Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(191)

were scared of embracing your submissive nature permanently.”


“While that is partially true—”


Ben stopped her protest with his fingers. “But once my anger and pride cleared, I

understood it wasn’t me bein’ a Dom that was the issue. Or you not accepting being

submissive. It was the Rawhide Club itself. You weren’t passing judgment on it or on

people who belong to it. Not on me either. And to some extent, not on yourself.”


Her eyes lit up. “You do understand.”


“Took me a couple days, and a bad night at the club, but I finally got it.”


“A bad night at the club? You went to the club last weekend?” she said sharply.


“Don’t look at me like that, angel. I wasn’t there for a hookup. After everything

came to a head with us, the Rawhide has always been my go-to place for support,

consolation, acceptance, whatever. Long story short, my cousin Dalton showed up and his

accusations brought out some questions I’d not dealt with for quite a while.”


“What kind of questions?”


“Why I needed the club. Why I needed certain aspects of it and not others, which

really made me think.”


“Are you okay?” Her eyes narrowed. “What accusations did your cousin make? Because

you shouldn’t have to explain who you are to anyone.” She snapped, “Did he threaten

to tell your family that you’re a Dom? Is that why you resigned from the club?”


He loved how she jumped to his defense. “He told my brothers. Which got Chase and

Gavin here right away.” Ben still couldn’t believe they’d shown up. “We had a talk

about that part of my life and they didn’t pass judgment.”


“I’m glad, Ben. I’m really, really glad for you. That’s got to be a huge relief.”


“Dalton promised to keep my…proclivities under his hat. But in some ways his

questions were good for me. A big reason I kept going to the Rawhide, aside from my

friendships with the guys, is I found acceptance. I’d never had that before.”


“But now?”


“Now?” His eyes searched hers and his heart rate spiked. “You tell me.”


“Tell you what?”


“Why you’re here. What you want from me.”


Ainsley didn’t hold back. “I want it all. More time with you and me together. With

you as my Dom. With every part, each facet, all sides of yourself that you want to

share with me.”


Everything in him that’d been wound tight…loosened. “I hoped you’d want that. “


“I do. More than anything.”


“I knew I’d have to choose.”


“Choose what?”


“Choose between the club and you.”


She went utterly still.


“And I chose you. I’ve got your acceptance and I don’t need to go anywhere else. I’

m not giving anything up by leaving the club, Ainsley, I feel like I’m gaining so much

more than I’d ever hoped for.”




“What are you saying?” she whispered, trailing her fingers across the stubble on his

jaw.