Read Online Stripped Raw by Prescott Lane - Free Book Online Page A

says and hops down. She brings the horse out of the ring, and I follow behind, meeting them at a patch of grass. “Her name is Mystic. Fits her, I think, with her gray color. She’s an Arabian.”
    Kenzie bends over and fidgets with her riding boots, continuing to talk about the horse. But I’m not listening. How could I possibly listen to a word coming out of her mouth with those pants bringing out every one of her curves? Instead, I’m imagining her wearing nothing but boots and wielding a riding crop. I’m not into the whole S & M thing—I could never hit a woman, even if one wanted me to—but we could have some fun with her in that kinky little getup. That would be a good idea for a future lingerie line. Damn, she’d look incredible.
    “Kane?”
    “Hmm?”
    She snaps her fingers. “Are you staring at my ass?”
    “You caught me.”
    “Well, stop it.”
    “Well, stop wiggling it in front of me.”
    “I’m not wiggling it. It does that on its own.”
    “Your ass has a mind of its own?”
    “Yes! Now stop staring at it! Admire Mystic instead.”
    I chuckle. “Is she yours?”
    “No, she belongs to my stepdad. He loves riding as much as I do. Tessa and Sawyer never liked to ride. It’s the only thing Michael and I really have in common.”
    “I used to ride,” I say. “My grandparents had horses, but I never had lessons or anything.”
    “I’ll have to get you back in the saddle,” she says flirtatiously and takes my hand.
    “Sorry I’m so late.” I’ve been saying that for years. It’s something I used to tell Lily all the time, and I hate that I’m saying it now. I’ve got to treat this relationship differently.
    “I’m just glad you came,” Kenzie says.
    “I won’t be late again,” I say and wrap my arms around her waist.
    She gently pushes me off. “No, I smell like horse.”
    I pull her back. This girl is an expert at putting herself down. “If I have to wait until you think you look and smell perfect, I’ll be waiting forever.”
    “That’s not true!” she says and pouts her lip.
    “Really? You were self-conscious the day we met because you had on workout clothes.”
    “You were in an expensive suit!”
    “You were fidgeting in your apartment the other night because you were in your pajamas.”
    “You were trying to take my clothes off!”
    “You didn’t think you were dressed for my office.”
    “I wasn’t!”
    “And now you smell like horse.”
    “It’s only because you. . . .”
    I step closer. “Yes?”
    “Because you have those eyes that are so beautiful.” She runs her fingers down my face, a slight stubble on my chin. “And that thick dark hair. And your arms make me feel so safe, and you’re built like a damn model.”
    I bust out laughing. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
    “See? It’s weird to be complimented, isn’t it?”
    “It’s not that,” I say. “It’s just that you are so far out of my league. You have no idea.” She rolls her eyes. “Okay, that’s it. We’re going back to your place. You can do your hair and makeup and put on whatever makes you feel good about yourself. Then we’ll go to dinner.”
    *
    Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I’ve been waiting an hour for her, just leaning over her table and flipping through her sketches. An hour isn’t really too long for a woman to spend getting ready, considering how long Lily used to take. It was hours and hours. It drove me nuts.
    The hair dryer turned off at least ten minutes ago; maybe I should check on Kenzie. She’s so damn beautiful, what could possibly take so long? I walk to her apartment in the back. Leaning against the doorframe, I can see straight into her little bathroom. She runs her fingers through her long hair then reaches into her medicine cabinet for a little round pack of pills. I shouldn’t be spying, and I know birth control pills don’t mean we’re having sex tonight, but a man can hope.
    She leans in a little closer, her black dress coming up just