Free Fated for Love by Melissa Foster

were locked on Callie.
    “Let go and lean toward me.”
    “No!” Are you freaking crazy?
    “Callie, I’ve got you.”
    “Hell no!” She gripped the saddle for dear life. Suddenly Wes’s big, strong hands clutched her waist.
    “Let go!” A command.
    She slammed her eyes shut, released the reins, and in the next breath she was suspended in midair. She landed hard on his horse, and her eyes shot open.
    “Hang on to me!” With one powerful arm wrapped around her middle, he grasped the reins and the horse slowed its pace.
    Callie could barely breathe. Tears streaked her face, and her heart beat so fast she thought she was going to pass out. Wes’s heart thundered against her back; his thighs were pressed to the outside of hers.
    “You’re okay, Callie. I’ve got you. You’re safe,” he said in a low, confident voice that reassured her.
    She saw her horse walking at the other end of the arena, and it made her cry harder.
    “Callie!” Kathie yelled as Wes guided the horse back toward the barn.
    “Oh my God!” Christine said, clutching Bonnie’s arm. “Oh my God. Oh my God.”
    “Shh. She’s okay. God, Callie, you’re okay.” Bonnie reached up and touched Callie’s leg. “Wes, Jesus, thank you.”
    Even after the horse stopped, Wes didn’t loosen his grip around her. It was all she could do to keep breathing as she tried to calm her racing pulse and stop the flow of tears.
    “I’ve got you,” he whispered against her cheek. “You’re okay. Breathe, Callie. Just breathe. You don’t have to do anything else. I’ve got you.”
    She focused on his reassurance and let out a breath. Without thinking, Callie sank back against him. He was big and strong, safe and warm. So warm. She closed her eyes and tuned out everything except his calming heartbeat. She’d never been so scared in all her life, and she’d never felt so safe in someone’s arms.
    “Oh my God. I was so scared.” Kathie came to the side of the horse. “Thank God you’re okay. Thank Wes, actually. We’ll skip the trail ride.”
    “No.” Callie opened her eyes. It was a gut reaction, and she had no idea what she was thinking. There was absolutely no way she’d climb onto another horse, but she wasn’t going to be the cause of a ruined day after everything her friends had done for her. “No. I’m not ruining this trip for you guys. No way.”
    “Callie, it’s only a horseback ride. We don’t have to—”
    Wes cut Bonnie off. “She can ride with me.”
    Callie froze.
    Kathie was the first to crack a smile.
    “Really?” Christine asked. “You don’t mind having sweet, sexy Callie between your legs?”
    “Christine!” Bonnie chided her.
    Wes shook his head. “If Callie’s okay with riding with me, I’m fine with it. I don’t want her on a horse by herself until I have a chance to work with her.” He lowered his mouth to just beside her ear again. “Are you okay enough for me to bring you down off the horse?”
    No. Please keep holding me. Forever . One look at her friends’ worried faces brought a nod of her head.
    “I’m going to get off the horse and help you down. Don’t flinch. Don’t kick. Don’t scream. Don’t…breathe.” He slid his hand around her waist and trailed it across her back as he dismounted, one hand on her at all times. From the ground, he settled his hands on her waist and lifted her off the horse.
    She held tightly to his wrists.
    “Okay?” He searched her eyes.
    She nodded, feeling a million things—hot, flustered, embarrassed, still a little scared, but definitely not okay yet.
    “You must have kicked her with your heels.” He sounded as if he were working out the logistics of what happened. His hands were still on her hips, his eyes full of compassion.
    “Something bit me.” She looked down at a swollen red bite on her leg. Her pulse was finally calming down.
    “Oh, hon, didn’t you put on the bug spray I gave you?” Christine took her hand. “We’ll be right back. I just