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  Table of Contents

  About 2 Hearts Rescue South

  All The 2 Hearts Rescue Books

  Trainable

  Thank You for reading

  About The Author

  The Quarterback & The Dressage Queen Excerpt

  Rescued Love Excerpt

  2 HEARTS RESCUE SOUTH

  Thank you for your purchase of this 2 Hearts Rescue South story. While the original ranch at 2 Hearts Rescue in Wyoming is a very special place, where love rescues both animals and people alike, it’s just as special in the new 2 Hearts Rescue South. In fact, it’s as special as the 2 Hearts Rescue project, which is designed to bring together readers and authors who love animal rescue and great stories.

  Visit the website at http://2heartsrescue.com to learn more about the world, the characters and how you can help animal rescue efforts, both in conjunction with the individual authors, as well as by supporting organizations.

  A portion of the proceeds from each 2 Hearts Rescue and 2 Hearts Rescue South story goes to support animal rescue efforts, so please read through the entire story so each page gets counted. We’ll be updating our readers with what we’ve been able to accomplish at the website.

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  All the 2 Hearts Rescue Books

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  Rescued Love

  Striding Home

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  The Quarterback and the Dressage Queen

  Trainable

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  For being a former gymnast, Jacob Carter certainly could have used better balance. Trisha Walters watched him sit on the old school horse Erin had rescued just a few weeks ago, holding the lunge line while the horse trotted in a large circle around her. He’d claimed to have ridden horses as a kid. Maybe at some trail riding places where all the horses could walk the trail in their sleep. She hadn’t even taken his stirrups away, and in the English saddle, he sloshed all over the place. She slowed the horse to a walk, who lowered his head and snorted, obviously appreciating the change in pace.

  She knew Jacob had moves. On the dance floor, in bed…he had all the moves. They must not have translated to horseback, and since his desire in understanding her work better, and possibly taking a trail ride with her and Izzy, she’d agreed to undertake his lessons. Sadie, the dark brown thoroughbred with a “been there, done that, and oh so tired of it all” attitude had proved her worth even more than letting Jacob try and find his balance on her back.

  “This is harder than I thought it would be. The pommel horse doesn’t move underneath you. It just feels like it does sometimes.” He released the neck strap and flexed his biceps.

  Trisha laughed. She didn’t want to, tried to be all scowly and teacher-like. She just couldn’t manage and laughter bubbled up from her.

  Sadie, apparently having too much of this, gave a silly shuffle step, just enough to throw Jacob off balance. He hit the dirt with a soft thud.

  “Whoa.” Trisha ordered. Sadie stopped immediately, then shook herself all over, as if to be sure she’d gotten rid of her troublesome rider. “You okay?” she asked Jacob as the gathered up the lunge line and led Sadie over to him.

  By the time she reached him Jacob was on his feet, brushing dust off the backside of his jeans. “Just my pride. I don’t get how you do it. You make it look so easy.”

  “Years of practice. You sure you’re okay?” She eyed the way he stood with his weight shifted, wondering if he’d twisted an ankle or something.

  “Just fine.” He shifted his weight as if to prove a point. “Might have a couple of bruises, but honestly, Trisha, I’ve gotten worse in the gym.”

  “Okay. If you’re sure then. Let’s let this old girl get some rest and we’ll try again later.”

  He nodded, helping her put Sadie in the cross-ties, untacking her, and then turning her back out to pasture, where she promptly rolled, then meandered off to eat from the round bale of hay. He remained quiet while they put everything away in the tack room and washed up in the bathroom. “Ready to go home?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “Hey.” She reached for his hand and tangled those fingers together. Lifting his hand, she brushed a kiss across the back of his knuckles. Those hands were so talented, wrung so much pleasure from her body. She hated seeing him down in the dumps like this. “It’s okay. Everyone falls. I took a tumble last week. It happens.”

  “I suppose so. I just thought since I did other sports…” He dropped her hand. “I’ll get over it. Don’t worry, and I’m sure some burgers from Fantastic Fred’s will help.” He kissed her cheek.

  There was the boyfriend she loved, almost as much as she loved the food at Fantastic Fred’s Burgers, a restaurant close to campus. “Sounds great.”

  They grabbed take out on the way back to their apartment and ate in silence. The crumpled wrappers were thrown away and coffee table cleaned up, when Trisha grabbed Jacob’s hand and pulled him to his feet. “Why don’t we check out those bruises? I want to make sure you’re not hurt more than you say you are.” Plus, she wanted an excuse to get her boyfriend naked.

  They walked down the short hall to their bedroom. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it into the hamper. Trisha made a show of walking around him, checking him out for bruises. In truth, she was loving admiring his lean, muscled torso, the defined abs and obliques, the way his back was muscled. When she finished circling him and stood before him, she gestured to his pants. “I don’t see anything.”

  Jacob grinned. “And you’re going to see anything either. I’ve already checked, but if you want me to drop my pants?” He unfastened his jeans and let them fall to the floor. He shoved down his underwear and stepped out of them. Bending over, he pulled off his socks, and Trisha almost wished she’d been behind him so she could watch his amazing butt. When he stood again, she noticed his cock stood at half-mast. He twirled, slowly. “See any bruises?”

  She didn’t, though that didn’t stop her from moving forward and cupping one hard, muscled glute. She squeezed gently, then chuckled under her breath. “Looks great to me.” Her hand slid around his hip. She turned and pressed herself against his back. Gliding her hands over his obliques, then around to the front, she framed his dick with her fingers, then turned them both so she could see them in the full length mirror. “Looks very very good.” She dotted kisses over his shoulders.

  “You going to just admire my body or are we going to fuck?” He turned his head and captured her lips. The angle might have been awkward, but there was nothing but raw lust in the kiss and in the hardening cock between her fingers. She stroked him gently, moving just enough to soften the kiss.

  Jacob spun, using his flexibility and strength to grab her hips and walk her backwards. He playfully pushed her onto the bed. She bounced on the mattress, and wished she’d gone braless so he could watch her breasts. She whipped her shirt over her head, then shimmied out of her shorts. Wearing only her matching pale yellow bra and panty set, she stretched out before him and arched her hips. He stood at the edge of the mattress, hunger gleaming in his eyes.

  “Take them off,” he ordered.

  She shivered, then reached behind her to unfasten the bra. Slowly, loving the way his cock twitched and a muscle in his jaw jumped, she slid the straps down her arms and tossed the garment aside. Her panties came next with the same deliberate slowness, until he muttered something incoherent under hi
s breath and knelt on the mattress.

  “I’d say you’re going to pay, but I think you’ll enjoy it too much.” He crawled between her legs, then over her, until he braced his weight on his arms. He nuzzled her neck and skimmed one hand up and down her side. He paused along her breast and gently palmed her flesh.

  She arched her back into his hand and he swept his hand away, tormenting her. Anticipation made her skin hum. She writhed beneath him, their roles for the day suddenly reversed. Instead of her being in charge, now he was, and all she could do was let him. She grabbed his biceps, hoping her firm hold would encourage him.

  Instead, he dipped his head with a chuckle. “Patience, sweetheart.” He licked her nipple, then blew a warm breath across it. The bud instantly tightened, and she whimpered as acute pleasure darted through her. Her pussy tightened. She shifted her legs, working to ease the ache between them. She’d been with Jacob long enough to know when he was in a mood like this, there wasn’t anything she could do to encourage him. A shiver darted down her spine, because he’d make it worth her while. He repeated the motion on the other breast before nuzzling the skin between.

  God she loved him. He moved lower, pinning her in place with his chest and shoulders draped across her lower body. He shaved, quite a bit due to competitions, and his smooth, hairless chest moved across her silky legs with the sensual glide of skin against skin. Even his muscled legs slid against hers without the friction of hair. He licked and nibbled to her navel, pausing to swirl his tongue through it with a slight tickle.

  She squeezed the back of his head. “Don’t tease.” She wouldn’t need him to touch her to know just how wet she was, how ready to have his thick cock thrust into her. She scissored her legs beneath him, writhing as the pleasure grew. His only response was to blow a warm breath across her skin, then move lower, until he hooked his hands beneath her thighs and spread her wider. She whimpered as he inched closer, the anticipation spiking her pleasure to a fever pitch. Just knowing what would happen next had her inner muscles tightening, her hands fisting in the sheet. Her ragged breaths echoed around her, the slight current of air from the vent cooling her overheated skin.

  Jacob nuzzled her intimate flesh. Her breath caught. The slightest tilt of her hips brought them in contact with his mouth, and when his tongue flicked against her nub, she cried out with pleasure. As if that sound broke a wall holding him back, he drew first one labia, then the other into his mouth and sucked. His tongue speared her, not quite filling her, a teasing presence, as he fucked her with his mouth.

  Her first orgasm came hard and fast, racing through her like a full blown cross-country gallop. It stole her breath with its rush. She sank into the bedding, opening her eyes in time to see Jacob rising over her. He braced his hands on either side of her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her. She tasted herself on his lips and moaned.

  His cock nudged her. She grabbed his tight ass, loving the way his muscles flexed beneath her hands. Lifting her hips, she impaled herself on him and pulled him down on top of her.

  He groaned.

  This was the Jacob she loved, so focused on her own pleasure, knowing she’d give back in return. Tightening her inner muscles, she drew him deeper, and she saw the moment he was unable to stop himself in his eyes as he began to move.

  There was no slowness, no lingering lovemaking this time. As if she’d stretched his control to the breaking point, he thrust into her, his face pressed against the crook of her neck. Animistic noises came from his throat.

  She flexed her fingers against his ass. Yes! One more hard thrust and he pushed her over the edge, sending her into her second orgasm. She shattered, pleasure sending her to some place beyond her body. She cried out, a wordless scream of pure ecstasy. Jacob followed her into release a moment later, stiffening above her. His cock pumped inside her, and she relished this moment, relished him.

  When at last he finished, he slumped onto her, all hot and sweaty and smelling like a man. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. “I love you,” she whispered against his shoulder. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” he said, more of a mumble than actual words, but she knew what he meant. She understood. And when he rolled her to the side, she snuggled against him, thankful he hadn’t been hurt by his fall, and determined to get him on horseback again.

  ~* * *~

  Trisha leaned the pitchfork against the stall and wiped sweat from her brow. Being a working student wasn’t all it was cracked up to be at times. She didn’t mind helping out. A volunteer had called off sick, and no one wanted what she had, which left her to help Erin with the stalls. Erin had done half of them, then raced into town to meet with the local scout leader to see if the troop wanted to do some volunteer work. The life of a rescue owner wasn’t glamorous by any means. Trisha grabbed the pitch fork again and made quick work of the stall.

  By the time she finished her chores Erin had returned from town and gestured her up to the house. She double checked the barn, made sure the tack and feed room doors were secure—sometimes boarders didn’t get them latched tightly—then hurried up, kicking off her boots on the front step. Her big toe wiggled out of the hole in her socks. Oh yeah, a working student’s life was so glamorous.

  She took a seat at the battered dining room table, happily accepting the tall glass of fresh brewed sun tea with just a hint of lemon that Erin offered. Her friend and employer sat down across the table from her. “We’ll have scouts to help. It’s hard work. Slowly but surely things are coming together. Bryan also said he’d have the students out here working, maybe on their off week or during one of the holiday breaks.” She smiled and sighed. “Jacob okay? I heard he fell.”

  “His pride is hurt. Nothing more. Happens to all of us, and he’s had his share of tumbles in the gym.”

  “Isn’t that his work?” Erin laughed. “But I know what you mean.”

  “Yeah. I had no idea that he’d have so little balance on horseback. It’s like when you throw a living creature into the mix, his skills go haywire. He can fly on whatever apparatus he chooses. But they don’t move and don’t think for themselves. I think he over thinks it.” She shrugged. “I guess we all did at first.”

  Erin sipped her tea, and the two of them talked about a training plan for Izzy, Trisha’s mare, one that would hopefully have her moving up a level by the end of the season. By the time her glass was empty, Trisha was thankful for the girl time. Jacob would be at the gym for a couple more hours yet with a big competition coming up this weekend. She gratefully accepted a refill and talk turned away from Jacob’s riding lessons to Erin and Bryan’s relationship, one that might end with a proposal once the football season was completed.

  ~* * *~

  Two weeks later Trisha stood in the middle of the arena, holding one end of the lunge line. This time, she controlled Sadie, though there was a strap on front of the saddle for Jacob to hold onto. She’d suggested he do just that, and he’d just scowled at her. Instead, he sat with his hands on his thighs, getting used to the movement of a very slow, shuffling walk.

  He was doing better at least. This time he was staying on Sadie’s back, though Trisha had lunged her for twenty minutes just in case. She chalked the last time up to beginner’s nerves, or maybe the first place Jacob took at last weekend’s competition, securing a spot in the regional finals as an all-around candidate gave him more confidence. Whatever it was, she contemplated encouraging Sadie to trot.

  Jacob took the decision out of her hands. He gently nudged Sadie’s sides with his heels and she moved forward in a slow jog. To his credit, he sat well, keeping balanced with the horse instead of landing hard on her back. Another nudge and she moved out into something more resembling a forward trot.

  “If you feel up to posting, just rise and fall with the horse’s rhythm,” Trisha said. “But you don’t have to.”

  After a few bouncing strides, where Trisha thought Jacob might fall off, he caught the rhythm and posted with the horse’s st
rides. She didn’t care about the fact that he was on the wrong diagonal or even that he seemed to be picking this up more quickly than he had before. She was just happy he was riding and not falling off. Dreams of sharing her passion for horses with her boyfriend filled Trisha’s mind. “You’re doing a great job,” she called out to him.

  He turned and gave her a thumb’s up, wobbling precariously. Somehow, he righted himself and grabbed onto the saddle strap for a few strides. He sat down and eased his weight back into the saddle, as she’d been trained to do, Sadie slowed to a walk again. Jacob released a heavy sigh. “That was close.” He grinned like a fiend and Trisha recognized the look. There was a good chance the horse bug had bitten him too.

  “Let’s end on a good note,” Trisha suggested. Watching Jacob ride was addictive. In her mind, she pictured them going on trail rides together, or even practicing together in the arena. That he didn’t have a horse and very little time in his schedule didn’t matter. Erin got in rescues all the time and heard about other horses in need of good home. Trisha was sure she could work something out.

  Jacob dismounted and they made quick work of untacking and brushing Sadie, then turning her back out to pasture. In the tack room, Trisha hung up the saddle and bridle, flipping the pad over so it would dry. She turned to head out the door, when Jacob stopped her with his hand on her arm.

  “You know I don’t have the time to do this like you do.” He brushed a strand of hair that had come loose from her pony tail behind her ear. “I’m sorry. I’d like to, but not only can I take the risk of injury right now, my competitions come first.”

  “I understand.” She tucked back those hopes and dreams, knowing this was how it had been since they’d first met on campus. She was only going to school part time for her bachelors in education so she could focus on her riding career. Her disappointment must have shown in her voice because Jacob pulled her into a hug. He wrapped his strong arms around her, tucking her against his chest. Listening to his heart thud beneath her cheek, she returned the hug, loving how he felt in her arms. She’d hoped things might calm down once he competed in the regionals; she wasn’t sure they would. At one time she’d known they’d each be pursuing their own dreams. With his arms around her, the smell of leather and hay in the air, she wasn’t quite sure and that bothered her. Reluctantly, she released him.