Chapter 5 Slipped

Tyler's horse bucked and he pulled up on the reigns to gain control again, watching the young woman who laughed, carefree on the back of her own. She pulled up on the reigns and turned her horse so that she could twist in her saddle to look at him. This time yesterday, she was in tears. Now, she could have been a completely different person. Tyler supposed in a way, she was. All she needed was a glass slipper and they could have been a prince and princess in a fairy tale.

" You shouldn't look so serious," Charisa said. "Horseback riding is supposed to be fun."

" There's fun, and then there's slapping my horse's rump and startling him," Tyler said, but he found her smile to be infectious.

Charisa shrugged her shoulders. "You were riding like an old man. I just wanted to see if you really knew how to ride." Tyler took in a breath and nodded his head, recognizing the challenge. "I know how to ride, my dear. I took my first lesson at ten years old."

" Seven," Charisa gave him a smug look.

" I still have you on years riding," Tyler said. He was only about six years older than Charisa was, but his pride was wounded now.

They continued their ride along the forest trail and up the mountain. It was beautiful here, and being out here among the natural beauty seemed to have a good effect on Charisa. Tyler was not sure that he understood why her encounter with Mr. Worthington had left her in such a good mood, but it was nice to see that the forest around them was keeping it in place.

They reached the water trough for the horses and dismounted, tying their reigns off on the poles there so the horses could drink and relax. This stop in the ride was along the ridge of the mountain that the horse trail wound. It offered a nice view of the valley and the estate below, and Tyler was happy to see that few others were taking advantage of the stables today. Most were heading out to the cricket grounds or down to the lake.

Tyler turned to look at Charisa, and saw that she was watching him. The look in her eyes was deep and sympathetic. He wondered at it, but was not sure what to ask her. Perhaps she was feeling badly about spooking his horse.

" This is really nice," Charisa said. She turned and looked back over the valley below them. "I really do appreciate you doing this for me."

Tyler stepped up to her and took her hand in his. She did not pull away, and he held it tighter. As they looked over the valley, she talked about horseback riding in the boroughs outside of New York City and spending her entire weekend learning how to care for the horses.

It was, she admitted to him, the only chore she ever learned to do, and one that she always loved.

With her face in profile to him, Tyler could see that she was deeper in her thoughts than her words expressed. Was she remembering the good times with her father and mother, or was it just her father? He realized he had no idea how long her mother had been in Los Angeles. It could have been weeks or years. He had the feeling from how she had talked about her prospects of getting there that they two of them were not very close.

Charisa turned to face him, and Tyler found himself caught by her eyes. They were deep and contemplative while bright, catching the sky above them. Tyler brought his hand up to her face, cupping her cheek. He did not think about what he was doing. He simply leaned forward to kiss her.

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Tyler's kiss was soft and careful, and it moved through Charisa's body quickly, drawing her free hand up to his shoulders. Between her legs, she felt warm and alive. Tyler released her hand and moved his arm around her body, pressing her body closer to him. She could feel him hard against her and her own desire flared, surprising, and delighting her.

He broke away and looked down into her eyes. Charisa wanted his kiss again, and with a flush realized that she wanted more. She imagined their bodies entwined together here along the mountain ridge, where other riders could come upon them at any moment. The idea tingling and warmth between her legs grow and she reached up to kiss him again, finding him responsive and welcoming.

Tyler brought his hand down from her face to her breast and cupped it gently. Charisa wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through Tyler's brown hair and lacing it through her fingers. He squeezed her breast and held her firm against him. Charisa wanted him. She wanted to feel his hands caress her body, to feel him deep inside her. Her body ached and screamed its want, and as the pounding of hooves came up the mountain trail, she could not pull away from him.

They broke their kiss as another pair of riders came up to the trough. Charisa flushed again and looked from Tyler to the newcomers.

" That must be some view," the woman said as she dismounted her horse. She tied it off next to Tyler's own and looked at her partner. "Do you think we can take a look over the ridge too?"

Charisa stifled her laugh and took Tyler's hand, guiding him back to the horses. As they untied theirs from the trough, the new couple moved over to the ridge, sitting on the stone bench.

Charisa mounted her horse and waited for Tyler to join her. She considered heading back, but she wanted to push up the mountain. Yes, she wanted Tyler, and she thought if she told him she wanted to go back to his cabin now that he would. She also understood that part of that want came from moments like this, riding together and enjoying each other's company.

She could let it build. They continued up the mountain trail, passing the new couple as the man put his arm around his companion. Charisa supposed that the view really was romantic. She hoped there would be other such views on their way up.

They rode for another hour, and Charisa could feel the heat of the day working into her body. A stream snaked along the slope of the mountain, coming close to the trail and skirting away from time to time. She thought about the hour, and how nice it would be to have a shower before they went up to the estate house for dinner. When she made the suggestion to Tyler that they head back, he was reluctant at first, until she mentioned showers. The look in his eye brought a new tingle between Charisa's thighs.

As they made their way back down the mountain, they passed the couple that had come up to the water trough. They exchanged waves and continued on, stopping only briefly at the trough to allow the horses to get water. Charisa's mind kept turning to the shower waiting for them, and she did not want to stop any longer than necessary. She thought of water on her skin and Tyler caressing her body and grew impatient to be back.

When they made it back down to the stables, the hands there took the horses from them, removing their tack and rubbing them down gently. They made their way across the estate grounds to the guest cabins, and Charisa looked at Tyler. She could tell that he had something on his mind, and she wanted to be through it before they reached the cabin.

" Is something the matter?" Charisa asked.

She could not think of any other way to get conversation starting.

Tyler looked at her and gave her a gentle smile. "It was a beautiful ride, but I'm afraid I was a bit," he paused and looked up to find the words he needed, "presumptuous."

Charisa took in a deep breath and nodded her head. Oh, to get him to see how much she wanted that kiss. She did not want to come across as someone easy, or who was trying to get something from him, but she knew exactly what she wanted from the rest of her evening.

" I told you I wasn't going to make any demands, and here I am crossing that line." Tyler placed his hands in his pockets. "It's not fair to you."

Charisa twisted up her lips in thought and nodded again. "It's not." When he snapped his head to her, she gave him a smile. "Well, it wouldn't be if I weren't receptive to it."

Tyler narrowed his eyes and gave her a smile. He took her hand and picked up his pace. When they reached his cabin, he opened the door and she walked inside. When he closed the door behind them, his arms were around her body, pulling her back against him. Charisa sighed and eased her stance so that she could feel his hardness pressing against her.

" I want you so badly I can taste it," Tyler whispered into her ear. He nibbled the lobe gently.

Charisa turned around in his arms and brought her hands up to his shoulders. He pulled her tighter against him and Charisa rose up to kiss him again. His tongue moved between her lips and danced with hers. She could taste his desire in his breath and wanted to drown in it. She brought her hands around to the collar of his shirt and slowly worked her way down his buttons.

When he broke the kiss, Tyler lifted Charisa's shirt above her head, discarding it to the side and shedding his own. He moved his hands down to her waist and unbuttoned her shorts, pushing them down her body. He started to kneel, and a panic filled Charisa.

" I'm sweaty from the ride," Charisa said. She wanted what his kneeling offered, but she wanted it to be perfect.

Tyler stood. "Then let's have that shower."

He pushed down her shorts and underwear in one motion. Charisa slipped out of her shoes and her clothing, releasing the catch of her bra behind her back and dropping that as well. She was naked before Tyler, and as his eyes took in her body, she shuddered, nervous. Would he find her pleasing?