Page 11 of Stirring Up Trouble (Saddle Up #1)

Nine

Robin

There has never been more awkward interactions than the ones I had with Blaze a couple days ago.

I should have known the second Ms. Connie quirked her brow at me when I suggested taking a plate to Blaze that my kindness would backfire.

And then he heard me on my call with Wes too, which wasn’t all that great considering how I panicked after.

I couldn't help that I was so interested in the man. Everything about him screamed at me to get to know more. Seeing the way others respected him, and how well taken care of his animals were, was even more proof that I had to figure out who Blaze Anders was.

If that meant taking him a plate of food when he might otherwise not be able to have a home-cooked meal, then so be it.

When Leslie told us that he was staying at the grounds overnight I felt lost. I wanted him to be with us. I wanted to have him around even if he wouldn't talk to me. His presence alone was enough to get me by.

And then I stammered and made a fool of myself the second I got to see him again.

I avoided him as much as possible throughout the next couple of days. The rodeo was in full swing, and things were moving right along. There were more people around. The events were back-to-back, and the air was full of excitement.

As nervous as I had been to be a part of everything, I didn't feel all that much of an outcast once it got going. I knew animals like the back of my hand. Every little nuance about them was familiar. I didn’t get tongue-tied or feel left out with my four-legged friends.

Thankfully, there weren't any emergencies that arose. Just tiny things here and there. I adjusted some hooves and checked on a few of the animals who were pregnant.

It was really quite simple. I got to enjoy myself rather than overthink about how I was avoiding the man I was interested in.

My body couldn't seem to get enough of him. It was kind of insane considering how many gorgeous women there were around. I'm talking they could've stepped out of an ad for Wrangler's type of gorgeous women. Supermodel walking the runway level of gorgeous.

And all I could do was smile and wave at them. I didn't want to take them home. Didn't want to chat them up or get their number.

Instead, my focus was on a grumpy man who couldn't seem to stay away but could also disappear at the drop of a hat. It was like every time I turned around, there was Blaze hovering nearby or scowling from a perch somewhere.

By the time evening rolled around I was exhausted from overthinking. All I wanted to do was go home, shower, and curl up in bed. Sure, it wasn't my bed, but anything would do with the level of exhaustion I felt.

I yawned widely as I climbed into the truck. At first, I thought my tiredness made me dream up hearing Blaze right outside the truck. But then I realized I hadn’t imagined it as he ambled up into the driver’s seat.

Blaze’s deep timbre sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't stop the way my body reacted to him. I physically jerked, and my cock started to harden. What I wouldn't give to know what his touch felt like. I'd practically sell my soul at this point with how hard and aching he'd left me.

The man didn't even know the kind of power he had either. He was just frustrated to have his routine broken, and here I was, practically drooling over him at every turn.

I shook my head, then focused onto the road as we made our way back to the ranch. It was awfully convenient that the rodeo was close enough to go back every night. Others had to stay in the trailers on-site since it would be too far for them.

The second we reached his home, I rushed out of the truck and went inside. I passed by everyone with brief waves until I reached the shower. I stripped quickly, moving under the water before it was even warm.

My cock bobbed between my legs, and I quickly wrapped my fist around it. I had to stroke one out.

There was no way I would make it through the late dinner if I didn't, and I couldn't let him see the effect he had on me. Couldn't let him know how tangled up I'd become.

With each pump of my fist, I climbed higher and higher. I pictured Blaze's mouth ticking up into a grin like I'd seen that first night. I heard his voice echoing in my ear telling me that my orgasm was his . I felt his hands on my hips, and his breath against my neck.

It was all in my head of course. He wasn't there with me. I was alone.

But the way my body broke open at the daydream was enough to have me crooning and coming all over the tile wall.

My breaths were heavy as the high wore down.

My cock was still hard, still ready.

I hadn't had this much of a refractory period in ages. Mostly because I didn't have any type of reaction.

So much for a broken libido. If anything, it was in fucking overdrive.

I took a quick shower after that, not wanting to use up all the hot water that others would need. Then I dressed and made my way back downstairs.

I pulled my phone out as I dropped into a chair in the living room. I needed to kill some time while the others cleaned up. Ms. Connie was singing in the kitchen, and while I could join her, I didn't want to impose.

After randomly checking emails and seeing if there were any messages from Griffin about the practice, I decided to open the Daddy on Demand app again.

I had casually looked through it before, even making the effort to create a profile so I could access all the features.

This time, I wanted to see if maybe there was someone who would interest me.

Maybe there was someone who could take my mind off Blaze Anders.

When I started going through profiles, I winced. There weren't many options from what I could see, and they all appeared to be guys who didn't do it for me. My body didn't call out for any of them.

At least they didn't until a familiar face popped up on the screen.

Holy shit.

It was Blaze in all his cowboy glory. My heart skidded to a stop as I looked over his interests.

It was pretty vague, though I could sense he had been at this a while.

My thoughts were confirmed when I got to the bottom, and he said his partner's pleasure was his primary focus after spending years as a Daddy.

I melted into the couch as I read the words. I wanted to know what it was like for him. I wanted to be that partner he spoke of.

Quicker than I could overthink it, I swiped to select his profile. It didn't show that we were a match, but maybe it would alert him that I was interested. I still didn't know how this all worked.

Why didn’t the website have a fucking FAQ section or something? Not all of us were kink geniuses who could navigate this stuff.

At least I got my answer about whether or not he was open to men. I didn't care if he was gay, bi, or pan. I was just curious as hell to know more about him in general.

I closed the app because I knew no other profile would interest me now. It was useless to even try.

Would he see that I had selected him before dinner? Would we be a match and he’d ask me for more? Could this take away his grumpy exterior? And how the hell would a dynamic like that work between us?

He had listed himself as a Daddy on his profile. I hadn't put anything on mine because I was still unsure. I didn't think I had a Daddy nature in me, but I also didn't feel little like some of the guys at the ranch were.

My brain whirled with options as I stood to go into the kitchen. I didn't want to be alone anymore. Ms. Connie was perfect company. She saw my expression upon entering and immediately sat me down with a biscuit and some butter.

"Bread always helps, honey," she said before she got back to finishing the meal prep.

I stuffed my mouth as I listened to her sing verses about joy and happiness, then sorrow and grief. The more she went on, the calmer I felt. Well, I was, until Blaze came into the kitchen.

Where the hell had Bobby Allen and Elton gone? I didn’t want to face this man alone.

But then I remembered the glances they had thrown at one another. The pair was likely having a private moment without anyone else around after spending the day running in circles around each other. I couldn't blame them. If I had someone special, then I would be doing the same.

Not wanting to see if there was any type of recognition in Blaze's gaze, I took the plate that Ms. Connie offered me and went to the table. I dropped into the spot that I had been using, my focus on eating and eating only.

Blaze seemed to do the same. Eventually, when Bobby Allen and Elton made their way into the room, they too ate in silence. Ms. Connie was the only one who had anything to say as she went on and on about the day's events on the ranch.

Leslie didn't show up. Ms. Connie informed us that she was out chasing down women for the night, which she had told her when she stopped by for a snack. Blaze shook his head, though he didn't comment on his best friend.

When dinner was over, I decided to give up the restraint I had.

I needed to know if Blaze wanted to match with me, or if there was something I could do to get in his good graces.

I didn't like thinking that he was angry with me for any reason.

Really, it came down to me wanting some kind of answer for why I felt the way I did.

I waited in the hall and when Blaze came out, I stopped him. "Hey!"

He froze, then turned to look my way. "Yes?"

"Can we talk for a minute? Somewhere private?” I added, knowing that the others in the kitchen could probably hear us with how things echoed in the house. It was old and not all that well insulated.

When he motioned to his office, I followed. It was only a few steps, but in that time, my heart beat erratically and my palms started to sweat.

We stepped inside, and he closed the door behind us. He crossed his arms, then leaned back on his desk as I shuffled behind the empty chair. "What did you want to talk about?"

I pulled out my phone and opened the app. I had to dig around for a minute but when I found his profile, I turned it towards him. “I want to talk about this. I don't know if you’ve seen mine yet, but is this why you were upset with me? Are you angry or something?”

His eyes went wide as he stepped forward into my space. “You picked my profile,” he said.

I nodded and showed him where it was selected green. He pushed the phone away, then moved until his body was pressed against mine.

"You want a Daddy?"

I swallowed thickly and bit my lip. I shrugged my shoulder and then said, "I don't know. I just I found the app, and I was curious, and the guys at the ranch are Daddies and boys and Littles and it’s?—”

His finger pressed against my mouth. "You're unsure?"

I nodded again, this time enjoying the rough finger against my lips.

“Then you need to think long and hard about what it is you want, Robin, because if you become my boy that's it. There's no letting go.”

At the picture it painted in my head, I let out a deep sigh. This grumbling, avoidant man wanted me.