4
Flora glided through the air with ease, then gently landed the horse. Phoenix’s balance was almost perfect, she reflected with glee. All the long, strenuous days they’d worked tirelessly together had certainly paid off. Flora had known right from the start that he had real potential. The trouble was that he’d been trained in the wrong direction, as a flat racehorse, rather than a jump horse. Having convinced her boyfriend, Dylan Delany, the ex-champion jockey, to keep him at his training yard, Flora had more than proved her point.
Dylan had been dubious initially about taking on the horse, mainly due to its history. Poor Phoenix had been flogged over many a finishing post, trailing in last. His then owner, a ruthless, heartless man called Graham Roper, had lost all patience with him and demanded Dylan do something with his horse to improve his form. In the end, after witnessing how Flora had bonded so well with Phoenix, he had arranged for himself and a neighbouring friend, Gary Belcher, to buy the horse.
Dylan had boxed clever though, never revealing Phoenix’s potential as a first-class jump horse. He just told Roper that his horse would never win a flat race. Which he wouldn’t. The fact that Phoenix jumped like a dream and he and Gary had formed a partnership with the intention to hurdle race him remained silent. It wasn’t just a good business deal for Dylan; he adored Flora and would do anything to keep her happy. Actually, he’d do anything to keep her, which at times had proved difficult, for Dylan had had quite a chequered past. His dark, gypsy looks and deep, blue eyes, not to mention his very toned body, made him appealing to most women. Up until meeting Flora, who he’d encountered in the Treweham Hall stables, Dylan had taken full advantage of all the attention that came his way. He had been the Romeo of the racing circuit, weaving his way in and out of relationships, but never fully committing.
Then he met Flora, who had been employed by his close friend, Tobias Cavendish-Blake, as a groom in his stables. Dylan had been smitten by this young, fresh-faced girl with wavy blonde hair and a kind, caring temperament. Most of all he’d sensed a real connection, their love of horses. He’d never felt this with another human being, let alone a girlfriend.
When Dylan had decided to retire as a jockey and set up his own racehorse training yard, he had had no hesitation in asking Flora to be his assistant trainer. It was a no-brainer. Who else could he trust to do the job better? No one, and the fact she made his pulse race with her curvaceous body in jodhpurs was purely coincidental. Dylan and Flora genuinely enjoyed one another’s company. Not only being girlfriend and boyfriend, but best friends too, meant that both living and working together wasn’t a problem. Although Dylan was ten years older, Flora having recently celebrated her twenty-first birthday, the age gap hadn’t mattered. If anything, Flora had often given wise counselling regarding the running of the yard and Dylan had valued her input; and, she’d been absolutely right about Phoenix. All the staff in the yard agreed, he was going to be a star.
Flora led Phoenix back to his stable.
‘Come on, old boy, let’s get you fed and watered.’ She patted his side and pushed the door open. After tending to Phoenix, she made her way into the office where Dylan was busy behind his desk talking on the phone. He raised his hand to acknowledge her, openly admiring her pert bottom in those tight britches.
‘Will do – OK, Tobias, bye.’ Dylan ended his call. Tobias was not only his close friend, but his landlord too, as he rented acres of his land from the Treweham Hall estate where his yard had been set up. Originally being the old stable block to Treweham Hall, Tobias had renovated it into the first-class training yard it now was, housing up to twenty stables, complete with paddocks, an all-weather gallop and mile after mile of white running rails, which the horses thundered along.
Dylan grinned. ‘How’s your boy?’ The touch of playful sarcasm wasn’t lost on Flora. He was of course referring to the amount of time she spent on Phoenix.
‘Jumping like a gazelle. I think he’s ready, Dylan.’ Dylan nodded his head. He’d clearly thought as much after watching her in the paddock with him. ‘I’ve been thinking, let’s enter him in a point-to-point to start with.’ Flora searched Dylan’s face for a reaction. After a few moments’ consideration he nodded his head again.
‘Yes, something low-key. We need to go gently on him,’ he warned. The last thing Phoenix needed was any reminders of how he’d been treated in a racing environment previously.
‘Absolutely,’ agreed Flora. She moved to sit on the edge of his desk. ‘You know and understand Phoenix as well as I do,’ she said smiling.
‘I know and understand you more,’ he replied, pulling her onto his lap. Flora giggled.
‘Dylan, we’re at work!’ She attempted to fend off his wandering hands, which had made their way into her check shirt.
‘I don’t care, you’re totally irresistible,’ he murmured into her ear, whilst he cupped her breasts. His thumbs began to slowly circle her nipples, making her gasp. He always knew what buttons to press – Flora was putty in his hands. He kissed her neck, then quickly unbuttoned her shirt and tugged it from her shoulders. He sighed in pleasure at the black, lace bra, which Flora was bursting out from. Instinctively Flora stood up for him to gently pull her jodhpurs down, revealing a matching black, lace thong. Dylan groaned with lust as his fingers crept inside and edged them down too. He dipped his head and ran kisses across her hip bone and down to the centre of her. Flora gripped Dylan’s shoulders as his tongue probed inside her.
‘Dylan,’ she whimpered. All cares of getting caught were forgotten as he continued to lick and explore her. Just as she thought she’d burst with desire, he stood to unzip his huge erection and slid inside her hot slickness. She cried out loud now, all inhibitions vanished as he pushed harder and further into her whilst clutching her buttocks against the desk.
He could feel her tighten against his cock and with a final guttural moan he released himself, while Flora clung on to him. Both panting for a moment, they looked into each other’s eyes. ‘One of these days, somebody will walk in on us,’ whispered Flora.
‘It’s worth the risk,’ replied Dylan with a wink.
