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A gorgeous brown-and-white Arabian snorts in my direction. “Hey there, buddy,” I coo.
“That’s Hamlet.”
“Hamlet, huh?” I offer my hand for the horse to sniff and he puffs out hot air onto my skin, flicking his ear. He nudges my palm, encouraging me to pet him across his muzzle.
I feel turn and see that Konstantin is staring at me intently.
“You’re good with him,” he notes.
“Thanks.”
“Did you own horses back in Wisconsin?”
I continue to pet Hamlet. “Nope.”We could never dream of affording horses.
His head tilts to one side. “Then how are you so experienced?”
“You’re not the only one allowed to keep secrets,” I say.
He doesn’t press me for more info. Instead, he gathers up the saddles for the horses and opens up two stable doors. I try not to bounce on my heels as I watch him lead Hamlet out towards me, and expertly buckles the saddle on his back.
Konstantin does the same with an Akhal-Teke with a coat that shimmers like molten gold, and then hoists himself smoothly up.
“This is Midas,” he says when he catches me staring. “My pride and joy.”
Gripping Hamlet’s saddle, I climb onto his muscular back. The animal grunts, flipping his head, but doesn’t struggle. I squeeze my thighs to hold myself firmly in place.It’s funny how natural this feels,I think.
“Ready?” he asks.
The reins slide through my grip. I give them a squeeze, checking how Hamlet reacts to that minor movement. He stamps his front hoof, inching forward—yes, he’s wonderfully responsive.
“Ready.”
Konstantin leads the way with Midas and I follow. The landscape curves up, like we’re leaving a bowl. I glance back over my shoulder at the lake as it gets further away. Memories of falling below the surface, and of waking up to Konstantin’s lips over mine.
“Keep up, Kitty Cat!” he shouts at me playfully, breaking me out of my reverie. “Don’t fall behind.”
He wants me to go faster, does he?Gritting my teeth, I dig my heels into Hamlet. The horse snorts, then trots faster until I come up beside Konstantin, smirking. “Is that better?”
“Does everything have to be a fight with you?”
“What fight?” I throw my hair back, enjoying the way his jaw clenches when he sees. “You said keep up. I’m keeping up.”
“Your attitude drips off you, Kitty Cat.”
That’s not the only thing dripping,I think hotly. But I don’t need to say it. Konstantin is choosing his wordsverydeliberately.
“You’re imagining things.”
Facing forward, I smile while knowing he can’t see it. Ahead of me are random groves of cypress trees dotting the horizon. Together, they fill the air with their menthol fragrance. I slow down, inhaling with a sigh.
Midas nickers when he pulls up beside me.
“These groves are hundreds of years old,” Konstantin says. He waves an arm at the thick, conifer-like branches. “I spent hours here when I was younger.”
“Here?” I laugh dubiously. “Hard to imagineyourunning around in the woods.”
“I didn’t come here by choice. It was meant as a punishment.”
