Surrender (Steel Brothers Saga 6)

The tears she’d tried so hard not to shed finally fell.

* * *

Zach found her there.

Curled up next to Diablo’s pen in a fetal position, weeping.

He didn’t try to talk to her, just sat her up and brushed the dirt and hay from her face and body. He pulled a red bandana out of his pocket, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and covered her nose and urged her to blow. He lifted her in his arms, carried her to his pickup, set her inside, and drove her to his hotel.

“It’s okay, darlin’. Come on.” He helped her out of the passenger side and led her up to his suite of rooms on the top floor of the hotel. He nudged her inside and through the living area to the bedroom. Gently, he pushed her down onto a chair.

“What can I do to help you?”

No response.

“Would you like a shower?”

She shook her head.

“A bath?”

She nodded.

“Okay.”

A bath. He could handle that. As long as he didn’t have to look at her naked. She needed gentleness and caring, not a horny cowboy.

“You just sit there for a few minutes. I’ll get it ready for you.” He walked to the mini-bar, pulled out a can of Sprite, opened it, and handed it to her. “Here. You need to drink something.”

She nodded and took a sip. Good. At least she was responding a little better now.

He went into the bathroom and ran a warm bath, adding something called Honey Milk that he found by the sink. It smelled nice, feminine. He hoped Dusty would like it.

When he was finished, he called to her but she didn’t respond, so he went to fetch her. “Come on. It’s ready.” He took her hand, pulled her out of the chair, and led her into the bathroom. “I’ll wait outside,” he said.

But she pulled him to her. “Stay,” she whispered. “Please.”

She pulled the band out of her hair and unwound the braid. Silky waves fell around her shoulders. She unbuttoned and removed her blouse, unhooked her bra, and revealed those beautiful peachy breasts.

She stood there, naked from the waist up. Zach was puzzled. He waited for her to move, but she didn’t. How was he supposed to handle this? His desire for her was like lightning in his veins, but she needed him to be calm, to take care of her. He took a deep breath, lifted her onto the counter, and pulled off her boots. “This okay?”

She nodded, so he pulled her down and unbuckled her belt and unsnapped her jeans. She shimmied out of them and stood before him wearing only a pair of lacy bikinis. His cock stiffened, but she was so distraught. He had to control himself. He touched her hips—God, the fire in his loins—and gently eased the panties downward. Ah, sweet golden curls, beautiful pink woman. He willed himself to soften, without much luck, and he lifted her and placed her in the tub.

Her sigh was like a gentle breeze as she leaned back. He turned to leave.

“Zach.”

Her voice cut right into his heart.

He turned, and the sight of her beautiful body soaking in the fragrant water about undid him. When she held out her arms to him, he thought he might melt into a puddle right there on the bathroom floor.

“You want me?”

She nodded.

“In the tub. With you?”

She nodded again. If only she would smile that sweet smile, curve those cherry lips upward. He couldn’t take advantage of her like this.