Page 37 of Rough Ride

She smiled thinking of the younger Aiona. “I think he misses you, to tell you the truth.”

“Oh.” Suddenly, her eyes grew damp. “Oh, that’s so sweet.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She looked at Dee, who shook her head and handed a tissue to May. “She’s pregnant and the hormones are not fun. For any of us. You can ask her boss Chris.”

“Has that man been gossiping about me?” May asked with a frown, but she didn’t look that mean—especially with her eyes watery from tears.

“You threw a spatula at him the other day.”

May frowned. “He said I had fat ankles.”

“He said your ankles were swelling a little and maybe you should take a break.”

“He shouldn’t have pointed it out.” She drew in a deep breath and turned her attention back to Crysta. “But…now tell us. He’s never tried for a kiss?”

Crysta hesitated again. She wasn’t a woman who shared easily. Too many moves, too many times trying to make friends, only to end up losing them. The life of a brat wasn’t easy and it was hell on her trust issues. Still, something told her she could trust these women.

“Well, there was one.”

“You mean tonight?” Dee asked.

“No, wait, that means there were two. After the first time, he told me to stay away from him.”

She realized she was sitting there telling strangers her business. Before she could say anything, Dee patted her hand. “You can trust us. I know May might be a little scary, but don’t worry about us carrying tales. We all have sort of a soft spot for Eli. Plus, we’d like to see him get taken down a notch.”

“I think you might have the wrong idea. I don’t know what the hell set him off that day?—”

“Or tonight,” May said smiling.

“Okay, tonight. But it’s been two weeks since that one day. Tonight, I think it was because of the challenge I gave him. But we have separate rooms at the hotel.”

“Oh, this gets curiouser and curiouser.” May shared a glance with Dee. “Dee can correct me, but I know Eli, and I would have thought he’d try for a bedroom together.”

“And that points out that he isn’t interested. If he were, don’t you think he would’ve tried to get one room?”

“Of course not. He’s hot for you.” May said it as if it were fact.

“What?”

Everyone turned toward May. “Listen, the man hits on every good-looking sub who walks through the door. But, you, he kisses. Once. And gives in tonight when you challenged him right before you’re about to meet two Doms.”

Crysta rolled her eyes. “That has nothing to do with it. Even if I hadn’t met you, Eli would know both of them are crazy in love with the two of you.”

“Oh,” May said and sniffled again. “That’s so sweet.”

Dee rolled her eyes. “What May’s trying to tell you is that Eli is the kind of man who is all action. Sure, it’s controlled, but he doesn’t like waiting. If someone isn’t available, he goes onto the next person. With you, though, he doesn’t do that. You, he kisses, then tells you to go away.”

“I still can’t believe he told you to go away. Where are you going to go? You own that ranch together and, from what Micah said, you have to stay there for him to be able to keep it. He just smacked ya on the lips and ordered you gone?”

She hesitated then nodded. “We were in the barn, he was irritated, then he told me we couldn’t do it and I left. I understand why. We own the ranch together and getting involved would be sticky.”

“Then he got jealous of Danny, and now the kiss here?” Dee asked.

May shrugged. “Not for Eli. For as great of a Dom as he is, and I have seen him in public play so I know he is, he has a tendency to be impatient. He never waits for a woman.”

“But he’s not doing that with me.”

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