Page 61 (1/2)

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

Ben’s mouth went dry as the words he’d never said to a woman poured from his mouth, from his heart "I love you"

"Oh God Ben"

"I feel whole with you Before I kept the two halves of myself separated But when I’m with you, I’m a whole man I’m the man I want to be I’ I’ve ever wanted in a wohed, sniffing against the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes "I love you The whole you The Dom side The rancher side The intuitive side The sweet side The raunchy side"

Ben kissed her with a lingering s of his heart "I like who I ael"

"Ben"

"I want to be with you All of you I want to pick you up at the bank, take you out for lunch and let everyone knoe’re together I want to support your community events I want you to come to my family deals as , and horseback riding, and then I want to tie you up, turn your ass pink before I fuck you hard" He traced her jawline "I want to be with you every da I see in the ht If I had ht"

"But?"

"But I understand that you probably wanna take it slow You’re still trying to find your place in a nen In a new job In a new type of relationship I’m just as shocked as you are that so much has happened between us and it’s only been a little over a er, doesn’t it?"

"Mmm-hmm" Ben peered into her eyes "I’m here whenever you’re ready to take that next step I’m a patient man"

"Except for when you’re not"

He smirked "Well, there is that"

Ainsley pecked him on the lips "I want to be with you too, Ben And I know in ether, sooner rather than later But we have a few serious, s to discuss before that day coaze Instead of co her to look at hi in her eyes "Giveperson and I’m a cat person"

"Well, that is a deal breaker Who ever heard of cats and dogs living together in harain"

"I don’t know anything about ranching"

"I don’t know anything about banking, so that one’s a wash too"

"I’m older than you"

"So?"

"So?" she repeated "I’m the older, clichéd divorced woe as ot five years onperson, let’s say that adds seven years on e, so I’m actually two years older than you"

"You are crazy"

"Yep Totally crazy for everything about you So no ive ain at a later date"

Ainsley blurted, "Because I don’t want kids Ever And it isn’t so on big fas you need to know about me when it comes to my family is that while I love thes ? There’s no chance the McKay family name will die out" He twined a section of her hair around his finger, loving the silken texture against his coarser skin "Here’s so I’ve never told anyone I don’t want kids either Never have Never will That’s another reason the club worked so well for me It’s also why I didn’t date much Most women want a family I don’t Wasn’t fair to enter into a relationship that was goin’ nowhere And like you, it’s unlikely I’ll ever change my mind"