The Submissive Wives Estate

9. Hands to Yourself

CALLIE

"Come along, Xavier," I said to the tall, brown-eyed, brown-haired man I'd be calling my husband for the next two months.

His expression grew peculiar the moment I told him to "come along". His right eyebrow sprang up and he shoved his veiny right hand in his pocket.

"As you wish," he spoke with an edge I hadn't heard from him before after a long pause. Up until now, he seemed so obliging.

But I didn't mind rattling him. He was harmless, even if he was the size of a skyscraper.

I tried to pretend he wasn't there, yet I felt his presence as though a lion were prowling behind me. And it angered me that he was painstakingly handsome almost as much as it angered me that my brother honored our father's conditions about my mansion. Never mind the fact that I cried in front of Xavier. Utterly humiliating.

"So what's Opie like?" he asked, waking me from my mental slumber.

"He's been mine since I was ten," I answered flatly. "He's a Morgan so he's calm and sweet and curious. He's also a good judge of character."

"Does he take well to Pepper?"

"They're best friends," we reached the stable and I pulled out the creaky door. Some of the horses began blowing and nickering at the sight of us.

I let Xavier follow him to where Pepper was standing, swaying her muzzle back and forth. She was gray like her namesake, but in certain lighting, she looked a metallic green.

"Here she is," I ran a hand across her body and she whinnied. I got lost in Pepper's height, realizing she was tall, thin, and dark, just like Xavier.

"Wow," Xavier marveled, running his hand across her glassy coat. "To whom do I owe the pleasure of getting to take her for the summer?"

"Levi," I murmured before I shuffled to Opie's stall.

Xavier approached to do the same to Opie. I braced myself for how Opie would react. I thought back to the time I brought my high school "best friend" home for the first time back in the day. He huffed at the sight of her, sniffing out that she would hurt me long before I could.

But Opie liked Xavier. His eyes were zeroed in on him, following his every movement. And he was noticeably calmer than in times past.

"Hi Opie," Xavier said gently to my horse before saying gently in his ear. "Cheer up your girl. Tell her she's going to have her best summer yet."

Opie blew air through his nose, right in my face. It was like he could understand Xavier's words and decided to show me love in the way a horse knows how.

I giggled reluctantly as Opie's air sent my hair in different directions, "Okay, Opie, that was sweet of you."

I spoke again as I led Xavier out of the stable, "Well, feel free to take Pepper for a ride whenever you like."

"Callie, I don't ride," he sighed. "You'll teach me, won't you?"

"Sure."

"I'm assuming you're going to take Opie out again?" he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at me curiously his warm, brown eyes.

"Actually. Never mind about the ride," I thought of Daniel and how he was likely busy getting ready with Audrina for dinner. There was no use trying to look for him now.

"Shall we get ready for dinner then?"

I nodded, "You hungry?"

"I am now. Truth be told, I was nervous. Lost my appetite," he looked at me with kind yet probing eyes.