Sweet Water Vet: Taking Rachael Part 3

Grandma's cabin, which was known locally as Flora's Place, was about twenty minutes out of town. Family tradition demanded that the oldest daughter inherit the property. It had been left to Rachael's mother many years ago, who in turn had signed it over to Rachael on her twenty-first birthday. Colin had been using it occasionally and keeping an eye on the place. He took Rachael to see it when she suggested she might want to live there.

The cabin sat in twenty acres of woodland that had a stream running through it. It was old, but had been upgraded in a manner sympathetic to the original design. Instead of small pokey windows, it had gla.s.s doors that opened onto a veranda. There was a large combined kitchen-dining-living area, open to the rafters, s.p.a.cious and light. There was a sleeping-storage area in half of the rafters, and the main bedroom was situated at one end of the cabin. It contained a big, beautiful four-poster bed that had been there as long as anyone could remember. Unfortunately, the mattress was almost as old and needed replacing. A modern bathroom had been tacked on at the back of the cabin and was accessible through a small hallway leading off the main room and to the back door. It was in need of a little sprucing up, but she loved it, especially the location amid the trees and next to flowing water.

Over the next few days, she worked tidying up the cabin. She found the physical activity to be therapeutic and let her thoughts 28 wander over the landscape of her life. She'd had a good run of it so far and didn't take it for granted. Her parents had provided a happy, stable home, and she loved her family. She thought about Shannon O'Reilly, her Irish best friend and ardent environmentalist. They'd met at university and forged a friends.h.i.+p that Rachael knew would stand the distance and time apart. She was confident that when they met up again they would easily pick up where they left off. Shannon travelled, sometimes internationally, advising on projects, improvement schemes, and management of the environment. She seemed to thrive on meeting new challenges. Seeing this had galvanized Rachael into action.

Despite her relatively content life, she hadn't been too successful on the romantic front. Rachael had always been a little disappointed that she easily got her own way and that men tended to defer to her.

As a consequence, she became bored quickly. In all honesty, no challenge for dominance had led to a lack of interest. She hadn't found a man who made her feel fulfilled, particularly in bed. She had briefly considered being more promiscuous; it would improve the odds of finding someone more s.e.xually compatible, but she'd dismissed the idea because it seemed shallow and she wanted a connection with her partner.

She had dark fantasies which ranged from being forced into s.e.xual submission to being the one doing the dominating. It confused her. In the rational light of day, such desires seemed at best kinky, and at worst base and perverse. She couldn't deny it to herself but kept these urges locked up and had never met anyone she could trust with the key.

She mused that it would be nice to have another person whom she could occasionally rely on to come home after a day of being in charge at work and hand over the reins, to not to have to make all the decisions all of the time. Her thoughts meandered in the direction of Joshua Ryden. She couldn't imagine anyone bossing him around.

What was going on there, with the phenomenal level of attraction

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she'd experienced? She sighed. The problem was that she didn't know what she wanted. What was the missing ingredient? Maybe Joshua Ryden had it, or perhaps that was just a recipe for disaster.

When Thursday came around, she was almost as anxious to see him as she was to prove herself to be a good vet. Colin and Rachael drove out to Sweet Water Ranch in the morning with the equipment.

Mark had ensured that the probe had been air couriered in time for the job. They parked near the paddock where the bull was tied to a post.

James and Joshua were both leaning against the wooden fence, waiting as she exited the truck. They looked too gorgeous to be legal, but it was the dark-haired, bigger man who attracted her. She noticed his clenched jaw and wondered if he was more worried than she was.

Taking off the light jacket that she had worn against the early morning chill, she noticed about twenty men lined up along the paddock fence, all looking her way. Colin explained that the bush telegraph had been working well. Word of the procedure had gotten around, and a few of the neighboring cattlemen and nearly all of the Sweet Water ranch hands wanted to watch.

Slightly annoyed at the unexpectedly large audience, she nevertheless smiled and nodded in their direction, and then stretched and warmed up the muscles on her arms, neck, and shoulders in preparation for the work ahead.

After donning their white coats, Rachael and Colin walked over to Joshua, James, and George, the ranch foreman. She swept her gaze across them all before focusing on Joshua.

"Do they want popcorn and sodas?" She jerked her head in the direction of the men.

"It's not a procedure we've used before. They're curious. A few neighbors want to see how this technique works," Joshua said. "Does it bother you?"

Not as much as you do. "No, just as long as they're quiet and don't disturb our boy here."

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As she walked into the paddock, she said good morning to the men, and they each raised a hat and mumbled, "Morning," back.

Aware that she was under close observation, she turned to the foreman and began issuing instructions.

First, Rachael checked the ground to make sure that it was flat and that the bull would have a good footing. Then, she inspected the pen to ensure it was as she'd specified. She had the foreman lead the bull into it and fit bars behind so that the animal was restrained and couldn't move either side to side or back and forth. When this was done, she donned a plastic sleeve and safety gla.s.ses and commenced with an internal examination of the bull's organs.

With her arm deep inside the big animal, Rachael gently ma.s.saged and spoke soothingly to help it relax. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a lot of s.h.i.+fting feet and fidgeting at the fence. Because the bull was so big, she had ordered the largest rectal probe. Any quiet conversation between the men stopped completely as she slowly inserted it. They were watching with rapt interest. She softly described how she was commencing stimulation on the lowest power level and that a steady rhythm was required by turning the probe on and off every few seconds. Slowly, she increased the power level, explaining that soon the p.e.n.i.s would protrude and seminal fluid would appear. From that point on, it was simply a case of rapidly increasing the power until the point of e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, when Colin would collect the sample. The procedure went perfectly to plan without a hitch.

"Well, I'll be d.a.m.ned," someone muttered.

She carefully removed the probe and eyed it thoughtfully for a few seconds before looking pointedly at Joshua and James.

"Judging by that look, I don't think she's happy about the size of the audience." James winced.

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"She'll get over it," Joshua replied.

"Well, I'd say she aced the test." James grinned.

At first, Joshua didn't speak, which was unusual for him when it concerned anything about the ranch.

"Itashe a was satisfactory," he finally said. "That's why she won't be annoyed. It will be good for her reputation."

Truth be told, he was very impressed and not just a little relieved by her competence and the commanding, yet calm and respectful, way she'd directed his men. He had suffered all morning from the warring feelings of apprehension and excitement. He'd wanted her to do well because he wanted to see her again, but his bull was an expensive animal and there were a lot of people watching.

James chuckled. "I don't think there is a more envied critter in the whole of Texas than that bull today. Satisfactory doesn't cut it."

"She was effective."

"h.e.l.l yeah, but I won't go on because I'll sound like a pervert."

He affectionately punched his brother's arm.

"You are a pervert." Joshua snorted. "I'm checking the bull."

"It takes one to know one," James called after him.

Rachael was aware of the imposing figure of Joshua Ryden strolling toward her as she stripped off the arm glove, turning it inside out in the process, and placed it in her bag. Her heart thumped in her chest, her cheeks flushed, her palms became cold, her mouth watered, and b.u.t.terflies fluttered in her stomach. Jesus, she'd better pull herself together and concentrate on the bull and business rather than contend with the physical reactions that merely this guy's proximity seemed to create.

"He responded well to the procedure. He'll just need to rest in a quiet place for a short while." She spoke clearly and slowly, focusing 32 on breathing normally and trying not to look like a silly schoolgirl or a s.e.x-starved spinster.

"You give a good demonstration. It was well done. I'll take him to the barn. I think that a few people want to speak to you." He indicated to the men leaning against the paddock fence.

Rachael nodded, trying to appear natural and nonchalant, but was unable to resist looking up into those piercing blue eyes. They held each other's gaze for much longer than necessary. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, get away. Too intense. Move, d.a.m.n it! She spun on her heel and walked quickly in the direction of the other men, when all she really wanted to do was rub herself all over Joshua Ryden's big, hard body and give him a demonstration of an altogether different kind.

Realizing the ranchers were potential clients, she quickly pulled herself together and plastered a friendly, professional smile on her face.

"Are there any questions, gentlemen?"

The audience had some pertinent questions to ask her. For example, what would happen if the bull became agitated? Rachael explained clearly that if the bull was to become fretful, the stimulation must be stopped and the power increased at a more gradual pace.

Most of the men wanted to introduce themselves, and more than one hinted about the county dance planned for the coming Sat.u.r.day night.

It was a good hour later before she finished. All the time, she had been aware of Joshua keeping his distance, talking to the other men, occasionally glancing her way. When everyone had left, she strolled over to Colin and James, who patted her on the back just like her brothers used to.

"Good job. Fancy a date?" James said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You really are incorrigible, aren't you?" She feigned shock and then laughed.

"Only when I try, but maybe you prefer your men like your coffee? Speaking of which, would you like a cup?"

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"I really need to get back to town. I have a long list of things," she paused for a moment completely losing focus, "to do, but maybe just a quick one."

"A quickie coming upaalthough it's not my normal style." James grinned.

His little joke was lost on her because she was totally distracted by the scene unfolding behind him. Joshua was standing by the outside wash stand, stripping off his s.h.i.+rt.

James looked over his shoulder and then back at Rachael with an amused expression.

He cleared his throat and barely kept the chuckle out of his voice as he muttered, "I'll just be a minute then." He headed to the house.

Captivated, Rachael watched as Joshua splashed water over his face and torso. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, he is a spectacular example of a man. He looked strong and hard with muscles clearly defined on his shoulders and back. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. It was not professional to get distracted on the job by a client. James was cute and almost indecently good-looking, but Joshua attracted her like a moth to a flame. She couldn't bring herself to look away when he turned around, drying himself with a towel. Lord above, his front was even better, with a solid chest, clearly defined abs and a V-shaped slab of taut muscle disappearing into his jeans. She quickly dropped her eyes and then furtively looked at Colin.

"Careful cuz, Josh is not a vanilla kind of guy, if you get my drift."

Was he talking about kinky s.e.x? Oh, sweet Mary, the very thought excited her, and she felt her panties dampen. "Well, I sure as h.e.l.l don't expect him to be a tutti-frutti."

Joshua wondered what Rachael had said to make Colin bark out a laugh. She had intelligence and sa.s.s, and he found it to be a potent 34 combination. He was aware that she was watching him. Her presence was like gravity, constantly exerting an influence, pulling him to her.

He strode over, shrugging on his s.h.i.+rt.

Just then Colin's cell phone rang, and he turned away to answer it.

"I hope that you won't object if I work with Colin at the ranch when needed?" Rachael looked a little fl.u.s.tered.

When needed? Right now, on all fours. "No, I don't mind, you're...good enough." Joshua said, again remembering the conversation in his UV.

His voice sounded strained, even to his own ears, and he was almost gnas.h.i.+ng his teeth. What the h.e.l.l? Within seconds of him being near her, his c.o.c.k had become engorged, hard and ready. He s.h.i.+fted his position and held his hat in front of his groin to hide his evident arousal.

Colin finished the call. "That was John Greenhall on the phone.

He has a problem with one of his horses. I don't need you with me, but as it's not far from here. I'll go directly. I'm sorry, Rach, but you'll have to put off your home improvements until later."

Joshua immediately said, "I'll give Rachael a ride if she wants.

I'm headed into town anyway." Yeah, he'd dearly love to give her the ride of her life.

Rachael blushed as if she had read his mind. "Okay," she nearly croaked.

"Thanks. I'd better have a rain check on that coffee and get right on over there." Colin gave her a quick hug. "You were great today."

He got into his truck and, after a quick glance at Joshua, added, "Remember what I said. I'll see you at home later."

Joshua wondered just what Colin had said. He couldn't think how the topic of his s.e.xual preferences would have arisen but, now that Colin was gone, she looked a little distracted and fl.u.s.tered. She seemed to be trying to avoid looking at him. He noted how she rubbed her palms against her thighs, and wished that it were his hands there

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instead. She breathed deeply and her nostrils flared. He guessed that he was affecting her as much as she was affecting him.

"Are you all right?"

"I, er, yes," she squeaked. "I'm just going to cool down and freshen up."

She quickly dodged past him and headed to the washstand. After frantically peeling off her white coat, she thrust her hands into the running cold water and vigorously splashed her face and chest. She now glowed with vitality rather than embarra.s.sment as she patted herself dry with a towel from her bag.

As before, Joshua was struck by her natural beauty. She wasn't wearing makeup and her skin looked great. The body-hugging vest she was wearing molded itself to her firm b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He unconsciously licked his lips. He wanted this womanawanted to touch every inch of her and taste her skin, her lips, and her p.u.s.s.y. h.e.l.l, the prisoner in his pants wanted out now, and it was darn uncomfortable. He slammed his hat on his head and b.u.t.toned up his s.h.i.+rt, leaving it hanging loose to hide the obvious bulge in his jeans.

James appeared with coffee. "Where's Colin?"

"He has a job over at John Greenhall's place. I'll take Rachael on my way into town."

"You will?" smirked James.

"Home. I'll take her home," he quickly clarified, sounding fl.u.s.tered, which was a first. "Oh, for G.o.d's sake," he muttered with exasperation, more surprised by his own behavior than James was.