Page 48 of Burned & Bound

“Fuck,” I groaned while my balls seized. I came hard, drenching my fist in hot cum as I stroked my way through the intensity. I kept going until I had nothing left in me.

Letting water run over my hand, I closed my eyes as I caught my breath and reality slowly sunk in. They were just fantasies—things that could never happen.Would never.

I had a real strong feeling West would forever keep me at a distance. It was a safety thing for him. I understood it—respected it even—but I hated it.

CHAPTER 33

jackson

And another onebacked out.Fuck.

Sighing, I sat back in my chair. I ran my hands over my face, needing something to distract me from the all-too-polite email on my computer.I hated the polite emails.I’d rather have a customer cuss me the fuck out than politely let me know they were going with a different supplier.

Fuck. I couldn’t even blame them. Who wanted to butcher cows coming from a dying herd? The liabilities alone were a business nightmare.

A low whine next to me made me drop my hands. Tess scooted closer, her head resting in my lap while those big brown eyes watched me closely.

“Do the math for me, girl?” I asked. Inching back in my chair, I tapped my chest. In an instant, she was up in my lap and laying her head on my shoulder. Teaching her to give hugs had been a silly thing to do, but I liked it. I liked the comfort I found in her. “Tell me how many more customers I can lose before I tank this whole goddamn ranch?”

The answer was a lot less than I wanted to admit out loud. My numbers were more and more in the red every month, and I didn’t know how to get myself out of it.

A knock on the front door sent Tess scrambling. I barely managed to toss her off me without getting hurt.Who the fuck was at my goddamn door?It was eleven-thirty at night. No one should’ve been knocking on my fucking door.

I checked my phone just in case I missed something from Mickey but nothing.What the fuck?

Another knock had me damn near scowling. The only thing I could think of was West had gotten himself into shit and the Sheriff was here.Which was a whole goddamn mess I didn’t need.

“Fuck, I’m coming,” I yelled after a third, more incessant attempt to get my attention. I snapped my fingers and pointed to the couch. “Tess, back.”

She listened, though her entire body shook with excitement. At least one of us was looking forward to figuring this shit out.

But when I answered the door, seeing West was the last thing I expected. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking awkward. He still wore the same clothes and there was dust in his hair like he’d come straight from the stables, which only made me worry.

“Did something happen with the horses?” I demanded.Fuck, that was the last thing I needed.

“What?” His brows came together tight. “No. They’re fine.”

“Don’t tell me something happened with the cows.”

“No, they’re fine. At least, I think they’re fine. I don’t fucking know.”

Then what the fuck did he want?

“Okay,” I replied slowly. “What do you need? It’s late.”

“Is that… is your…fuck,” he said softly. He shifted uncomfortably and stood a little taller, shoulders squaring off.Please, for the love of God, tonight wasn’t the night for a fucking fight.“Is your offer to stay here still available?”

I stared at him.Had I heard him wrong?Was he actually willing to move out of my stables? I honestly never thought I’d see the day that happened. He was so adamant about avoiding any help I offered.

His tension and anxiety visibly increased.Right. I had to put the man out of his misery.

“Yeah, it is,” I told him. Nodding to the small duffel at his feet, I asked, “Is that all you have?”

“I got my truck and my bike,” he said. “But I don’t think you want those in your fucking house.”

“No, I don’t,” I agreed. Still, I couldn’t help myself from glancing down at his bag. He couldn’t have had much in there. A few changes of clothes at most. It would explain the rotating four shirts he had. That thought saddened me. No one deserved to be living out of a bag. And not one that small.

“Don’t start pitying me because I don’t have a house full of shit,” West snapped as if reading my thoughts. “I’m fine the way I am.”

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