Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(74)

“Anything.” He traced her cheekbone with his knuckles. “Big secret, little

annoyance. Give me a piece of yourself you’ve never shared with anyone else.”


She focused on his chest and those tiny furrowed lines appeared on her forehead. “I

had lasik surgery on both my eyes four years ago. People knew about it because I’d

been wearing glasses for twenty-two years, but I never told anyone why I did it.”


“Why?”


“I thought losing the glasses would make me more attractive to my husband. Obviously

it didn’t work. He just bitched about the price of the surgery.”


“Were you happy with your decision?”


“Yes. I felt younger, freer. I liked the change.”


Ben kissed the corners of her eyes. “You should. I’m guessing it was the first of

many changes.”


“It was. It is. Same question back at you, Ben.”


Not Bennett. Interesting. He didn’t answer, just kept touching her how he pleased.


“You constantly harp about honesty. You expect mine but don’t offer yours? That’s

crap. Sir.”


He held back a Dom-like retort. “You’re right.”


“So tell me something you’ve never told anyone.”


That’s when Ben knew he’d have to up the stakes. Ainsley had given him what he’d

asked for, but her answer wasn’t anything really personal. Or if that was her idea of

exposing an unseen part of herself, he’d need to convince her to mine deeper. She was

still far too guarded with him, and he needed to break that first barrier. Show his

vulnerability on a level that made him slightly uncomfortable.


“I ran away from home when I was eight. I remember feeling ignored, invisible, that no

one would care if I just left. I had these visions of my mom and dad frantically

searching for me. They were screaming my name, regretting their treatment of me, while

my brothers cried. So I took off early one mornin’, making sure I didn’t go to any of

my favorite spots. I waited for them to come find me. But no one ever did. I spent the

night by myself. Alone. Every fear realized. Around dawn, a solid day after I’d left,

I snuck into my bed. Nothing had changed for them, but it seemed everything had changed

for me. I’ve always felt that day cemented my place in the family. The middle child

but in last place.”


A beat passed and warm lips connected with his. Ainsley kissed him with the perfect mix

of fire and sweetness. When she angled her head to take the kiss deeper, Ben realized

her cheeks were wet.


His brain did a victory dance. Although he never wanted any woman to see him as the

forgotten boy in Dom’s clothes, he was humbled and touched by her honest tears. And he

knew the next time he asked her to share something emotionally personal, she’d be less

hesitant. “Let’s get you untied,” he said gruffly.


Ben checked her circulation, falling back into Dom mode. He remained stretched out on

the bed as she put her clothes back on, not caring if his staring made her

uncomfortable. She’d said as much. His response? “Tough.”


He’d kept her flustered, rebuilding that passion between them as he herded her back to