"She doesn't like anyone except Kade," he explains. "Something about his energy calms her down. The rest of us are just tolerated."
Moving to the next stall, Dustin introduces me to a massive black horse named Goliath who lives up to his name in every way. He's gentle though, lowering his head so I can pet his nose without having to reach up too high. His eyes are kind, watching me with patient curiosity as I run my hand along his face.
"Goliath is our gentle giant," Dustin says fondly. "Nothing bothers him. You could probably set off fireworks in here and he'd just keep eating his hay."
We move through the barn slowly, Dustin introducing me to each horse individually. There's a gray mare named Silver who immediately tries to nibble on my dress, making me squeal and jump back. Dustin laughs and gently pushes her nose away, explaining that she's always looking for snacks and will try to eat anything that looks remotely edible.
There's a reddish-brown horse named Rusty who's apparently the barn clown, always getting into trouble and finding creative ways to open his stall door. A beautiful horse named Patches with brown and white patches across her coat, who's sweet and calm, perfect for beginners according to Dustin.
Each horse has a distinct personality, their own quirks and preferences. Dustin knows them all intimately, talking about them like they're friends rather than livestock. He explains how to read their body language, pointing out the difference between ears pinned back in aggression versus just annoyance.
It's a lot of information coming at me all at once, my brain struggling to keep up with everything he's saying. But I love it. I love learning about these magnificent animals and seeing the passion in Dustin's eyes as he talks about them. This is what he does, what he loves, and watching him in his element is mesmerizing.
We reach Thunder's stall last and he immediately perks up when he sees Dustin, whinnying softly in greeting. Dustin grins and pulls open the stall door, gesturing for me to come inside. I hesitate for just a moment before stepping in, suddenly very aware of how big Thunder is when I'm standing right next to him instead of on the other side of a stall door.
"He won't hurt you," Dustin promises, running his hand along Thunder's neck. "He's a big softie under all that muscle."
Thunder turns his attention to me, lowering his head to sniff at my dress. Then he starts nosing at my pocket, pushing his muzzle insistently against the fabric like he's searching for something. The sensation tickles and I can't help the laugh that bubbles up from my chest.
The sound startles me almost as much as it seems to startle Dustin. When was the last time I laughed like that? Months. Maybe longer. Harmony House didn't give us much to laugh about.
Dustin's responding grin could light up the whole barn. "He's looking for treats. I usually keep some carrots in my pocket for him, but I forgot them today. Sorry, buddy."
Thunder huffs in what seems like disappointment, his ears flicking back briefly before he returns to nosing at me. I reach up tentatively to stroke his neck, feeling the warmth of his coat and the solid muscle beneath.
"You want to learn how to groom him?" Dustin asks, already moving toward a box of supplies in the corner of the stall.
"Is that okay?" The question comes out as a force of habit, still not quite believing I'm allowed to just do things without explicit permission.
"Course it's okay. Thunder loves being pampered." Dustin returns with a brush and shows me how to hold it and how much pressure to apply as I move it across Thunder's coat in long, smooth strokes. "Always go with the direction of the hair, never against it. And be gentle around his face and legs. Those are more sensitive areas."
I take the brush and start working on Thunder's shoulder, amazed at how the dirt and loose hair come away with each stroke. Thunder stands perfectly still for me, occasionally turning his head to watch what I'm doing but never moving away or showing any sign of discomfort. The repetitive motion is soothing, meditative almost, and I find myself relaxing into the task.
Dustin talks the whole time, explaining more than I could possibly retain about horse care and grooming techniques. He shows me how to pick out Thunder's hooves, how to check for any injuries or irregularities in his coat, and how to tell if a horse is feeling off just by observing their behavior and body language.
By the time we finish with Thunder, my arms are tired, and I'm probably covered in horse hair and dust. But I feel lighter than I have in years, the simple act of caring for these animals filling something inside me that's been empty for too long.
"How about some lunch?" Dustin suggests, closing Thunder's stall door behind us. "All that grooming probably worked up an appetite."
My stomach chooses that moment to growl loudly, making us both laugh. Dustin throws his arm around my shoulders as we walk back toward the house, the casual affection making my chest warm. “Maybe just… a shower first?” I ask, tentatively hoping Dustin will be okay with that. I’m starving, sure, but I also want to wash off.
He just presses a kiss to my head and pushes me toward our shared bedroom. The combination of the morning's activities and the general overwhelming nature of the day has left me feeling grimy and in need of some time to process everything that's happened. Dustin just nods and tells me to take my time, that he'll be around if I need anything.
The hot water feels incredible against my skin, washing away the sweat and dirt and leaving me clean and warm. I take longer than necessary, just standing under the spray and letting my mind wander. Images from this morning flash through my head—Dustin on his knees, Kade's voice directing and the feeling of pleasure so intense I thought I might break apart from it.
My core clenches at the memory and I have to brace myself against the shower wall, overwhelmed by the rush of heat that follows. A small whine peels from my lips as I breathe through the sudden need, embarrassed as slick gathers between my thighs, only to wash down the drain. Trying to think about anything else, I quickly finish up, dry off, and pull on a soft nightgown Dustin found during our shopping trip.
He placed a few in the top drawer of the dresser in their bedroom so I wouldn’t have to travel down the hall, a small blessing, seeing as how I just want to curl up in my nest and block out the rest of the world.
I never thought we’d get to be somewhere like this,I tell myself. There were so many years I thought I’d be at Harmony House forever. After a certain age, they told us Omegas just weren’t desirable anymore. At 35, any chance of leaving would have evaporated. I’ve never met an older unmated Omega, though I’m sure Alpha Graves would have never given us the chance.
Anything to keep us scared and in line.
Snuggling into the larger pillow at the head, I pat around for a blanket, shocked to find one of Kade’s jackets there. He must have left it at some point because it wasn’t there earlier but I’m not complaining. Especially when I drag it to my nose and over my head and it feels like I’m being hugged against his chest.
That pesky bit of heat blooms in the pit of my belly again, need coursing through my veins as I roll over onto my stomach. The position just seems to make it worse, the desire to pull Kade actually into my nest rather than just lay in it growing with every second I keep his jacket pressed to my nose.
This is bad.
