Page 189 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“On what grounds?” Hankasked.

“Drunk and disorderly. On my way up to the cabin, I got a call from dispatch. An owner from one of the bars claimed Trevor was in there breaking glasses against the wall. Owner wanted to press charges. Worked for me,” thesheriffsaid.

“How long can you hold him?” Hankasked.

“Until he makes bail, so that’ll at least be twenty-four hours. Might take him a few more days than that. I’m not sure how many friends he’s got left. You might want to head up in the morning and try talking some sense into your mother,”Tannersaid.

“We will,” Carolresponded.

After they’d hung up, she fell back against the bed. At least her mom was safe for tonight. The strain of the day had turned her muscles to lead. Even the hot bath hadn’t been enough to make the aching stop. She turned to find Hank looking at her withconcern.

“She’ll be okay until tomorrow,”hesaid.

“I know. I’m just… I wish I could have done something more. I wish I could havehelpedher.”

“Some people don’t want to be helped. They don’t know any other way. It sounds like she was beaten on by her father and probably by all the other men in her life in one way oranother.”

“Why wouldn’t she just leave?” sheasked.

“This is going to sound really bad, but maybe she was so used to it that she thought it was normal. Guys like Trevor are master manipulators. They tear down their women until they’ve got nothing left. Maybe she just doesn’t believe that she deserves better,”hesaid.

She considered his words. Although she didn’t want it to make sense, it did. Her mom had probably been taught from a young age that men were superior and that she would never be strong enough to live without one. She wished there was a way she could give her mom the courage she needed towalkaway.

“Do you want me to stay the night?” Hankasked.

“Will you hold me?” she asked softly. When he hesitated, she frowned. “You don’t have to. If you’d rather sleep in your own bed,Ijust—”

“Honey, I don’t want to leave you alone, but crawling into bed with you… I’m not astrongman.”

The instant his meaning clicked, she smiledshyly.

“Can you at least try?” sheasked.

He nodded and stripped down to his boxers. She slid to the other side of the bed to make room for him. The huge, king-size bed was big enough for both of them to sleep in it without touching, but she wanted to lie nexttohim.

After he climbed into bed, he rolled onto his side to face her. She swallowed at the raw look of desire in his eyes. It seemed so wrong to want him right now, butshedid.

“If you keep looking at me like that,” he said in a husky voice, “I won’t be able to stay on my half ofthebed.”

“Hank…”

He brushed the back of his fingertips across her cheek. When he cupped her face, she leaned forward. And when he lowered his lips to hers, she let out a choked cry. He closed the distance between them, drawing her into his arms and against his hard body. She slid her hands across his shoulders, pulling him down tocoverher.

“If you want me to stop...” he murmured after finally breaking thesensualkiss.

“No… Ineedyou.”

She wound her arms around his shoulders, delving back into the sultry kiss that made her wet with desire. Half-expecting him to flip her over, she was surprised when he took his time, slowly exploring every inch of her face with gentlekisses.

When his mouth moved to her throat, she moaned. His hand glided across her belly to rest on her upper thigh. She quivered in anticipation. As he stroked the insides of her thighs, she archedagainsthim.

“Faster,” shewhispered.

“No,” he murmured. “I want to know every inch of you. I want to find the places that make you tremble and moan. I want to explore the hollow at your throat, the backs of your knees, and the edge of your earlobe until you’re begging meformore.”

She melted against him as his fingers grazed the soft thatch of hair over her pussy. What more could a woman possibly want other than a man to worship her body? With every kiss, with every touch, and with every caress, he made her his. He ruined her for any other man. She knew, deep in her soul, that she’d never find a betterlover.

When his teasing kisses left her neck and traveled to the valley between her breasts, she reached for his cock. She wanted to give him the same pleasure he was giving her. Powerless to move more than a few inches, she stroked his hardened flesh with long, gentlemotions.