Lucien - Silvia Violet Page 0,59

pony. I knew money wasn’t an issue for him, and I was sure he’d spent more on all the clothes he’d bought me, but a second pony and riding lessons? That was too much. And the idea that he would have a stable built just for me. “Do you or Angelo ride?”

He shook his head.

“Are you going to learn?”

He gave the gelding a wary glance. “No. It’s not my thing.”

I realized something then. Lucien—a man I’d seen interrogate and then kill men who’d tried to undermine his power, a man who stood down my attacker with no sign of fear—was afraid of horses. Yet, he was buying two of them for me.

Cathy’s gaze bounced between us. “If you’d like, I can bring him out and ride him around the corral so you can see him in action. I can put the Shetland on a lead line too.”

“Clover is perfect,” I said, and Cathy smiled.

“I’m so glad you like her. I’m excited to see her go to someone who will really love her.”

I would love her, but was it right for me to have her? She deserved an owner who would be there for her, and I didn’t know when Lucien might tire of our arrangement. I would have no way to keep her if he wasn’t paying for boarding. If he decided to send me away, I would lose my job, and I wouldn’t even be able to pay my rent, much less take care of a horse.

But if he were arranging for lessons and considering building a stable, he must think he wanted me around long term. Surely he wasn’t just thinking with his dick. He could get all the men he wanted with no problem, and he already had me. He didn’t need to do this to secure my interest in him. Was he truly doing this because he wanted to make me happy?

“Can we talk privately first?”

Lucien nodded. “Cathy, would you excuse us for a moment.”

“Of course. I have a class in about an hour, so any demonstrations with the horses will need to be done before then.”

“I only need a few minutes,” I said.

“No problem.” She smiled and walked away.

I didn’t want to piss Lucien off, but I needed to ask some questions. “I know you want to give me things, but this is too much.”

“You told me you wanted a pony.”

“I do, and having Clover would be incredible. So would another pony and riding lessons. But I could never afford the horses on my own, so I’m not sure it’s right to accept them when you… When we’re… What happens when you’re ready to move on?”

Lucien’s gaze hardened. He stalked toward me, and I moved back until I hit the barn wall. He slapped his hands down on either side of my head, caging me in. I glanced both directions down the barn aisle, hoping Cathy or someone else wasn’t watching. Thankfully, I didn’t see anyone around.

“I’m buying these horses for you,” Lucien snarled. “And if I want to build a fucking stable, that’s exactly what I’ll do. You’re mine, Peter. There’s no moving on from that, so take the goddamn ponies and the riding lessons and enjoy yourself.”

I shivered as I stared into his dark eyes. He was angry, but just for a moment, I thought I saw pain there, maybe even fear. Had I hurt him?

“Thank you, Lucien. For doing all of this for me.”

He nodded. I expected him to step back, but he didn’t. “You’re beautiful all the time, but when you’re happy… No one could resist you then. I like to keep you happy.”

I had no idea how to respond to him, but I didn’t have to. He kissed me, pressing me into the barn wall and grinding his hips against me. I felt the hard length of his cock slide along mine, and fuck, it felt good. He licked the outer edge of my ear, making me shudder. “I want to take you right here against the wall and not worry about who the fuck sees us. I’d buy this whole goddamn barn just to have that pleasure.”

I almost told him to do it. It took all the strength I had to lay my hands on his shoulders and push him away. “We can’t. Not here.”

“We could. I can do any fucking thing to you I want.”

I sucked in a breath.

My cock was so hard I thought it might rip through my pants, but Lucien stepped back. After giving me