Rarity woke alone in Applejack’s bedroom at Sweet Apple Acres. A few birds were chirping outside, but most of the usual morning noises had ceased and noon was only about an hour away. The crisp smell of morning dew had been replaced by the fragrant smell of apple blossoms with an undertone of the usual barnyard musk of a working farm.

Rarity would have preferred to wake in the embrace of her lover, and indeed she did do so for a brief moment every day. Except when she took one of her rare days off, Applejack would wake with the cock crow at dawn, the lovers would share a kiss and a few words, and Rarity would roll over and fall back into sleep for several hours.

It was one of the dozens of little compromises that kept them both happy and kept their relationship from being too heated. They’d always managed to work past the arguments and the make up sex was always glorious, but so much shouting and heated debate was not healthy in the long run and was certainly not a good example for their younger sisters.

Rarity kept the Carousel Boutique as a place of business, but moved in with Applejack once she consented to and finished building a small addition to serve as Rarity’s new inspiration room. Applejack had her mornings to herself, while Rarity did most of her designing in the evenings. They attended each other’s events whenever feasible and learned not to grouse about it too much when it didn’t happen. This last was often a point of contention, but Rarity had been hard at work on a solution and was finally ready to show it off.

Rarity trotted downstairs, the curls of her mane and tail bouncing in her wake. To her delight, Applejack was in the kitchen today, preparing brunch. During applebuck season, Rarity was usually on her own for her morning meal, but in the spring Applejack usually had time to spend the morning with her marefriend. The rich aroma of eggs, toast and apple walnut salad perked Rarity’s spirits higher than they already were this morning.

She reared and hugged Applejack from the side, her chest pressed into her withers, burying her muzzle in the silky blonde mane. Had they been somewhere private, or had she less restraint, the sight of Applejack’s well muscled rump would have had her hugging the cowpony directly from behind as if mounting her, but it was simply not proper when any of the other family members could walk in at any time.

“Good morning, darling. And how is today treating my lovely rodeo star?” Rarity purred into an orange ear.

“Been a good mornin’,” Applejack answered, brushing her tail over Rarity’s flank, “but ain’t ya bein’ a mite presumptuous with that title?”

Rarity smirked behind Applejack’s head, knowing just what to say to steer the conversation. “If Rainbow Dash can be Twilight’s lovely Wonderbolt...” She pretended to pout.

“Yeah, but Twi actually goes to all of RD’s shows. Y’all only ever been to see me in Canterlot an’ Manehattan.” Applejack huffed, giving the eggs a flip.

Rarity grinned. “I could say something similar about my fashion shows, darling.”

Applejack’s muscles tensed up, a sign of annoyance Rarity knew all too well. “Didn’t we agree, no gripin’ about that?”

“We did.” Rarity moved closer so her breath was hot in Applejack’s ear. “Which is why I’ll forgive you since I brought it up.” She moved her muzzle closer still, baring her teeth to gently nibble and tug at Applejack’s ear in just the way the cowpony liked it.

A moan escaped Applejack’s lips, she’d risen to the bait and been trapped. “Not so rough, sugarcube...” Rarity teeth barely grazed Applejack’s ear in truth, but ear biting was something they usually only employed during their most heated intimacies.

“I thought you liked it rough?” Rarity flicked her tongue against the ear, eliciting a whimper of delight. “I thought so, but perhaps not here in the kitchen. Why don’t we go to the Boutique after breakfast? I have something to show you and then, if you like, we can be... rough.” Rarity punctuated the final word with one last nibble on Applejack’s ear before getting back to her own four hooves.

It may have been a touch manipulative, but Rarity was sure Applejack would accompany her that afternoon, and of course, she would make good on her promise no matter how the other business turned out.

“So that’s where mah laundry’s been disappearin’ ta.”

“Yes, I do apologize, darling. I know how much you value function over form so I borrowed a few items to serve as inspiration. I had hoped I could return them each time before they were missed.”

Applejack looked over the array of ponnequins, each one dressed in a unique outfit. Rarity’s design sense had been put to work, combining the utility of Applejack’s work clothing with her own style and inspiration. The faux leather and denim, the vests, chaps and ruffled skirts, the hats, bandanas and spurs, they all seemed too simple for the fashion world, too fancy for the rodeo circuit, or almost. Applejack couldn’t help thinking that it just might work.

“They look mighty good, sugarcube. I can tell ya put lots of hard work into them.”

“Thank you, darling. They’re all a little bit of you and a little bit of me. The birth of a new trend in fashion” Rarity smiled as she moved to Applejack’s side and nuzzled against her cheek. “Of course, that brings me to the second part of the idea.”

“What’d ya have in mind?” Applejack cocked an eyebrow.

“I would have thought that was obvious, my love. Though I suspect you’ve put the pieces together already, clever pony that you are.” Rarity said, smirking at Applejack. “I will necessarily have to attend the rodeo more often if I wish to sell these designs, and I had hoped that I could convince you to model them for my shows in return.”

Applejack blushed slightly. “Ah dunno, maybe. Ah ain’t exactly got a body like yer models.”

“Darling, these clothes weren’t made for those vapid, wispy little things. They were made for ponies like you. Handsome, healthy, well muscled...” Rarity breathed directly in Applejack’s ear as she traced a hoof across her back, coming to rest on her flank.

“An’ y’all don’t mind everypony lookin’ at mah flank, huh?” It was Applejack’s turn to smirk now.

Rarity was not to be daunted. “My love, they can look all they like because only I get to touch.” Her hoof traced a small circle around each apple on the orange flank while she nuzzled Applejack’s mane. “Shall I take that as a yes?”

“Mmmhmm...” Applejack’s answer came out as a long moan.

“I love you, darling. Neither the rodeo world, nor the fashion world will know what hit them.” Rarity reared and hugged Applejack again, directly from behind this time now that they had privacy. “Race you to the bedroom? I believe I promised you something rough.” Her teeth nipped at Applejack’s ear before she sauntered in front of her, flicking her tail.

“Yeehaw!”

Author's Notes:

This is the first (in written order anyway) to include a reference to another couple. May or may not be in continuity with the TwiDash prompt (whenever it shows up), I just liked the line.

Also: Continued in the RariJack Prompt tag game.