Lainie hadn’t said a word. She hadn’t moved at all.

Like she could with the goddamn death grip you’ve got on her with your dick embedded in her ass.

He glanced down. Damn. He’d probably left finger-shaped bruises. Would it bother her to see the marks on her skin? Would it bother Kyle?

He fought a snarl. He didn’t want to f**king think about Kyle right now.

Maybe you oughta think about Lainie right now, dumb ass. Hank stretched across her back and kissed her shoulder. “Baby, you all right?”

“You weren’t kidding about rough, were you?”

He froze. “Did I hurt you?”

She angled her head to rub his cheek. “Yes. But it was inevitable. At the end it was a good kind of hurt.”

“That’s a relief. Hang on.” He slipped out of her anal passage and retreated to the bathroom to clean up. When he returned quickly with a warm washcloth, he gently rolled her over. “Open your legs. This will help a little.”

She smiled but didn’t open her eyes. “You’re sweet beneath that gruff bullfighter exterior.”

He snorted and wiped her tender and swollen flesh. After he’d cleaned her, he kissed the baby-soft section of skin between her hip bones. His mouth meandered south and he ran his tongue along her slit.

“Hank. I—”

“Let me see to you. I’ll be gentle, I promise.”

Lainie sighed. “If you insist.”

“I do.” Hank took his time and savored her. Delving into the soft pink folds. Suckling. Licking. Lapping at the sweet cream pouring from her sex. Tickling her clit with the barest tip of his tongue. Not teasing her. Just enjoying her and the trust she’d bestowed on him tonight.

“I’m close. Don’t stop.”

He latched onto her clit with soft suction and tongued that nub until her hands squeezed his scalp.

“Yes. Yes!” She arched and came in throbbing wet pulses against his tongue.

He stayed right where she needed him until her body relaxed. What a beautiful sight: her skin flushed, her limbs trembling, her hair strewn across his pillow.

Lainie belonged in his bed. But not just for a night.

She pushed up on her elbows wearing a goofy grin. “That was fantastic. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

“But I’m done in. No more.”

“I’m pretty done in myself. You want me to shut off the lights?”

“Yes.” She yawned and hopped up to dig through her duffel bag. She yanked on an oversize T-shirt and crawled between the sheets. “Good night, Hank.”

“Good night, Lainie.”

Yep. He knew this woman was right where she belonged. And he had three weeks to convince her.

The next morning, Kyle and Lainie flipped a coin for shotgun, since Hank was driving. She won. But Kyle’s consolation prize was a lingering, soft-lipped kiss. Not a bad way to start his day.

“What time is check-in?” Lainie asked.

“Noon.”

“This is a two-day event?”

“Yep. Rodeo starts at seven.” Kyle rested his forearms on the bench seat and looked at Hank. “I don’t imagine you’re any more used to waiting around beforehand than I am.”

“Depends. Sometimes I have a meet and greet with sponsors. Usually I roll in a couple of hours before showtime. Give myself time to limber up.” He offered Lainie a sly grin. “Or get my injuries checked out ahead of time by my favorite med tech.”

Kyle rolled his eyes.

“I’m always busy before the event starts,” Lainie said. “I’ve either been on the road or in a plane. Then I’m helping wrap injuries or applying salve. Or listening to Doc argue with cowboys about why they shouldn’t be competing.”

“Do they listen?”

“Never.”

Hank and Kyle laughed.

“You planning on stopping by the medical room to offer your services?” Hank asked.

“Maybe. I brought my official Lariat badge. Doc said at the smaller rodeos the event sponsors use local doctors as medical volunteers. Or they have an ambulance standing by.”

“Most promoters put their money into the purse and the stock contractors. Everything else is volunteer. I’m imagining Lariat gets a big chunk of money from the CRA,” Hank said.

“Almost as much dough as we get from the behemoth known as the EBS,” she said sarcastically.

Kyle said, “Why does it sound like you’re not a fan of the EBS?”

“It’s not that.” Lainie looked over her shoulder at him. “The EBS’s demands increase every week. The money is excellent. But I predict in the next year Lariat will have to choose between providing services for the CRA or the EBS. The EBS is always adding new venues to the schedule, usually second tier. We’re continually short staffed, which is partially why I’m bounced between both circuits.”

“I hope they’re paying you well, sugar.”

Lainie blushed and faced forward.

Hank cast a questioning look at Kyle. After Lainie’s conversation with her mother, he and Hank discussed whether Sharlene’s concerns were valid or if Lainie refused to listen to reason simply because of the source of information. It didn’t sit well with either of them that Doc might be taking advantage of her, especially since he was supposedly a family friend.

Seeing that Lainie was uncomfortable, Kyle changed the subject. “Hank, do you remember that prick Marshall Townsend?”