“Of course, Hawk.”
I extracted myself and went to check out the bathroom which had a tub with jets. The whole thing was clean enough to gleam—again, I’d stayed in some sketchy places while on the road before and these things mattered to me more than most.
“How’s it look?” Carter called out.
“Like I want a long bath tonight before you fuck the rest of my energy out of me.”
He laughed, the sound delighted. “Can do!”
Smiling, I glanced at the mirror. I looked happy. Relaxed. Like things were finally going my way.
After a walk around the pool and checking out the club lounge, we took a nap in the room, just cuddling and spending time together.
It might’ve evolved into mutual blowjobs and then almost being late for dinner, but who was counting?
The restaurant was an interesting kind of fusion place with I guess French cooking and Italian and whatnot. I wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter to me as long as the food was good.
I had salmon, which was the only fish I liked, with some fancy potatoes and veggies, and was very happy with that choice. Carter had Corsican Ragout, while both Marielle and Elisa chose pasta dishes. In the middle of dinner, I realized we were acting very coupley. The ladies were tasting each other’s food, but so were Carter and I.
Looking from the outside, there wouldn’t have been any doubt that we were two queer couples, and something about that solidified everything to me in a way I hadn’t expected.
Later, when I got my bath and my slow fucking that turned into making love in the best way possible, I realized that I was falling in love with Carter.
Somehow, I wasn’t scared.
Marielle and Elisa were still in The Springs when Carter appeared at the training barn a few days later.
I was working with Mal and Ezio, the young draft cross gelding everyone joked was Mal’s horse because Crew had bought him for Mal. It was a long story, one I’d have to tell Carter if nobody beat me to it.
“Yeah, he seems good, but like you said, the back end needs work,” I was telling Mal as we watched the gelding trot.
I glanced over at the gate when I clocked Carter.
He lifted a hand, so I clapped Mal on the arm and nudged my head toward Carter.
“Hey,” he called out quietly to Carter, before concentrating back on Ezio.
I waited for Ezio to be the furthest away from the gate before crossing over to climb a rung so I could kiss Carter without lifting up to my toes.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked, smiling against his lips.
“I was mucking the stalls at the stock barn and when I got done there, I realized I missed you so here I am.”
I looked at him and grinned. Sweet, sweet man. So of course I had to ruin it.
“So what you’re saying is that horse shit makes you think of me?”
Carter groaned and hung his head. “You’re an asshole, Mr. Harrington.”
“Takes one to know one, baby.” I smirked. Then I pecked his lips. “How about I take you for a little ride to apologize?”
He looked surprised. “You have time?”
“I want to take Snoopy out anyway because he’s leaving tomorrow, but I thought you might want to ride Humphrey for me?”
Carter’s jaw dropped, and then he swallowed hard. “You’d let me ride your horse?”
I chuckled. “He’s my best boy and he’s perfectly capable of carrying someone who needs more practice. You’ll do fine.”
