Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(99)

“No.”


“And it won’t be again.”


She broke down completely. It was hard to be humbled. But she’d needed it. Needed a

reminder of what Bennett really was—a dominant man to the bone. But he wasn’t a

taker. He wasn’t a user. She’d signed on for this experience as his submissive.

Bennett was who he was. A Dom. A teacher. A taskmaster. This was how he’d be to the

next sub in line after their thirty days together ended. She’d never be special to

him.


That made her sob harder.


“Come on, angel. Let it out. I’ve got you.”


Bennett’s hands were in constant motion over every inch of her bare skin. He nuzzled,

touched and murmured to her. Using his entire being to soothe her.


But it didn’t help. When she began to shake, not even the inferno of his skin against

hers warmed her. He practically carried her to the shower. Holding her beneath the

blessedly hot water as the jets pummeled her sore muscles and the steam thawed her from

the outside in.


And when the tremors ended, she let the last tears fall, feeling more vulnerable now

than any other time with him.


Run. Get out of here now and don’t look back.


“I’m okay,” she lied in a whisper against his chest.


“You sure? We can stay in here as long as you need.”


“I’m sure.”


With those long, muscular arms, he grabbed towels hanging from the racks. He tied one

turban-style around her head. Dried her thoroughly with the other, and wrapped a bath

sheet around her body. He led her back into the bedroom and wrapped her with his robe

before tucking her between the covers.


Bennett gathered her in his arms and piled another blanket on top of them.


“I’m still so cold.”


“You’re not cold. You’re shaken. And it’s my…” Resting his chin on the top of her

head, he said gruffly, “Never mind. It’ll keep. Sleep.”


But she couldn’t sleep. When she wiggled out of his arms, he let her. When she crept

out of his house a few hours later, he let her do that too.


Chapter Sixteen


“What’re you so pissy about today?”


Ben scowled at Quinn. “I’m not pissy.”


“Yeah, you always stomp around and throw shit.”


“Fine. I’m in a bad mood. Can we leave it at that and get this damn thing fixed?”


Quinn sighed. “This is beyond what either of us can fix.” He kicked the tire. “Let’

s load it up and take it to D and F.”


Ben bit back a snarl. His brother might’ve said that, oh, an hour ago when they first

started dicking with the ATV. “I’ll go get the trailer.” But when he got to the

backside of the barn, he saw both tires were flat. “Son of a bitch.” They only had

one spare. Which meant they’d have to take both tires off and see if they were

salvageable.


A shadow appeared beside him. “Guess I shoulda checked that before now, huh?”


“Probably.” Ben pushed upright. “I’ll get the jack.”


The tire had settled into the ground on the opposite side, making Ben wonder when was