Page 26 of Breaking Her In

I press my head against the rough wood and gulp a shaky breath.

“Should have tied her to me,” I grit out. Christ, I’m losing it. I slam my fist into the wall, startling the horses.

I should have told her that nothing else matters in my life. That I’d take on her father, his business, the whole damn world if it meant keeping her.

Instead, I tried to be noble and leave things up to her. Why the hell did I do that? Since when have I beennoble?I’m a goddamn cowboy who works on a ranch. I’m not a gentleman. I did my best to keep my hands off Lena, but not out of some dumb sense of honor. Because I was worried about the consequences.

Maybe that’s even worse…

Now I don’t give a damn what happens to me. Just as long as I haveher. As long as she’s by my side.

With a deep sigh, I slide to the floor amidst the hay and stare at the empty stall in front of me. This place used to feel like home. Like my own personal kingdom. Now it’s just a reminder of what I’ve lost.

Lena. My sexy little brat. My everything.

I close my eyes and lose myself in the memories of her. Her legs wrapped around my waist, her moans whispered in my ear, her nails clawing into my skin, and her hips bucking against me, desperate for more.

The way she looked at me like I shone brighter than the sun…

No one ever looked at me like that before.

I was her first and only. And I let her walk away.

This time, I punch myself in the thigh. The pain briefly stirs me from my thoughts, but only briefly. Then it’s right back into the hellhole I’ve made for myself.

“No,” I mutter. “It’s not too late, damn it. You can still get her back.”

Lena didn’t leave me because she wanted to. I saw that in her eyes. She left because I didn’t fight for her. And I can’t go the rest of my life knowing that.

I have to do something. And I will.

I rise to my feet, my heart pounding with a new purpose. She needs to know she’s mine–that I’m coming for her. She needs to know that whatever punishment she’s facing from her father, she’s not going to face it alone. And that I’m not going to let his threats keep us apart.

We love each other.

And I’m going to find her. And when I do, I’m not giving her a choice. She’s coming home with me.

11

LENA

I slammy bedroom door so hard the mirror rattles and threatens to fall.

My heart is beating like a drum solo, and my hands are shaking so bad that I sit on them in an attempt to steady myself. Tears blur my vision as I stuff clothesbackinto my bag–the same one I ran off with when I left the ranch. Only this time, I have no idea where I’m going to go.

I only know it has to be anywhere but here.

“I’m not a little girl anymore!” I’d screamed at Dad. “You don’t get to decide who I fall in love with!”

He’d glared back at me, and his reply burned like a hot poker. “Love? You’re too young to even know the meaning of the word, Lena. He’s just a goddamn ranch hand, for Christ’s sake.”

“So what!?” I’d snapped. “Why should that matter?”

“He’snot rightfor you.” He’d shaken his head. “You’re going through a phase, all right?”

“A phase?” I’d snapped.

I couldn’t believe it. Colt–a phase? Absolutely not.

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