5A/N: Hey folks! It'll be awhile before I can even attempt to write a sequel for Somewhere to Belong. But for those of you who love the the universe in which it takes place, here are some companion oneshots from that story. Enjoy!
"Octavia…"
"No! I'm not going anywhere near that thing," she said as she stood a good distance away from the horse. Apparently horses were a lot taller in real life than in storybooks.
"He won't hurt you. I promise," Lincoln said as he placed his hand on her lower back. It was something he did often, yet every time it surprised her.
Octavia bit her lip to keep herself from freezing at his touch, and then he was gently pushing her forward.
She took a few tentative steps towards the horse, but then the horse looked at her and snorted.
She ran behind Lincoln and hid. He chuckled lightly but brought her back on front of him.
He guided her to the horse. "He doesn't bite. He's actually very safe for new riders like you."
Octavia stopped short a foot away from the horse. "This is as far as I go." She could heard Lincoln's irritated sigh.
"You need to learn how to ride a horse, Octavia. This not a negotiation. Just get on the horse," he said.
Octavia reached out and stroked the horse's side. He paid her no mind, and finally she felt calm enough to mount him.
She turned to face Lincoln who had an amused look on his face. "How do I get on?"
"Grab the saddle horn," he instructed, and she did. "Now put your left foot in the stirrup."
She nearly laughed at that because she was briefly reminded of her mother's stories of her lady doctor visits. Then the thought of her mother made her smile go away.
"Octavia?"
She shook herself out of it. "Sorry, got lost in thought. I put my foot here?"
"Yeah, now pull yourself up and swing your right leg over the saddle," he continued.
She tried, but she nearly fell to the ground. He caught her easily and held her in place.
"I'll help," he said, not noticing that his hands were currently on her ass.
"Please hurry," she muttered as her ears grew hot. Now was not the time to be thinking about all the places she wished his hands would touch.
Holding her tightly, he helped her onto the horse. Octavia gripped the horn tightly as she realized how high up she was.
"Please get me down," she pleaded. Lincoln smiled at her. His smile activated the butterflies in her stomach, and she couldn't help but smile back.
"You're doing fine, now scoot forward."
She paused as she looked from him to the saddle. "Why?"
"I need to get on the saddle too. How else am I going to teach you how to ride?"
Octavia's mouth dropped open, and it took all her willpower to keep from licking her lips. The way he said that made her think of other things. Other things that she hadn't had the opportunity to actually do yet. Damn her isolation.
"I'm fine by myself," she replied, but he shot her a look. Ignoring her protests, he climbed onto the horse behind her.
Her body stiffened the moment his chest came into contact with her back. He was solid muscle, and…
"What are you doing?!" she squeaked as she felt his hand on her stomach. He pulled her flush against him, and she could practically feel him through his pants. Oh, this was such a bad idea.
"You've never been riding before, so you don't know how to move with the horse. I'm making sure you don't fall off." His arm tightened around her, and he handed her the reigns.
"Hold them with your dominant hand and keep your other hand on the horn." She followed his instructions and tried to focus on the horse and not the hand that was splayed across her belly. He had some large hands.
"Now what?" she said and leaned back against him for security, or so she told herself. His chin rested on the top of her head, and she found that she liked the way it felt. Him holding her like this, even though it was innocent.
"We ride," he said and nudged the horse forward.
The motion startled Octavia so badly that she dropped the reigns and squeezed Lincoln's thigh. She knew the groan he made wasn't pleasurable because she was digging her nails in.
"Don't drop the reigns," he snapped and snatched them up. He forced her hands back onto the horn.
"Pay attention and focus."
It was a little hard for her to do that since his mouth was very close to her ear. She cursed her rampant hormones. This was not the time.
When the horse started moving again, Octavia maintained her calm until the horse started trotting.
The saddle smacked against her ass with each step, and it was quite painful. After a few minutes of this, Lincoln suggested they try a gallop.
"Nope! I'm in a lot of pain, and a gallop would only make things worse," she complained. Lincoln's arm tightened around her, and she nearly melted.
"Just move with the horse, and it will help. I forget you're not used to this. You'll get use to the pain."
"And end up with a giant never-ending bruise on my ass? No thanks," she replied.
"Try leaning forward to take some of the pressure off," he said as he instructed the horse to go back to their starting point.
"Finally, now you're making some—oh"
When she leaned forward, a very pleasant sensation came over her and she plopped her sore ass back down on the saddle.
"What's wrong?" Lincoln asked when he noticed her face was bright red and her lips were pursed.
"Nothing," she muttered, utterly horrified at how good the alternative position had felt. "That's it for today's lesson. Tomorrow we can go at it again—I mean try it again."
"Are you alright, Octavia?"
She wanted to yell at him to stop talking. Every time he did, she could feel the vibrations from his chest, and it made her wonder what it would feel like if she felt that against her stomach.
Once they were back to the starting point, he dismounted and helped her off. She clung to his arms tightly as he helped her down. He rubbed her arm comfortingly.
"You did well for your first time," he said with a smile, and that just made things worse. She frowned at him.
"I know a pitying look when I see one, Lincoln. It was awful, and I'm awful at this. No need to sugarcoat it," she crossed her arms and tried to hide her face in her arms like a child.
A finger touched her chin and then she was looking up into his warm brown eyes.
"It was your first time, and you were terrified. It's understandable. I'll go slower next time so you can adjust better."
She knew he was trying to be understanding and caring, but she couldn't even keep a straight face that time.
Her hand clapped over her mouth as she tried to hold her laughter in. Tears were leaking from her eyes, and the sounds she made sounded like a dying seal.
"What's so funny?" Lincoln asked, but Octavia shook her head as she wiped her tears away.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let's just go back to the village," she said and grabbed the horse by the reigns and led him down the path, laughter still escaping from her.
Lincoln watched her go, and then it donned on him. He looked over her retreating form and scanned her body from head to toe.
"No, she can't be," he whispered to himself. Even with most of her life in isolation, at some point she must have. He had seen more than one warrior interested in her since she came to Tondisi.
He just shook his head and followed her. It was none of his business, or so he liked to believe.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for another!
