Page 63 of Stable Hand

When we got to the last door on the left, Luke turned the handle and pushed slowly. He flicked on a light.

“Shangri La,” he said, beckoning us in past him. “This is the sitting room. Bathroom’s through the bedroom.”

I glanced at Luke as I walked past him. “Why are you so intimate with Adam’s room?”

Luke grinned. “He’s my therapist. We have a little chat once a week. This is a lot more comfortable than his office downstairs.”

My chin dropped. “Your therapist? He’s your…therapist?” I looked at Noah, who nodded.

“While I’m here. I have a different one in Ottawa, but they know each other. My therapist in Ottawa recommended I try this place and see Adam for a bit.”

“Adam’s a registered psychotherapist,” Noah said softly. “He’s here for any of us if we need him.”

I was speechless.

“What?” Luke asked.

“A registered psychotherapist running a pony-play ranch?”

“Why does that seem strange to you? You don’t think pony play has psychological benefits?”

I blushed. “I…never really thought about the psychological benefits of pony play. I mean, I never thought about it until I started working here.”

“Yeah? Well join the rest of the kink-phobic population,” Luke said. “I’d been experimenting with kink in the city, but not safely. I ran into some bad shit. My therapist said Adam could help me explore my needs in a safer way.”

Wow. That was…interesting. “I’m not kink-phobic,” I protested.

Luke flicked on the light in the en-suite bathroom.

“Holy fucking shit,” I said.

The room was huge, with a giant oval whirlpool tub at one end and a double shower at the other. A large marble vanity with two sinks stretched between them.

“I told you the bathroom was nice.”

“The bathroom’s…amazing. It’s almost as big as my apartment in Ottawa.”

Luke raised his eyebrows. “The bathroom or the tub?”

“Very funny. The bathroom.”

Luke turned on the taps for the soaker tub, checking the water temperature. When he was satisfied, he dried his hands on his shorts and opened a cupboard in the vanity, taking out a large bottle. He checked the label and made a face. “I told him to stop getting this flowery shit. But I guess he likes flowers.”

Luke tipped the bottle over the tub. “Bubble bath. We might as well go the extra mile.”

“How often do you use his tub?” I asked, finding it strange for Luke to be so familiar with Adam’s room.

“Only when he lets me. Baths help me relax. Don’t narrow your eyes at me, cowboy. There’s nothing going on between me and Adam. That would be super inappropriate, and I don’t even think he’s good-looking. Plus, he kind of feels like my dad most of the time.” Luke made a face. “And, uh, gross.”

“Who sounds kink-phobic now?” I said with a grin.

“Har har. If Daddy kink is your thing, sure, go after Adam.”

“You’re way hotter than Adam,” I said, mouth going dry as Luke pushed his shorts and boxer briefs down.

“Good to hear. Noah, strip. You, too, cowboy. Everything but your hat.”

I tried to keep my eyes off Noah as he meticulously removed his clothes but couldn’t quite manage. I kept peeking surreptitiously until Luke said, “Go ahead and watch him. He doesn’t mind. Do you, Noah?”