So glad you are liking the other stories I promise d that I would keep posting this. I just added one more chapter to my lead so here is the next part
Twenty Four
I'm in trouble. Tori hung on to the front of the saddle, watching the reins fly uselessly near the ground. Shit. "Hey… c'mon…c'mon… slow down!" She called to the mare, who was snorting. Both back heels kicked up, almost tossing Tori over the horse's head, and she gripped the saddle frantically. "Okay.. okay…"
The mare whinnied, and bucked, then chose a ceJadeed path down the hillside, shaking her head as the reins irritated her. Tori heard hoofbeats catching up, and she half turned, to see the gray stallion bearing down on her, Jade's body pressed to his back, one hand free, the other clenching leather reins.
Cursing, she turned around, and leaned forward, trying to grab one of the flapping pieces of leather, which flicked annoyingly just out of her reach.
"Hang on, Tori." Jade yelled, as she closed, her horse snorting as his nose neared the mare's flying tail.
Unfortunately, this only scared the already terrified mare, who redoubled her pace, slipping a little in the ceJade chips. "Whoa.. whoa… " Tori yelled, her eyes widening as she saw a bend coming up. "Whoa.. take it easy… wh.. " The horse spun, and kicked, and she lost her grip, her body going the opposite direction and flying peacefully through the air. The mare got around the bend and took off running, as her former rider slammed unceremoniously against a tree trunk, then dropped to the ground with a leaf scattering thump.
Oh my god. Tori just lay there for a long moment, trying to get air back into her lungs, almost not hearing the rapidly slowing hoofbeats, and the thump as something large hit the ground running, scattering ceJade chips all over her as the steps came skidding to a halt at her side.
Hands touched her, and then Jade's urgent voice reached her ears. "Don't move."
"Couldn't if I wanted to." She murmured, counting the stars circling her head. "Ow… damn that hurt."
"Where did you hit?" The low voice asked. "You got any shooting pain anywhere? How about your neck?"
Tori had to think about it. "My shoulder." She flexed her hands a little. "Fortunately it was my butt that hit the ground…I'm sure I didn't take any damage there." The numbness was wearing off, replaced by aching. "Whoo."
"Can you feel everything?" Jade asked nervously. "Your hands, feet.. no numbness?"
Fingers, toes, eyelashes.. "Yeah… " Tori sighed, moving her head a little. "It's all there.. it just hurts… I think I just got the wind knocked out of me." She told her companion. "We weren't going that fast."
Jade sat down heavily next to her. "Jesus." She gently eased Tori back from her curled up position, examining her carefully. Her sweater and heavy jeans had protected her from the tree bark, and she appeared relatively unharmed. "You scared the hell out of me."
Tori managed a grin. "Me too.. what on earth happened?" She moved her arms and legs, shifting her feet to a more comfortable position, and took a deep breath. "Did that horse go nuts, or what?"
"I think she got stung." Jade explained, slipping an arm over Tori's shoulders and supporting her solicitously. "You sure you're okay?"
Tori leaned her head against the convenient shoulder, and sighed. "I'm shaking like a leaf, but yeah." She glanced off down the path. "Looks like I'm walking home, though." She exhaled as the throbbing receded.
"You most certainly are not." Jade snapped, her adrenaline still surging, making her hands shake almost uncontrollably. She took a few deep breaths, willing her heart to calm.
Surprised brown Eyes glanced at her, reading the ghosts of recent terror there. "Hey.. it's okay." She added gently. "I'm alright.. I'm not the first person who ever fell off a horse." She laid a hand on Jade's chest in comfort, then inhaled, as she felt the racing heartbeat under her fingers. "Take it easy there, tiger."
"I'm fine." Jade replied, a little shortly. "You can ride my horse.. I'll lead him."
Tori put a hand on her lover's knee. "No.. you forgot to wear your brace, Jade.. you're not going to walk five miles back to the cabin.. Now, just relax.. I'm fine.. I just got shook up a little."
Stubborn blue eyes glared at her. "We'll both ride then… he's a big horse." She replied. "We'll take it real slow."
Tori considered arguing, then saw the set jaw, and the tensed muscles, and decided to let this one go. "Okay." She agreed. "Poor horsie... you better get him some apples when we get back."
"He'll survive." Jade relaxed a little. "We're still under the weight limit." She added, letting a slight grin cross her lips, referring to the three hundred pound sign prominently displayed on the stable wall.
Tori poked her. "Not by that much." She teased. "You still owe him apples." She allowed Jade to lift her up to her feet, though, and she stood gingerly, testing her body out before she nodded. "Okay…I'm all right… let's go."
Smokey stood, watching them suspiciously as Jade collected his reins, and studied him. "I'll drive." She decided, putting a foot in the stirrup and pulling herself up, then neatly sidestepping the horse over to where Tori was standing, and extending an arm down. "Grab on.. I'll pull you up."
Tori felt herself smiling for no apparent reason, and as she reached up, her hand slid past Jade's to grip the other woman's arm above the elbow, giving her a handle as she also reached for the back of the saddle.
The sensation of being lifted was so familiar, she almost laughed, as she threw her leg over the horse's hindquarters, and settled in behind Jade in the large saddle. "I'm going to squish you." She warned.
"No problem." Jade advised her, feeling the warm pressure as Tori's body melded into hers. "Just hang on."
A gentle laugh bubbled its way up through her lips as Tori wrapped her arms around Jade's body, squeezing her a little. "Absolutely no problem there." She assured her lover. "Where you go, I go, buddy."
Jade stopped, and half turned, gazing back at her with one eyebrow lifted. "Buddy?"
Tori grinned charmingly at her. "Aren't you my buddy?"
A shake of the dark head, then Jade turned back around and nudged her mount down the trail. "Okay, Smokey.. nice and easy.. I don't want any road bumps."
The silence dropped around them again, and Tori was able to put her aching shoulder aside, as she leaned against the warm body in front of her. The smell of sun warmed wool tickled her senses, and she let her chin rest against Jade's shoulder blades, feeling the bones move a little as the taller woman shifted.
"Mm." She rubbed her cheek against the soft fabric, then blinked as it reminded her of her dream a while back. "Hey."
"What?" Jade whirled, almost unseating her, glancing back anxiously. "Are you okay? You're not starting to feel dizzy or anything, right? How's your shoulder."
Tori cleared her throat, and resettled her legs, finding the contact with Jade both familiar and comforting. "Well, it'd be a lot better if you'd stop jerking around like that." She admonished her companion. "Would you relax already? I just wanted to mention that this whole thing reminded me of that dream I had."
Jade faced forward, feeling a little embarrassed. "What dream?" She asked gruffly.
"The one with you in the leather." The brunette woman placidly answered. " You remember?"
"Oh yeah." Jade grunted. "Me in leather.. silliest thing I ever heard."
Tori closed her eyes, trying to remember the sensations. "And no pants."
The horse stopped stock still. "What?" Jade looked cautiously around at her.
"Your legs were bare." Tori replied, opening her eyes and patting her companion's thigh. "So were mine for that matter." She giggled. "Half naked horsebackriding… I'm quite the wild thing in my dreams, huh?"
Jade started laughing." Doesn't say much for me.. what kind of idiot would wear leather and no pants?"
"Hmm.. there must be something deep and Freudian in that." Tori mused.
"Tori?" Jade hesitated.
"Hmm?"
"Don't go there."
"Mm.. yeah, okay."
They got in an hour later than they expected to, since Jade insisted on keeping poor Smokey to a pace somewhere between a turtle and a turtle. The stable man ran out to greet them, and took Smokey's reins, while Jade jumped down, then solicitously caught Tori as she tried to follow, and let her down gently to the ground. "The mare got bee stung... threw her and took off." She explained tersely.
"We figured." The man nodded. "Had to pull four or five stingers out of her butt… sorry about that.. you all right, ma'am?" His eyes turned anxiously to Tori.
"I'm just peachy, thanks." Tori assured him, as she looked up at Jade. "You can let me go now, I think." She straightened her legs with a wince, but they held.
"Oh. Sorry." Jade gave her a little pat on the back and cleared her throat. "Listen.. let's save the Snowmobile for tomorrow, okay? " Her eyes flicked to the stable man's. "Anything going on here tonight?"
He considered. "We've got a hay ride scheduled." He offered. "Out to the big firepit after dinner."
"That sounds wonderful." Tori spoke up, with a grin. "I love hayrides… c'mon, Jade.. I bet they'll have marshmallows."
"Yes, ma'am, we do.. the riders make s'mores, in fact." The man smiled back at her. "And we've got a couple folks who play guitar, and some that tell stories, too."
Tori gave Jade a wishing look, and was rewarded with a tolerantly knowing grin. "Sure." Jade agreed. "C'mon.. let's go change into something that smells less like horses, and relax before dinner." She circled the smaller woman's shoulders and they headed off towards the cabin, pausing as they noticed a large group clustered around the tailgate of a work-worn blue pickup truck.
"What's up?" Jade inquired, as they neared it.
Millie turned, and shook her head. "Poor people… they've had an awful rain out in Arizona… just look at it." She pointed.
In the back of the truck was a portable television, running off the truck's engine. A grainy picture showed, of a hapless man in a blue poncho, standing with his microphone in a complete downpour as bits of trees and small animals floated by in the background. A caption at the bottom was labeled Channel 12 News. "Man, look at that." One of the workers whistled softly. "And that damn storm heading our way, too."
Jade and Tori exchanged glances. "When?" They both asked together.
The worker blinked, surprised, and glanced at them. "Um…sometime by morning… why?"
"Thanks.. no… we were just curious." Tori smiled at him. "C'mon, Jade… I hear a Jacuzzi calling my name."
"Right." Jade agreed, shaking her head at the screen as the cactus floated past the reporter. "I wonder if that's causing us any problems?"
Tori tugged her forward. "I'm sure they'd call if it was." She assured her lover.
"Right." Jade murmured again, as they walked away.
The warm water felt absolutely wonderful, Tori decided, as she squirmed around to let the jets rush against her ribs, and watched Jade approach bearing a couple of nicely chilled glasses.
Not that she noticed the glasses, especially, since her eyes were mostly fully engaged by her hormones due to the fact that her lover was jaunting around the cabin buck naked.
"Here." The dark haired woman sighed, handing her a glass and seating herself, stretching her long legs out and letting her head rest against the edge of the tub. "Boy, that feels great." She paused, expecting an answer, then glanced over when all she got was silence. "Tori?"
"Sorry." The brunette woman took a sip of the chilled champagne and swallowed it. "Just thinking." She wiggled her toes contentedly and exhaled. "I suppose it could have been worse... we could have gone skiing."
"Probably would have been me that slammed into a tree then." Jade remarked. "How's your shoulder?" She peered worriedly at the smoothly muscled bodypart in question, examining the bruise that covered Tori's arm. "You sure nothing else hurts?"
"Jade, can I ask you a question?" Tori peered at her. "How can a person so oblivious of their own physical well being be so damned solicitous of mine?"
Jade stopped, and drew back in silence. "Sorry." She muttered. "Didn't realize I was bothering you."
Tori studied her, a little bewildered. "No.. it.. it didn't.. doesn't bother me, I just didn't expect… that… of you."
Jade gave a little nod, and took a sip of her drink. Truth be told, she hardly knew why she was so damned concerned herself. The woman was obviously all right, so she should just back off, and let her be.. after all, that's exactly what she'd want in Tori's place, right?
Right. She hated when people fussed over her, and here she was... being the biggest fusspot this side of an old fashioned nursery nanny. No wonder Tori was annoyed. With an effort, she relaxed, and closed her eyes, trying to recapture the good mood she'd been in at lunch.
She was surprised when a warm body fit itself around hers unexpectedly, and her eyes popped open in startlement, to see two honey brown ones peering back at her from a very close distance. "Uh.. hi."
"Hi." Tori answered, with a quietly apologetic look. "Sorry.. I assumed that because you hate people pawing over you, that you naturally would just expect everyone else to buck up and pretend gaping head wounds are nothing."
"No." Jade acknowledged quietly. "I don't' expect that at all."
It was a quiet, willing surrender, she knew. "Good.. then could you give me a hug, please.. I really feel like crap… my legs are killing me, and my entire back feels like an accordion." Tori sighed. "And what kind of good drugs did you bring that might help?"
Jade felt a curious smile crossing her face, as she put her glass down and folded her arms around her lover, then lifted her, gently cradling her in the frothy water. "Let me take some tension off your back, then." She replied, as the brunette woman nestled her head against one of Jade's shoulders. "Just put your arms around my… yeah." She gently stretched Tori's body out, working the stiffened muscles with one hand while supporting her with the other. "I've got some Percogesic…it's pain killer and a muscle relaxant.. how does that sound."
"It sounds great." Tori mumbled. "But I feel much better already.. I think you're one kick ass drug yourself, Jade." She snuggled closer, absorbing the clean, chlorine tinted warmth of the water, and the even warmer silkiness of the skin she was nestled against.
Jade felt a sincere, through sense of relief. "Well… I doubt it.. " She joked.. "The AMA would never approve me, that's for sure. Let's get you out of here and comfortable, okay?"
"Sure." Tori agreed amiably. "Wh.. Jade!" She grabbed a tighter hold as she was lifted out of the Jacuzzi. "Stop that.. you'll hurt you knee!"
"Nah." Jade stepped carefully out of the tub. "Grab that towel." She instructed, then carried Tori out into the nicely warmed cabin, and set her on the bed. Taking the towel, she knelt. "Hold still. This won't hurt."
"Bu… " Tori spluttered, then subsided, slowly relaxing as Jade dried her gently.
It was remarkably erotic, and she had a hard time keeping her hands still, as the soft, almost rough fabric of the towel brushed against suddenly sensitized skin. She had to force herself not to react, force herself to let Jade take complete control.
To trust completely.
Her breathing slowed, and let herself become aware of Jade's close presence, to feel the warmth as her still damp skin brushed by Tori's hand. She could hear the soft breaths, and the whispery sounds of Jade's hair as it slipped over her bare shoulders. She could smell her, that inimitable faintly spicy musk that clung to her lover's skin, along with the chlorine scent of the water. Her world stilled for a perfect instant.
Then lips touched hers, and the towel's rough warmth was replaced by knowing fingertips that traced a path across her skin leaving a shiver of anticipation in their wake. She let her eyes slide open, to see Jade looking back at her, a teasing grin moving her lips. One long finger came up and balanced itself on her nose. "Don't go away." Jade told her softly, as she stood and went to their baggage, coming back with a bottle and a cup of water. She knelt down again and shook out two pills, handing them to Tori. "Here."
Tori gazed at her, mesmerized. "Do I need these?" She asked softly. "It doesn't hurt anymore." She reached out and bypassed
d the pills, resting her hand on Jade's cheek. "I just need you."
Jade put the bottle down without breaking eye contact, and eased down on the bed, stretching her body out next to Tori's and laying a hand on her stomach. She felt the muscles contract under her fingers, and watched as the pale brown eyes darkened at no more than that light touch. "All right." She leaned over and brushed her lips against the soft curve of a breast. "I can't guarantee it's going to be relaxing, though." She moved up, feeling the sudden intake of breath as Tori felt the teasing pressure. "You sure you're up to it?"
She finally let her hands loose, and they greedily reached for Jade's close presence, tugging her closer as her body growled with desire.
"Guess that answered that." Jade chuckled low in her throat, and succumbed to the insistent tug, feeling a warmth of connection between them that was pulling her closer, and closer, until she could swear…
That they were simply two halves of a whole.
Of course you are. Her mind whispered at her, as she let go and allowed the passion to take her, hearing a faint, knowing chuckle somewhere deep in the back of her mind.