A/N: Sooo chapter one. Let me know what you think!
Pic: Puppy
"Is that collar new?"
I touched it delicately as I held the reins of an Arabian while Bailey scraped dirt from her hooves. "Yeah."
Bailey peered up at me, his gray eyes brightening as he saw the blush on my cheeks. "Ooh look at that. Boss bought it for you, hm?"
I looked away from the sub and cast eyes over the house. The month I had been here was nothing short of wonderful. I played with the horses and three days a week I could help Bailey around the stables. Plus he made good conversation. His own Dom was out with Scott, looking at a mare in South Dakota. Bailey had been staying in the house with me for the past two days.
I was surprised that he hadn't noticed my new collar yet. "Yes. A few weeks ago actually."
The brown haired boy put down her hoof and moved to her back leg, picking up the tool. "Huh. I can't remember the last time Master bought me a new collar. Not that I'm jealous! Master does a lot of nice things for me," he explained quickly.
I smiled a bit. Bailey was always so talkative--it made up for my silence. "Master called last night. He said they should be back by dinner time tonight! But we can't stay. Master says he can't wait until he gets home. He says he misses me."
I smiled because he looked so pleased. Scott had called me as well last night. He had expected to be back around four at the latest. I was anxiously awaiting his return. I had missed him terribly these last few days.
I couldn't wait for him to come back.
Bailey finished cleaning her hooves and took the reins from me, walking the horse back to her stall. He leaned against the gate with a sigh. "Summers are just so hot here," he complained, wiping his brow.
He was wearing heavy pants and boots, as per Scott's instruction. Everyone had to. Scott said if I wanted to be in the barn I also had to wear pants. I was feeling the heat as well. "I hear winter's are cold."
"Oh my God. Last year was terrible--two weeks of twenty below. We had to keep all the horses stalled because it was too cold and Boss was worried about running the heaters all night cos there had been so fires at other barns so he sat up all night in the barn in case something happened so he could let out the horses." Bailey explained.
It was easy to see how passionate Scott was about these horses. He truly wanted what was best for them despite a lot of prejudice around race horse breeders. "It's supposed to rain tonight."
Bailey perked up. "Really? I love the sound rain makes on the roof--especially when you're getting fucked, am I right?"
My face burned and I turned away. Scott and I had done things but definitely not that. "You're such a prude--I tell you about Master!" Bailey complained. "You don't tell me anything."
"There's nothing to...tell," I mumbled. "Aren't we supposed to do Buttercup?"
Bailey nodded, unlatching her stall. "There's a bunch to tell," he argued. "Does Boss have a big dick?"
"That's not an appropriate conversation topic Bailey."
We turned to see Roger grabbing a stack of horse shoes. Bailey turned bright red. "I-I'm sorry."
He just shook his head and left. "Great," muttered Bailey. "He's going to tell Master and tonight is going to suck."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." Bailey sighed heavily. "Want to lead her out?"
I nodded my head.
***
They returned at three forty-two exactly.
Bailey ran to greet his Dom Kyle excitedly. He smiled, embracing his sub. "I missed you," Kyle murmured into his neck as he lifted him from the ground. Bailey wrapped his legs around his waist. "Were you a good boy?"
"Um," Bailey lowered himself slowly to the ground.
Scott approached me, lowering down to press his lips against mine. I buried my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling the smell of his cologne and aftershave. I liked when he shaved--his cheeks were always so soft against mine. "Did you get the mare?" I asked, pulling back.
"They're putting the dam under lights," replied Scott. "To try and induce her into estrus sooner."
I nodded my head. I had grown to understand some of these terms. Like the fact that baby horses were foals and the males are called colts while the females are called fillies. And dam was just another name for the mare.
"So she's coming then?"
"Next week."
"So you're going away again?" I asked with a frown.
"I told you that I'm very busy in the summers Puppy. If it was up to me though, I'd stay right here with you." Scott promised. "Now let me wrap things up out here and let me grab a bite to eat and then we can spend all night watching TV."
I smiled and nodded my head. I turned to see Bailey scurrying to the barn, Kyle shaking his head. "Everything alright?"
"Fine--that boy can find trouble anywhere though. I'm good to go, right Boss?"
"That's right. Thank you so much for the work you did this weekend--enjoy a day off."
Kyle smiled and nodded. "That's very nice of you. You two have a good evening."
Bailey came running back with a sweater in his hand. "So you finally remembered it? Too bad. I was looking forward to breaking out the paddle."
Bailey pushed out his bottom lip in a pout. "Master."
"Hush up and get in the truck."
Bailey sighed and looked at me. "I'll see you tomorrow Puppy!"
"Nope. You won't see him until the middle of next week."
"Not only that but your contract comes to an end at the end of the month," Scott added. "I'm more than willing to renew if you'd like?"
Bailey gasped spinning around to clasp onto his Dom. "Master please?"
"That's very nice of you Boss but Bailey needs to be home."
"Master no!" Whined Bailey. "You know I hate it!"
"I told you to go the truck Bailey. Don't make me ask again."
Scott gave me a small push in the direction of the house. Right. My ease-dropping wasn't appreciated. I let the arguing fade out as I went into the house. Scott had said he was hungry--making him something would be nice.
And dangerous.
Raised on a nutritional oatmeal once a day with no taste meant I have a very limited palate. Scott was slowly introducing me to 'normal' foods but I still had a very basic understanding.
Sweet, sour, bitter, hot.
But I saw Scott make his food quite often and I was sure that I could recreate it well. He ate sandwiches a lot. I went to the cupboard, pulling up a a chair so I could reach. I pulled the bread down, pulling out two slices. I took out the two jars he normally took out before seeing the yellow one--he used that too! I slathered it all one. The creamy white stuff, the bright yellow stuff, and then chunky purple stuff. I put it all back pulling out the drawer here he kept the sliced meats.
I pulled some out. It was red stuff--he had that last time. I put it on and frowned. It looked...incomplete. I put other meats on it and some pickles which I found I liked even though they were sour. While I was putting back the bread I saw the jar of brown stuff. He liked that too!
I smeared it on the meat and closed the sandwich, putting it on a plate. I got him a cup of milk and put some potato crisps on the plate. I was putting everything away when I felt hands on my hips. "What are you doing?"
I smiled and spun around. "I made you the sandwich."
"The sandwich?" Questioned Frank as he went to the sink to wash his hands.
A bit hurt I looked at Scott who smiled. "The sandwich you see me make?" He asked.
I bobbed my head excitedly and gestured to it. "Try it!" I begged.
"I'd be honored to Puppy."
"Does not normally cook for you?" Frank asked drying his hands.
Frank sometimes stayed really late to take the horses on trails. Tonight was one. "I don't ask him to." Scott replied sitting at the table. He looked at the sandwich, peeling away the top piece of bread. He hummed a bit at it. "This looks very...interesting Puppy."
"Interesting...good?" I asked. I felt my confidence waver. Maybe I did it all wrong...
"It looks great." He said immediately, reassuring me. "And I love that you tried something new all on your own."
I was in constant fear of rejection. My first dominate, Connor, hadn't been very kind when it came to my attempts. He was never outwardly mean on purpose for the most part but it had left its mark on my self confidence. Scott was the polar opposite. He praised me for all the 'little things' as Bailey liked to put it. But it what I needed.
"Now Puppy is this peanut butter?"
"Uhm...it's the brown stuff," I confirmed.
"Oh...okay. And this is pastrami."
"The red meat," I agreed.
"And ham."
"The pink meat."
"And turkey?"
"The white meat." I frowned. Was something wrong?
"And pickles."
"Yes."
"And mayonnaise?"
"The white stuff?" I asked peeking at it. I nodded my head. "That's the white stuff."
"And mustard."
"The yellow stuff?"
"And jelly."
"The purple stuff." I agreed excitedly.
Scott hummed again. Frank laughed. Laughed at me. Scott gave him a hard look and Frank held up his hands. "Sorry, sorry. Go on and take a bite Boss--sounds great."
"I-I can make you one!" I said excitedly.
Frank shook his head. "Sounds real good kid but my sub packed a dinner. She'll get offended if I don't eat it."
Scott put the sandwich back together and picked it. I waited with batted breath. He took a bite, chewed, paused, hummed again, and then chewed some more. He swallowed after a moment and reached for the milk. "So?" I asked excitedly.
Scott smiled. "It's great Puppy."
"Just like you make it?"
Scott nodded his head. "Perfectly. Why don't you run upstairs and put on a movie while I finish giving Frank some instructions?"
I nodded my head. "Okay. It's good, right?"
"Perfect Puppy. Thank you so much for making me such a wonderful dinner."
I smiled brightly. "You're welcome!"
It felt really good to finally be able to help Scott. A lot of time it felt like I didn't do anything. And all the stories I heard about Scott's deceased sub Danny included him doing all these things that I didn't know to do. Like cooking for Scott.
And breaking in horses.
And riding horses in general.
Scott had promised to teach me to ride but he was busy during the summer with selling horses and breeding mares to replace those sold.
I understood he had to work of course. My old Dom used the phrase 'smother' once. It's haunted me ever since. I was petrified to drive another person away from me but yearned affection to a fault.
I was a handful, I suppose. But I tried really hard to make it up Scott. In all the ways I could. Scott came up a few minute later. "Was the sandwich good?" I asked excitedly.
"Of course it was Puppy. Now tell me all the things you did while I was away."
He settled beside me, pulling me against his chest. I nuzzled closer, listening to the strong heartbeat beneath his chest. I could hear the air rushing around his lungs whenever he inhaled.
My old Dom never let me get this close.
I was taking all I could from the experience before Scott pulled away. "I...spent my time...missing you."
Scott chuckled, kissing the top of my head. "Anything else?"
"I...helped bathe the horses with Bailey and watched them run Storm around the track--she's really fast--and today I held the reins while Bailey got dirt out of their hooves. And-and paint the hooves."
"Paint them?" Echoed Scott. "Oh the moisturizer? I'm glad Bailey remembered--I forgot to tell him. It's very important because it's gets dry here when it gets really warm."
I nodded my head--Bailey had said something very similar when I asked. "Well I'm glad you kept yourself busy. Though I doubted Bailey would let you get too bored."
"What did you do? Besides looking at the horse."
Scott wrapped my hand with his. "Well... Kyle and I looked at a lot of supplies for the barn, window shopping some generators. Uhm, I got mistaken for his sub twice. The first time was amusing, the second insulting." He said playfully.
I giggled. "You don't look like a sub!"
"Thank you," mused Scott. "Other than that I spent a lot of time in my hotel room missing you."
My cheeks burned but I smiled. "I love you," I whispered.
"I love you more." Scott replied. "Now, what are we watching exactly?"
"Uh I don't know. It has that lady crying a lot so far."
"Well that's a strong start," he teased.
"Her husband died," I explained before pursing my lips.
Scott went still a moment before rubbing my shoulder. "Unfreeze Puppy. It's over. Death is a barred subject."
"I'm sorry." I whispered.
"Don't be."
But I was.