shouldn’t, I let my head fall back further and turn it slightly to the side to speak closer to his ear
“I just said ‘thank you’.”
He leans in further and looks down into my face, his lips literally a couple of inches from mine. I see his grayish eyes flicker to my mouth and his tongue sneaks out to wet his lips. I think I might die.
“Any time,” he says softly.
Although I don’t want to, I turn my head away. But I don’t lean forward again. Instead, we ride the rest of the way back with me reclining against him, my head sort of tucked in the crook of his neck.
Once we leave the trail, Trick doesn’t pick up speed as we cross the field. I wonder if it’s because he likes me nestled against him as much as I like being there. I sigh a little in disappointment when the stable comes into view.
I wish I could stay like this forever.
My eyes are closed and that’s what I’m thinking when Trick stiffens behind me. I sit up and look around. My eyes immediately go to the thing that has him suddenly uptight. There’s no question why.