Chapter Text
The bit wedged between Jasper’s teeth was cold. The shoes attached to her feet were weighted and her gait was leaden as she crawled on her hands and knees. Everything Lapis had crafted for this scene was a test of Jasper’s strength, and despite her weightlifting experience and her experience as a personal trainer, Jasper was finding it difficult. That was good. She liked difficult.
“Steady,” Lapis said above her, pulling the reins gently. Jasper had been trying too hard to prove herself, trotting when she should be walking. They were doing laps around the living room, the furniture cleared out of the way and arranged in a mock circle to resemble a horse’s paddock.
The saddle strapped to her torso was old and smelled like dust. Lapis had had Jasper refurbish it, utilizing the boot blacking skills she had picked up for a different scene. This had been done while Lapis was painting her nails, and then while she was doing the bills. They had been in the same room, laboring in their respective corners and occasionally pausing to see what the other was doing. Jasper had never caught Lapis watching, but she could feel her gaze on her back and that had encouraged her to work in the polish until the saddle was good as new.
The knee-high boots Lapis was wearing, pressed against Jasper’s sides, had been polished with the same devotion. They smelled less earthy than the saddle, more like polish. Jasper couldn’t help but breathe in the sharp scents. Lapis tugged the reins and chastised her, for in remembering the preparations, she had stopped completely.
“Go,” Lapis hissed. After the second reprimand she was growing impatient. Jasper moved steadily, keeping her back straight and head up as she made the rounds around the living room. After the fourth lap, Lapis signaled for her to stop, gently tapping her right flank two times with the heel of her boot. She did not dismount right away, her weight lingering on Jasper as she stroked her neck and her cheek.
Jasper closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. Lapis’s hands, her weight, and the added weight of the saddle were soothing. Grounding. Often when Jasper had trouble sleeping, Lapis would stretch herself over Jasper’s backside, and just like that they would both fall asleep. Jasper could feel the pull of sleep and quickly opened her eyes. And then Lapis dismounted, her heels making a muffled thudding sound on the carpet. She continued to stroke Jasper and pressed herself against her side. This time she was the one closing her eyes, breathing deeply, taking in the moment.
She gave Jasper a congratulatory pat on the hip then set to work on releasing the tack from Jasper’s body. She started with the saddle, pulling through the belt loops. When she lifted the saddle from Jasper’s back, Jasper groaned and stretched, her back muscles bulging, shining with sweat. Lapis bit her bottom lip, holding back, keeping character. Perhaps some riders let their stallions take them, but that was not what they had negotiated.
After the equipment was removed, Lapis gave Jasper time to relax and for herself to regain footing in her role. Jasper helped remind her, snorting and tossing her head. She did not like to stay in one place.
Lapis laughed and stroked her forehead, “I’m sorry. Am I keeping you from your treat?” The bit was no longer in Jasper’s mouth. Lapis lead her by placing a hand on her neck and walking in front of her.
They stopped in front of a table bearing apples and long slivers of carrots. Most horses liked sugar cubes as a reward, but Jasper had never taken to them. That was just as well. She was a sport horse, every part of her training focused on strength building and agility, with just a touch of grace. Lapis was proud of how well Jasper took to the training regimen. She was a real natural.
Often Lapis would draw her mouth close to Jasper’s ear and talk about showing her off. Lapis was expecting company in a few months-- her only friend from her hometown, who also shared their predilection towards BDSM. Lapis had on multiple occasions stroked Jasper’s long mane and talked about her friend and how she would parade Jasper around the room under their scrutinizing gaze.
“They are a tough judge. But I know you can do it-- because I’m tougher.”
Jasper was not very hungry and ate only a few carrot sticks. With her thumb, Lapis stroked Jasper’s crooked nose.
They sat down and Lapis brushed and braided her hair. Jasper had long lost track of time. She had lost her sense of humanity the moment Lapis had dressed her in the tack equipment and called her by her pony name. Now that the equipment was off, Jasper was coming back into her human skin. It came back one layer at a time as Lapis redressed her in her jersey tank top and shorts.
“How was that?” Lapis asked, checking in.
“Neigh,” Jasper replied and then, seeing the disbelief cross Lapis’s face, laughed and said, “--Kidding. I’m all right. You?”
“Tired,” Lapis admitted.
“Says the woman who rode on my back all around the room for the past half hour,” Jasper quipped with pretend sarcasm, and then, before Lapis could take it seriously, she hefted her in her arms and said, “I don’t mind.”
Within moments Lapis fell asleep.