Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(144)

would’ve loved to act out with you.”


She started the washer and her focus caught on his incredible chest again. Right. He

needed to cover up. “I’ll find you a shirt.”


Just to be ornery, she picked her Cat Lover T-shirt.


Ben caught it one handed and slipped it over his head. “Speaking of cats…they raced

outta the room the instant I stepped foot inside. They hate me.”


“Because you smell like dog. Your dogs hate me because I smell like cat.”


“Mmm. But I like how your * smells.”


“Bennett McKay.”


He laughed. “Hand me the remote. We’ve already missed ten minutes of Wheel.”


Ainsley sat next to him, like she always did. Bennett jerked her close to his body like

he always did. Only when the show ended did she remember they weren’t supposed to be

twined together. He wasn’t supposed to be touching her. She wasn’t supposed to have

her head on his shoulder.


Almost as if he’d read her mind, he murmured, “Sorry. Habit.” His fingers trailed

across her forearm three more times before he released her.


She stood and retreated to the kitchen. He followed. Closely. “Look, your shirt still

isn’t dry. Why don’t you stay for dinner? It’s nothing fancy. Just a skillet pot

pie.” When Ben didn’t respond, she backtracked. “But don’t feel obligated. I’m

sure you have better things to—”


He growled that Dom-like warning, curling his hand around her jaw, destroying her

protests and her mind with a prolonged, soft-lipped kiss packed with sweet heat. His

kisses alone could rocket her into that sublime floaty space.


Her lips tingled when he pulled back. His face was pure Dom. “I want you. Now. Bent

over the table with that kitchen towel tyin’ your hands together behind your back.”


She tumbled backward into the counter. “No.”


“You don’t get to say no to me, sub.”


“I’m not your sub anymore, remember?”


Immediately Ben froze. He shoved his hands in his pockets and took two big steps back.

“Have I mentioned how much I f*cking hate that?”


Remind him he brought this on himself. Reset the boundaries and make this about

business. “I sent your loan paperwork off today.”


“Find anything in my financials worth mentioning?” he asked tightly.


“You make a lot more off your furniture sideline than what I’d expected. So that’s

on the plus side of getting loan approval, since it’s enough income to make the

monthly payments.”


“Any idea on how long it’ll be before you know for sure?”


She shrugged. “Next week probably.”


Then he was invading her space again. “And then what, Ainsley?”


“What do you mean?”


“Our official business will be over. Can we pick up where we left off?”


“Oh, you mean us sneaking around? You bossing me around in private?” She shook her

head. “That ship has sailed for us. Our month would’ve been up next week anyway.”

Ainsley realized she’d literally let him back her into a corner. “Back off, Ben, or I