The group left the barn now with Blaine as an addition. Finn and Rachel led with Kurt and Blaine in the rear. It seemed as if Finn and Rachel had put space between them and Kurt and Blaine to whisper without fear of eavesdropping. Now and then Rachel would glance back at the boys, giggle, and whisper something to Finn, bending over to better hear her.
Kurt was attempting to hide his blush because he knew, he just knew what Rachel was telling Finn. She was going to try to get him on board with her matchmaking scheme.
Okay so Blaine was insanely cute. The way he got excited about Katy Perry for crying out loud. And he was gorgeous. Kurt couldn't help but think how Blaine's muscles looked without clothing. His strong jaw and wild head of curls that Kurt just wanted to reach out and touch. Blaine had gorgeous puppy dog hazel eyes that he couldn't help but stare at. Kurt did like Blaine for his looks, but their little conversation they had in the barn was just so easy. Blaine was easy to talk to. Kurt felt like they have been friends for a long time because of how easily they just conversed with each other.
They all said goodnight, Kurt and Rachel retiring to The Warbler's Nest with Blaine and Finn continuing on.
"Goodnight, Kurt," Blaine smiled and waved to him.
"'Night, Blaine," Kurt replied. Did Blaine just say goodnight to him and not Rachel?!
Blaine simply gave his award-winning smile and said, "We'll meet y'all tomorrow for some horseback riding?"
"Definitely," Rachel replied.
"Wait, wha-?" Kurt stuttered. Rachel never said anything about horseback riding to Kurt. He had never been on a horse except when he was really young, and his mother would take him on a pony around in a circle in a small pen. But an actual saddle, stirrups, reins, helmet, trail, riding?
Rachel just smiled and dragged him in their cabin before Kurt could say anything more.
"Goodnight, boys!" Rachel waved her fingers at them before shutting the door closed.
The next morning Kurt returned from breakfast and put on some older jeans and a buttoned shirt. Rachel came out of the shower and saw his outfit, her eyes widening before she said, "Kurt! No!"
"What?!" Kurt asked, confused. He didn't want to ruin a pair of pants doing something that was quite dirty and sweaty.
Rachel sighed and flopped down on her bed dramatically. "You've got to make yourself more...available, Kurt."
"...by doing what?!" Kurt exclaimed.
Rachel went to his suitcase and pulled out a pair of his pants. "Wear...these."
Kurt's eyes widened. "Nooo, I couldn't!"
"Kurt..." Rachel rolled her eyes. "Only you could pull these off while riding a freaking horse. And I'll bet Blaine won't be able to keep his eyes off of you. Did you know he couldn't stop staring at you at breakfast this morning?"
"...he was?" Kurt asked.
"Mmhm," Rachel sang. "You've got to wear them Kurt."
"I...ookay..." Kurt said, wondering if he will regret it later.
He shimmied into the pants and Rachel got dressed in a practical outfit for horseback riding. She was wearing jeans and ruffled top and had her hair back in a loose braid. She still took her dragonfly sunglasses and laced up her boots. Kurt paired his pants with a pale blue t-shirt and a light grey vest. He was lacing his own boots when a knock sounded on the door. Kurt saw through the windows that it was Finn.
"Ready, you two?" He asked.
"Yeah, babe." Rachel kissed him for the billionth time today, and it was only eight o'clock.
They went out to the same barn Kurt and Blaine had met at just last evening.
"I'll be out in a second y'all," Blaine called from within.
"Are you sure about this, Rachel?" Kurt whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
"Kurt, your legs look even better than I expected. Just shhh!" She whispered back as Blaine emerged from the barn entrance.
"Hey y'all, how are we -" Blaine froze when his eyes came across Kurt. Kurt mentally reminded himself to thank Rachel...his pants were doing their job alright. They were dark wash skinny jeans that did wonders for Kurt's long legs and slender figure. They hugged his hips tightly and sculpted his bottom. The back pockets were embroidered with curvy designs, further accentuating his figure. They ran the length of his legs and moved with Kurt so that every angle was perfect. He had them tucked into his knee-high boots expertly. Blaine cleared his throat and rubbed his hand on the back of his neck, exposing his arm muscles. "er, uh, how are we...today?" He seemed at loss for words and was looking anywhere but at Kurt.
"Well, Kurt and I are lovely, aren't we Kurt?" She elbowed him. Kurt was too busy trying not to squeal from Blaine's reaction to his pants.
"Er, yes. Yes, we are...terrific." Kurt smiled and Blaine finally looked at him.
"That's great." Blaine cleared his throat once again. Finn was oblivious to everything that was just happening around him looking earnestly at Blaine for instruction. "Okay, um, Finn why don't ya help me get Rachel and Kurt situated? Remember what I taught ya?"
"Yessir," Finn replied, an eager pupil. "Here, Rachel, I'll help you okay? Unless, you wanted to help her, Blaine, and I help Kurt?"
Rachel elbowed him." No! Thank you. I mean, Blaine can help Kurt, right? I want to spend more time with you, hun." Rachel kissed Finn and Kurt gave her a pleading look. Did he really want to be left alone with Blaine? "Have fun you two! We'll meet you on the trails!" Rachel blew a kiss to Kurt and ran away with Finn, ahead of Kurt and Blaine.
Kurt stood with his hands in his pockets. "So...I have a confession to make..." Kurt chuckled.
Blaine looked up from where he was toeing the ground with his boot. "What's that?"
"I've never...I've never been...horseback riding."
Blaine's eyes widened for the second time. "Never?!" He said in shock.
Kurt shook his head.
"Well, I've been told I'm a very good teacher." Blaine chuckled. Did he look nervous or was Kurt seeing things? "Let's go get you a horse." Blaine gestured into the barn and Kurt followed. Blaine stopped in front of the chocolate horse Kurt greeted when he first came into the barn. "This is Eternity. She's a good girl." Blaine stroked her cheek lovingly. "She's very tame and seems like she likes you already."
Kurt laughed at how Blaine always insisted that horses liked him. Kurt thought he heard somewhere that horses could smell fear. Kurt currently had a lot of it at the moment.
Kurt reached out and stroked Eternity's mane. "She's beautiful. You're gonna let me ride her?" He asked.
"Of course," Blaine went to the wall in the back and grabbed a saddle and various riding equipment. He tossed Kurt a helmet and then found his own.
The helmet would mess up Kurt's hair, but he guessed he would have to make this one sacrifice for his safety over his hair. It was a shame he used so much hairspray this morning.
Once Blaine had Eternity and Pavarotti saddled up, he led them outside around the barn to a clearing near the edge of the forest. He looped Pavarotti's reins through the fencepost and led Eternity back to Kurt. Pavarotti sighed as he nosed through the grass peacefully.
Blaine clapped his hands together, ready to instruct. "Okay, nice and easy now. We'll start with getting on okay?"
"Erm...okay." Kurt was apprehensive.
Blaine offered his hand to Kurt. "Do you trust me?"
"I - yes." And Kurt placed his hand in Blaine's, enjoying the pleasant soft warmth.
"Place your left foot in the stirrup, that's it. And step up and swing over your other leg." Blaine held Kurt's hand to steady him as he kicked over.
Kurt wobbled slightly at the increase in height. "Whoa..." he breathed suddenly aware of how fast his heart was beating. "It's pretty high up."
Blaine chuckled and said, "Yeah, but step one complete!" He squeezed Kurt's hand once before letting it go, Kurt missing the contact as soon as he released. "We'll go nice and easy 'round the clearing then I'll get ol' Pavarotti and we can go on the trails. Maybe we'll meet Finn and Rachel if everything goes smoothly."
Blaine took Eternity's reins and instructed Kurt on how to steer and stop. "And if ya wanna go faster, just give her a little nudge with your heels. And make this sound." Blaine made a clicking sound out of the corner of his mouth, which Eternity immediately responded to by starting forward.
Kurt smiled as he started to move. It was actually amazing to think that one could have so much faith in an animal. The breeze was nice and he inhaled the Southern air. Blaine gave him the reins and resumed to walking next to Kurt and Eternity with his hands in his pockets beaming at the pair.
"All right there, Kurt?"
"Yes, actually. It's very...nice up here in the sun." Kurt replied, feeling his face turn pink as he watched Blaine stretch his arms up exposing a portion of his torso.
Blaine sighed as he exhaled in the peaceful air. "I'm glad. So ever been to Texas?"
"Not really. I've only been to Florida with my mother before. But I've never been since she passed away."
"Oh, forgive me," Blaine said concerned. Eternity sighed, almost as if she heard Kurt and was consoling him.
"No, it's fine, really. But thank you." Kurt nodded.
"I kinda know how ya feel. My father...he left when I was really young. My mother was left to take care of me and my brother Cooper. She quilts if ya didn't already notice in the cabin. Just to pass the time." Blaine chuckled.
"Yes, I saw the quilts. It reminded me of my mother actually. They're very good."
"I'll let her know."
They walked around the clearing a few more times and Blaine said, "I think I'm ready to graduate ya, Kurt." Blaine jogged to his own horse and effortlessly jumped on, hardly using the stirrups. "Let's go!" Blaine grinned as Kurt nudged Eternity to the edge of the forest. Suddenly, Blaine jerked the reins fast and kicked Pavarotti into a fast trot.
"Blaine!" Kurt yelled out. Blaine took off ahead of him, his curls blowing behind him and his buttoned shirt flapping in the wind. Kurt had no choice but to attempt to follow. He kicked Eternity like Blaine had taught him and made the clicking sound. Eternity seemed to know what to do because she took off after Pavarotti, following him and Blaine without direction from Kurt. Kurt let out a yelp as he was jerked back in his saddle, holding on for dear life. He made a mental note to slap Blaine for this.
Kurt tried to focus on the dark blur in front of him so he didn't lose balance on his horse, the green and brown forest whizzing past him. He didn't know how long he was set on this wild ride, but it stopped some time after. Eternity slowed until she met Pavarotti at the edge of a pond. She stooped to take a drink as Kurt smoothed his clothes and crossed his arms, glaring at Blaine.
"What the hell?!" Kurt inquired.
"Sorry...but I mean...that's one way to learn right?" Blaine said sheepishly, dismounting from his horse.
"You're lucky I'm not dead!" Kurt exclaimed as he swung his leg over, trying to dismount but getting his leg caught in part of the stirrup causing him to fall from the horse to a certain hard fall on the ground.
But a pair of strong arms steadied his back and a smooth voice with the still adorable Southern twang spoke: "Easy there!"
Kurt smoothed his shirt again and muttered a "thanks." He then continued: "But it would have been nice to know what 'graduated' meant, Blaine!" Kurt playfully hit him on the shoulder and Blaine laughed.
"I just wanted to get out here so you could see this view." Blaine gestured to the pond before them. The water was a crystal blue and contained various sea-life. Ducks were napping in the shade of a large tree hanging over the pond, its leaves bending toward the pond like fingers. "It's one of my favorite places to come when I just need to think. Ya know?"
Kurt nodded. He enjoyed the serenity of nature and the peace he would find when he would be consumed within his own thoughts. Blaine knelt down to the water and splashed his face, trailing his fingers through his thick hair. Kurt shifted awkwardly as he watched the droplets cascade down his neck. Blaine then walked to a nearby rock and sat down. Kurt shuffled over to him, abandoning the horses.
"It's really quite gorgeous here," Kurt breathed.
Blaine nodded. "Yeah. I love it. It's 'specially nice in the evening. All the stars." A moment of silence and Blaine seemed nervous. "Kurt..." Kurt tried not to swoon at the way Blaine pronounced his name. The prominent and lingering attention he placed on the last letter sounded even more so because of his accent. "Are you enjoying your stay so far?"
"Yes," Kurt breathed. "It's been...really fun. And you teaching me to ride was very nice of you."
Blaine smiled and Kurt's heart fluttered. "I'm glad." Blaine's gaze lingered on Kurt, and Kurt didn't pull away.
"There they are, Finn!"
The boys broke apart to see Rachel and Finn emerge on their own horses, Rachel waving excitedly. Kurt mentally cursed and smiled apologetically to Blaine who had turned around to greet Rachel and Finn.
Blaine smiled at Kurt and walked over to retrieve their horses. Kurt was upset at Rachel, but couldn't help but smile back. He definitely liked this man. A lot.