After a few minutes, Yvonne's tears slowed, changed to hiccups, then finally calmed. He walked her out into the bedroom to seat her on the side of the bed next to him.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She looked down at her hands, fidgeting before her, and nodded. "I don't remember the last time a man treated me like a person, not a sex toy." She sucked in a sharp breath as her tears threatened to return, and Ben just put his arm around her shoulder.

She rested her head against him. A short time later, she was calm once more and made a quiet snort sound. Ben pulled back...