Riding till sunset

Noah and Alice walked out of the building and hailed a cab. The place they wanted to reach was rather far and out of the city. It took an hour to arrive. Noah got off and helped Alice off as well. They both then walked into the building before them.

The area around was open and combined with nature. The skyscrapers of the city were now just a distant skyline. The fresh cool air was scented with the smell of grass and trees tickling their noses as they walked in.

At the entrance, they were greeted by a desk and a man sitting behind it with a computer. Noah holding Alice's hand walked up.

"Noah Sinfero and Alice Rhinehart, we registered online." The man nodded and typed something on the computer. He then pressed a button and reached down to take out two white bands. He placed them on the desk in front of Noah and said, "Here are your entrance passes."

Noah picked up the two bands giving one to Alice. He then walked with her to a closed glass door. The door sensing the band approaching opened for the both of them allowing them into the club.

A man seeing the two greeted them, "Hello, this is your first time here please come with me to the stables to pick out a horse. First, let's pick up some safety equipment." The man brought them to a place with helmets allowing them to chose. Subsequently, he led them out of the building to another, which was the stables.

The stables were a wide building with many compartments. Each compartment had wooden walls and wooden doors, with a floor of dirt. The entirety of the building was decorated with hay. Great ventilation and soft winds stopped the stable from building up the stench of horses.

The man brought them near the end of the stable, "Is this your first time? Will you need an instructor."

"Not for me, although it is for her. But I'll be teaching her, so we won't be needing an instructor."

"Well then just pick a horse. I'll be leaving, if you need any help you can come to me. I'll be around this area." The man turned to leave.

Alice who was behind Noah had been enthralled by a white horse next to her. The horse humphed surprising her, causing her to take a step back bumping into the man who was leaving.

The man politely apologised then continued to Alice stood still for a moment. Her body lightly shivering as her breath hastened. Noah saw what happened and pulled Alice into a hug. After holding her for a moment, Alice lightly pushed Noah and got out of his embrace.

"I'm okay now," Alice breathed out as she looked around. Before Noah could ask her anything Alice brought his attention to the horses. "I'll be choosing this horse what about you?"

Sensing that Alice didn't want to talk about what just happened Noah looked at the horse. It was the white horse that had surprised Alice a moment ago. It had an elegant mane and serene eyes. But its fierce temper contrasted its graceful appearance.

Noah put his wrist against a scanner on the wooden door, allowing the band he was wearing to unlock it. Kachink! With the door open, Noah walked in and saw the saddle and reins put to the side. He put on the dark brown reins around its head and comfortably locked the saddle onto its back. The horse neighed loudly but Noah held the reins and let it calm down.

"You've ridden a horse before, but let's ride together to get you familiar with it for today," Noah said as he walked out holding the reins of the horse.

Alice nodded and reached out to gently touch the horse. Rubbing her hand against its soft hair. They both walked out of the stable.

Noah mounted first. With his foot on the stirrup, he swiftly mounted the saddle. He then reached his hand out for Alice. "I'll help you up."

Alice grabbed his hand and with its help got on the horse. The horse feeling the weight neighed.

Worried, Alice asked, "Aren't we too heavy? Isn't that bad for the horse."

"We aren't, you're as light as a child so your weight added to mine isn't something this horse can't carry, right Romeo?"

The horse didn't answer.

"How'd you know its name is Romeo?"

"It was written on the saddle. So let's start with a slow trot, we'll speed up as we go along." Noah wrapped his hands around Alices and used them to hold the reins. The horse started to walk forward. The ride was a little shaky at first and Alice let out a little squeal as it started.

With her back put up against Noah, Alice squeezed back into him and got into a more comfortable position. As they went further along the trail entering the surrounding forest she felt more comfortable.

Noah with his fixed posture didn't mind Alice moving he continued to give her advice on how to sit as they walked.

"Is this your first time riding with someone?" Alice asked looking back at Noah.

"It is. Does it seem like my first time?"

"No it's the opposite, you seem quite comfortable riding with another person."

The two made light conversation, Noah in the middle

"Can you tell me more about what happened when I wasn't here?"

"I told you most of it. I did spend a lot of my time gaming and watching series at home. Nothing in particular to tell you."

"Who showed up at the funeral? Did my parents come?"

"Mostly my parents' colleagues came and left. Your parents didn't come but Sebastian, your butler, came and gave me the letter for the annulment of our engagement."

Noah's mood fell sharing that.

"Don't beat yourself over it. I know it wasn't in your control."

"Still to send it on such a day. What was wrong with my parents."

"Maybe they wanted to completely end things between us. If they didn't send on the day of the funeral I probably wouldn't have so fervently tried to contact you and be so disappointed afterwards giving up completely."

Pondering on Alice's words Noah was confused even further on why his parents would do such a thing but kept his thoughts to himself.

Along the path seeing a nice shaded grassy spot to rest on. "This seems like a good spot to take a break. We'll go back after this." Noah got off the horse and put out his hand.

Alice held Noah's hand and hopped off the horse. As she reached the ground her whole body felt sore and fell onto Noah causing them both to fall on the ground.

"My whole body aches from sitting like that for so long." Noah laughed and helped her sit against a tree. He then made certain the horse wouldn't run off by securing the reins.

Sitting next to Alice he took a deep breath and relaxed.

"Where does it hurt, let me massage it for you."

"Mainly my legs and back." Alice lied down in Noah's lap, with her head facing down allowing Noah to press on her back, feeling his firm hands put the right amount of pressure made her lightly moan. "That's the spot... yup right over there... a bit stronger, that's perfect."

As his hands kneaded her back Noah couldn't help but be reminded of a cat, purring as you scratched it. Alice showed a satisfied expression as she got up and put her legs on his lap.

Noah looked towards Alice who was looking up at the blue sky that peaked out between the leaves and branches of the tree. He was reminded of when she bumped into the man from earlier and her intense reaction to it.

"Alice... has your androphobia come back?" Noah hesitantly inquired.

Her head turned to look at Noah not answering. She wondered what she should say, after a few seconds of silence she whispered, "Yes".

Androphobia was the fear of men. Alice had gotten it at a time she had been kidnapped when she was ten. Although she was promptly saved. She would still have sudden panic attacks whenever a man got too close or touched her.

Both Alice's father and Noah had worked together to help her get over it. Noah had been there with Alice when she was kidnapped it was where she had recognised Noah as a safe person. This was also where his protectiveness stemmed from. He would coldly stop anyone that was male from getting close to her.

It was after this Noah and Alice had gotten a habit of sticking together like glue.

Before he left for country A Alice had gotten much better but now it seemed to have gotten worse again. Alice had just bumped him to the man from earlier and she seemed as if she was going to vomit.

"How and when did it get worse?"

Alice didn't say anything in response she only looked to be thinking about something.

"What about me, do I make you uncomfortable?" Noah asked reaching his hand.

"No, you don't." Alice rested her check in his hand as if to confirm she was fine with his touch. "I could never be scared of you. I've known you for so long I don't even think of you as a man."

"You don't think I'm a man?" Noah was rendered speechless.

Alice realised what she had just said and blurted, "That's not what I meant! To me, you're more like my other half, someone I couldn't live without. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me so how could I ever be scared of you?"

"Hmph," Noah then smiled satisfied. He then whispered teasingly, "I'm sure you would know, not much was hidden when we were on the island."

Alice face heated up remembering the scenes from the island. She pulled out her legs from Noah's hands and used the tree to help her stand up.

"Let's go back."

Noah laughed as he followed behind her.

...

By sunset, they were back in a taxi on their way home. Alice closed her eyes and was resting on Noah's shoulder.

Eventually, they came back to the apartment and had dinner. Washing the dishes Noah walked into Alice's room.

Sitting in her bed Alice looked at Noah who got in bed with her.

"Your sleeping here?" Her bed wasn't big enough for the both of them. Before this, she hadn't thought about where Noah would be sleeping.

"It's fine let's squeeze together, I don't mind. What about you?"

"All right." Alice put her hand over and hugged Noah back.

With everything they had gone through together, sleeping on the same bed wasn't much. Since he was younger Noah liked expressing his affection physically. Alice who was with Noah all the time had gotten used to him sticking close to her and had grown to like it as well. It was comforting for both of them to sleep together.