Page 41 of Double Bucked

My heart lurches. I’m coming, princess.

Just a little later.

She finally gives in and gets in the car. I hold my breath until it leaves.

Alright. Go time.

Now or never.

I drive my truck up as far as the dirt roads will let me and then park it. I climb by foot the rest of the way to the stable.

Luck would have it, the stable is empty. The horses are quiet, except for the occasional nighttime whinny.

I pull off a lantern from the shelf and turn it on. It splashes light over my boots and across the floor. I take the coin-operated horse out, set her up, and strap the device on Rafe’s bag onto it.

What’d you do this week?

Ah, you know. Just set up a sex toy for my horse.

Normal people stuff.

Once Miss Penny is situated, I quickly walk down the hall to Chaucer.

Lazy bastard is lying down, nose tucked into the ground, sound asleep. I click to get his attention, and he blinks an eye open.

“Hey, buddy. Wake up.”

He flicks his ear and turns his head away from the light.

“Wanna go on a date with Miss Penny?”

His ears perk up at that. He lifts his head.

My heart is pounding so hard, but that gets relief fizzling through my blood. “That’s what I thought. C’mon, Romeo.”

Quietly, I hook the lead on Ransom and guide him out of his stall. I take him into the pen in back, where I’ve already got Miss Penny waiting for him.

Now, Chaucer is wide-awake. The second I release him, he trots over to the coin-operated horse. He knocks his head against hers, nuzzling her stiff frame.

It’s almost romantic, if I weren’t here to steal his guy stuff.

“Make me proud, you kinky stud,” I mutter under my breath.

Chaucer is quick on the charm. After a little flirting and necking, he and Miss Penny get into it. With a satisfied snort, he hops off his girl and yawns. Back to bed for him.

I crouch and unfasten the device. I’ll be damned, the damn thing worked. Carefully, I transfer the collection into the vial. I tilt it up so I can make sure I’ve got enough. I swear, the stuff nearly sparkles in the lantern light.

But just like that, I feel like I’ve been kicked in the throat by a pair of hooves.

What the hell am I doing?

A common thief, stealing horse jizz in the middle of the night.

Claire deserves better.

But ain’t that why I’m doing this in the first place?

Claire deserves everything.