Trading for Love

13. Flip

Charlotte POV

Vincents hand held me in place, his firm grip keeping me close as he waited on my answer. I gulped down the smart mouthed retort I wanted to say making heat rise in my cheeks. By the look on his face, one sarcastic word might not end well for me. I forced a deep breath, meeting Vincents piercing gaze.

" It charged me and I made a stupid choice, " I grumbled wriggling my arm in an attempt to free myself from Vincents ever tightening grip. He wasn't letting up.

" Stupid is an understatement. Coal has bucked every rider to ever touch him and you could have ended up no different! Do you realize how lucky you are to be alive right now after his attempt to throw you?" he growled through gritted teeth.

I dropped my head. I knew I was being reckless when I had grabbed that horse but I couldn't help the swell of happiness I had felt riding bare back through the woods. I wouldn't admit any of this to Vincent though. He was in no place for me to tell him that the adrenaline that had coursed through me was still pumping hard, making me braver than I had ever been. Vincent gave a sigh before turning, dragging me along with him as he reached for Coal.

With both of us in tow, he started toward the gray stallion that had remained motionless by the treeline. It stood a good foot taller than coal, making him the largest horse I had ever laid eyes on. As we neared I could see the horses muscles flex as he shifted to greet Vincent. He was a work horse if I had ever seen one but somehow Vincent had tamed this beast into letting him ride him.

I watched as Vincent looped Coals reigns on the saddle, tightening the knot so there was no way he could pull away before he turned back to me.

" Up," he growled, gesturing for me to climb on first. He didn't see the problem though. Where I had used Coals momentum to throw myself on his back, there was no such luck this time. The stirrup was about six inches to tall for me to able to use for leverage thanks to being five foot nothing.

" I'm to short," I grumbled kicking the toe of my boot into the dirt as heat flooded my cheeks. I was use to being short so why I was suddenly embarressed over it was beyond me.

Vincent wasted no time scoffing at me before I found myself being hoisted into the air. All I had time for was a small squeal before my butt hit the saddle and I was forced to swing my leg over the side. A moment later Vincent was seated behind me, his arms circling me to grab the reins. With a sharp pull both horses turned back in the direction we came, trotting back down the wooded path.

* * * *

As we rode I began hyper aware of Vincent. His feet rested in the stir-ups, his knees bumping my thighs as we trotted along. His left hand held the reins, his right resting against his thigh. Twice he had reached up, grabbing my hip as we rounded a corner, ensuring my hold on the horse, each time releasing just as quickly. What I had become keenly aware of was his chiseled chest and torso pressing into my back through his thin dress shirt. His every defined muscle was working as we rode, making his physique all the more impressive. I couldn't help wondering in that moment what his muscles felt like when they weren't covered in fabric.

I could almost imagine running my hands across his chest, his muscles flexing at my touch as my hands glided lower. Would other parts of him match his hard sculpted muscles?

I quickly shook myself, forcing my over active imagination to let the day dream die there. I could feel the heat coloring my cheeks as my conscious caught up with my run away day dream.

Thankfully, the next moment we broke through the treeline, coming into the opening by the barn Coal had escaped from. The small group that had been in the barn when Coal had bolted were now gathered outside the door.

Vincent brought us to the group, dismounting quickly and passing the reins off to the closest handler who dipped his head to Vincent. I turned, grabbing the saddle, preparing to dismount myself when I felt an arm snake around my waist. The next moment I was being pulled from the saddle, and against a rock hard chest I had grown all to familiar with. Hot breath tickled my cheek as his lips lowered to whisper in my ear.

" You and I are due for a long conversation about how I expect you to act after we return from the hospital," he whispered against my cheek. My cheeks flamed redder, burning at the proximity of Vincent.

" Hospital?" I managed to squeak out.

" Yes. You took no time at all ripping those stitches out and as skilled as I am, I won't be able to stitch you up this time," he whispered, his arms giving me a quick squeeze before releasing me in exchange for my non-bandaged hand. Vincent took the lead, guiding me back across the garden. He pulled his phone from his pocket, sending off a quick text as we walked.

We rounded the side of the house to find Mitch and Heath standing beside a blacked out Suburban. With only a nod to Vincent, Heath opened the back door, Vincent ushering me in first before climbing in himself. As the door shut he rounded on me.

" Let me make one thing abundantly clear Charlotte, you are new to me and this life style, but this mornings little walk out will never happen again. No one has ever walked out on me and you will never get away with it again," he growled through gritted teeth. The flip in demeneors had me clamming up, nodding my head at him quickly. One moment he was holding me and the next he was almost threatening me. His ability to go from hot to cold was going to give me whiplash at this rate.