“I love riding.” She nodded at me, but of course I already knew that. That was why I’d planned the afternoon adventure. “This is so cool. Thank you.”

“No, thank yous needed. I wanted us to have a good time. Time for just us. That isn’t about work, or the agreement.”

“Or me going on and on about love.” She laughed and then blushed.

“Let’s just have a good afternoon.” I reached over and squeezed her hand and she nodded. I wasn’t sure what I was doing. A part of me felt guilty, like I was leading Mila on, in a way. I wanted to make it clear to her that this was never going to result in the true love that she wanted, but I was too selfish to just let her go completely. If I was a good guy, I’d stop sleeping with her and I’d just treat her as a friend, but I guess I wasn’t a good guy. I craved her and I wasn’t about to stop my addiction just yet.

“I’m down for that.” She nodded and her eyes glazed over for a few seconds, before she started smiling again. “Let’s go gallop.”

“I’m down for that.” I winked at her and she burst out laughing.

“You’re incorrigible, TJ. I swear, you really are.”

“That’s what they all say,” I said and she stuck her tongue out at me. I grabbed her around the waist and then pulled her towards me and gave her a big kiss. “But you’re the only one I care about that says it to me,” I whispered against her lips and I watched as her eyes lit up happily.

***

“I’m out of breath,” Mila said as we got off of the horses to take a break from riding. “This is a really beautiful setting,” she said as she looked around the lush green field. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.”

“I know. I can’t believe you’ve never been here before either.” I smiled at her as she bent down to smell some wildflowers.

"This has been really fun," Mila said, her eyes bright and her face flushed as she looked up at me. "Should we head back to the stables now? It's going to be dark soon."

"No, I think we'll be okay," I said and grabbed the bag the girl had given me before we rode off. "We'll let the horses roam for a bit while we sit."

"Sit?" she asked me, surprised.

"We'll sit and eat."

"What are we eating?" She looked down at the flowers again and then at me and I laughed.

“No, Mila. I have a picnic.”

“You have a picnic?” She looked at me with a shocked expression. “Where?”

“In my pants.”

“TJ!”

“I’m joking.” I winked at her and opened the bag that the girl had given me. “Let’s sit.” I sat down on the grass and Mila sat down next to me. I took out two turkey club sandwiches, a bag of chips, some chocolate chip cookies and grapes. “I’m afraid I don’t have any wine or champagne, but I do have plenty of water.”

“Wow, this is amazing. And so thoughtful.” She looked at me with a curious expression. “I have to admit I’m surprised.”

“Why? You didn’t think I could be romantic?”

“I—I don’t really know.” She shrugged. “I’m touched you did this for me.”

“I’m a nice guy, underneath it all.” I smiled at her and handed her a sandwich. “I know that might be hard to believe, but I am a nice guy.”

“I never thought you were a bad guy.”

“That’s good.” I opened the bag of chips and then passed it to her. “Salt and vinegar, I hope that’s okay.”

“You know I love salt and vinegar.” She grinned and grabbed a handful. “You’re just being modest now.”

“Who me?” I laughed and watched as she eagerly ate some chips.

“Yes, you.” She took a bite of her sandwich and I just watched her eating as we sat there. “Aren’t you hungry?” She made a face at me as she chewed. “You’re just staring at me weirdly.”

“That’s because you have a weird face.”

“You have a weird face.” She glared at me.

“Not as weird as yours.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Are you from Mars?”

“No, I’m from Uranus.” She giggled.

“You’re from my anus?” I teased her. “Nice to meet you, part of my body.”

“You’re so gross, TJ Walker.” She leaned over and hit me in the shoulder and I grabbed her arm and pulled it up so I could tickle her. “TJ.” She squealed. “Stop, stop.”

“Stop or what?” I laughed as I pinned her down to the ground. Her eyes were dancing as she pushed against me.

“I’ll kick you in the nuts.” She giggled as she wiggled against me.

“I’d like to see you try.” I winked at her, and leaned my chest down on her lightly. “I don’t think you’d do it,” I said as I kissed her lightly.

“Oh really?” she said breathlessly, kissing me back lightly.

“Really,” I said as I kissed the side of her face and ran my hands through her hair. She reached up and ran her hands down my back and I let my chest crush against her breasts. We rolled over onto our sides and our legs entwined together.

“Really,” she said, her eyes fluttering open as she pulled back slightly. “I can do it now and prove it to you.”

“Do what?” I growled at her as my hand crawled up to her breast and squeezed.

“You know what.” She moaned as I pinched her nipple lightly and I could feel her nails digging into my arms.

“You can do that, but if you do, I won’t be able to do this,” I said and pushed my hardness into her belly. I could feel her body shaking as I held her and I slipped my other hand under her top and under her bra.

“TJ, don’t.” She tried to push my hand away. “Someone might see.”

“Who?” I raised an eyebrow at her. “The horses?” I leaned over and sucked on her neck. “I don’t think they care.”

“Oh, TJ,” she moaned and I felt her hand reaching down to my hardness and squeezing. I grinned as I felt her pressing her breast against the palm of my hand.

“Yes, dear Mila?” I asked as I pulled her top off and then undid her bra.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered as I bent down and took her nipple in my mouth. “Just don’t stop.” She purred as I nibbled on her breast lightly and I growled against her while I felt myself growing even harder.

Chapter Ten

Mila

“So you guys had fun horse riding, huh?” Sally asked with narrowed eyes as she gazed at me.

“Yes, he just wanted to surprise me and clear the air,” I said as I looked around TJ’s apartment to make sure it was clean and presentable for our first dinner party. “It was amazing.”

“Clear the air?” Sally cocked her head. “You mean because you’re in love with him and he’s an ass?”

“No.” I shook my head at her and sighed. “It’s been intense between us and maybe I’ve been pushing it too much. TJ never made any promises to me. I like him. He likes me. We’re having fun and I’m helping him with a business deal. That’s it.”

“You’re having kinky sex with him and you love him. That’s just a little bit more complicated than what you just said.” Sally put her hands on her hips and her lips thinned. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.” She sighed. “We both know that. But you’re telling yourself you’re fine because you want to be with him.”

“Sally, not tonight, please.”

“Fine.” She shrugged. “Not tonight. Tonight we will have fun, but it’s something you need to think about seriously. The more you give of yourself, the more it’s going to hurt at the end.”

“So you’re not even pretending that you think there’s going to be a good ending for me now?”

“What do I know?” She sighed again and gave me a weak smile. “I’m just worried for you. You know what they say about guys. Take them at their word. If he says he doesn’t love you and he doesn’t want a serious relationship, well, that’s what he means.”

“Yeah,” I said and looked away from her, my heart pounding and my head starting to feel sad again.

“Ignore me.” She grabbed my hands and gave me a huge smile. “I’m just bitter because Cody doesn’t have the time of day for me.”