Dirty Little Secret [Ali x Emil]

Ali wasn’t sure how their current game of cat and mouse had started but here she was, openly throwing glances at Emilio Capitani as she cooled off Valerius, the young stallion stretching low and observing the other pair in the arena with a calm, curious gaze. Much like his sire, the young animal was all composure and business in the arena, sensitive to his rider’s aids and keen to jump them out of the saddle but respectful and sensible at once. And, as much as Ali hated to admit it, he was perfect. Perhaps, if she really wanted to tease Emil, she could have brought any of her other mares but she simply couldn’t pass up the oportunity to get to know her latest acquisition - and, unfortunately, her engagement gift from her father - more. The girls would have to wait their turn.



In her peripheral vision, she could see some of the younger girls lining the fenceline of the arena, their eyes glued to the Italian with shy, teasing smiles and batting eyelashes. The sight of such an audience made Ali smirk with amusement, knowing just how much Capitani enjoyed the attention though even as she bit her lip in a seductive way, her eyes catching the man’s, she couldn’t help remembering the bright blue ones of Charles Whittemore. She must have been just a bit younger than some of the girls here when she was enamoured with Charles, hoping he would spare her a fleeting smile or even a glance. Shaking her head to chase away any thought of the current barn owner, the young woman turned to ride her horse out of the arena, leaving Emil to his fan club.



The gravel crunched under the stallion’s hooves but the horse didn’t mind, sighing in contentment as he stretched to the limit, his thick neck lowering down until Ali was holding only onto the buckle. Chuckling, she scratched the large wither as the pair approached the barn, swinging off and loosening the girth. The next few moments, she simply hid her face in the horse’s neck, eyes closed and breathing in the sweet scent of sweat and alfalfa, Valerius waiting patiently, only his thick tail swinging back and forth. How many years did she wish for a horse that could take her all the way, that had some semblance of her heart horse? How many times did she try to snatch a Baraccuda offspring or sibling, only to pull out last minute, sensing that somehow it wasn’t right?



As though sensing her melancholy, the huge blazed head turned to nudge her, sniffing at her pockets even as the stallion left a foamy green streak on Ali’s shirt. Chuckling, the young woman pushed his nose away, starting towards the shower stall. A few minutes of untacking and rinsing the dark horse, she had his back in his stall, shaking her head as he immediately dropped down to roll in the fresh shavings, the huge animal taking up most of the space as he stretched much like a dog before standing up. Shaking off the remaining bits, Valerius stuck his nose in the hay, completely ignoring Siggy’s annoyed snorting on his other side, the chestnut mare protesting his return.



“Oh please, you are such a flirt Sig,” Ali blew the mare a kiss, tracking to dump her tack on its hooks before looking down at her shirt with a face of disgust. She didn’t think it was going to be so muggy that day and her shirt was not meant for the damp air - it was soaked and grimmy, covered with slobber and suffocating. Rolling her eyes, Ali pulled it over her head, ending up in a white sports bra bright against her tanned skin. Smirking as she imagined just what an image she currently was, the blonde quickly washed the top under cold water, wringing it out until the cloth was cold and damp. Slinging it over her shoulder, she quickly slipped up into the loft, hanging the shirt to dry before stretching out on the hay, using one of the winter blankets as a cushion between her skin and the rough foliage.



“I hate summer,” she grumbled, closing her eyes and trying to get her mind to go blank. A few moments of peace would be so welcome…

Made by Time Lapse of Adoxgraphy.