Carter filed away the fact that she had said she had to get "home" and that he was pretty sure she was behaving like a mother hen toward their grandmother. He hid his smile as they went into the kitchen.
"So Ben's pretty hot in the sack?" he asked casually as they walked through the door.
Savannah socked him in the arm as she said, "Carter! That's information you don't get to know! Asshole."
Carter laughed at her. "Aw, come on, you always used to tell me all about your exploits with the boys."
"That's because they weren't really exploits. Everybody thought I was a hot number, but I didn't let anyone put their hands on me. Bunch of infantile boys!"
"I know. Luckily, I never had to beat the shit out of anybody for you. So I guess that means he is. Ben."
"Shut up, asshole."
Chapter 13
Savannah got to the barn even earlier than she needed to, eager to take the promised ride out in the open. Ben was finishing up with a lesson and she watched quietly, enjoying the easy way he had with the girl on the compact little horse in the arena. She smiled when she saw the girl stop and then lean over to throw her arms around the horse's neck.
Ben saw her watching and gave her a slow smile and a wave. "Hey, Savannah, you can go ahead and get Reba out. We'll be finished in a few minutes."
Savannah busied herself with her horse and soon was mounted and warming up in the arena. After working in the outdoor arena for a little while, Ben let her walk while he saddled up a horse for himself. Savannah was practicing backing Reba when he rode out to join her. He rode over to the arena gate and leaned over to open it, swinging it wide from horseback. Savannah trotted out to join him and they set out across the field. They started out at a walk, chatting easily, and then Ben cautioned Savannah to stay with him and they urged their horses into an easy canter. They slowed and then stopped when they reached the edge of the woods.
Savannah had a bottle of water attached to her saddle in a little pouch that hung over the saddle horn. She took a long sip and Ben got a bottle out of the saddlebags attached to his saddle. Savannah looked around at the beautiful surroundings and sighed in pure pleasure.
"Ready for the woods?" Ben asked.
Her smile was all the answer he needed. He led the way along the trail through the shady, fragrant woods. Ben slowed after they had ridden for a while and motioned to her to be quiet. She stopped and looked in the direction that he pointed, sucking in a quiet breath at the doe and fawn standing among the trees. They watched until the deer turned and gracefully ran off. The horses both flinched when they spotted the deer but stood quietly otherwise. Ben and Savannah continued on down the trail until they came to a pretty, running stream. Ben led Savannah to a spot where the stream formed a little pool, wide enough and deep enough for the horses to drink.
When the horses were satisfied, they crossed the stream and went on down the trail until it opened back into a sunny meadow full of tall grass and wildflowers. Savannah gazed around with a smile, inhaling the fragrance of the pretty meadow. There was a narrow path that wound through the tall grasses and they had to ride in single file until they reached the far side of the meadow. There was an area under some shady trees where the grass was shorter and there was a fallen tree that they could sit on. They dismounted and secured the horses, giving them enough slack to graze on the tender leaves.
Ben opened his saddlebags and pulled out cold water and sandwiches. Birds and insects were the only sounds they could hear as they enjoyed their impromptu picnic in silence for a little while.
Savannah tilted her head back and closed her eyes, sighing with a smile. "Ben, this is like heaven on earth. I never imagined anything like this."
"It's pretty nice, isn't it?" Ben smiled at her, his eyes traveling down the graceful line of her throat and the swell of her breast.
"It's wonderful." Savannah's eyes were still closed and Ben feasted his eyes on her.
When Ben touched her face, trailing his fingers down the curve of her throat, she still didn't open her eyes. She sighed again when his lips touched hers, his tongue tracing her slightly parted lips, probing lightly into her mouth, sucking gently at her full lower lip. She slipped her arms around his neck and met his tongue with her own, tasting and savoring. The kisses were soft, languorous, gently probing, and leaving them both breathless. Ben pulled his head back and Savannah finally opened her eyes, though they were heavy and smoky with desire.
"Hold that thought," Ben said softly. He got to his feet and walked over to the horses, where he untied the roll on the back of his saddle. He walked over to the shady spot and shook out the blanket, settling it on the soft grass.
Savannah smiled slowly. "You're a bad boy, Ben. You had this planned, didn't you?"
"Let's just say I had hopes."
Ben held out a hand to her and she let him pull her to her feet and lead her to the blanket. They sank slowly down, kissing on the way, to stretch out on the blanket. Ben slowly unbuttoned Savannah's shirt, trailing kisses down her throat and to the hollow between her breasts. He kissed her collarbone, gently tugging her shirt off, tracing her shoulder and upper arm with his mouth. Savannah worked on unbuttoning his shirt and shivered when he freed her breasts and tossed her bra aside. She pulled his shirt open and he tugged it off, lowering himself over her so that his bare chest was against her bare breasts.
Savannah moaned at the pure pleasure of the sensation of skin against skin, and Ben captured her mouth with his again. She twined her hands in his hair and squirmed under him, rubbing her hard nipples against his chest. With a low growl, Ben tore himself away from her mouth and lowered his head to her breasts, licking and sucking the rosy red tips and making her writhe under him. He filled his hands with her full, firm breasts and feasted on them.
Savannah tried to reach for his belt, but he captured her wrists with one hand and held her arms over her head. Then he unbuckled her belt with his free hand, unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans and stroking her bare belly. Gasping, she lifted her hips so he could push her jeans down over her hips. His free hand roamed over her naked body, playing with her tender, swollen nipples, stroking her belly and cupping the mound between her legs, pressing gently. Ben's hand set her on fire wherever he touched her and she writhed helplessly, her arms held firmly above her head.
Finally, Ben let go of her wrists but said, "Don't move."
"Ben, please."
"Don't move."
He got to his knees and pulled off her boots and socks so he could pull her jeans and panties off. Savannah started to reach for him and he repeated his words, telling her to keep still.
He stripped off his own boots and jeans, standing over her, the sight of his muscular, naked body and proud erection taking her breath away. He knelt over her and stroked her belly, lowering his head to suck at her nipples again. He spread her legs wide and nibbled his way from her breasts down to the tender spot at the top of her thigh. He kissed the inside of her thigh, and spreading her swollen lower lips with his thumbs, he busied his lips and tongue between her legs.
Savannah arched her back and cried out as his tongue darted into her hot, swollen center. He lapped at the hard little bud with the tip of his tongue while he thrust his finger deep into her. She was wild with the waves of sensation, almost more than she could bear. Ben was relentless, driving her on and on until her body shuddered with a deep, rolling orgasm. His mouth traveled up her body, quaking with the spasms of her climax, until he reached her lips.