Page 26 of His Hawaiian Heart (Stateside Doms #26)

Chapter Eighteen

Samuel

“Playing hooky again?”

I looked over to see Kekoa coming down the aisle of the stable. “Nope, going swimming,” I said as I led Sugar from her stall.

Kekoa grinned. “Cool. I’ll grab my board and go with you. Though I can’t say I’ve ever ridden a horse with a board in the saddle bag.”

“I’m not saddling Sugar for you, and I said swimming, not surfing. As much as I love you, brother, three’s a crowd.”

His brow quirked. “I don’t recall you feeling that way when we were at the club watching that demo with David, Hale, and Mara.”

“True enough, but”—I paused to look around the barn after setting the saddle on Sugar’s back—“does this look like the club?”

He mimicked me and looked around. “I don’t know; that crop looks awfully familiar.”

I had to hand it to him. He wasn’t about to retreat. I buckled the cinch and patted Sugar’s flanks. “How about this? I’ll add a surfing trip to our list and let you know when.”

“That depends on who is included in the ‘our’ making up this list.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you haven’t figured that out, you don’t need to be taking time off to surf. You need to go see a doctor.”

His laugh had McNut turning his head to look at him from where he stood patiently waiting. When Kekoa recovered himself, he shook his head. “I have a feeling that if I go and see your doctor, you won’t be thanking me.”

I growled and he held up his hands, palms facing me.

“Whoa, just kidding. But seriously, kaikua?ana, whatever is on that list, just keep doing it. I honestly can’t recall the last time I’ve seen you so relaxed.

It’s nice.” He propped a hip against the stall door.

“Speaking of which, it’s been what, a month, since you’ve stopped being so tightly wound? ”

“Funny, but for some reason, I don’t recall that being the subject we were discussing.”

“Well, we’re speaking of it now. When are you finally going to bring your doctor over so I can meet her?”

I chuckled. “You’d think someone who is always claiming nothing gets past him would be aware that the good doctor has been making regular house calls for weeks.” It wasn’t often I caught Kekoa with his pants down, but watching his mouth drop open reminded me of how enjoyable it was when I did.

“How in the hell did I miss that?”

Swinging my leg over McNut’s back, I hooked Sugar’s reins in one hand and look down at Kekoa, though his height of six four didn’t require much of a tilt of my head.

“I never said she made them in the daytime. Now, if you can manage to stop asking useless questions and move your ass, I’d appreciate it.

I don’t want to be late for my swim class. ”

“Do I even need to mention that you were swimming before you could walk? You don’t need any class.”

“Who said I was the student?”

He shook his head but did step aside so I could guide McNut and Sugar down the aisle and toward the open door. But he didn’t stop talking.

“Fine, but I’m gonna tell Tutu that you’re shirking your duties.”

I didn’t even bother to turn my head. “Have fun with that,” and then I applied the slightest pressure with my heels and McNut broke into a trot, Sugar keeping pace right beside him.

McNut no longer really needed any signals from me to find his way.

Kekoa hadn’t been that far off on the length of time I’d been making this trip.

Sometimes by car, but most often on my horse’s back.

Though today would be the first time I’d be his sole rider.

Sugar was for Sam and I was anxious to see her in the saddle.

Granted, not as anxious as I was to see her in a bathing suit, but I figured that went without saying.

The familiar notes of her cat-call whistle sounded as I rode down the path leading to the camp. I answered with my wolf whistle and smiled as she pushed up off the rock she’d chosen as her chair.

“So this is Sugar?” she said as I halted the horses.

“It is. Sugar, meet Samantha.”

Samantha wasn’t anywhere near as formal.

She simply walked up and ran her finger down Sugar’s forelock.

“Aren’t you a lovely lady?” she said softly.

When McNut huffed, she grinned. “I’m not ignoring you, handsome, and I didn’t forget.

” As I swung down, she pulled a napkin from the pocket of her khaki shorts and opened it.

She never gave him an entire cookie. She “shared” hers. Though from the amount of macadamia nuts the napkin held, I had to think she was sharing about a half dozen of the treats.

“Does Sugar like nuts too?”

“She actually prefers carrots, even though her name is Sugar, but I’m sure she won’t turn her nose up.”

Samantha shot me a smile and reached into her other pocket, pulling out a bag containing carrot strips. “A girl deserves to be treated when she’s about to be ridden.”

My cock twitched and I chuckled. “Duly noted, babygirl. What treat should I pick up for you?”

Her hands were flat, both horses daintily picking the treats from her palms, but she turned her head to look up at me.

“A kiss is the only treat I want.” She smiled and brushed her palms together after they were empty.

Then she turned and grinned. “Though, if you want to subtract a bit from that tally you keep telling me is rising, that would be pretty great too.”

“Not a chance,” I said, hooking her and pulling her toward me. “And, it’s my turn for a little attention.”

“Poor boy, feeling neglected?”

I lowered my head and nipped at the very sensitive skin just below the shell of her ear. “Feeling horny is far more accurate.”

She laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Dom actually use the word horny.”

“Now you have,” I said, fisting her ponytail and pulling her head back before I dropped my mouth to hers.

“Well, who do we have here?” Josh asked and then answered his own question, “I believe it’s Sam and Sam-I-am.”

I pulled back and chuckled. “Hey, Josh.”

“Hi, Sam.” He moved forward to also stroke the horses. “Beautiful animals. Nice and large.”

Hearing Samantha softly snort, I looked at Josh. “Is the fact insects are so small and harder to see the reason you aren’t as fond of bugs as Samantha?”

This time Samantha laughed. “No, Josh can see just fine. He just has a bit of arachnophobia.”

The word sounded familiar but I’d been hearing a bunch of scientific terminology so it took me a moment to place it. “Spiders?”

Josh shuddered. “Sneaky little bastards. Did you know they don’t just have eight legs but eight eyes!”

“And with over two hundred and five species in Hawaii alone, you can pretty much count on them being just about everywhere !”

I suppose if Samantha hadn’t exaggerated the word or pretend-lunged at Josh, the squeal he made wouldn’t have sounded so much like a little kid’s.

While I wasn’t above finding the reaction a bit amusing, it wouldn’t do to have my sub thinking there were no consequences for messing with people.

“I can’t say I blame you, Josh. When I’m out in the forest or down in the canyon, I try to remember that I’m not in my house, I’m an intruder in theirs. ”

Josh seemed to contemplate that and then nodded. “Thanks, Sam.” He turned toward Samantha, “As for you, Sam-I-am, revenge is best served cold.”

Sam just rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you out there.”

Josh huffed. “Really? So what? Instead of taking today off, you’re going to grab some sample bags and traipse after me and leave your boyfriend to alternate riding these two beauties?”

It was my time to chuckle. Not because it had been particularly humorous but because I’d seen Samantha smile at the mention of “boyfriend” but then narrow her eyes when Josh spoke of my “riding two beauties”. Interesting, and okay, a man appreciated having his ego stroked a bit.

“Josh, I’m ready! Good morning, S-squared, and aren’t you both just gorgeous!”

Ahhh, to have that ego stroked with the exuberance of the young.

“Good morning, Beth,” I said as she walked right past the three of us and began to talk and run her hands over the horses.

That stuck a pin in my inflated ego. When Sugar nickered, I had to admit homo sapiens isn’t the only species to appreciate a bit of stroking.

Samantha offered her hellos and gave Josh a hug which I saw he returned, both smiling and reminding me the two had worked on teams together in places I couldn’t even pronounce. After a few more coos and cuddles, I said, “Babygirl, are you ready to go?”

Three heads turned toward me, but only one bore a slight blush and a huge smile. “Absolutely. Let me grab my pack.”

As she retrieved the backpack from where it sat beside her rock chair, Beth gave Sugar a last pat and then moved to slip her hand into Josh’s.

That relationship had been strengthening over the past weeks as well.

I met Josh’s eyes and they held not a single speck of wariness about spiders no matter how many were surrounding us even now.

But as a man who had a deep fondness for Samantha, they held an unspoken warning.

Treat her well or you’ll answer to me.

I didn’t drop my gaze or inform him he’d have to take his place in line behind Cookie. I dipped my head slightly, offering my understanding of his message and responding with one of my own.

You don’t have to worry. I’d rather die than hurt the woman I love.

If his eyes widened slightly, I was pretty certain mine had as well.

Woman I love.

The three words had surprised me as well. I’d certainly not been planning on stating them, verbally or silently. But having done so, it didn’t make me feel as if the sky were falling or the earth opening to swallow me. It made me feel… right.

Josh grinned, nodded, and stepped forward to hold out his hand. “We’ve got to run, but it’s really good to see you again. You two have a great time.”

“We will!” Samantha answered for the both of us as she returned with the pack. “Beth, take care of our Josh, okay?”

“It will be my pleasure , see you later.”