Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(151)

really mean that.”


“Maybe you’re right. But that’s the issue. I don’t know what I mean.” She sighed.

“Sex with you… God, I never dreamed a physical relationship could be that all-

consuming. And it was between us. Every single time. The amount of intensity varied,

but it was always there.” She glanced away, unsure how to finish.


After a minute or so, Ben said, “Can you look at me, please?”


Not a Dom command. She looked at him. In his eyes she saw fear, honesty, trust and

power. She saw everything she needed. She saw everything she shouldn’t want.

Everything she was too…scared to reach out and take.


“What’s really goin’ on? Did my mother say something to you?”


She shook her head.


His blue eyes snapped fire. “Rielle? Did she open her big mouth? Because—”


Ainsley put her fingers over his lips. “Nothing like that. They were both just curious

about why I was at your house. And I didn’t know what to tell them.”


“How about the truth?”


“Which is what, Ben? We met at a sex club? And we were taking a test drive as Dom and

sub couple?”


He growled.


“I just…can’t do this anymore. We aren’t lovers.” She smiled sadly. “You don’t

want to be my friend, do you?”


“No.”


That hurt. “So, it’s all sex or nothing?”


“Yep. I’ve been following your parameters, Ainsley. But when we’re through with the

business aspect of this loan? I want a chance to put things back the way they were.”


“You Dom, me sub.”


His hard gaze pinned her in place. “Really? That’s how you saw what we had together?

”


“No.” This was not going as planned. “I thought I wanted to talk to you about this

and now I see why I don’t.” She pushed off the couch.


“What are you afraid of?”


Ainsley didn’t answer. She just gathered her things and headed for the door.


Ben hadn’t kissed her at all since that night at her house when she’d suggested

friendship. When he helped her put on her coat, she wanted to melt into him. She wished

he’d go full Dom on her. Demand she stay.


But he didn’t say a word. He didn’t even walk her out to her car.


That’s when she knew it really was over.


Chapter Twenty-Five


This bullshit situation with Ainsley sucked ass. Stuck in f*cking limbo. In purgatory.


Waiting, waiting, waiting.


He hadn’t seen her for two goddamn days. He’d even called her yesterday at the bank

to check on the status of his loan, which was a legitimate reason to contact her

because it was getting down to the wire and he’d need the money by the end of the

week. For some reason him calling to ask about the loan pissed her off. Then his…

request to take her to lunch ticked her off too. She’d said no, she’d be in touch,

and hung up on him.


Ben had called her again today. First thing. He’d been nice. Polite. Purposely un-

Dom-like. And he’d gotten the same damn response. A polite f*cking brush off.