Wild Horses

From that point onward, Zach and Treva kept their relations a secret from everyone else. It was an unspoken notion between the two that their parents shouldn't find out about them, at least not until the most opportune of moments. Although Zach did want Brian to find out, solely to see his friend's reaction once he knew that Treva had chosen Zach over him.

So the two went about their private way from day to day as the autumn began to fade, the days getting colder as they went. Zach and Treva would meet in private as much as they could, which proved difficult because it seemed there was nowhere on the ranch that the others weren't. It wasn't that they felt their secret relationship would be forbidden by the parents, but Zach and Treva wanted to share what they had with themselves first before sharing it with everyone else.

Needless to say, their relationship with each other was continuing to grow, becoming something much more powerful than neither Treva nor Zach had imagined. They'd always share small glances across the table during meals, secret smiles being exchanged when no one was looking. Treva made special care to spend time with Zach, either gallivanting around the ranch or caring for the horses with him. Zach showed her parts of the ranch Treva had never seen, like the small pond that the stream drained into where Zach had gone fishing many times. He even took her into the woods, sharing the old wooden tree fort Zach's father had built when Zach, his brother, and Brian were younger, and sharing the memories he had of it.

Wherever Zach wanted to take her, Treva would go without question because there was nothing she enjoyed more than spending her time with him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Coming into the kitchen from outside through the back room, Zach following closely behind her, Treva saw her mother and father, along with Maria and James, pulling on their coats.

"Are you going somewhere?" she asked, stopping to stand at the table. Clarisse looked up at her daughter with a smile.

"We're only just going down into Billings for awhile. We'll be back by dinnertime," she replied, handing John his hat before she crossed the room and hugged Treva. Clarisse kissed her forehead and gave Zach a warm smile before she turned away. The others said their goodbyes, Maria also giving Zach a kiss, and then they left the house, going over to the barn. Treva watched as the covered wagon was commandeered by the two women while John and James mounted two of the horses, Twitch and Delilah. Treva watched through the window in the kitchen as their parents slowly made their way down the path in the woods toward Billings and out of sight.

Feeling warmth behind her, Treva looked over her shoulder to see Zach standing there. She smiled up at him, eyes drifting shut as Zach leaned in, placing a kiss on her lips now that they were alone. But footsteps on the stairs quickly tore them apart, Zach moving as far from Treva as he could in the few seconds before Brian appeared in the doorway. Clearing his throat, Zach looked up at Brian who crossed the kitchen as he headed to put his boots on in the back room. Brian flashed a debonair smile to Treva as he passed, and she tried not to blush as he did so, seeing the glint in his eyes. Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, Treva glanced at Zach only to see him cross by her to stand in the doorway to the back room, where Brian was still pulling his boots on.

"Where you headed?" Zach asked, earning a grunt from Brian as he pulled on his second boot.

"Bandit's hooves are splitting, so I'm going to put new shoes on him and then ride him a bit. Break 'em in," Brian answered as he laced up the boot, standing up and grabbing one of the thick, brown leather jackets hanging up before pulling it on. Without another word he left, leaving Zach and Treva alone in the kitchen.

Turning back to face Treva, Zach couldn't help the grin that parted his lips. All the two had wanted for days was time completely alone, and now was their chance. Biting her lip, Treva watched as Zach took a few tentative steps toward her, taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers. Pulling her to him and leaning down, Zach kissed her, reveling in the warmth he felt from her body. He slid his tongue against the seam of her lips but instead of gaining entrance as he had hoped, Treva only pulled away from him.

She smirked as she backed away from Zach, pulling her hand from his grip as she headed toward the stairs. Not knowing that exactly Treva was up to, Zach followed her and ended up in her bedroom. Smiling when Treva closed the door, blocking them off from the rest of the house, Zach only kissed her again, not hesitating to slip his tongue into her awaiting mouth. Treva wrapped her arms around him and pulled his body close against hers, feeling her small but pert breasts press against Zach's firm chest. She moaned as her tongue slid against his, feeling a wave of energy rush over her, settling in her stomach and causing her to feel excited.

Unsure as to the reaction he would get but daring enough to try, Zach carefully began unbuttoning the front of Treva's shirt. When he didn't feel her pull away or tense in his arms he continued until the shirt was undone, pulling from the kiss as Treva shrugged it off her shoulders. She was left in the form-fitting corset she always wore. Zach looked her up and down for a moment before attaching his lips to her neck, pressing chaste kisses down to her shoulders as he slowly pushed her back toward the bed. Treva tilted her head back, eyes closed as she lightly ran her hand over the back of Zach's head, fingers delving into his soft, black hair.

Slowly she moved backwards unto she was lying against the plush mattress, Zach above her as he continued to kiss her neck, lightly sucking the skin between his teeth. Resting between Treva's legs Zach picked his head up, his breathing slightly labored as he looked down into Treva's eyes, seeing her intense blue gaze staring back at him. Swallowing hard, Treva pulled him down to meet her lips, pressing hard against him, this time sliding her tongue against his first as Zach's hands began to wander. Soon they moved to the front clasps and ties of her corset, swiftly undoing them with Zach once again was met with no resistance. Treva felt comfortable with Zach; more comfortable than she had ever felt with anyone else in her life.

Once the corset had been completely undone, Treva could feel Zach's body begin to tremble. Kissing him slower, she reached down to grab one of his hands, slowly bringing it up her body until Zach's palm rested against the warm flesh of her breast. Zach had never felt a woman's body like this before, and it caused his heard to pound nervously against his ribcage, his pulse nearly skyrocketing as he gently moved his hand against the supple flesh, grazing Treva's lip with his teeth as he pulled out of the kiss. Truthfully, he wanted to see what had been revealed to him, as he had never seen a woman's most private parts. A blush crept to his cheeks just at the thought, and Treva tried to stifle a laugh as she saw the pink tinge of Zach's cheeks. Laughter dying down Treva silently ran one hand along Zach's cheek, smiling as she gazed up into the deep pools of green above her. If she wasn't mistaken, she could have sworn she was falling deeply in love with Zach, and the thought of it made her heart flutter.

Leaning down, Zach slowly kissed Treva once more, reveling in the time they could spend together. Neither of them had any idea of the time, but it seemed as if time had gone by so slowly for them both during their passionate interlude.

"Zach?" came a female voice from the bottom of the stairs. Heart jolting at the thought of being caught in such a position by his mother, Zach bolted off of Treva as fast as he could, eyes wide as Treva's were the same. Zach quickly stole a glance at Treva's breasts before she tried redoing the hooks and ties of her corset, his cheeks reddening to the likes of a tomato

"What do we do?" Treva asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as they heard Maria ascending the stairs to the second floor. Giving up on the ties, Treva pulled the corset off completely before finding her shirt on the floor.

"Stay here," Zach hissed, and he quickly and quietly exited Treva's room as she did up the front of her shirt. Seeing his mother on the landing caused Zach's heart to beat faster.

"Zachary, what were you doing in Treva's room?" Maria asked as she stepped down the hall toward her son.

"I...I was--" Zach stuttered, feeling his mouth dry up immediately. Of course there was no way he could tell his mother the truth, and he wasn't the greatest at thinking of lies. Suddenly the door behind him opened and Treva emerged, fully dressed and slightly flushed.

"I needed someone to help take my corset off.... It was all knotted. Zach was the only one around," Treva answered quickly, her heart racing just as fast as Zach's. Maria looked curiously between Treva and her son and although she had a good idea as to what the pair was up to, she decided to let it slide.

Without another word, Zach sidled past his mother and down the stairs, Treva following close behind.