The Sweet Life

by Dakota Star

  She was aroused by the command. “What we talked about last week?”

  “Possibly,” he replied mysteriously. “Whatever you do, leave the bodysuit on.”

  Alexis wanted to pull him back into the bed, but saw the determination in his eyes and decided not to fight him. Whatever he wanted to show her must be important. She dragged herself out of the bed and into the bathroom to brush her teeth and pull her hair into a messy ponytail. Then she slipped into black jeans, an indigo chambray shirt, and a cowboy hat that, with use, was beginning to look like the real thing.

  They roamed through the lush landscape around the Pennsylvania dude ranch on horseback as the first sparks of sunlight reached the horizon. Luckily, the horses seemed to know what they were doing and where to go as they ascended the hilly terrain. Alexis couldn’t help but notice how Mitch sat tall in the saddle, his broad shoulders relaxed, a gentle hand guiding his mare.

  He stopped in front of her suddenly. She pulled Blaze next to his horse. The sun began a heart-stopping ascent, and Alexis could do nothing but sit astride Blaze and stare as pastels painted a dramatic portrait. She found a sense of homecoming in the early morning song of the birds and the whisper of breeze in the trees. “It’s absolutely amazing.”

  “Not nearly as beautiful as you.” He stared at her. “I haven’t shared this place with anyone, and now that I have, all I can think about is that I should have taken you up on your offer this morning.”

  She had a hard time pulling her eyes away from the slowly spreading pink and orange sunrise. “We still have time.”

  He groaned. “I have a lot of work to do.”

  “We can make it quick.” Her smile was directed at the sun, which flared brightly as it rose in front of her.

  He dragged his horse around. “Let’s go. But it will not be quick.”

  Alexis’s laugh leapt in the wind as they galloped back to the barn, where Janine took both of the horses inside for breakfast. Driving back to the house seemed to take forever.

  Once they arrived, Mitch dragged her through the door and up the stairs to the bedroom. He undid the buttons to her shirt quickly and pulled both her boots and jeans off. She stood in embroidered gold and her cowboy hat.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked.

  She glanced around, curious. “Of course.”

  “Will you let me try something?” He stepped close and took the hat off her head, throwing it to the ground by her feet.

  She stared into his eyes, noticing his long lashes. He waited for her answer. She swallowed audibly, a little from fear, but mostly from expectation. “Yes.”

  He gently led her to the bed and pushed her down on the covers. “Stay here for a minute.” He left and she heard him rooting around in a drawer. He came back with a silky tie, which he tickled her stomach with. He held something else in his free hand behind his back.

  “Trust me?” he asked again.

  She nodded, heart racing, and thought about what they had discussed the week before. They both wanted to try something new.

  He covered her eyes, wrapping the blindfold around her head and tying it securely. She was thrilled more than scared, but the fear of the unknown made her heart pound at the same time that heat built between her legs.

  Mitch’s finger caressed her breast. He tweaked a nipple and Alexis let out a soft moan. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to see what he would do. “Maybe this is a mistake.” Her voice was a whisper. She wasn’t even sure she meant the words.

  He pushed fiery locks of hair away from her face. “You have to stay quiet, or I’ll think of other ways to put those beautiful lips to work. On second thought, maybe they need a little work to do.” His mouth covered hers. She moved her hands to him, unable to resist the urge to feel every muscle in his arms and chest.

  His finger caressed her earlobe and ran down her neck before capturing her wrists in his hands. “You have to let me.” Holding both her hands in one of his, she felt the cold touch of metal on her stomach before both her wrists were enclosed in the cuffs.

  “What?” She tried to sit up.

  “Don’t fight me.” His words were forceful. “Trust me.” She felt her arms being raised above her head. And then she couldn’t bring them down again. She was stuck. She was thrilled at the idea of letting Mitch take command.

  “You are so beautiful.” He kissed each breast over the lace of her bodysuit.

  His words unraveled her insides as more heat and pressure built within her.

  With gentle pressure, his hands kneaded her breasts. He pulled down one of the straps of her bodysuit, exposing her breast, but leaving her feeling trussed by the strain of the tight fabric against her skin. She was exposed to him, unable to cover herself.

  “God, you are amazing.” His light touch interrupted her unease. Her body spasmed with pleasure as his finger tickled the delicate skin of her inner thigh and moved upward. His finger entered her heat, massaged it for a moment, and then he moved away.

  Alexis moaned. “Don’t stop.”

  “Not yet,” he teased.

  She felt his rock-hard manhood tickle the same area as he leaned close to kiss the delicate skin of her neck and ear. Her thighs bucked. He chuckled before moving away. Cold seeped into her skin the moment he was gone, and she struggled against her confinement.

  She heard rustling close by the bed and then his warmth returned, but with it more cold metal. She felt metal tantalize her breast and then catch her nipple. He tightened a clamp around her nipple, causing it to bud even more. She moaned in absolute pleasure as the clamp squeezed her nipple, and Mitch caught her breath with a delicate kiss.

  He fixed the second clamp around her other nipple and more heat flared between her legs. He gently yanked on the chain, and she bucked, a wild animal in the throes of passion.

  “Not done yet.” She felt more cold links of metal trail over her stomach, and land between the folds of her womanhood.

  “Wait,” she whispered. He couldn’t do what she thought he would. But she was powerless to stop him. Pushing the flimsy lace material of the bodysuit aside, he gently caressed her labia. She felt cold metal where she had never expected it to be. The small clamp covered and squeezed a fold so it became a continued erotic pulse. He pulled his hand away. She couldn’t stop shaking with the desire to have Mitch inside her.

  “So beautiful.” He kissed the core of her heat and then she felt the mattress shift as he sat next to her. “Will you do something for me?”

  She whimpered in response, unable to form words.

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes. Anything.”

  She felt him move up on the bed and suddenly his manhood was on her lips. The scent of the outdoors, mint, and man drenched her overstimulated senses. She accepted him into her mouth, her lips grasping his manhood as Mitch set the pace, building the tempo between them.

  Alexis heard him groan in pleasure. A few seconds later, he withdrew from her. “I can’t take much more.”

  “I need you now,” she begged. He tugged at the chain that captured both of her nipples and again she whimpered with overwhelming desire. “Now.” It was as close to an order as she could get.

  His mouth found her hungry lips. Alexis gasped as his hands tugged at her hair. Her lips parted and his tongue took the place of his manhood.

  “Tell me you want me,” Mitch said in her ear when he finally broke away.

  “I want you. Need you now. Please.”

  He pulled off the labium clamp, and entered her slowly. Alexis arched her back, moving as close to Mitch as possible, begging for a wild ride. More pressure built within her and she couldn’t hold back. Feeling her need, he quickened the pace. Alexis went over the edge in an instant. He covered her scream with a kiss and rode her until he found his own release.

  Chapter Twelve

  A few hours later, exhausted but fulfilled, Alexis, showered and dressed in clean jeans and a purple t-shirt, saddled up the horses, helping Mitch prepare for the first
ride of the day. Even though she technically had the day off, it was the least she could do after making him late. Afterward, she planned to go back to the house and take a nice long nap.

  When her cowboy hottie joined her, she instantly felt her stomach coil in need. How is that possible after what we just did? Maybe it’s because of what we just did.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours?” The caress on her back was heaven.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  “How are you?” The massage on her back continued.

  “The same as I was ten minutes ago when you left me here alone.” She wanted to purr like a cat. God, he was a huge distraction. “How are my saddling skills?”

  He tugged on the blanket and looked over the horse and saddle. “As perfect as you. Let me borrow you for a minute.” They left the horse tied as he dragged her to the side of the barn and kissed her.

  When she broke away, she said, “Not that I’m complaining, but don’t you have work to do? That is why we leave the house, right?”

  Their eyes met, holding onto each other, and he reached out to touch her. “You’re much more interesting than anything else I have to do. And you in my bed this morning…I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  The memories caused her to blush, that red tint on her skin occurring more than usual these days. They did things in his bed that made her world spin in ways she never knew possible. “You did more than just think about things this morning.”

  “I want to ask you something. Follow me.” He grabbed Alexis’s hand and led her into the barn. She followed him up the rickety stairs into the hayloft. It was dusty and humid, even with the tall ceiling. Bales of hay stood stacked four and five high.

  “Is this okay?” he asked.

  “That’s what you wanted to ask me?”

  “No, but I need more of you.” He sat and then reached out to pull her on his lap.

  She didn’t bother to reply and let him drag her down to his level. She kissed him with the joy of being alive and able to do so. When he removed his lips from hers, Mitch trailed kisses down her neck and over her shirt. He pulled her off his lap, sat her on the hay bale, dropped to his knees, and unzipped her jeans. He tugged at them until the jeans and her lace undies pooled around her cowboy boots.

  He kissed her nakedness. She grabbed his hair as his lips traced a line of kisses on the inside of her hips. She moaned when his tongue found her heat and his hands drew her closer.

  She had no idea how much time passed as his tongue found her hot and wet. His tongue caressed her folds. It took every ounce of willpower not to scream when she came, knowing the patrons and the other wranglers were right below them. That, of course, made it all the more fun.

  Afterward, she picked hay out of her bra and jeans as she reassembled her clothes.

  He watched her intently. “I did come up here to ask you something.” He pulled out a small box from the pocket of his jeans.

  “What’s that?” Alexis couldn’t believe what was happening.

  He opened the box to reveal a beautiful two-carat emerald cut diamond ring set in platinum. “This wasn’t quite the way I meant it to go. I thought about doing it this morning on the ride, but I forgot…never mind. I’ve known for a long time you were the right person for me. You make me happier every day. All I want to do is make you happy. Do you think you could make a life here?”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  He laughed. “Yes! That’s exactly what I’m asking.”

  She was shocked, but running on the exquisite feeling of fulfillment from the morning together and moments ago. She didn’t take time to think. “Yes. And yes.” She hugged him close after he slipped the ring on her finger. They stayed that way until they heard a wrangler yelling Mitch’s name. The ride was starting.

  “I have to go down,” he said. “I don’t want to leave.”

  “Let’s go.” Alexis was flushed and content when they made it down from the loft. “I should call everyone.” She looked at her watch and grimaced. “Too early. Is it okay to join the ride?”

  “Always,” Mitch said with a huge grin.

  And she did. Their horses joined the crowd of riders a few minutes before it began.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Chris, a lead wrangler, said with a smile before beginning the same speech a wrangler gave before every ride. Alexis had it memorized now. Keep a firm grip on the reins, but don’t pull back too quickly or keep them too short. The horses respond to the reins touching their neck. Ride single file, keep back from the horse in front of you. Don’t let a horse’s nose touch the horse’s tail or you might get kicked. And most of all, enjoy the ride.

  “You take the back of the walkers. I’ll go up front with Chris,” Mitch said with a smile just for her. “And enjoy the ride.”

  She nodded, unable to wipe the smile off her face as he rode off. She waited as the riders lined up and soon the group headed off into the woods. Alexis remained at the end, constantly gazing ahead to make sure everyone was in line, that feet were in stirrups and hands held the reins. As with most beginner rides, people paid attention and nothing went wrong, but you never could tell when someone, likely a child, would do something stupid.

  Alexis was thinking about what just happened in the loft when Janine rode up to her, her horse crowding Blaze. Janine noticed the ring first, her eyes wide with shock, but didn’t say anything about it. Instead, she asked, “How do you like being a wrangler?”

  Alexis thought about her answer before saying anything. She liked the loud, tough as nails woman all right, but if they worked together in the city, they would not have been friends. There was something about her beyond the skimpy outfits that made Alexis wary, snake in the grass wary. “Fine. Mitch is teaching me a lot about life on the ranch.”

  Blaze snapped at the other horse and Janine spurred her gelding away. “I’m sure he is.” The wrangler rode to the middle of the group, starting a conversation with tourists from Japan who Alexis had met the day before.

  A new pattern began to emerge in Alexis’s life as an engaged woman. The days of the work week began to run into each other like the melting watches in a Salvador Dali painting. While she made sure to make time for her friends and fill them in on her life, she grew more and more distant from the city.

  While Alexis loved the ranch, life there wasn’t all honey and roses. Things kept going wrong, no matter how hard she tried. When she saddled the horses, the girth always loosened up or came undone, the saddle was placed incorrectly, or the pads bunched up underneath. When she fed the horses lunch, the special supplements or medicine always ended up in the wrong horse’s bin.

  She tried to talk to Mitch about the problem during their lunch break one day, but he waved it away. “Don’t worry.”

  “I’ve always been a quick learner. I just don’t get why I can’t pick up the equestrian stuff here. For God’s sake, I rode all through high school and college. Hunter jumper can’t be that different from Western.” She picked at her salad, too frustrated to eat.

  “Everyone learns at different paces. I’m sure if you tried to teach me something you do at work, I’d fail miserably.” He held up a fork full of macaroni and cheese, trying to tempt Alexis.

  She took the bite while she thought over her response. “Something is wrong. I shouldn’t be screwing up so much.”

  “When you work with me, you always do things well. Maybe you just get nervous when other people are in charge.” He fed her another bite of his mac and cheese.

  “I’m used to tough bosses.” Alexis tugged off her black cowboy hat and ran her hands through her hair, wavy with the humidity. “I don’t know what it is around here, but something is off. I’m going to figure it out.”

  His laugh was gentle. “Let me know what you find out. I support whatever measures you need to take to extract information from the locals.”

  “Laugh all you want. Wait and see.” She popped a forkful of salad into her mouth. “Hurry up.
You have a ride starting in fifteen minutes.”

  She did better when helping the customers check in and out or talking to them on the phone, but even some of the reservations she entered into the system had problems—credit cards with the wrong numbers, incorrect arrival dates—and she was flustered and upset at her inability to do the job well. She had always been so competent.

  Three weeks later, things weren’t getting better.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Mitch said. “There’s a lot to learn and it takes a while.”

  She stared at the beautiful view from his deck where they ate dinner.

  “It’s just not like me at all.” She speared a small ball of fresh mozzarella and a cherry tomato in her salad with a vengeance. “I’m usually really good at this stuff.” She sipped at her red wine to wash it down.

  “I’m not worried, so you shouldn’t be.” He touched her knee.

  “I’ve told you there’s something weird going on. No one else makes all the mistakes I do, and I was sure I put the correct feed in the bins yesterday. I double-checked before I left the barn.”

  “There are a lot of horses to remember.” He sat back, relaxed, taking a sip from his beer bottle. “You’ll get there.”

  “I should be there now. You don’t think this is because of my concussion, do you?” Alexis touched the now faded scar on her forehead. “Could I have brain damage?”

  “Do you feel that you do?” His concern was obvious.

  “No, I feel fine, but making all these mistakes is not like me.”

  “You just need to learn to relax and enjoy. You put too much pressure on yourself. And to help you do that, let me serve you the main course.” He stood up from his chair.

  “But we made it together, and I’m perfectly capable of getting my own chicken cutlet.”

  His hand rested on her shoulder. “I know, but I like doing it for you. You can wash the dishes after the meal,”

  She put her hand on top of his. “Deal, but you know there’s a dishwasher.”