Page 74 of Lau Ahi
“You do that at your own peril. You will cross a line and become an enemy. You’ve already ruined our friendship and whatever working relationship we might have had. Don’t keep pushing and make it worse.”
“We will see what the dean has to say about it.”
“Again, I’m the one who is bringing positive publicity to the school and to the department. While you’re here simply… taking up space. No studies, no publications and no books to your name. You’re here on the strength of your last name while I’mhere because of my hard work. So, please, do run and tell how big and bad I’ve been. I anxiously await the email.” My smile was placid; the tone and content of my words carried the heavy weight of the threat that I meant with every fiber of my being.
She looked crushed and I didn’t give a fuck about her feelings. She’d more than crossed the line and I gave her a wicked smile as she walked out, slamming my door. I didn’t have an appointment to get to but now I did. The stress of the situation with Margo had me needing a moment to clear my head and I knew exactly where I could go to get the reset I needed.
ORI
I watched her lead her horse out from the stall and I had to admit I was impressed that she’d groomed it all on her own. She’d taken care to do most of the dirty work, the only thing she didn’t have to do was muck out the stall. With the price she was paying to board her animal, it better had been included or else I was going to raise hell for her. There was no way I was going to have my future wife cleaning up horse shit when she was paying these people for luxury equine care. I knew she’d only groomed the animal so that she could spend the time reconnecting and it was evident by the way she whispered to him as she readied him for their ride.
I was being a creep. Why, I didn’t want to think too much on but I had crouched my big ass in a stall and was listening to my future wife coo to a fucking horse. And part of me felt jealous as hell.
We hadn’t spoken much and after her time at work today she’d veered from her normal routine. Curiosity had come over me when I realized she wasn’t in a good mood so I got herlocation to follow her. I’d known that she boarded her horse here but seeing her come out here to lose herself made me wonder what had happened at work that caused her needing to clear her head. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was part of the reason she was frustrated. Part of me hoped I had been. It was selfish of me to want to be so heavy on her mind but I guess it made me human. I’d been trying to run from the emotions she was dredging up from the tomb I thought my feelings had long been buried. Despite my training to account for every possible outcome in most situations, I hadn’t prepared for Asha. For her to be the person selected for me. For me to desire her to the extremes that I did. And selfishly, I didn’t want to be the only one suffering from uncontrolled emotions.
I knew she was going to be the death of me.
I had to be a masochist. I’d moved into her home and into her room. She’d fought for me to take a guest bedroom but I insisted that we start the way we intended to continue. Which meant sharing a bed, which meant I had spent these torturous weeks sleeping next to a woman I didn’t touch.
My focus went back to Asha as she strapped her helmet to her head and I was happy to see she was practicing safety. I almost went to help her mount her horse but she swung up on the creature with as much grace as she’d twirled on my dick the first night she met me. Remembering how it felt to be nuzzled between the softness of her toned thighs had me momentarily stuck and wishing that we were on better terms so that I could have a repeat of that night.
I almost missed my chance to intercept her before she went out on the trails but I quickly mounted the gigantic beast that was the only one available that would support my height and weight.
She had to be lost in her thoughts because she didn’t glance behind her despite the noise that my horse was making. Ihadn’t expected her to be so lost in thought or careless with her safety. Being oblivious was incongruent with what I’d observed of her. My brows dipped as I watched her body undulating with the cadence of the horse wanting insight into what had her so distracted.
“Majestic creature you have.”
Her head whipped around so fast that her long braid smacked her in the face. Her features couldn’t mask the emotions she was feeling, going from surprise to anger to confusion as to how I’d found her.
Good. Show me your scars littlekoa.
The barn was painted a modern slate blue with black trim and clearly laid-out pathways to the paddocks, training fields and arenas.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was a mixture of soft confusion and hardened resolve, not to allow me in. But her not immediately giving the horse its head to get away from me meant she wasn’t that eager to get away. At least not yet.
“What does it look like?” I nodded down at the horse I was on and then again to my clothing as I felt her gaze take me in. Asha’s eyes had the type of intensity that I could feel. I’d wanted to ask my friends if they understood what I was talking about but that would lead to too many questions. Questions about feelings and if I wanted more out of this than I was currently receiving.
I’d changed out of my suit and into a loose-fitting athletic shirt and matching pants. I’d worn boots to give me the stability that would come from riding boots but I couldn’t wear any off the rack and hadn’t had time to get any custom-made.
“I see that you’re appropriately dressed for the activity. I guess the better question I should’ve asked of course iswhyare you here?” Her horse sidestepped slightly but she got it back under control with little effort. She sat her horse like anaccomplished equestrian, her posture perfect and the control of the animal within her grasp.
“To ride a horse.”
She looked at me impertinently her shoulders back, exuding confidence as her eyes narrowed. “You do not strike me as the type to ride a horse.”
She spoke slowly, enunciating each word in a half condescending half mocking way. And I liked that shit. The frustration that she’d been feeling had ebbed giving way to her usual demeanor. If I needed to aggravate her so she remembered herself, I would gladly do it.
“And why is that?” I leaned forward, my elbows barely reaching the horn as I continued to watch her every move.
“Why…look at you! You’re the size of a bloody horse!” She motioned toward me, nostrils flaring, eyes flashing angrily and I swallowed the laughter that threatened.
“Is that a compliment or an insult? I mean you’ve seen my dick so it could go either way.” I leaned back fully waiting for her crop to come hurling at my head.
She looked as though she was going to unhook her feet from the stirrups and launch herself toward me. “I don’t bloody well care how you see it! I’m just trying to understand why you are intruding on my alone time yet again?”
“Don’t you think married couples should share one another’s hobbies?”
“And again, we’re not married!” Her annoyance radiated off her making me smile more internally.
