Page 44

We’re driving to the edge of town, which is making me more confident that this is in fact an outdoors sex kind of thing, and I can’t wait.

“You sure that’s what you want? Not too risky for you?” I ask, glancing at his speedometer.

“I trust you.” Aaron glances at me with so much affection I’m not sure what to do with it, because all of a sudden I’m convinced that this is in fact a date, and that he wants to have more with me.

And I’m... not averse to it. So maybe we are very different and come from backgrounds on the opposite sides of the class spectrum, but we work well together, and I like him. I like spending time with him, and not just in bed.

If he’s gonna stay here for the whole year, until his time at university is over, maybe even a bit longer, why not go with the flow and enjoy everything that’s on offer? It should be fine as long as I keep it all on the down-low, because it’s not like I’m not allowed to have male friends. And considering that the brands I’m paid to promote on social media are all virtue-signaling come Pride Month, I’m confident having a gay friend is fine too.

But I can’t be openly non-straight myself. My fanbase is too broad for that. I’ve seen people fall from grace over smaller things, and that won’t be me. I will never be homeless again and living on expired ramen.

“You sure you should trust me?” I ask, glancing at the road as I knead his thigh. We’re already on the outskirts of town, heading toward the sun lazily beginning its descent, and I still don’t know what’s going on.

“Probably not, but it’s too late for me now. Big bad Vex has caught me.” He smiles, but takes a turn as we drive into a forested area.

The sign at the side of the road announces Springton Stables, and while I initially don’t pay attention to it, Aaron slows down before taking the turn. I glance his way, unsure, and plan to say something, but nothing comes out until he parks in front of a long white building.

So here we are. At the stables. “It’s not a... sex thing, right?” I whisper.

Aaron’s lips part, but then he gently punches my arm. “No! It’s not a sex thing, oh my God! But the weather’s so nice today I thought it’s a great idea to take you riding. And you’ll get to meet my horse, Snowley,” he says like it’s the most normal thing. Like everyone has a horse.

I look down at his legs and realize what he’s wearing. It’s a European-style riding outfit, of the kind one can sometimes see during summaries from the Olympic games. I'm immediately eager to see him standing.

“You can’t wear this stuff and then expect it to not be a sex thing,” I protest, licking my lips.

He gives me an innocent smile and opens the door. “What stuff?” he asks. He knows exactly what he’s doing when he gets out of the car in a way that showcases his ass. My baby boy is learning fast.

Such a smart minx.

I slide outside too and head straight toward him. There’s no windows pointing our way, not a single soul that I can see, and when I reach him, I grab the folds of his jacket and pull him in for a brief kiss that somehow still manages to make my knees feel weird. “I’m not letting this go,” I say, pulling away.

He seems happy with himself as he leads me to the stables. When I point to the reception with a question in my eyes, Aaron waves it off.

“No need, I have everything arranged with a friend.”

I’m out of my depth when we walk into the massive barn, but I’m not about to show it. Fake it till you make it.

I don’t spend much time around animals, so I half-expect there to be a pungent smell, but as we enter the long row of stalls marked with horse names, the most prevalent odor is that of hay, which is quite pleasant.

The animals peek out of their stalls, curious about the visitors, but while they are all beautiful horses, I’m not sure if it’s safe to meet their eyes, so I focus on Aaron instead.

“I must disappoint you. I don’t know how to ride.”

He chuckles and after a quick glance around, strokes my arm. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be a gentle stroll, the horse is very well-mannered, and I’ll show you everything you need to know.”

How well-mannered can a horse be? I imagine one sitting daintily at a table and eating with a knife and fork. It’s a fun image, so I put that into my mental library of things to draw.

I intend to tell Aaron I’m not sure how easy riding is, but when we take a turn into yet another row of stalls, the first thing I see is a tall man in a cowboy hat and jeans that hug his legs just right, pushing another guy against the wall. They’re kissing as if this was their home, or a dark corner in a nightclub, and while I have nothing against PDA, it’s surprising to see two men going at it with so little care for who might walk in on them. Because even if they’re out, who the fuck wants to provoke unnecessary confrontation?

The other guy keeps grabbing at his partner, and my brows rise when he pushes his knee up the tall dude’s thigh, as if he wanted to hump him already.

Aaron crosses his arms on his chest and clears his throat with no mercy. I hold in a chuckle when it doesn’t work, and he switches to speaking.

“Hi, Logan. Did you do what I asked?”

The shorter guy stalls first, and pulls away from his lover the moment he sees us. He looks like the handsomest boy in the village, complete with a soft smile and a tan obtained by being outside. All he needs is a piece of straw to chew on.

“Aah, sorry. We might have gotten a bit carried away. But it’s okay, we’re married,” he says but shifts around so his groin area remains hidden from us. I don’t know how being married would change things in the eyes of some bigots, but what do I know?