Chapter 102: Twenty-four.

Colt was sat happily in her truck driving towards the livery yard she kept Solaris at. All day yesterday Calum had unintentionally tortured her with his presence, and then all night, she was tortured by his absence. Thus, today she needed some relief.

It was after eleven, when she finally kicked him out with Felix to go get his bike. At first he had attempted to say they won't be long, obviously he was fully intending on returning to her straight away. But, Colt had managed to prevail upon him, to go visit his mother, who apparently didn't even know he was home until she seen his bike in the village, and left easily a dozen angry voicemails on his phone. Maria Macgregor already reminded Colt somewhat of her own mother.

It was now barely seven in the morning, and the Scottish spring sun was only just rising to properly light up the world around her as she drove, and Colt was determined to spend time with her other man. She never seemed to be able to get enough time with him as it was, so, before her parents arrived and wanted to make up for eight months of not seeing her, plus Iona would still need her attention, as well as her new shadow like mate who wanted to attach himself to her hip, Colt wanted some one on one time with Solaris. Maybe it was time to move him to the Croft for summer, it's not like he would need a stable then. Although the previous thought of Calum being attached to her, did make her smile she realised, as her mind flitted back to her chestnut haired highlander.

So, as her Mom and Dad would be arriving in three days time, Colt was adamant about spending the whole of today with her horse. Afterall, she did pay to fly him across an ocean rather than give him up. It was only good financial sense, she spent as much time as possible with him. Plus, she really needed some breathing space, from everything, her own head included.

When she arrived at the yard, it was pretty quiet, with just the radio playing the local station on in the corner. She took her time cleaning out his stable while she sang along to the music, setting the reusable bedding up along the sides to allow the floor time to dry, after she cleared away the muck. Then, she began an intensive grooming session, which would easily take up the next hour or so.

Lovingly she brushed and massaged Solaris' silvery white coat. His technical term was flea bitten grey, but Colt felt that was much too mundane for her boy. He was more like a shimmering silver moonlight colour, with freckles. Not that she was at all biased about how beautiful he was.

But, Colt did have a bond with that animal that brought something special to her life she couldn't explain. He always gave her soul a sense of balance and peace. When she was without four legs, he carried her so she could run, and even now when she could shift and run on four legs of her own, on Solaris' back, she felt like she could fly. He gave her the feeling of being more, he always had, and always would.

It also helped that he was endlessly affectionate, and gave wonderful shoulder massages with his upper lip in return for his own massage treatments.

Once, she was eventually finished grooming, she tacked up, changing the pace from her usual saddless excursions. Colt wanted speed today, and having the saddle to brace against while she achieved it, was occasionally more comfortable, especially over the rougher terrain their ride would traverse through.

Once she was done, she led her 16.2 gelding outside, and mounted up before heading out along the track that lead up through a small pine forest plantation. Once they were through the forest, with the birds chirping and the odd deer stood grazing in the dappled light, that would lift his head in fright before running off in the opposite direction, the path curved up onto an old quad bike track that went up the hill and along the summit of Creag Moŕ.

The sights she had seen since moving to Scotland were always breath taking, but the view here, in the late morning light was simply stunning. The greens were beginning to become more vibrant, as spring worked her magic on the world, and they contasted spectacularly with the cool blues and greys of the Atlantic which engulfed the peninsula. Behind some of which, were the rest of the hills of the main land's dramatic west coast. The multiple layering of the valleys, created by the straths and glens surrounding her were awe inspiring, bathed in the bright spring light.

Colt decided right there, she wanted to be in this spot at least once for a sunrise, and another once for a sunset, with a really good camera she amended. Here, she felt like she was the only person in the world, as well as feeling completely insignificant at the same time. The contradiction was freeing in a way, like none of her problems and drama mattered, as long as this open space was here. The fresh crisp air that was hitting her lungs with every breath was revitalising her, even as the tears streamed from her eyes because of the stinging wind hitting her face, as she and Solaris upped their pace, and cantered along the track, Colt enjoying the three beat rhythm beneath her, as she travelled in her favourite style, dropping the reins deliberately after tying a quick knot mid stride, and stretching her arms out wide.

This is what freedom feels like, she thought to herself, droppingher reings on his neck briefly and stretching out her arms.

After another forty-five minutes, Colt and Solaris had descended from the hill top, and were ambling peacefully towards another open sandy beach. The buckle on the reins was again, resting against Solaris' neck, while Colt lay back, stretching out along his rump, ignoring the cantle on the back of the saddle, as it dug into her lower back. Her advanced senses allowed her to know they were totally alone, which was letting them both relax in each other's company. The small shaded wood they were in, created a mosaic of patterns against the blue sky above Colt's head as the new leaves and blooms on the branches began their unfolding process for the year, and she found it very calming just lazily watching the patterns on display going by.

But, hearing the waves getting louder as the closed in on the bay, Colt sat up and gathered her reins again.

"Fancy a run, Sol?" She asked excitedly, when they stepped out onto the sand.

Solaris instantly perked up, knowing exactly what Colt meant by the shift in her weight above him, and before long they had pushed off into a trot, till they progressed onto the actual beach, and were thundering down the soft sand, in a full, flat out gallop. The surf was spraying all over them both as they flew through the tide. Colt was holding herself up, off of Solaris' back, allowing him more freedom in his shoulders to really extend his legs and cover as much ground as possible. The impact of which was vibrating up throughout Colt's body with every stride. His hooves battered into the ground beneath him, and every so often all four would lift from the ground at once, which is probably why Colt felt like she could fly, as she lost herself to the strong yet graceful movements of her horse.

Both Colt and Solaris were panting hard when their gallop came to an end at the far side of the beach. The sheer power of the animal had left the muscles in Colt's legs vibrating with the exertion. But, aside from that, she had a smile from ear to ear, as her adrenalin high took over. She was absolutely buzzing and her smile didn't leave her face for the rest of the ride back to the stable yard.

They walked the rest of the way home on a relaxed loose rein, with Colt's feet dangling loosely beside the stirrups. Just taking their time while meandering through a couple of fields and across a small burn on their way home. By the time they returned, both had more than earned a late lunch and luckily for Colt she had thought to bring her own, as well as a couple of extra treats for Solaris. But, first things first, her boy needed a hose down.

Colt had Solaris tied up in th wash bay and was rinsing all the muck, salt water and sweat off of him with cold water from the hose, when she noticed the roar of a motorbike pulling into the yard, and presumably parking up somewhere.

It wouldn't suprise me, she thought to herself, while grabbing a scraper to swipe the excess water off of Solaris, smiling at the thwacking noise it made when it spatted on the concrete floor below.

Once she was finished with the round squeegee like tool, she put a light fleece cooler rug onto her boy, and began leading him back to his stable, where his own lunch was waiting for him, in the form of a concentrated feed mix, including molasses and a large net filled with sweet hay, in a 'heresy one I made earlier style'. She popped his carrots and apples into his bucket and set herself to making his bed again, pulling the clean bedding back in and around his feet, before she finaly allowed herself to give in to the complaints of her own angry stomach.

Stepping out of his stall, she opened up her rucksack, and pulled out her own lunch, pausing when she got the pricking sensation she was being watched. It wasn't a threatening feeling, just an awareness that besides the other horses, she and Solaris weren't alone.

That's when his smell drifted towars her, finally saturating through the cloying damp horse smell that was clinging to her senses. Colt closed her eyes, and listened, there were no footsteps to be heard anywhere, but Calum's scent was definitely getting stronger. She took in several deep breaths and opened her eyes, coming face to face with a very large, and very smug looking wildcat, perched on the back of her horse like he owned the animal himself.

Both his bright eyes were intently trained on all her movements, she noticed while she took in his animal form, and she realised he was curious about her opinion of him. It was a natural instinct, just as a human wanted to be pleasing in appearance to a partner, so did a shifter, in both their forms. But, if he wanted that answer, she was stubborn enough to make him ask the actual question first.

Colt further analysed the haughty behaviour Calum exuded with a sly smile. She wanted to feel territorial over Solaris, to be annoyed at the obnoxious attitude of the man on his back, uninvited, who was lowering himself to lay down, as if he were completely unaffected by Colt's stare. But, she couldn't bring herself to feel any annoyance over it. In truth, Solaris didn't seem bothered, so why should she be? And so, she continued to fish her lunch out of her bag, with her flask of tea, before walking outside to eat. Knowing full well Calum would follow in his own time.

That time didn't take long at all, Colt was barely sat down on a stacked hay bale, situated in an open sided shed beside the main block of stables, and opening her tub of home made tuna pasta salad, when Calum silently hopped up beside her, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"You don't have to make a plan in your naughty head to steal any lunch, Mr. Macgregor, I will gladly share." Colt offered giving Calum pause as he sat back on his haunches, licking his lips at the smell of the tuna. "There's also a flask of tea there, but you will need thumbs for that, as I only brought cups. I didn't foresee the need of a saucer, you see?" She teased him, earning a small but ineffectual hiss.

Calum made no move to share Colt's lunch or to shift back, he just sat there watching her silently while she ate. She looked dirty, and sweat covered, and he decided she wore, whatever she had been doing before he arrived, very well. But then he realised, there probably wasn't much she could do, that he wouldn't consider she wore well.

When Colt had finished her lunch, she hopped off of the bale without, glancing back. She was decidedly of the opinion, if her mate wanted to act like a farm cat, sitting with her and watching her while she ate in silence, then she would treat him as a farm cat, and she walked off without a word more added. She was just entering the empty stable block, when a flash of brown darted past her legs, and then Calum stood in all his naked glory, blocking her path after he had shifted back to his human form.

"You have no shame do you?" She asked, tilting her head, "There are often children here, get some clothes on," she scolded him, forcing her eyes to stay north of his shoulders, well his pectoral muscles, okay his toned abdomen, but definitely no lower.

Calum laughed at Colt's alarm, "Its term time, Love, any children will be in school," before adding, "And when it comes to you, I am utterly shameless. You will realise this fully, soon enough," he added with a wink.

Colt simply gave her head a shake and went to brush past him, not quite sure how to formulate a response, when the thought alone seemed to excite her with untold possibilities.

"What, no hello kiss?" He asked, grabbing her arm, and smiling satisfied when he heard her sharp in take of breath at their sudden contact.

"What, for the man who can't even be bothered saying hello? Would rather sit in his cat form, like a pet?" Colt snapped back playfully.

"You were busy," he shrugged, innocently.

"No, now I'm busy," she countered shrugging out of his grip, and continuing her way to Solaris, saying her hips in a deliberate fashion to tease him.

When she got to his stable, he was contentedly eating his hay, without a care in the world and the rhythm of his chewing brought a steadiness to her, as she replaced her belongings into her bag.

"Woman, are you seriously telling me, that all this time I have been worried about the competition of the wolf, when it is in fact, the horse I need to bother about?" Calum asked, caging her in from behind, by putting either arm about her, onto the top of the stable door.

Colt sighed, and turned to face him, placing one hand onto his cheek and smiling, and as he leaned in to deepen the contact she spoke, "Not at all, Calum. There is simply no competition, there never could be, the horse woud win, hands down, every time."

She had answered, with such sweetness that Calum didn't know whether she was joking or being serious, but a smile tugged at his lip all the same.

"What a cold hearted beast you are, Love," he answered leaning closer, "But, I do like a challenge,"

Colt shrugged, lifting her chin to meet his challenge. Calum slowly began to lean in, his eyes scrutinizing her every move as he did so. He loved how defiant she could be, she wasn't a bidable woman by any estimation, and that discovery about her, had excited him most of all.

Colt couldn't help but want more of his warmth as he gradually came closer and closer to her. She wanted to be enveloped by this man, to feel every last muscular inch of him, and for once her mind was nowhere, but on him and herself, in this moment of time where he was leaning forward to kiss her.

Her hands snaked up to his skin, enjoying the brief shudder of pleasure, that flitted across his face when her hands made contact with his chest. She was sure the same look could be found plastered all over her own face right now, and she wondered why she insisted on chiding him for his nakedness, when it was such an enjoyable experience. She found a desire unfurling within her suddenly, to be just as naked as he was. To feel the heat of his skin on as much of her own as possible.

Calum got closer, his original intention had been to pull away at the last moment to tease her, to whisper in her ear how she wouldn't mind him not kissing her in that case. But, the closer he came to her lips, the more he found himself unwilling to pull away. He could taste the sweetened peppermint tea on her breath as she held his gaze, challenging him to go further. His left hand dropped from the stable door to slide around her lower back as he pulled her all too pliant body closer to his own, crushing her frame against his own.

Calum's mind and his body were ready to explode with need as he started to lower his already hooded eyes, he was only about an inch away from capturing her lips, when suddenly they were both doused in cold, second hand water as Solaris struck his soft nose between them, pushing their bodies and heads apart, before he dribbled out the large mouthful of leftover water, he had just taken a drink of, in his effort to see just what it was they were doing.

Colt instantly pulled away with a shriek, shocked at how lost she became in the moment, and how a cold shower was exactly what she seemed to need to cool off. She had never been so thankful for her horse.