“I have four. They’re all very hard-core individuals.”
Claudia laughed. “Goats can be a handful! I find animals each have their own distinct personalities if you’re paying attention. What are their names?”
He let out a groan. “Okay… but just know they were all rescues, and I only named Delilah because she came to me as a baby. The others are Tornado, Scooter-Poots, and Screech because he screams when he wants something.”
Claudia laughed once more, a low, husky sound that he could feel in the pit of his stomach. “And what is the excuse for… what was its name? Scooter-Poots?”
“I honestly have no idea. But she was already a few years old when she came to me last year, so it stuck.”
She grinned and shook her head. “Come with me and I’ll introduce you to our cows. Stella has been with us since Reese arrived, but Elsa and Anna just came to us a few months ago. They’re still young, but that’s helpful—they can be raised to be comfortable around people.”
They spent the next hour moving around the barn, visiting the different animals, and the longer they spent together, the more Claudia seemed to relax. He saw a soft side of her in her interactions with the animals, and a part of him was really pleased that she was an animal person. Not that it should matter to him, but it did. If he were being honest with himself—and the Ranch seemed to be the place to do that—everything about her mattered to him. It shouldn’t. Or, not to this degree, at least. She was his cousin’s friend. That was all. And maybe his friend, now that they’d be in the same place for a length of time. And, if he was lucky enough, maybe a play partner while he was there.
Focus.
“Arrow mentioned there’s a therapy horse here, too.”
“Oh, yes, China. She’s a sweetheart. I sometimes come down here and sit with her for a while. She’s very soothing.” Claudia’s brown gaze went a bit distant for a few moments. “I like to sit on a bale of hay in her stall and read, or just brush her sometimes when I’m feeling stressed. And I tell her my troubles. She’s a verygood listener. Does that sound strange? I don’t know… she helps me.”
“It’s not strange at all. Animals can be very healing in general, and it sounds as if China’s doing her job. I feel like my little animal crew has helped me deal with… a few issues.”
“Oh?” she asked, one dark brow arching, her eyes regaining focus.
“Yeah. You know injuries ended my football career, and some of that sticks with me. I’m still navigating trying to sort of reclaim myself post-injury.”
“I imagine that would be difficult. But it’s also what qualifies you to teach this class for Arrow, understanding what that feels like.”
“It’s good for me to channel some of those feelings into helping other people. That’s honestly part of my healing. And maybe really getting involved in animal rescue will help, too. Make me feel like I’m of some use in the world, you know?”
She smiled, her face lighting up a bit. “I think you’re a very good man, Brody. A good person.”
He shrugged. “Just want to be of some service, for the planet, and for my kink community, too. BDSM can heal as much as these animals, in my opinion.”
“Do you think so?” she asked. “Because while I’ve read that and I’ve seen what it did for Micah, I’m not so sure it has that effect on everyone. Especially when kink is part of the root of the issues.”
“I absolutely believe in it. That was a big part of Micah’s issue, which I know you already know, or I wouldn’t be mentioning it. And kink—and Arrow, of course—helped her process it and come out so much stronger on the other side. But it has to be with the right person, and in the right atmosphere. It has to be with someone who understands the healing part,the need for it. And thorough negotiations are maybe even more important than in any other type of BDSM scene.”
She looked down at the floor of the barn, and he could see her long lashes as she blinked a few times. When she raised her gaze to his once more, her eyes were gleaming, but he wasn’t sure what emotion was behind it.
“I think you may be right. Maybe someday I’ll find that here.”
“Maybe you will,” he agreed, wanting to say more. Wanting to suggest that he could be the one to help her heal. But he wasn’t so sure this was the right moment, despite what he was certain was chemistry sizzling between them like an electric current in the air.
“Brody?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m very glad you’re here. As you said, it’s nice to see a familiar face. Not that I don’t have very good friends here at the Ranch, but… well, it’s good to see you.”
His chest went a little tight as he weighed the possibilities. Before he could stop himself, he asked quietly, “Good enough that you might be interested in doing some of that healing with me?”
A slow smile spread across her lovely features. “You know, that thought had occurred to me, too.”
“You sure? Because ‘no’ is a completely acceptable answer,” he assured her. “No pressure. I just wanted to throw it out there, since I’m here, and you’re here, and we know each other already.” Why was he stammering like a high-school kid? “No need to answer now, if you’d like to take some time to think about it.”
“I don’t know that I need any time.”
“Take it, anyway. I need you to be sure.”
