“I’m not even going to argue with you on the smelly part.”
That didn’t sound good. Vicki squared her shoulders and thought positive thoughts. “So far you’ve been an awesome teacher, Joel. I trust you. Do your worst.”
He took a moment to strip off the coverall he wore over his regular jeans and shirt before he grabbed her by the hand and led her deeper in to the barn. “My worst is going to make you happy.”
“Usually does.” She nudged him, pleased to see that sexy grin of his break out.
The past months had been incredible. He’d meant every word he’d said in the cabin about being there for her, and for the first time in her life she felt as if she had a best friend.
With bonus screaming hot sex. Life was about as good as it had ever been, and she owed it all to Joel.
She’d gotten a Christmas card from Lynn, and a phone call. Her sister was doing well, and still excited about the adventures every day brought. Vicki agreed. This was wonderful, finally moving forward.
Her future looked a whole lot brighter.
It was impossible to resist. She threw her arms around him and kissed him this time, trying to put a little more of how grateful she was into her touch.
He hummed but broke them apart, stroking her cheek as he smiled down. “As much as I hate to interrupt you, we need to keep moving.”
Moving forward. All the time. She totally agreed.
He led her to a pen that was four times the size of one of the horse stalls and held at least a dozen sheep.
She climbed up on the gate and peered in. “Lots of the furry buggers in there, aren’t there?”
“Yup.”
Joel stood beside her and rubbed her back.
Vicki waited, but he didn’t seem to be going ahead with the explaining bit. “So. This wrestling business…”
“Not really wrestling.” Joel pointed into the pen. “More like dancing with them, in a way.”
She followed the line of his finger and cursed. “Joel Coleman, is that my Christmas present in there?”
He nodded.
Damn. “You get the weirdest ideas. This is going to help me with my horse phobia, how?”
“Animals are animals, darling. Doesn’t matter if they’re horse or sheep, once they get used to having you around, they’re going to get up close and personal. I figure it’s easier to practice with the short smelly variety than the tall ones.”
Good point. “Exactly what does ‘get personal’ mean?”
“They’ll bump you.” He hip-checked her lightly, and she laughed.
“God, you’re insane.”
“Yeah, I’ve been told that before.” Joel rested his folded arms on the top of the gate. “You going to rescue your present before they unwrap it for you?”
“Good thing they aren’t goats. Those guys eat everything, right?”
“You don’t even want to know.”
Vicki eyed the gate, but opening it didn’t seem like a good idea. With her luck, half the beasties would get out before she’d get the thing closed. Instead, she climbed up and swung a leg over the top.
Joel grinned, taking the time to stroke her thigh. “Nice work jeans, by the way.”
The jeans in question had a hole in one knee from the last time he’d had her in the barn, and there was a worn patch on her ass she swore was from when he’d dragged her down the hallway and into her bedroom.
Vicki ignored him and crawled down the other side. The sooner she got her present, the sooner she could get to the part of the day when she gave him a present.
When she landed on her feet, a few of the sheep jolted and ran to the far side of the pen, but the rest were all too interested in the box in the middle of the space to pay much attention to her.
“They won’t bite, right?”
“Only if you bite first.”
“Jackass. So reassuring. A simple no would have worked.”
He chuckled but didn’t say anything else.
Vicki took a deep breath and stepped forward. One sheep moved aside, another. This was going to be way too easy. “Looks as if your little plan isn’t going to work. They’re parting like the Red Sea.”
Well, until that moment. She reached for the package right when one of the fuzzy beasts sidestepped and knocked her hand away.
She reached forward again, and this time one of them bumped her shins hard enough to rock her on her feet.
“Fuck.”
Joel laughed. “Watch it,” he warned.
Vicki spread her stance and braced herself to stay vertical. “Stupid things.”
“Hey, right now they have your present, and you don’t. Who’s the stupid one?”
She whipped back to face him. “You did not just compare my intelligence to a sheep, did you?”
He ducked behind the gate. “They’re actually very clever animals.”
Vicki laughed. “Oh man, are you in trouble.”
But first, she had this puzzle to solve. She glared down, slightly pissed off they were blocking her this easily. “Shoo. Go on, get out of here.”
“That’s it. Now don’t be afraid to give them a little guidance.”
“A kick in the ribs?”
“Sheep don’t fly very well. Just use your knees.”
And like that, it made sense. Vicki waded forward, applying pressure to the stupider beasts that refused to budge. It wasn’t as if she was hurting them, but it was enough to get the more stubborn ones out of her way.
“Open it while you’re in there,” Joel ordered.
God. “Bossy, bossy.”
It wasn’t a big deal anymore. Now that she had the method of dealing with the sheep figured out, she had to work to keep her balance, but it wasn’t impossible by any means. She knelt to get at the packing tape, and ended up with a sheep staring her eye to eye.
She raised an elbow and used it to force him back while she stripped off the tape and popped the top open.
Inside a pretty pair of new cowboy boots gleamed at her.
“Oh, Joel.”
She rescued them from the box, nabbed the box with her other hand, and holding both high in the air, waded through the sea of walking cotton balls.
“You’re a pro.” Joel reached over the gate and grabbed her burdens.
That was right about the time one of the sheep got real up close and personal and took out the back of her knees. Vicki grasped the wood slats frantically, catching herself from falling.
Joel dropped everything to trap her hands in place. “Whoa, don’t blow it now.”
She hauled herself up, climbing to the top and staring him down. “Interesting choice of words…”
He frowned, offering her a hand as she made her way over and rejoined him. “What mischief you got planned?”
Enough. She peeked around cautiously, but it seemed to be only them and sheep. “How long before your brother comes looking for you?”
“Never. He’ll just head into the house after he’s done. Why?”
She tugged him into the next empty stall. “Because I want to give you your Christmas present.”
Joel laughed as she planted a hand on his chest and backed him toward the wall. His pupils dilated as she dropped to her knees, hands reaching for his waist.
“Oh, darling.”
“See, I’m nice.” Vicki loosened his belt and popped the buttons on his fly. “I’m not making you wrestle anything.”
“You’re gonna be wrestling something in a minute…”
They both smiled. Joel leaned back on the solid wood and opened his legs wider around her.
Of all the sexual lessons she’d learned, this was one of the most sheer, out-and-out fun. Pulling his cock forward and feeling the heavy weight in her palm. Sliding her fingers up and down his girth and watching his face tighten with pleasure.
It was power in its purest form, to take a strong man like Joel to his knees in bliss.