I couldn’t hide my disappointment. “It would only take a minute,” I argued. Because suddenly, I wanted Luke so badly, I could taste my desire.
“Oh no, it wouldn’t. The next time I have you the whole thing is going to take a long, long time because I am going to enjoy every inch of you, cowboy. Now, do as you’re told. And wear something nice. We’re going to a party.”
*
We walked to the main house together, a companionable distance apart, trading occasional glances. I felt the urge to reach for Luke’s hand, but I squashed the compunction, not at all confident he’d want me to.
I liked Luke. Liked his bravado and his obstinance though he was a little immature. I liked the way he looked at me as if he owned every inch of my body and he could take what he wanted whenever he wanted. As if he’d never desired anything more than to have my cock in his mouth or my ass in his hands. I liked the play of power between us—the way I was in charge in the grooming barn, but Luke was in charge everywhere else.
His control made me feel safe in a strange way. I knew what the rules were. I’d happily play by the rules if I got to keep this job and enjoy some physical release as well. The emotional connection was a bonus if it wasn’t all my imagination and it existed at all.
Then there was Noah.
Noah was a whole different challenge. I still wasn’t sure if I was allowed to desire Noah. I wasn’t sure if wanting Noah was within the rules Luke had drawn up. But I couldn’t deny I did desire Noah, in ways different to how I felt about Luke.
Because Noah was the opposite of Luke. Noah was shy and polite, where Luke was brash and rude. Noah thought about things before he said them, whereas Luke opened his mouth and said whatever came to mind. And Noah slid effortlessly into his role as a submissive ponyboy, whereas Luke would fight his submission at every turn, even though Luke, like Noah, had consented to everything.
Luke was a puzzle and a predicament needing to be worked out. And I had time.
The main house was buzzing with activity. All the grills were going, and the delicious smells of barbecued steak and shrimp filled the summer air. Everyone had dressed a little more glam than usual.
Liv had on a purple dress and some tan wedges that elongated her slim legs. Kamal wore slim, checkered pants, which emphasized the muscles of his thick legs and the bulge in his crotch, with a light-blue cotton short-sleeved shirt and grey fedora. He looked classy and elegant. Lorraine totally rocked a burgundy sari with a pair of wrap sandals, and she’d dotted a red spot in the center of her forehead. I found it difficult to place this as the same woman who’d teased and tormented Noah in the arena. Adam and Michael, the other trainer I’d had some brief contact with, were dressed more casually in khaki shorts and golf shirts, and Hiro, the only trainer I’d not been formally introduced to, had on tight black, short chinos and a form-fitting, salmon button-down emphasizing his slim, muscular build.
At Luke’s urging, I had borrowed a pair of ankle-length tan chinos, but wore my own light-blue button-down with rolled-up sleeves, and my Blundstone boots. And my hat. Luke had placed it gently atop my head and given me a look indicating he would brook no argument.
I looked okay, but not as stylish as most. I’d have to ask Adam if I could have an afternoon off to go shopping in town. The expectations of my current position had taken me by surprise. Wasn’t that the world’s most valid understatement.
Luke looked delectable in his black chino shorts with the hems rolled up a couple of times, a grey button-down short-sleeve shirt and white sneakers.
And Noah.
God, when I caught sight of Noah, my stomach flipped. He wore snug navy shorts with large pink irises all over them topped by a white short-sleeved button-down, with a pair of navy boaters. He looked like a college kid at a coed barbecue. Remembering him in the pony-play gear bent over two jump bars and getting his ass swatted with a riding crop, I felt a bit faint.
Noah stood by the food table, holding a paper plate. His brow wrinkled and he worked his lower lip, like he couldn’t decide what to eat and the effort of the decision was killing him. I’d already observed it sometimes took him massive amounts of courage to make simple decisions. No wonder he was so comfortable playing pony when the expectations were explicitly laid out for him.
Luke walked over and gently took the plate from Noah, spooning some potato salad, and then coleslaw, then grabbing a pickle and a piece of steak. He passed the plate back to him and said, “If you’re a good boy, I’ll let you choose your own dessert.”
Noah’s relief was evident. He took the plate and said, “Thanks. Can I sit with you?”
Luke nodded. “Of course, you can. You and Jensen both.”
Noah peered at me, cheeks coloring and eyebrows squeezing together. “Okay. Sure,” he said with attempted nonchalance.
Luke looked at Noah like he’d grown a second head. “Uh, yeah, good try, ponyboy. I know you have the major hots for my cowboy, so there isn’t much use in pretending you don’t want to eat your supper beside him.” His gaze flicked between Noah and me. “I also know the feeling is mutual.” He gestured to me. “Come on. Get a plate and let’s find a table.”
I stared at him, wondering if somehow Luke knew what had happened in the arena this morning. But he couldn’t know. Maybe I simply wasn’t as good at hiding my feelings as I thought.
I loaded a paper plate, starving after my busy day and anticipating a delicious meal and interesting event. So far, the evening had already surprised me.
As Noah, Luke, and I made our way to an unoccupied table at the edge of the gathering, I noticed the other ponyboys watching with interest. I was more than aware Callum had a physical interest in me, but I had no idea what drew the interest of the other men. What was the big deal?
But maybe they weren’t interested in me at all.
Luke had said he and Noah kept their relationship under the radar. But here they were eating together and hanging out with me, who everybody knew had something going on with Luke. They were probably wondering what was going on between the three of us.
So was I.
We ate in silence, exchanging glances, more focused on eating than anything. Music played loudly and the sounds of other conversations filled the silence of the evening. When Noah had finished everything on his plate, Luke whispered, “Good boy,” across the table, making Noah blush and glance at me. I couldn’t help smiling at the obvious pleasure he got from Luke’s praise.
