“You’re going to love Cutler, but he has a handle he likes to be called. It’s Beefcake. And Melody told him that she’s practically a professional equestrian now, so he’s going to want you to take him out for a ride.”
“Happy to do it,” I said as we walked back toward the house.
“Benji said that Brenton is really enjoying working with you, too. That was really kind of you, Wren,” he said.
Benji had asked me if I’d work with his six-year-old son to overcome his fear of horses. He’d had a little scare on a horse when he was four, and he hadn’t been back on one since. I was happy to show him that horses were our friends. I demonstrated that we had a mutual respect with them built on care and trust. He was doing great, and I loved working with him.
“Yeah, he’s such a sweet kiddo.”
“Well, at the rate you were getting bombarded by parents at the Honey Biscuit Café yesterday, you’re going to have to start turning people away,” he said as we walked side by side, and his pinky finger hooked around mine. “Everyone wants to train with the famed Wren Waterstone now.”
We paused in front of the stairs leading to my apartment, just as the sun was coming up. “I’m really enjoying working with the kids. It’s important to teach them when they’re young about how to connect with a large animal.”
“Speaking of large animals…” he said as he glanced down at his tented shorts.
“Oh my gosh,” I said, laughing. “He’s got a mind of his own.”
“Trust me, this is new. He definitely likes you.”
“Are you claiming it’s not like this all the time?” I bit my bottom lip as I stepped up on the first step.
“Yeah. It’s like he’s been given a second life now that you’re here.” He laughed. “I’m going to grab a shower. Do you want to meet at my place for breakfast or yours?”
We did this every day before work now.
“I’ll make breakfast,” I said, watching him walk toward his house.
“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”
“Hey, Cowboy,” I called out.
He stopped and turned around to face me. “Yeah?”
“It’s silly to waste the water at two places, isn’t it?” I glanced around to make sure Butch wasn’t nearby.
Axel took a few steps toward me, a sexy-as-hell grin spread across his face. “You want me to shower with you, beautiful?”
I nodded, just as he took off running at me. I pivoted and sprinted up the stairs, and he caught me right as I pushed the door open.
He was all over me as he kicked the door closed and pressed me up against the wall. “Fuck, Wren. I’m so hard right now. I could come just thinking of you naked in the shower.”
We’d yet to be fully naked with one another—we’d been in our undies in the river, and most nights we just made out in the barn with our clothes on.
“What are you waiting for?” I whispered, pushing his wavy hair out of his face. He walked backward, my hands in his, as he led me toward the bathroom. He opened the glass door and turned on the shower before peeling his tee over his head and kicking off his boots. I did the same thing.
I found a hair tie and piled all my hair on top of my head and wrapped the elastic around it before we both stepped under the hot spray of water. Axel moved me so my back was pressed against the shower wall, and he filled his hands with body wash before sliding them over my shoulders first, and then down over my breasts and my belly. His gaze never left mine. He moved his large hands over my neck, tilting my head back and letting the water rinse away the suds before his lips moved there.
He did this over every inch of my body. His hands everywhere. His tongue tracing its way down as he dropped to his knees. He looked up at me with beads of water bouncing off his golden skin, green eyes that could see into my soul.
“I want to taste you. It’s been too long since the last time I made you come on my tongue.” He smiled, and my breaths were coming hard and fast. “Do you trust me?”
“With my life.” My words were unwavering but breathless. I could feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment. There was no hiding how much I wanted him.
“Spread those pretty little thighs, beautiful.”
I could barely breathe.
He buried his face between my legs, and his tongue swiped along my most sensitive area, from one end to the other. He hiked my legs one at a time over his shoulders, and my hands tangled in his wavy hair.
