Cowboy Casanova - Lorelei James [96]
“Or you’re just snippy because you’re jealous.”
“I am not jealous.” I’m pissed because you said you wouldn’t use me again. So far today you’ve used me to help you get a loan and now you plan on using my body one last time before moving on to the next sub.
An amused smile quirked his lips. “Sure you are.”
She wanted to slide that smarmy look right off his face, because this was about so much more than her female jealousy and he refused to see it. “Don’t flatter yourself. Don’t you think if Rielle wanted to burn up the sheets with you, she’d been tied to your bed years ago, wearing a custom collar? Since you’ve been such close neighbors and you know each other’s secrets?”
Silence. “Angel, you are gonna regret that smart comment.”
“Stop looming over me like the beastly Dom. We’re not in those roles right now.”
“It’s not a role for me. And it looks like you need a reminder that I am always the beastly Dom.”
“You trying to scare me, cowboy?” She purposely taunted him with a label that meant nothing to him. To show him she could turn off her connection to him any time—just like he could.
He put his mouth next to her ear. “The name is Bennett, sub, and your night just got a lot more…interesting.”
Ainsley swallowed hard. The heat of him, the scent of him, the overwhelming power and masculinity made her head spin. Made her want to plaster her body to his and lose herself in him. Beg him to take his loan business elsewhere so they could continue this. Beg him to understand she’d never had—maybe she’d never find—another man who knew what she needed like he did. And that pissed her off. Stupid traitorous body. Stupid sex-addled brain. “You can’t just—”
“I can, I will, and I did. I want you nekkid and sitting on my bar when I get home.”
“This is unfair.” Why was she pushing him? Because he pushed her into a corner first? Or because she wanted their last night together to be memorable?
“Says you. I think I’m bein’ more than fair.”
“I won’t do it.”
Bennett eased back, fire dancing in his eyes. “Gonna run rather than face the consequences?”
“No. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You insulted me.”
“Maybe I was insulting Rielle.”
He half-snarled, “That earned you another ten.”
She backed up a step. Then another. And he stalked her.
“I thought I heard you sneer that you weren’t scared,” he said in that low, dangerous voice.
“I’m not.” Such a liar. “But I’ve done nothing to warrant punishment.”
“Guilty until proven innocent in my world. So you’d better have a convincing argument against punishment to present to me when I get home.”
“Why should I bother? You’re going to make it hurt anyway. Hurt worse than it already does.” Stupid move, Ainsley, you aren’t supposed to tell him that. You’re supposed to be the cool-headed professional and the obedient sub who won’t let him see your disappointment on any level.
Ben gave her a look she’d never seen before. “Ainsley. I never meant—”
“Found them.” Rielle waved a stack of paper bags. “I also grabbed the herbs. They should be refrigerated.”
Grateful for the interruption, she practically ran to Rielle. “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”
“Twenty bucks oughta cover it.”
Ainsley figured that was a low amount after she loaded the four heavy bags into her trunk. She ignored Bennett’s hard, hot stare that seemed to liquefy her bones as she chatted with Rielle.
She didn’t look his way when she climbed in her car. She hesitated at the end of the driveway.
A right turn led back into town. A left turn led to Ben’s house.
She knew his eyes were on her vehicle as she turned left.
Ainsley wasn’t naked when Ben walked in the door. Something smelled good, and while the thought of a homemade meal awaiting him stirred a weird longing, she hadn’t followed his instructions.
And she didn’t seem particularly perplexed about that.
She sliced cubed potatoes and dropped them in a pot of boiling liquid. She tossed in a handful of herbs and nestled the lid over the steam. Then she looked up at him. “Now that I’ve got that started, we can talk about your—”
“No talkin’.”
“But you always