****
Parking in front of Gabe’s house, she became nervous about her proposition. How’s he going to react when I offer him a few nights of hot, unbridled sex? she thought. Three nights seemed long enough to get over the awkwardness, but not long enough for him to notice the dimples on her thighs. She got out of the car, pulling the heavy tray of medical equipment and her medical bag from the trunk, and started to walk carefully towards the stables. Within a few steps, she knew she had overdone it—she was going to drop it all.
Suddenly, Gabe jogged towards her chuckling, “Need some help?”
She blushed. “If you could, that would be great. I didn’t really think this through.”
He picked up the whole tray easily in his arms, “Anything else?”
“No, thanks for your help. I’m afraid I don’t have any new leads, so I’ll be taking blood tests from all your stock—even the well ones.”
“Why’s that?”
“Just ticking boxes and eliminating possible issues.”
He nodded and led her back to the stables. She hoped she was wrong; she couldn’t understand why anyone would systematically poison such beautiful creatures.
Inside, she set her things down and starting setting up. Gabe wandered back down to the barn and called out to Vanessa urgently, “Vanessa, come quick! I think there’s something wrong with Jezzy.”
Vanessa put down the packs of fresh IV needles and sped to her stall. Jezzy’s breathing was labored and whistling, her great sides trembling as she tried to take in breaths. The horse shook itself roughly; after a few more coughs, the horse’s breathing returned to normal, albeit Jezzy was swaying slightly in her stance.
“I didn’t think it would come to this, but Gabe, I have to be honest. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do for her. I can’t give her anything in case it reacts with whatever’s in her system.”
Gabe was shocked. “It’s that serious?”
She nodded and let her hand rest on Gabe’s arm. “That doesn’t mean we can’t help the others. There’s always a chance that Jezzy’s been accidentally overexposed. I need to get started on the blood tests now, but I need your help. After all, I’m the mean one coming at them with a needle.”
She went back to setting up her small station and asked him the names of the other horses so she could label everything properly. Gabe smiled as he saw her write diligently on the tube labels.
“What?” she looked up at him.
“You’re very thorough.”
“Of course, that’s what you get with a city vet,” she smirked.
He stepped closer and his eyes softened. “You know, you are something else. Already you’re fitting in like you belong. Only a small town vet would care so much.” Vanessa stood up, and Gabe continued to step into her space, forcing her to slightly tip her head back to look up at him. He was so much bigger than her.
“It’s what any vet would do. I want to save these horses, and I want to find the cause so it doesn’t continue to happen,” she tried to talk as though she hadn’t noticed Gabe leaning down. At the last possible moment, she let go and licked her lips.
His mouth came down on hers, soft at first, as if testing to see if she would allow it. When she opened for him, he groaned and gripped her waist toward him, lifting her off the ground. Pulled against Gabe’s body, Vanessa’s feet hung in the air; she felt consumed by his need. His tongue slipped into her mouth and he deepened the kiss. She felt his hardness against her belly and flung her arms around his shoulders, wrapping her legs around him as she pulled herself up onto his waist, gasping as his erection rubbed against her. Gabe strode to the nearest wall and pressed Vanessa against it, using the structure to prop her up as he slid his hands up her shirt. His hands were rough, dry and warm--a welcome sensation against her prickling skin.
Taking a cue from her equally insatiable kissing, Gabe lifted her shirt to reveal her heaving breasts. His head lunged forward, taking the silky fabric of her bra into his mouth. He sucked, pulling her nipple into a tight point. She gasped and rubbed against him; he was so hard everywhere. As much as she wanted him, she needed to take care of her patients first. Breaking away from the kiss and feeling a little bit dazed, she said, “Horses first, then this.” Reluctantly, Gabe let her go, but he couldn’t wipe the wry smile from his face.
She was the flame to his fuse. When he kissed her, he half expected Vanessa to slap him; Gabe couldn’t have been more shocked when she ended up wrapping her body around him. She tasted amazing, and when she rubbed up against him, he nearly came right then and there.
He was glad Vanessa had pulled back; the horses needed them. Now that they were both clear about their obvious attraction, Gabe looked at Vanessa in a new light. His wildest dream had come true. He wanted Vanessa for more than just her body; her passion and intellect were equally as drawing as her lusty physical features were. As he dwelt on his emotions, Gabe wasn’t sure if he liked where his feelings were leading; it wasn’t a place he was ready to venture to yet.
“I’m so sorry,” Vanessa whispered.
Her face was flushed—with embarrassment or arousal, he wasn’t sure—but he couldn’t let her feel so badly about something he started.
He shook his head. “No, that was my fault. I lost myself there for a minute. I apologize.”
She nodded and seemed to relax some. “Let’s get that blood sample.” She licked her lips and averted her eyes. “I’d like to continue our—conversation—later, that is, if you’d like to.”
Gabe’s eyebrow rose, “Uh…sure…I, um, better get Jezzy’s headcollar.”