Under the Cowboy's Control

"N-nice?" she asked softly.

"Sure." His voice stayed low, seductive. "You can quit worrying about your future.

You can stay here with me, and I'll buy you whatever you want."

Her voice trembled. "I d-don't want you to b-buy me any--anything."

"No?" His voice was seducing her with his gentleness. "What do you want? You tell me what you want, and if you marry me, stay here with me, promise to be mine, just mine, I'll give you whatever you want." He lifted her chin with one strong finger, and turned her face to his. "Anything."

Selena hesitated. How honest should she be? Marriage was one of the most important things in life, and she wanted to be honest with him. "Two things, y-yes?"

Travis felt success close at hand. "Absolutely. Whatever you want. How much ever you want."

Selena lowered her eyes and spoke softly. "I want to be s-safe. And I want l-love."

Silence met her words.

Travis felt gutted.

Keeping her safe was no problem.

But he didn't know what love was, let alone how to give it. He didn't even know if it truly existed. But he did know one thing, he wouldn't lie to her.

"Selena, baby, you'll be safe here. I won't let anyone ever hurt you again. You can take it to the bank. And I'll be good to you. I'll honor and respect you. But sweetheart, I don't know about the love thing. I want to tell you we'll have love in our marriage, but I don't want to lie to you. I don't know how to love anyone. No one has ever loved me, so--"

Selena's gasp cut off his words. She couldn't bear it if what he said was true. It was so sad. "Y-yes. Your mother, your father, they love you."

"No, baby. I've never had a mother. She died giving birth to me. And my father--" A harsh look passed over his features that had Selena's heart aching for him. "Well, I'll spare you the details, and just say he never loved me. Ever. And I've never had any other family."

Her eyes searched his. Her heart was breaking for him. She reached up and laid a hand to his scarred cheek.

He closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them, he couldn't identify the emotion shining from hers. "Please, Selena, just marry me. Put me out of my damn misery and say yes. I want you so--"

"Yes."

"Yes?" He stared into her eyes. "Yes, you'll marry me?" Travis waited for her confirmation.

"Yes." Selena lowered her eyes as shyness overcame her.

Travis felt a knot of relief unclench from deep within. "Selena, baby, we need to be clear on something. I have to make sure you understand what I want from this marriage. There can be no mistake." He put his hand under her chin and lifted her eyes to his.

His voice dropped an octave. "Do you know what I want?"

Selena nodded her head. "Yes. You w-want free housekeeping."

"No. Hell no, that's not what I want--"

Selena lifted her hand in return and placed it softly on his cheek. A blush crept over her face. "I know what you want, Travis."

Their eyes tangled and held until Selena moved her hand behind his head and applied pressure to bring his face toward hers.

Travis felt his heart beat out of time when Selena instigated the kiss.

His lips dropped to hers and her fate was sealed.

****

The next day after breakfast, Travis watched her moving around the kitchen, cleaning up. The pain she had experien