Shane let her eyes wander, taking in the lush green lawn beyond the windows. After Ryan woke her, she'd taken a run. The recent storm had begun to clear, leaving this dewy sort of haze hanging over the valley. It left everything feeling fresh and new. She'd returned from the run with warm muscles. The run had helped to loosen all the odd muscles Tess brought to life in the playroom. Shane took another sip of coffee. She felt well-rested and ready to work although; she wanted breakfast first. Somehow everything tasted better here. Shane reined in, focusing on the conversation, "Tess, that's amazing. We haven't even launched the initial campaign." Ryan said, his excitement growing. "You're already getting calls from other chefs? Who?”
Tess smiled and sipped her coffee. “Oh, you know, I have a list.” She laughed. “When Anthony wasn’t spending his spare time with me, it wasn’t because he was with anyone else. He was working, always working.” She lowered her eyes, considering. “I guess I should have been a bit more understanding.” She shrugged, casting off the regret. “He’s a great PR guy.” She took another sip from her cup. “He loves Vino, and he’s very connected.”
Ryan nodded as she spoke. "He wanted me to tell you. He was sorry he wasn't going to make it for the photoshoot this weekend.”
Shane took a bite of her eggs; it seemed to melt in her mouth. Oh. My. God. Eggs never tasted like this when she made them.
"You know, though it was a nice offer, I didn't expect that he'd be able to join us. We have a strong working relationship, and those referrals will continue to come in. He's doing a ton of legwork for us. It is too bad, though. He was supposed to be in on the photo shoot with me."
Ryan raised his eyebrows. “You can pull it off.” Then he shook his head. “He adored you. What made you think he was less than exceptional?” He asked as he took a sip from his cup of coffee. “You never were one to settle…”
Tess gave him a sideways glance. “No. I don’t.” She said with a wink. “But you should know that.” "So, what's the plan for today?" She asked, smiling at Shane. "I'm so sorry our plans were waylaid over the weekend." Her tawny eyes were warm and sincere.
Shane laughed. "I got a taste of what life feels like here on the vineyard, and I'm a quick learner. I have a schedule and notes pulled together. I thought we could have a quick huddle after breakfast. Do you want to do that now?"
Tess cocked her head. “Sure. What time is the photographer coming?”
“Penny? She’ll be here at about two tomorrow. They’ll be with us midafternoon through sunset.”
Ryan glanced at his watch, “it’s still early Tess. I want to review the plan for the shoot tomorrow, but I thought I should take Shane on a tour of the place."
“I was thinking the same thing.” She said with a smile. “You’ve been away for a while. I’ll just have a bath and relax a little.”
“Sounds wonderful.” Shane laughed.
“Shanie, want to take a tour of the vineyard?” Ryan asked.
“Absolutely.” She said, nodding.
“He’s a great tour guide,” Tess said, then turned her full attention to him. “Ry, you should check out the barn first. I think you left something there the last time.”
He chuckled and narrowed his eyes at her. “Really?”
Tess laughed, “Really.”
Shane watched, amused at the way they had of interacting. The connection between them showed up in little sparring matches but had its tender moments. This was one of them. Shane watched his eyes and had to smile. What was in the barn?
Tess pushed back from the table and rose to her feet. “Have fun. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Shane nodded and lowered her voice conspiratorially. “What did he leave in the barn?” She asked. “I thought there were only horses out there.”
Tess winked. “It’s a surprise. I think you’ll like it.”
Shane grinned and felt her warmth and approval. The slight disappointment that Tess hadn't spent the night with her dissipated quickly, especially now that Ryan was here with her.
Ryan stood to take his plate, and Marie attempted to stop him. There was a silent exchange. He disregarded her attempt, and Shane watched as he moved around her. He rinsed his plate and put it in the dishwasher and then bent down to hug her. "I'm helping. I missed you." He said.
She laughed and hugged him back. “He doesn’t listen.” She said to Shane.
“She never wants my help.” He said, “And I’m great at dishes.” Marie laughed and shook her head.
“Marie, breakfast was wonderful.” Shane said. Marie winked at her and reached for Shane’s plate before he could stop her.
Ryan leaned down to kiss her cheek before addressing Marie. "I'm going to help." He said, laughing and then turned his attention to Shane. "Shanie, get ready. We'll go in twenty minutes."
Shane nodded and walked away from the kitchen. Murmurs, laughter, and the sound of clinking plates followed her as she moved down the hall.
She entered her bedroom for the first time since yesterday morning and gasped. A beautiful bouquet sat on the little dresser, it was a burst of color, and its fragrance filled the room.
She found a small card addressed to her on top of the dresser. Shane recognized the beautiful female handwriting from the postcards she’d picked up at Ryan’s place after she’d accidentally spilled his mail. It had been her first introduction to Tess. Shane’s heartbeat skipped as she opened the little envelope.
Thank you for last night. You are exactly what I needed. - Tess
A smile curled at her lips as she re-read the words. Exactly what I needed.
Shane turned the words over in her mind as she slipped out of her work out clothes. The blinds were closed now. More people on the property meant the return of standard protocols – like closing the blinds.
In the interest of time, Shane started the water and stepped into the refreshing spray. She sucked in tolerating the cold. By the time the water fought through her curls, it was warm. Shane hurried through her morning ritual. Shane lathered her hair until soap bubbles ran down her shoulders. With Ryan so close, her body was humming; and she couldn't get the image of Tess and Ali out of her mind. She envied the Tess in her mind. The way Ali had filled her, fucking her until she came.
Shane turned down the warm water in an attempt to cool her desire. It didn't help. She ran her hands over her body, slipped her right hand between her legs, and squeezed her fingers as her fingers touched the exposed flesh. With Ryan in the house so close, her touch felt incredibly hollow. Uggghhh. Disgusted, she slipped out of the water, shivering. Cold and unsatisfied except for the heat that burned between her legs.
The responsible girl in her mind coaxed her forward. Dry off and brush your teeth. Shane complied. Once she’d dried her body and brushed her teeth, Shane lathered the thick body cream into her skin and listened to the voice and its orders. Get dressed. She moved from the bathroom into her dark bedroom, listening to the voice directing her away from the desire that burned between her legs. Later….there will be time later.
Shane moved to the dresser to pull out jeans and socks. Undies – damn underwear. She'd almost abandoned wearing them altogether. Top. Her fingers felt through the clothing in the dark, not bothering about what it was that she wore. She turned to lay the clothes on the bed. So, caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t realize he was there until he touched her.
Shane’s breath caught in her throat as he pulled her close. He was thick and hard, pressed against her naked ass. She turned into him; she had no words, only desire. He kissed her, teasing and tender, sucking her lower lip between his. He moved her hair out of his way as his mouth found her skin. He left open mouth kisses on the nape of her neck and the back of her shoulder. She shivered at his touch as he bent her forward onto the bed. His hand on her back, pressing her down; and she heard him unbuckle his belt.
Ohhhhh. Yes, please. She wanted him inside her. The unzipping sound of his zipper had her heart pumping. She shifted her feet, knowing how he li
ked to take her. Stretched wide. Open for him. She was breathing hard now. His thumb caressed her ass as he slid free from his boxers. Then his hand was under her, moving across her belly, his fingers between her naked lips.
“Ohhhhh, Ryan.”
His instruction came as he parted her. “Quiet.” A wave of desire flushed through her as he touched her clit, and his cock pressed into her. Spreading her wide as he began to rock her. Oh, god, oh. She held back the words, pressing her face into the bed. He eased his weight against her, and each movement of his hips brought him deeper. His legs clad in denim pressed into her knees, spreading her wide as he fucked her.
“Ohhhhhh.” She turned her face into the bed to muffle the pleasure. "Oh god. Ryan." His mouth came down on hers, cutting off the words as he filled her. The climax was immediate and spread like wildfire through her knee up to her thighs as she fought to contain it. She trembled beneath him, his hips and fingers gaining speed as the climax built.
His mouth absorbed any sound she made, and she could not contain her cries. He breathed in as she breathed out. Faster now, his hips slammed into hers, his breath hot on her shoulder. She was cuming.
I’m cuming. The words came without sound, a silent prayer. As his body continued to gain speed, he fucked her now to meeting his own need as her pussy clenched around his cock. Her hips jerked under his as he drove through her climax, and she came again.
It was too much, she couldn't be quiet, but her voice made no sound. Her body was on fire. He held her there a moment more than she thought she could bear before he shifted his fingers. His hands came down on either side of her shoulders as he held himself up. His strokes lengthened, and he fucked her slowly. Shane rode the pleasure with him, no longer at the mercy of the climax. Instead, she rode the wave as he filled her, pleasing every cell in her body. Her climax began again, and this time the ride was slow, building, and fucking delicious. She felt his body tense and knew he was close. “Ryan. Oh, fuck Ryan”. Her voice was soft. Words barely audible, but she could not stop saying his name. Ryan, oh, Ryan. He came with her, heart racing, and his breath warm on her skin. When he slipped from her, she turned to face him, his clothing rough against her skin.
“I like this.” He said.
She laughed as he touched the bare skin at the soft juncture between her legs. “Well, I thought you would.” She said and stopped any more of his words with her kiss.
CHAPTER 2
Horses and Hay
S he took his stature in as he led her from the house. He wore the clothes he'd fucked her in. His broad and well-muscled shoulders filled out his black t-shirt. The fabric stretched thin to make way for his thick biceps. He had on a worn pair of boots and jeans that clung to his ass. Her mouth watered. She reached for him and let her fingers trail down the curve of his back, falling away when they came in contact with the waistband of his jeans.
She'd donned her jeans, her favorite boots, and a long-sleeved t-shirt with a leather jacket she borrowed from Tess. Shane wore her hair down, pulling it over her left shoulder in a side pony. She felt she was more of herself than she'd been for days. Her fingers linked easily with his as she followed him on the path that led through the trees. Knowing this path and what lay ahead of them, she was attuned to the sounds in a way she hadn't been before. She could hear the horse's soft nickers. She had only met two.
“Ry, how many horses do they have?”
“Hmmm.” He laughed, considering. "They used to keep ten or twelve; I'm not sure how many they would have now." He turned to wink at her. "I bet we're about to find out." As they turned the bend, she recognized the familiar smell of the barn: horses and hay. The barn alive with motion; horses, and men beginning their day.
The horses were lined in the corral, waiting patiently. Shane let her fingers slip from his hand. He turned back, his eyes questioning.
“I just want to say hi,” Shane said as she spied Fawn. Ryan squeezed her fingers and then let go of her hand while he continued to greet the men. A chorus of friendly voices rose as he approached them. Shane went the other way, toward the pony.
"Hi, pretty girl," Shane said and moved towards the little horse. She cocked her ears forward. "How are you?" Shane cooed. "Did the storm scare you?" Shane reached for the pony and caressed her head, scratching behind her ears and stroking her neck.
“Do you want to give her a treat?” a voice asked.
Shane turned towards the familiar voice and smiled at Ali. “Hey. I'd love to give her a treat." She said, turning her attention back to Fawn. "Got any more apples?"
“I do.” He laughed and slipped a half apple into her hand. Fawn took the apple and nuzzled Shane.
“She likes you.” He said.
“She likes apples.” Shane laughed
“No…well, yes.” He corrected. “She does, but I think she likes you too.”
Shane continued to stroke the pony's neck but shifted her position so she could see Ali. He was as striking as the first time she'd seen him, with his dark hair and chocolate brown eyes. Like Ryan, he wore work boots and jeans. His beautiful brown chest was now covered by work polo. It was black and fitted. She spotted the Vino logo. "How are you?" She asked.
He smiled. “Good. How was your weekend with Tessa?”
Shane laughed, “Interesting. Full of new experiences.”
He nodded, and his eyes flashed with humor. “I bet.”
A blush rose to her cheeks, and she laughed. "Listen, um…"
He laughed too and shook his head in protest. He wanted no explanation.
“Are you going for a ride?” He asked.
“The horses? I don’t think so.”
She turned toward Ryan. He was still talking to the men and looked over in her direction, gesturing. Then he turned and trotted towards Shane.
“Ryan,” she began, “This is…”
“Ali!” Ryan interrupted excitedly.
"Ryan!" They exchanged greetings in a tumble of words. The men reached for each other, first shaking hands then moving into a hug. She smiled. "I gather you know each other."
Ryan laughed. "We do. Ali and I worked together here." Shane nodded. "I thought, maybe…" She teased.
“How long are you here?” Ali asked.
“Through Thursday. We should catch up. I’d love to hear how things are going for you.”
Ali nodded. “I’d like that too. Tessa told me you were coming. I think we will have some time together tonight at the bonfire.”
Ryan’s grin widened. “That sounds great.”
Ali nodded. "Did you guys want to go for a ride this morning?" He asked, tilting his head towards the horses.
“Well,” Ryan began. “Tess sent me out here,” he looked around before he continued. “She said she had a surprise for me.”
“Oh,” Ali smiled. “She does.”
Shane and Ryan followed him into the dark barn, passing by the empty stalls. The darkness in the barn delighted her senses while the smell from the horses, hay, and leather, which she had begun to associate with the barn, intensified. As they moved to the back of the barn, they passed a small office with light.
Inside there was a desk, home to a stack of paperwork, and a coffee cup. Ali's name and title were boldly mounted on the door. He was the stable master. When they turned at the bend in the barn, she saw the sunny little yellow Charger. Like the ATV and the horses, it had been tucked away safely in the barn.
“Look at that baby,” Ryan said. He turned to grin at her and then let his fingers slid from hers as he moved towards the car. Shane laughed.
“I told you you’d like it.” She said.
"I do." He said, momentarily captivated by the car. “I really do.” Then he turned his attention to his friend. “So, what's the surprise? We've hit the end of the road."
The stalls at the back of the barn were empty. Ali cocked his head to the last stall on the right. “Here.”
Ryan moved passed the car, and Shane watched his facial expression change from disbelie
f to joy. “What did she do?” Ali laughed. Ryan turned to him. “What did you do?”
Ali shrugged. "I had some time on my hands." Ryan gave his friend another bear hug, and through the embrace, she could hear Ryan.
“Thank you, man, thank you. I can’t believe it.”
Shane moved towards them, passed the little yellow car, and could now see the object of their attention. A motorcycle filled the stall. Horsepower of a different kind. It was black and steel; and seemed to glow in the sunlight that filtered down through the high barn windows. The handlebars were straight. A bar of steel laid across the top of the bike. The leather seat invited the rider to climb on. Ryan released Ali from his hug and moved towards the bike.
“Shanie, this was my first bike.” As he spoke, he ran his hands over the bike. “I got it when I was sixteen and worked on it. I learned how to make her go and loved it. I spent so much time learning how to build up the engine and take care of her.” Like the car, he referred to the bike in the female tense. Shane knew he had a love for fast things. Here was where it had started. “My last year of college, I got a little…” his voice fell away as he searched for an explanation “short of funds. I had to sell her.”
Ali shook his head, remembering. "Tess got her back. She just stashed it here, and after a while, I started rebuilding.”
"Jesus, man," Ryan said. His eyes shone with happiness. "I can't believe you did this." Ryan turned to Shane, "Ali is a great horseman, but he's a better mechanic. He has magic hands that just know how to make things work right." Ali laughed and looked down, humbled by the praise.
Shane knew about his magic hands.
“Want to take it for a ride?” Ali asked.
"Want to?" Ryan echoed. "Hell, yes."
“Here,” Ali said, tossing Ryan the keys. “No better way to see the vineyard than from the back of a bike.”
Ryan took the keys and grasped the handlebars. She watched Ryan, as captivated with him, as he was the bike. It moved easily under his hands as if it wanted to please him. She knew the feeling.
The Boardroom Series – Complete Boxed Set (Boxes 1 – 6) : An office romance turned seductive submission Page 40