by Loki Renard
Sam intended to teach her to ride when they got back to the farm. She could put on those new clothes he’d just spent a small fortune on and he’d take her down the river, where he led the treks sometimes. She’d like it down there. He’d been meaning to take her to the waterfall on the bike yesterday, but they’d got… distracted. A small chuckle escaped his lips. It had been a nice distracted, very nice actually, but still, he hadn’t shown her the river or the waterfall like he’d intended.
When they got back, he would put her up on Taxi, putt around the paddock together a couple of times, then they’d set off. Sam was a firm believer that the best way to learn to ride was just to get on and ride; to face the fear and do it anyway. As long as the mount was safe and steady, it was the best method there was, in his opinion. And Taxi was nothing if not safe and steady. If Marnie was going to be any help to him at all this season, he would have to get her confident around horses, and soon. Maybe having her watch him work with Trixie had been a bad idea. He known at the time it could have gone either way with the little mare—sometimes she behaved, sometimes she didn’t, much like Marnie herself. But unlike Marnie, Trixie’s size and strength made her dangerous. But just like Marnie, Trixie was sweet underneath it all, and he was as drawn to the horse as he was to the girl.
He didn’t do his usual drifty sliding around the corner as he liked to do, out of respect to Marnie, who was still sitting there in silence looking pretty pleased with herself. He should have slowed down and changed down a gear before clattering over the cattle grid though—the suspension on the old ute wasn’t the best and they bounced, Marnie’s head nearly hit the ceiling of the cab, and she yelped as her bottom came back into contact with the seat.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “Old habits die hard.”
“‘s okay.”
Shocked to his core, Sam nearly ran off the narrow strip of gravel that passed as a road. He’d been expecting her to unleash a tirade of vitriol, or for her at least to utter a small complaint. Her simple acceptance of his apology was a complete turnaround. Good, but unexpected. Had their relationship finally turned a corner? Was she possibly going to treat him as a friend, rather than the enemy, now?
Sam slowed down for the corrugations up ahead. They really needed to get the grader through again before they were inundated with trekkers—he’d have to get Aunt Magda onto it. The little city cars that so many of them arrived in would struggle over these bumps and dips in the road.
“Once we get back you can go and put your new clothes on, then we’ll go riding,” Sam announced.
“I don’t want to go riding.” Marnie pouted. “I hurt.”
Sam sighed. He’d been so hopeful that Marnie’s attitude had changed for the better, but it didn’t appear that it had, after all. He took out his frustration on the steering wheel, tightening his grip around it until his knuckles went white. “You’re here to work, remember? Part of that work will be riding, leading treks,” he said through gritted teeth. “There isn’t a lot of time for you to learn. And to be honest, if you’re not used to riding, your backside is going to hurt after being in the saddle for a while anyway. Even if you hadn’t been a naughty girl and gotten yourself spanked. You’ll be fine.”
Marnie didn’t say a word, but when Sam looked across at her, the smile had gone from her face and had been replaced with a look of apprehension, almost fear. Stretching out a hand, he rested his palm lightly on her thigh, his fingers splayed across her warm, bare skin.
“You’ll be fine, I promise,” he murmured. “I teach people to ride every day. Taxi will look after you. He’s a gentleman.”
“Not like you, then.”
Sam chuckled. “No. Not like me.”
* * *
In the privacy of her bedroom, without Sam around, Marnie spread her new clothes out on her bed and fingered the fabric. They were totally not her style, but they were actually quite nice, and made her feel a little bit like she belonged. Maybe if she looked the part, it would be easier to act the part, too.
She regretted the ungrateful way she’d acted at the shop. It was nice of Sam to buy her these clothes, and she hadn’t even thanked him. Come to think of it, she hadn’t thanked him for the food he’d bought her, either. Or for anything else he’d done for her. A flash of guilt shot through her. Was it true, those words he’d said to her as he’d whipped her ass with that evil crop? Was she a spoiled little brat? She wasn’t, really, although she had to admit she had been acting like one. A little bit, anyway. She should probably try to be a bit nicer to him. Especially if he was going to use that crop on her every time she wasn’t.
The fabric of her shorts scraped against the welts the crop had left on the back of her thighs and she winced as she slid them down. Turning, she checked out her rear end in the mirror. Damn, the man was a brute! Her entire bottom was pinkish, slightly bruised looking, and crisscrossed with darker red lines where he’d plied the riding crop. You deserved it, you were a bitch, her subconscious reminded her. Reaching back, she touched the nastiest-looking welt gently. It stung. She couldn’t believe she’d sucked him off. Not when he’d just done that to her. Even if her orgasm had been great, she should hate him. She hissed in pain as the brand new pair of jeans she was pulling on rubbed her tender bottom roughly. She should definitely hate him. She should, but she didn’t.
Once they were on, the jeans were comfortable enough. They fit her so snugly they felt like they’d been made just for her. And although the shirt was totally not her, it, too, was comfortable enough. The darts in the side hugged her small waist and if she thrust her chest out, the buttons gaped slightly across her cleavage. Not exactly the sexy look she was used to, but it would do.
She felt Sam’s eyes on her the second she walked out the door. He didn’t say anything, but she knew he approved. His eyes followed her every move. Pausing, she met his lust-filled gaze then did a little twirl.
“You like?” She smiled. “Thank you. They fit perfectly.”
Sam’s grin lit up his entire face, making her all melty inside. She’d been attracted to him right from the start, but he was definitely far sexier smiling than scolding. He didn’t answer her question, but by the look on his face, it was clear he was pleased.
Tingles shot up her spine when he laid his big hand in the centre of her back to guide her out to the barn. The last time he’d put his hand on her back like that had been to bend her over the ute seat to punish her. I’m in charge here, Marnie rang in her ears. He wasn’t whipping her this time, but the gentle pressure of his huge hand nestled in her back reminded her that he truly was in charge, of everything.
Before they got to the barn, Sam stopped at a metal gate leading into another paddock and whistled. In just a few seconds, a huge chestnut beast came galloping toward them. He was ginormous, towering over her and nearly dwarfing Sam. Marnie took a step back.
“It’s okay, Marnie, just relax. This is Fred. He won’t hurt you, he’s gentle as a lamb.” Sam’s deep voice rumbled through her, soothing her, but she couldn’t relax. Not properly. Not when there was an animal the size of a small elephant standing right there, ready to run her over.
“But he’s so big,” she breathed.
“Yep,” Sam confirmed. “Seventeen hands. He’s a big boy, but gentle. Here, hold out your hand.”
Tentatively, she stretched out her hand, her fingers tightly closed, and shut her eyes, only to open them again when Sam’s fingers enclosed around her wrist. With his other hand, he prised open her fingers and placed a piece of apple on her palm.
“Hold your hand flat, like this.”
She copied his example, and he helped her, his big hand underneath hers steadying her shaking wrist. Tingles went up her spine as Fred lowered his head and gently took her offering, his lips tickling her palm. He nickered softly, perhaps thanking her, as Sam’s strong arm went around her waist, pulling her in close to him.
“He won’t hurt you, I promise.”
They walked like that the rest of
the way to the barn, Marnie tucked up against Sam’s side, with the big horse following along so close behind Marnie could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck. She kept waiting for him to run her over, or to rear up and punch out with his feet like Trixie had done, but it never happened. And Sam didn’t seem concerned at all to have a horse clip-clopping along behind them and gradually, she relaxed. Maybe Sam was right after all. Maybe Fred was safe enough.
Fred went straight to the hay net tied to the fence railing that Taxi had been nibbling on earlier, and it didn’t take long for Sam to put a halter on him and tie him up. Taxi came up to the fence all by himself, and it didn’t take long for Sam to get him tied up, either. Marnie watched, nervous. She wasn’t too sure about this. Those horses were big, and it was a long way to fall… maybe she should refuse to get on.
Sam didn’t tell her to brush Taxi this time. He seemed content to do all the work himself while she stood back and watched, growing more and more uncertain. Sam moved between the two horses easily, confidently, seemingly unafraid. He brushed them, picked out their feet, pressed metal bits into their mouths and latched up bridles. Neither horse moved. Fred was tall, as tall as Sam himself, but Sam threw the saddle on his back effortlessly and pulled the girth tight, his biceps bulging through his shirt as he did so.
“Get your helmet.”
Marnie froze. This was getting far too real, now. Getting on the back of the motorbike had been scary enough, and then there had been Sam to hang onto, and it was far closer to the ground. Now, unless she was mistaken, Sam intended for her to sit on the horse by herself, and it was much higher up, and it had a mind of its own. How was she supposed to make it go? More important, how was she supposed to make it stop?
She didn’t want to get her helmet. She was quite happy right where she was, with both feet planted firmly on the ground. She had no desire whatsoever to climb up into a wobbly saddle, to be rocked around on a horse that may or may not buck her off and send her flying into the dirt. Why did she have to learn to ride, anyway? Coming here was a bad idea. A very bad idea.
“I’m… are you sure… I’m scared.”
In two strides, Sam was in front of her. He grabbed her by both shoulders and shook her gently, but his eyes were kind. His eyes were perhaps the kindest she’d ever seen them, as he held her firmly.
“Marnie, it will be fine. You’ll enjoy it, I promise you. Once you’re up there, it’s the best thing in the world. There’s nothing else like it.”
She looked at the ground. She couldn’t meet his eyes. She knew she was disappointing him, but she was afraid. The horses were so big and…
“Look at me.” With one hand, he tilted her chin up to look at him, and with the other, he brushed a stray lock of hair back off her forehead. Slowly, she met his gaze.
“I’m going to be right there beside you all the way. You’re not going to come to any harm. Taxi does this all the time—he teaches people to ride. He’s good at it.” He stared at her harder, and a shiver went down her spine.
“Do you trust me?”
“I trust you.” The words slipped out before she could stop them, but as she thought about it, she realized they were true. He’d scolded her, spanked her, fucked her, embarrassed her, whipped her, and used her body for his own carnal pleasure. He’d also fed her, taken her shopping, came charging to her rescue when she screamed, and cuddled her close when she cried. Yes, she trusted him. He was the first person she’d trusted in a long time.
He smiled, his approval turning her insides to mush.
“So relax. I’ve got you.”
Sam helped her fasten her helmet, then he led her, with her heart pounding harder at every step, toward Taxi. She almost couldn’t breathe, she was so scared. But Sam took her hand and placed it way up high on Taxi’s neck, just below his ear. Holding her wrist gently, Sam smoothed her hand all the way down Taxi’s sleek neck, then closed her fingers around a handful of his mane, just in front of the saddle. Keeping his body close to hers, he lifted her left leg and guided her foot into the stirrup.
“One, two, three, jump!”
She only jumped a little bit, too terrified to do it properly, but Sam boosted her at the same time, and his strong hands around her waist settled her into the saddle. He kept his hands there, holding her, while she felt her muscles adjust to the thickness of the horse beneath her. Her bottom throbbed, but she was too terrified to feel much in the way of pain, really. All she could think about, all she could feel, was fear. It washed over her in waves, crashing down on top of her, threatening to topple her, but Sam’s strong hands steadied her, waiting for her to find her balance. Taxi didn’t move.
Now that she knew she wasn’t going to fall off just yet, Marnie let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The saddle was starting to feel secure now, a bit like a chair, and Sam must have known this because he handed her the reins, sliding her fingers along the leather, closing them into position.
“Okay?”
To answer him, Marnie had to look down. It was a good feeling, being above Sam, even if he was technically still in charge. She smiled.
“We’re going to walk now. Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
* * *
Sam had half expected her to say ‘no.’ To hear the word ‘yes’ from her lips both surprised and pleased him. Obviously, he’d done something right.
The first step Taxi took nearly unseated her and he got ready to grab her, but after a few seconds she got the hang of it, relaxing into the saddle, letting her hips rock with the motion of the horse. She was a natural. He thought she would be, she had a good sense of balance; he’d discovered that when she’d been on the back of the bike. And the way she’d started to bond with Trixie yesterday told him that she would pick up riding pretty quickly. She wiggled in the saddle and winced slightly and he felt a momentary stab of guilt. He’d been pretty hard on her. Had he been too hard? But the wince disappeared and a proud smile spread across her face instead.
“I’m doing it! Sam, I’m doing it! I’m riding a horse!”
Sam couldn’t help but chuckle. Her enthusiasm was infectious.
“And a fine job you’re doing of it, too, little girl. You ready to learn the controls?”
Being a trekking horse, Taxi was fairly used to being booted and hauled about every which way by inexperienced riders, and had long since learned not to react. Sam never let the riders be rough, but still, Taxi was used to fairly obvious directions, and didn’t follow subtle commands anymore. He could teach her the intricacies of subtle body language cues later, if she wanted to learn, but Taxi wasn’t the type of horse to learn them on.
Tingles of passion shot up Sam’s arms when he ran his hand down Marnie’s calf, adjusting her foot in the stirrup and showing her how to press her leg against Taxi to make him move where she wanted him to go. His palms nearly burst into flames from the electricity sparking between them as he enclosed her fingers in his, helped her gather up the reins, and showed her how to steer and stop.
“Good girl.” He murmured it almost under his breath but she heard, and he couldn’t help but notice the way her face lit up at the unexpected praise.
“Okay, ride a couple of times around the pen here, then we’ll go for a proper ride, once you’re comfortable.” Stepping back, Sam gave her full control of the gelding, but watched her carefully for signs of panic. If she was going to freak out at all, she would do it now. But the smile never left her face as Taxi ambled slowly around the pen, and even though she clearly winced several times, it was obvious she was enjoying herself.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was gorgeous when she smiled, and although her new red checked shirt clashed horribly with her pink helmet, she looked adorable on top of Taxi. He wanted to haul her out of the saddle and rip off her clothes… Don’t! he commanded himself harshly. Your cock has caused enough trouble.
“Straighten up.” His voice was husky with arousal and even to his o
wn ears, sounded gruff.
“Huh?” She sounded confused, but looked hurt, probably at his gruffness. She obviously responded better to praise than what she perceived as correction. He made a mental note of that for the future. It would be much easier to teach her what he needed her to know, if he knew the way she worked.
“You’re tilted forward,” he said, gentling his voice.
“That’s cos my butt hurts.” Her voice had a distinct duh! snark to it, and she accompanied it with a filthy look no doubt meant to put him in his place, but he let it ride.
“Well, riding like that is going to do really nasty things to your lady parts. Rubbing against the saddle like that is going to give you chafing like you wouldn’t believe. It won’t be pleasant tomorrow, for you. So straighten your back, like this.” Sparks sizzled between them as he touched her, one hand on her belly, the other on her back, pressing her into position. Electricity zinged up his arm as he prodded her with his fingers, straightening her body, his thumb hovering just above her crotch. All he had to do was reach down and… stop!
He inhaled long, slow. “That’s better. Good girl.”
Leaving them to it for a moment, he snuck out of the pen to get Fred. He couldn’t keep watching her, not when every fibre of his being was aching for her. It was either pull her off the horse and ravish her here in the dust, or do his best to distract himself. He chose the latter. It wouldn’t be comfortable riding with a raging erection, but he didn’t have much choice.
* * *
Marnie had never seen Sam ride. But he looked every bit as sexy in the saddle as he did on the ground. Being up so high emphasized his wide shoulders and narrow hips, and the muscles in his thighs were outlined as he wrapped his legs around his horse. The butterflies in her tummy fluttered madly and sent heat straight to her core. Ignoring Sam’s instructions about her riding posture, she tilted her pelvis forward again so her clit rubbed against the saddle and sighed softly.