Free Tethered (The Stables Trilogy #2) by Penny Lam

what to do,” she mumbled, stepping next to Eden. She tracked each piece of hard wear as he slid, strapped, and cinched it on. Bit. Then bridle. Followed by a body harness. This was the first time she’d seen it put in full use. Leather straps decorated Eden’s elegant, slim shoulders. They tightened around her small breasts, then dropped and wrapped around her torso and hips. A bar was slipped through loops in the harness behind Eden. Her elbows hooked over it and it nestled in their groove. J.B. cuffed her there, locking her arms behind her. This forced her back to arch and her chest to be thrust forward. It was simple and beautiful.
     
    Finally, Eden bent at the waist, preparing to be tailed.
     
    Maple was familiar now with the steel plugs. The hair that flowed from them had been dyed to match each woman’s hair, creating the illusion of mane and tail. Up until this point, Maple had only removed and cleaned the tails. Now J.B. expected her to learn how to put them in as well.
     
    She should have been paying closer attention to his hands as they grabbed the tail and a large bottle of lube. He squirted a large amount on the steel plug before positioning it at Eden’s puckered hole.
     
    J.B. was saying “Because the ponies wear the tails so often and for so long, there isn’t much resistance when you--”
     
    But Maple wasn’t really listening, and she wasn’t paying attention as he began to push the tail in. The sounds of Eden’s grunts didn’t register much, either. Her focus was completely on J.B.’s face as he tailed the pony girl.
     
    It was blank. There truly was no emotion in it as he shoved a steel plug up this girl’s ass. He could just as easily be teaching her how to clean a toilet, or how to write with a pencil. Like this was an everyday common activity.
     
    For him, though, it was.
     
    The thing that bruised her, though, was that it was the same face that had brutally brought her to orgasm. No emotions.
     
    Maple shivered.
     
    He handed her the reins. They felt light and soft in her hands.
     
    “Lead her on the left. Go to the cone, execute a turn, and come back.” The riding crop in his hand was tapping against his well-muscled thigh.
     
    Clucking, Maple began to walk and Eden followed. The pony girl’s knees lifted high before she stamped down. It was an elegant, and truly equine, gait. Gripping the reins more firmly, Maple set a slow showman’s pace. Eden responded well to the gentle tugs on the reins.
     
    As they approached the cone, Maple held a rein in each hand. She tugged gently with just the left, turning Eden. It was a little awkward, and Eden stumbled a bit.
     
    The stumble woke up Maple’s worry about Bonnie. She’d been caring for the old horse long enough that she knew to listen to her gut. Her gut told her something was wrong. Visions passed by of all the times Bonnie had listened to Maple’s problems. Maple loved nothing more than when she could bury her face in the horse’s long, warm neck. Feeling the pulse of Bonnie’s heart pressed against her cheek was reassuring.
     
    The ranch had become a home for Maple, albeit a strange one. She managed to feel completely at ease there, like she belonged. This was due to the dependability of her schedule and taking care of the stable. Having a purpose each day and being able to see the rewards of hard work each night was validating. It helped her forget that she had made so many bad decisions. That she had blood on her hands.
     
    Then again, the ranch also had J.B. The torrent of lust and desire she felt for him was only made murkier by not knowing how he felt about her. He managed to bring out the things in herself she most wished to hide and make them feel, well, okay. Like the whipping, which should have been a shameful and decidedly wrong way for an employer to punish an employee.
     
    It had been excruciating bliss.
     
    Bonnie was her homing beacon. Reliable, beautiful, gentle. When Maple’s frantic mind was