Winning Riders

by Mary Winter

Daniel glanced at James and the two men shared a slow, intimate smile. “You could say that,” he replied.

  “That’s nice,” Katie said, the platitude the only thing she could think of at the moment. Just ask him about the kiss! Another team completed their run to thunderous applause. The announcer gave the time as only a few tenths of a second slower than Daniel and James’.

  “Good going!” a cowboy called on his way to the barn. “You guys are going to be tough to beat this year.”

  Daniel grinned an all-too-familiar smile Katie recognized from the football field.

  “When you got it, you got it. You’re not too bad yourself. I heard you’re at the top of the steer wrestling standings.”

  The cowboy shrugged. “Well like you said, when you got it, you got it.” He tipped his hat to James and Katie and hurried into the barn.

  Katie watched him go, her mind rolling a hundred miles an hour, wondering what connection the unnamed cowboy had to Daniel and James, other than fellow competitor. He didn’t look familiar, though his black cowboy hat hid dark brown hair, and his face had the same weatherworn look as most of the guys. He was tall and heavily muscled, like most steer wrestlers she’d seen.

  Daniel reached out and touched the small of her back. “You’re trying to figure this all out, aren’t you?” he whispered in her ear.

  The brim of his hat brushed the top of her head, the soft caress sending shivers down her spine. She licked her lips, not really wanting to give into his teasing. Even back when they’d been dating, Daniel had liked to tease…in and out of bed.

  “You’re remembering, aren’t you, honey?” he asked.

  She nodded, her throat too tight to speak. James moved in to her other side, presumably to shield her from view. Her nipples ached and poked against the cotton of her long-sleeved shirt. She’d gone braless, not from any attempt at seduction, but because she’d taken a fall yesterday and had a nasty scrape along her left shoulder blade. Luckily, she was endowed just enough so she could go without support if she needed it. When she’d dressed to come here, she’d forgotten the instantaneous affect Daniel had always had on her. Of course, when she’d accepted the invitation, she hadn’t known he really was off limits.

  The announcer gave the last team’s time, several tenths of a second behind Daniel and James’ time.

  “That’s it,” Daniel said as if the previous few moments hadn’t happened. “I think we got it. Let’s go back to the arena.” He tightened the cinch on his horse in preparation for a victory gallop.

  The speakers crackled, the static drawing Katie back to herself. For a moment with James on one side of her and Daniel on the other she’d imagined the feel of their calloused hands on her skin, imagined the taste of their masculine lips and the hard thrust of their cocks against and inside her. She suppressed her desires, even as she lingered and caught a glimpse of Daniel’s hard, denim-clad ass. Damn, he always had looked fine in jeans.

  ~* * *~

  Daniel paused by the in-gate and swung into Diamond’s saddle. He supposed he shouldn’t mention that the horse—Bright Diamond Katie— was named after her. The buckskin foal had a ton of spunk and wasn’t afraid of anything, just like the Katie he remembered. Daniel nodded to James as they rode into the arena. Thunderous applause greeted them, the roar of the crowd fueling the adrenaline rushing through his veins.

  He itched to find out what James thought about Katie. Damn, seeing her again was like a punch in the gut. She’d been fine back in high school, all long legs and tousled sun-kissed brown hair. As a woman, she rocked him back on the heels of his cowboy boots. Her smallish curves had rounded, pressing against the cotton shirt she wore. Her hard nipples made him want to palm her flesh and see if they felt as good as he remembered.

  After all the personal confusion and social phobias he’d encountered where his sexuality was concerned, it was good to know that life held one constant. Katie Kendall still made him hard.

  Luckily, he could ride victory laps in his sleep and after the perfunctory (enter a number) times around the ring he left the arena to the cheers of his fellow competitors and the crowd. The next event was announced and Daniel remained mounted as he headed for the barn. He hadn’t made it far when Katie pushed through the crowd, jogging toward him.

  “Hey, is there anything I can do to help?” she called.

  He admired the sway of her breasts for a moment before James cleared his throat beside him. With a grin, he stopped Diamond.

  “Sure.” Glancing around, he dismounted and waited for James to do the same. “You can help with the horses.”

  He slid the reins over Diamond’s head. James fell into step beside him and Daniel shot him a sideways glance, surprised by the man’s shuttered expression. For a normally taciturn guy, James remained especially quiet.

  Daniel didn’t let it bother him as they headed to the barn, Katie on the other side of Diamond. It felt right…having one of them flanking him. He grinned, the winner’s check he’d receive having nothing to do with the spring in his step. He paused at the threshold to the barn, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.

  “Which stall is yours?” Katie asked.

  James stopped behind her, so close that he nearly bumped into that gorgeous heart-shaped ass of hers. His horse, Midnight, always a pushy sonofagun, nuzzled Katie’s shoulder and James curled his hand around Katie’s hip to steady her.

  A tiny gasp escaped her lips and Daniel’s cock tightened swiftly.

  Daniel bet she made noises like that in bed too. The desire to find out had prompted his spontaneous call to her. Kind of like when he went on the gay rodeo circuit, a half-assed joke and a challenge had turned into something more. Then again, if he hadn’t gone on the circuit, he wouldn’t have met James and that turned out pretty good. He only hoped his phone call to Katie would have the same result. He eyed James’ hand on Katie’s hip. Maybe he wouldn’t need to ask his lover what he thought about Katie. That lingering caress said it all.

  James leaned in so close his breath teased the strands of her hair around her ear. “Third aisle. All the way down.”

  He released her with a little squeeze that caused a quick shiver to roll through her slight frame and Daniel glanced at her pert nipples pressing against her shirt. A slight hitch in her breath told him she was aroused. He grinned as she scurried down the aisle and toward their stall.

  “All the way down, huh?” Daniel leaned in and whispered.

  James grinned. “A man’s gotta try. I think this is going to be fun.” He patted Daniel on the ass and hurried after Katie.

  Daniel watched his lover, noting the sinfully tight fit of his jeans and those long, muscled legs wrapped in denim. Of course they were better wrapped around him, and he discreetly adjusted himself before following. When James had told him to stop mooning over Katie and just hook up with her, he’d been eager for the chance. Now, uncertainty fluttered in his stomach, making him wonder if he’d made the right decision.

  James looked over his shoulder and winked at Daniel. Yeah, he’d made the right choice. He hurried down the aisle, the clopping of Diamond’s hooves music to his ears. He watched Katie unfasten Midnight’s girth and lift saddle and pad from the big black gelding. She swung it over to the stand, effortlessly sliding the saddle over and turning the pad upside down on top.

  “We should bring her along to all our rodeos.” James took a stiff brush to Midnight’s coat. “Free help and pretty too.” He gave an exaggerated wink.

  Katie opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She glanced at him, a speculative look on her face. Daniel truly wanted to know what was running through her mind.

  Daniel removed the saddle and watched James relinquish the brush to Katie. Both men watched her groom the horse. Daniel figured his partner, like he, imagined what Katie’s small hands would feel like touching him.

  Her slender hands moved over the soft black hide. She spoke under her breath, a calming tone that Daniel bet she wasn’t even aware o
f making. She focused her entire attention on the horse, tuning out everything around her. He knew she made love with that same intensity and he bit back a groan at the thought.

  “Hey,” James asked on his way to the saddle rack. “You want to head out for a drink? I could use something to eat and I bet Daniel could too.”

  “Sure. That’d be great.” She led Midnight into the stall across the aisle with James’ name on it and the horse immediately buried his head in the hay manger. “Looks like your horse has the same idea,” she chuckled.

  A memory of them, years younger, standing in the barn, filled his mind. Daniel grinned and led Diamond into the neighboring stall. “There’s a great place just down the road. Let’s go.” He gave both horses a final check, saw that James had picked up the tack area. Any day he rodeoed was a good day. Going out with Katie and James made it a perfect one.

  About the Author

  Mary commutes between her dream home near the Mark Twain national forest in Missouri and her current residence in Iowa. She lives with a menagerie of animals including an opinionated horse and a cat that was a dog in past life. When not writing spicy tales of erotic romance, she enjoys writing science fiction and fantasy, spending time with her horse, and enjoying the outdoors. Lucky for her, her partner (hero) shares these same passions, and usually both of them can be found in their respective dens writing.

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  Good Medicine

  by Mary Winter

  Available now at Pink Petal Books

  When Sadie thought about her perfect Friday night, she didn’t imagine herself covered with manure and blood. She should have been used to it by now. Working as a vet in a small town just outside of Kansas City meant she would tend to a child’s hamster on one appointment and the very next one would send her out to vaccinate cattle. Or as in this case, stitch up a badly wounded calf.

  Sadie unlocked the door and slipped inside the veterinary office, ignoring the sign out front that had Dr. Devon Markier III, DVM listed as the owner. The banking gods had frowned on her purchasing this clinic, never mind that Devon and she were the same age. Being from a wealthy family had its perks in this town.

  She closed the door behind her, wishing she could just as easily shut out her uncharitable thoughts about her boss. Humming equipment provided the only sounds in the dark office, illuminated only by the soft glow of safety lights over the exits. From memory, she made her way to the locker room. Her shoes squished across the linoleum. For a moment, she debated about going home, but she wanted to document the call and leave notes for Devon since he’d be working tomorrow. And she really didn’t want to bring the mess clinging to her coveralls home with her.

  That calf had been tangled in barbed wire, and Sadie didn’t even want to contemplate the number of stitches she’d put in the wounded animal’s body. She’d administered fluids and antibiotics, finally proclaiming the creature stable enough for her to leave. Had the calf been anything but a 4-H project, she probably would have just put it down, but looking into the tear-filled brown eyes of the creature’s eight-year-old owner had made that impossible. She hoped the tiny thing made it through the night.

  A small light shone through the open bathroom door. Devon must have left it on for her. She tried not to be thankful he had, nor contemplate the thoughtfulness the gesture. It was much easier to dwell on the fact that she hadn’t been able to muster the funds to buy out Dr. Kirkpatrick’s half of the vet practice when he had retired. Devon and his thoughtful gestures could go straight to hell. But damn, he’d look good going.

  Sadie headed for the light like a beacon, dragging her tired body along with her. Turning the corner, she stopped. Devon stood in front of the sink, rinsing off a razor. His sable hair still dripped water where it curled along the back of his neck. She followed a drop along the long line of his naked back, tanned and muscled, to where the blue waistband of his designer underwear soaked up the bit of moisture.

  Sadie’s mouth went dry.

  Dressed, Devon Markier III looked like he stepped off a male fashion show runway. which was why she probably was angrier at him for buying out the vet practice than she should have been. Wearing only a pair of very high-cut briefs, he looked like a dream come to life. And she hated herself for having those dreams.

  “I’m sorry.” Sadie backed away from the door, her breath whooshing from her lungs.

  He turned his piercing blue stare on her and smiled. “Sadie, you’re back. I thought you would probably head back to your place since it’s so late. I’ll be out of here in a minute. Had a guinea pig with an abscess that came in at the last minute, and I wanted to clean up before heading out.”

  Sadie pressed her back against the wall, fiercely staring anywhere but toward the door from which Devon’s voice emerged. She sucked in gulps of air. With each breath, she reminded herself that she worked for Devon. The fact she lusted after his body didn’t change a thing. Not their employer-employee relationship and certainly not the fact that his family money had obtained the vet practice for him. She heard rustling from the small bathroom, and a few moments later, Devon emerged wearing only a worn pair of jeans and carrying the rest of his clothing.

  He glanced over her dirty coveralls. The heat of his gaze burned through her, and even reeking of cow and covered with blood and fluids, Devon’s focused held the power to make her breath catch in her throat. Water over the bridge, under the bridge. It doesn’t really matter. We’re from two different worlds. I put myself through vet school, and he was born with the platinum spoon in his mouth. I’ve been through that once and won’t do it again. “Thanks,” she muttered, racing into the room and closing the door behind her.

  Juli’s Choice

  By Mary Winter

  Available Now from Pink Petal Books

  The birth of a foal never failed to move Juli. She watched as Lacey gave two more pushes, then the baby slid to the ground. Instantly, Juli moved to its side.

  She finished ripping the sac from its head, and then used a cloth to wipe the foal’s nostrils. It took its first breath of fresh air and raised its head. Juli smiled down into its eyes.

  “A colt,” Riley said, kneeling by the foal’s side and beginning to briskly rub him down with towels. “Windfree’s first son,” he breathed, the awe more than apparent in his voice.

  Juli finished tying off the umbilical cord. She watched Riley stare at the colt, all his hopes and dreams visible on his face. She’d seen it before with other owners and their foals. Watching the tiny foal take in his surroundings, she had a feeling this one would surpass all expectations.

  Behind them, the mare lumbered to her feet, and Riley and Juli backed off to allow the new mother to greet her baby. Lacey sniffed the colt before licking it.

  Juli backed out of the stall. “I want to stay until he passes the meconium, and to make sure that all is well with mother and baby.”

  The colt lurched to his feet, standing and falling in a comical splay of limbs. He shook his head, looking disgusted with himself, and then tried to stand again.

  Juli stepped just outside the stall door, followed by Riley. He stood just behind her, his body
heat radiating into her back. Watching the foal struggle to his feet, finally getting his spindly limbs beneath him, made her smile. She loved this part of the deliveries. Seeing a healthy foal nurse from its attentive mother made the eleven months of waiting and her own efforts worthwhile. She looked up at Riley and saw him starting at the foal. Love shone from his eyes.

  “Is this Lacey’s first foal?” Juli had heard of the mare’s retirement two years ago.

  Riley nodded. “We thought we had her bred last year, but it didn’t take. Windfree had a pretty heavy competition schedule, so we couldn’t get her settled.”

  Juli nodded. The foal nudged his mother with his skinny head. The two touched noses, then on wobbly legs, the foal stepped back. Ducking its head beneath Lacey’s belly, it grabbed onto a teat and began to nurse.

  Lacey lifted a leg, and Juli tensed, afraid the mare might try and hurt the foal. The first nursing always hurt, and some mares took it better than others. Lacey turned her head, stared at her baby, then snorted, but stood completely still.

  Riley rested his arm around her shoulder. “You did it,” he said, giving her a tiny squeeze. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your first name.”

  “Juli. And thanks. I just helped the little guy into the world. You’re the one who cared for Lacey for eleven months. That’s the hard part.”

  She stood there, her heart hammering in her chest. Juli tried to chalk it up to the adrenaline of delivering a healthy foal. She couldn’t quite. All of Harris’ inadequacies came to mind, how he wouldn’t be caught dead out in the barn anytime, let alone in the early hours of the morning. Feeling Riley’s body pressed next to hers, she felt as if the two of them were in synch, both wishing for a healthy mare and foal. Comparing her relationship with Harris to her and Riley at this moment was like watching a horse fighting the bit and a beautiful high-level dressage performance. There was nothing remotely similar between the two.

  Aware she stood next to him, her coveralls covered in bodily fluids, she stepped away. “Is there somewhere I can wash up?”