Page 110 of Westin

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DIANE

Later in the week, Westin comes back from the store with two large bags of clothing. It takes a while to do a run into town, so I was alone most of the day. I thought about venturing to the ranch house in hopes of some female companionship, but it turns out being locked up by Thomas made me shy. I’m not sure how to make friends.

I climb down the stairs when I hear the door. Westin sets the bags on the table and takes me by the wrist to pull me in. When he kisses me, he tastes cold.

“How was going into town?” I ask.

“The roads are clear,” he says. “Bring your things upstairs and make sure I got what you wanted.”

I turn to go, and he spanks me across the ass. My entire body freezes, and then it remembers his touch is good. His touch is safe.

“Go on,” he says.

Face warm, I bring my bags upstairs and shut the door. I hear Westin whistle for Billie in the yard. She likes Westin; he’s the first man she seems to care about.

I spill the first bag out onto the bed. There are jeans, leggings, t-shirts, and more in three different sizes. I sort through and pull allthe correct sizes out and bag the rest back up. The second bag is loungewear, like sweatsuits. At the bottom are bras and panties. It figures that he got those sizes exactly right.

His boots ring out on the stairs. I gather everything up and put it in the laundry basket. The door opens, and he enters, filling the room with his big presence.

“Thank you,” I say.

His lids flicker. “Thank you,sir.”

“Do you really expect me to use that all the time when we’re alone?” I frown.

He taps my chin once. “Really, I do.”

“Why are you trying to break me?” The words slip out before I can stop them.

“What gave you that idea? Darling, I don’t want you to change, but I need you to understand that I’m all in and this is the language that makes the most sense to me. All I want is for you to work on feeling safe.”

I hesitate, gnawing my lip. What he describes sounds heavenly. I’m tired; I want to be taken care of for a while.

“Are you sure you just don’t want kinky sex?” I whisper.

The corner of his mouth turns up. “Of course I do, but only with you.”

He draws near, turning my head with his jaw so he can kiss my mouth. A strand of hair falls over his forehead. I reach out and brush it away.

“Why are you like this?” I whisper.

He sobers, quick as a flash. “Like what?” he asks, warily.

Maybe I should stop talking, but I don’t.

“I don’t know you, Westin,” I say. “You seemed like one thing when we met, but then you felt so dark…like I should be afraid of you. Maybe I should have listened, because…I fantasized about killing Thomas, but I would have never done it. You don’t seem to care that you just walked in and shot everyone.”

His hazel eyes are guarded. “I didn’t shoot anyone,” he says.

“You know you played a big part,” I say. “And...I sort of wonder how many times you’ve done it.”

My tone goes up, like it’s a question. His gaze narrows, but he’s tight lipped.

“Tell me about the brand on your back,” I say. The aura in the room is cold. I take his jaw in my fingers, holding him lightly. “You can’t make me sign something like that and not be truthful with me,” I whisper.

He wets his lips. A muscle in his cheek twitches.

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