Free Dane's Restraint by J.J. Ranger Page B

Ice Sara will never keep you satisfied.”
    Dane never wanted to hit someone as badly as he did Ben. “Maybe we should continue this conversation inside. Shit, maybe you should wait out here so we can clean up a bit.” He smiled down at Sara. “I hope you remembered to hide the restraints before you opened the door this morning.”
    She gasped. “I knew I forgot something.” Her fingers curled around his bicep and her breasts pressed into his pecs. “I’m so worn out from last night, I’m surprised I can even move.”
    “Like you would even know what to do with a set of restraints,” Ben scoffed.
    Sara smirked. “You can’t fault the horse for the rider’s lack of knowhow. Maybe you should take some lessons.”
    Her ex sputtered. “You bitch.”
    Sara didn’t respond, but Dane took a threatening step forward. “You need to get off my property while you can still walk. And don’t ever contact Sara again. If you do, I will make certain you regret it.”
    Ben’s skin paled and his mouth flopped open in shock. Without another blustering word, he scurried to his rental car and drove away.
    Sara retreated to her cabin. Seeing her with the jackass, he was even more convinced she was the woman for him. She hadn’t backed down to Ben’s pressure and accusations. Somehow he had to convince her to give them a chance. Slowly, he opened the door. She stood in the bathroom doorway, taking down the restraints.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Just fucking fantastic.” Her gaze narrowed. “What were you doing sneaking around my cabin?”
    “This is my ranch, and I wasn’t sneaking.”
    Her lips pouted and she looked adorably annoyed.
    He said, “I overheard part of your conversation with Douche—uh, Ben, and thought you could use some backup.” Who was he kidding? He wanted to be her knight on the white charger.
    Her chin lifted and tears glimmered in her eyes. “I don’t need protection.”
    Dane crossed the room and traced a finger down her velvety cheek. “Maybe not, but I needed to be there.”
    He folded her into his arms and when she didn’t resist, he brushed her lips with his. “I know you don’t want to hear this but I realized this morning, just how attached to you I am. I am not normally the jealous type, but to think of you with him…”
    She released a shuddered breath and sniffled against his chest. “I’m such an idiot. I let you walk away from me last night and I didn’t even put up a fight.”
    Dane chuckled. “I know.”
    Her arms stole around him and she pressed more fully against him. “When we got together I promised myself I would stay emotionally detached, that I wouldn’t turn into one of those clingy, possessive women. But I felt myself growing attached and it scared the shit out of me. And last night when you said we should see each other beyond this weekend, I think I panicked. I’m sorry.”
    He released his hold on her but took her hand and led her over to the bed. He sat down beside her and met her stare. Her cheeks were flushed, probably from embarrassment at being so open.
    Leaning forward, he caressed her mouth with his tongue, then took her fully. She exhaled, the peppermint-scented air washing over him in the sweetest embrace. With his kiss, he coaxed her to relax, to open up to him. When her fingers tangled in his hair, he knew he had succeeded.
    Pulling back, he once again looked into her eyes. “Sara, when I first saw you I was immediately attracted to you. All I could think about was getting you naked and in my bed. But after we started talking I found myself falling deeper. You enchanted me. Yes, I agreed to a weekend fling, but the more we were together, the more I knew I wouldn’t be able to let you go.”
    She blinked, chewing on her lower lip. “Really?”
    “Really.” He touched the corner of her mouth with his thumb and trailed over the fullness. “I am not asking you to marry me,” he admitted and his gut clenched at the disappointment in her eyes. “I