Page 18

I’m Not Pretty

A fter that clusterfuck meeting, I got the hell out of the building before any other founding family witches could track me down. Bobbi Jo made sure I had alarm codes and keys, which meant I could come back later when the dust settles. I collected Jekyll and Hyde from the playground, gave Kali and Hecate a pat, and jumped into the Impala so fast you’d think an assassin was on my tail.

My cats are hanging their heads out the window and letting out a loud ‘ mow !’ when Eury swoops too close to the roof. They seem to have done okay in the companion play area where I left them… I’d like to imagine that Teddy’s dogs introduced them to the odd assortment of winged, furred, and scaled animals the staff left there while we attended the staff training. It gave me pause, though, because I don’t remember this many exotic animals hanging about the Hollow in public when I was growing up here. I don’t know whether this is a recent development or my wonky memory is playing tricks on me.

Either way, it’s common now, so much so that the school has a mini-daycare area to keep the animals from disrupting.

My phone buzzes on the seat and I turn on the text-to-voice feature, so it comes out of the speakers. Safety first and all the jazz, right? The electronic voice announces that there are incoming text messages and I brace myself. I left telling no one where I was going because I’m a grown assed woman and I don’t have to check in with anyone. That should go over well.

Message from Bully Asshole: Where are you, drugar?

Message from Cute Asshole: She doesn’t have to clock her movements with you, Boone.

Message from Doctor Asshole: Lucy’s right. Back off, Coach.

For the love of leather chaps, these men are going to be the death of me. What possessed me to come home to solve a mystery and instead get trapped between three dudes who are now obsessed with me?

Oh, yeah—dick, that’s what possessed me. That one’s all on me. More pleasantly so when their stupid mouths are occupied.

“Send reply: Little Wolfie’s right. I don’t have to tell anyone where I’m going and I don’t have a curfew, DAD.” I grin to myself, satisfied with my retort, until I hear the telltale sound of a ding.

Message from Bully Asshole: You’re welcome to call me Daddy any time you want, sugar.

Message from Cute Asshole: Don’t be gross. Sugarplum? I’ll smack him in the back of the head later.

Message from Doctor Asshole: I’m going to need front row seats to that show.

Jesus Christ and his merry band of groupies. I cannot with these guys.

“ Send reply: Number one, in your dreams, Teddy. Number two, I’m headed to the farm to go riding. I’m going to work on the classroom stuff when the harpies have exited the building. A little warning might have been nice , Teddy!”

Before they can answer, the sound of Lucky the Leprechaun announces Saoirse’s incoming text. I set that a few years ago when we were drunk off our tits in Dubai and I’ve never changed it. Maybe if those idiots behave, I’ll set special tones for them, but to be honest, Seer’s the only person who stayed in my life long enough to have personalized ringtones.

Message from Cheeky Monkey: I’m havin’ a grand time at the house, Peanut! The feckin’ security guys are settin’ up yer cams and sensors and shite how you diagrammed them. They may be a wee bit annoyed with me watching them work, but a lass has got to eat, right?

I hope the team Jackson sent isn’t busy getting their dicks sucked by my BFF instead of installing my goddamned security system. If there’s a sensor out of place, I’m making Seer pay for the return visit. However, leaving her there instead of terrorizing the locals on her own or cackling during the staff meeting seemed like the better choice.

Message from Bully Asshole: Kali and Hecate are pouting because you left them behind. Come to think of it, I’m pouting. Just so you know.

I growl in frustration, and Jekyll pops his head in to glare at my phone like it offended him. Chuckling, I used my free hand to ruffle his fur. “I know, buddy. He’s still got splainin’ to do before his antics are cute again.”

“ Mow !”

Message from Cute Asshole: Sugarplum, ignore him. The pregnant mares are getting a check-up. I’ll get finished in about a half hour. I can take Puck out for a spin and find you.

Wolfie’s horse is named Puck?

That sounds about as fitting as one can get without hitting a nail on the head. I smile despite myself because I’m developing a major soft spot for the easygoing vet. I intended to work out my frustration with the bitch squad by riding alone and moping, but I can’t seem to tell him no.

“ Send reply: Sure, McDreamy. I’ll see you then. For the rest of you, I’m putting my texts on ‘do not disturb’ for a while. I need some time.”

I don’t wait for their responses; I click the slider to mute the chat group and close the window. Sighing, I turn on my Spotify and hit my bad ass bitch mix, grinning as Joan Jett blasts through the speakers. It’s not an inappropriate song at the moment. And I enjoy the thought of rolling up to the employee lot like a rock and roll princess in a muscle car. Especially if that dimwit is working in the office again.

Flashing my badge as I roll up to the gate to the employee entrance, I zoom past the guard from last week with a cheeky grin. He’ll never forget me now that I saved his ass from the devil woman, I’m sure. It’s always a good plan to make friends with people in low-level positions because you never know when they’re going to be the exact person you need later. Plus, everyone ignores guards and grooms and maids and shit. It’s bullshit.

My car slides into the spot marked with a shiny fresh sign with my name on it and I chuckle at the old-world style power play it represents. This is Jamie’s way of ensuring that chick knows every time she pulls into the lot that her space—next to mine—says administrative assistant and mine has my name on it. That should help keep her in line if I have to breeze by the office at any point.

Jekyll and Hyde hop out of the car, giving me happy cat smiles that are hysterical with the aviators. Euryale glides down, landing on the roof of the car, looking at me as if waiting for instructions. I walk to the trunk, pulling out a bag with clean riding gear and slinging it over my shoulder. Once I shut it, I look at my companions.

“Okay, guys. I’m going for a ride. I need to work out my frustration, and you’re free to roam, according to Jamie. Stay away from the office and that bitch Agatha. Euryale, you can swoop and soar, but stay high enough that you don’t spook anyone.”

The trio of animals honk or meow their acceptance and I leave them to wander as I make my way to the employee restrooms. I find a cushy staff locker room and claim a locker to store my precious bag and clothes in. The directions for the electronic locks are easy enough to follow—which means they’d be even easier to hack into—and I shove my things in after I strip down. Pulling on my socks, then my breeches, I chuckle as I remember the last time I came here to ride.

My underwear isn’t as ugly this time, but they should suffice for a quick jaunt.

Once I get my boots on, I tuck my phone into the side pocket, grab my gloves, and head for the stables.

It’s time to fly.

* * *

As the scenery goes by, I beam. Riding is one of the few things that can calm my mind when I get trapped in the black hole of the past. The women giggling in the background of that meeting in that building brought back every terrible memory, and I’m having trouble disassociating from the girl I used to be and the woman I am now. It doesn’t matter that I’ve travelled the world, dined with princes, or even that I fucked the great and powerful Edgar Olivier Boone III.

I’m a lonely, chubby girl with distant parents and a yearning to be accepted.

High school is absolute bullshit, and anyone who tells you differently is living in a dream world. Regardless of what automatic bonus they had to make them popular—talent, looks, money, fame—they started the race in the middle of the track. The rest of us had to pant our way through the whole route. I didn’t expect to have to do it again at work, but it’s obvious I will.

I have to learn to compartmentalize my childhood trauma and channel the bad bitch I’ve become.

The palomino I’m riding whinnies like it agrees, and I chuckle. If I don’t figure this out, I’m going to lose my mind and start talking to every animal I encounter. That habit won’t endear me to my colleagues, so I gotta get my head on straight.

Damn. I wish I’d brought my headphones, but that’s a dangerous proposition on a horse I don’t know very well. I’ll get comfortable enough with the horses here to ride while listening, but safety first and all. Flicking the reins, I change the speed of our trot to a canter, and the pretty girl beneath me takes the head. I relish the wind in my hair and the rush of a full run, my hips rolling with the movement.

The sound of hooves thunders behind us, and I chuckle. Wolfie told me he’d find me, and though I’ve been out here moping for an hour, he didn’t disappoint. My lips curve and I lean down to the horse, whispering, “Let’s make him chase us, Arabella.”

With another flick and a press of my calves, I encourage the palo into a faster gallop, leaning down to cut through the wind as we race into the horizon. The beat of the hooves behind me picks up, and it occurs to me there are over four. In fact, it sounds more like eight.

Why does Wolfie have an extra horse with him?

Tugging on the reins, I urge the palomino to slow down until she comes to a halt. The thumps behind me also come to a stop as I slide from my saddle and turn to look. My jaw drops, and I’m stunned into silence as I take in the sight of my baby vet and the horse he brought with him. I can’t decide which one is more gorgeous, so I continue to stare like a hooked trout until my brain resumes functioning.

Wolfie is sitting on a beautiful chestnut Andalusian, shirtless, his smile bright and his skin glistening in the early afternoon sun. He’s holding the reins of a golden Akhal-Teke that looks like Rumpelstiltskin, himself spun its coat out of straw. I’ve never seen one in person, though I know how rare they are, and I can’t believe there’s one on Jamie’s farm. Given the expense and lineage of that breed, they are owned by sheikhs and princes.

“Where in the ass-reaming fuck did you find that horse?” I practically shout. All three animals flinch, and I regret my shrill tone. “Sorry.”

His laugh is rich, the tanned skin of his face standing out against the whiteness of his perfect teeth. “Oh, sugarplum. You never mince words, do you?”

I roll my eyes and put my hands on my hips. “Are you gonna tell me where the Midas touch horse came from or sit there looking like a Greek god while you laugh at me?”

“I’m pretty sure I can do both, love.” Little Wolfie slides from his saddle, hitting the ground in a lithe motion that I could never imitate. “This is Mehdi, and she belongs to Jamie’s new friend from overseas. She arrived today without a word of warning, and he decided you were the only one he wanted to work with.”

Being the only trainer for a pureblood of this caliber is terrifying, especially since she doesn’t belong to the person who assigned me the task. I’m good with horses, but I’m not a professional trainer. Only people with years of experience should break in a horse this valuable. She could be a contender for the Crown in a few years, and formative training is a large part of that viability.

“No. No, no, no, no. Not in a million years, Wolfie. I won’t be responsible for some rich douche’s new toy being improperly trained and costing him Derby prospects.” My nose wrinkles as I approach the stunning mare, tracing my fingertips over her luminous coat. I can’t even do her justice with a description because in the sunlight, she looks like she belongs to Apollo himself.

“Sugarplum, I don’t think it was a request. Jamie told everyone that outside of grooming and checkups with me, this horse was off-limits. The trainers are fit to be tied—you can’t say no. It’ll only make it worse.”

Mehdi nickers, shaking her head as if agreeing. My eyes narrow and I step closer, looking at her. She tilts her head and jerks it back as if indicating that I should shut up and climb on. Indecision wars within me—I’ve had a rough day, and this is an astronomically expensive horse that I’ve never ridden before and she seems to want me to hop on bareback.

However, no one’s ever accused me of being a coward, and I won’t let this be the first time.

Steeling my spine, I grab a hold of her mane and swing myself up onto her back with my right leg. She’s taller than the palo by several hands, and if I hadn’t gotten a start, I might not have made it. Mehdi lets out a loud whinny, and I hold on as she rears back. She’s not trying to toss me, but she’s fucking excited, and before I can get my bearings, she takes off like a shot.

Scenery flies by as I grasp the reins and her mane, gripping her back with my thighs so tightly that I’m certain I’ll be sore as hell later. The excited horse gallops across the fields like she’s racing in her own personal stakes, taking the unfamiliar terrain in stride without batting a lash. I hear Wolfie behind me on Puck, whistling and calling out to her to see if he can get her attention, but it’s to no avail. Now that she has her head, my girl is determined to show what she can do.

I’ll say one thing: this son of a bitching horse is going to earn roses when she’s ready.

That time isn’t now, though, and we’re headed for the fence line at an alarming speed. I need to figure something out, or we’re both going to get injured. I rack my brain, trying to access the part of my memory that’s storing the six weeks Seer and I spent in Dubai. We met our fair share of horse loving princes in the casinos, and if I can just… ah-ha!

“ Khalas! ” I cry, giving the reins a tug hard enough to get the attention of the speeding equine.

Mehdi’s ears flick, and she slows, dropping to a canter, and then a trot before she comes to a halt mere inches from the inner fences. I blink, sucking in a breath as I look behind me to see Hottie McBabyVet thunder up beside me with wide eyes. I run my hand over the silky mane of the hot-blooded beauty I’m riding to reassure her and slide off. My legs are like jelly, and my hands are shaking with adrenaline as I stumble over to Wolfie with a huge grin on my face.

“Did you see that? Holy cock-sucking donkey balls, that was amazing!”

He frowns, catching me as my knees crumple, and shooing the horses away so we have room to move. “Sugarplum, we are going to chat about your daredevil ways. You scared the bejesus out of me! I had to leave Arabella to chase you.”

Beaming at him, I feel the air around us shift, and the electricity shoots through my veins, twisting with the high from the breakneck ride. I press my body to his, eyes dancing with mischief as I toss my glasses aside. “Time for that later, little Wolfie.”

His brow arches and he chuckles. “Sugarplum, you can barely stand.”

“We don’t need to stand, darling,” I reply, giving his chest a little push.

That’s all it takes for him to topple us to the ground, his back hitting the bluegrass with a thump as he brings me with him. I tug the shirt off, discarding it as recklessly as I did my sunglasses, and he peels my sports bra off while my arms are up.

“No binding this time?” he smirks. “I think you lured me out here with plans.”

“I sure as fuck did.”

Rolling us over, his hands help me wriggle the tight breeches down while I work the buttons of his jeans. He gets distracted by the jeweled cages on my nipples as they sparkle in the light, and I growl in frustration. I grab his hair and pull his head up, shaking my head. His soft snort makes my lips curl up, and he shucks the jeans like a pro.

“Better, sugarplum?”

“Not yet,” I mutter, wrapping my fist around his cock and stroking. The smooth steel on his shaft slides over my palm, and he groans. “Once you fuck me, I’m sure it will be.”

His lips capture mine, and I let go, allowing him to lift my thighs off the ground. Long fingers grasp my screaming muscles, parting my legs so he can line up with my dripping pussy. When he raises his head, I raise an eyebrow, and he grins at me, placing my ankles on his shoulder.

“Can’t have you doin’ too much work after that ride, love. You won’t be able to walk.”

I open my mouth to sass back, but he drives his dick into me so hard that it feels like he’s going to split me in two. A throaty moan of pleasure escapes instead of bratty sarcasm, and he takes that as his cue to start a punishing rhythm that knocks the breath out of my lungs. His hips crash into me as he does what I asked… fucks the living shit out of me.

Flinging my arms over my head, I close my eyes, letting the sensations course through me as he holds me in place. He doesn’t have control—I do—but I’m enjoying every second of his hard cock spearing me into the soft ground of the field. His hand shifts, one holding on and the other snaking around to find my clit, pinching it every time he buries himself to the hilt.

A shimmering sensation floats over my skin, and the whisper of softness makes every inch of me tingle. My toes curl, my fingers dig into the dirt, and my wail echoes over the quiet field when I come, squeezing him inside as I’m never letting go. His hips stutter as his orgasm rockets through him on the tail of mine, and something feels like it clicks into place.

My eyes open as I pant, my gaze finding his through the haze of my climax, and I could swear his blue eyes are swirling with color. I lift a trembling hand to his face, giving him the closest thing to a smile that I can as I return to reality.

“You, my little wolf, are mine, you know,” I rasp. “I don’t know how you worked your way in, but I don’t think I can ever let you go.”

The smile on his face is as bright as the golden horse I rode here as he leans in and whispers in my ear, “I don’t think we ever had a choice, sugarplum.”

Amen to that.