Page 51 of Rough Ride

Dillon smiled. “Yeah, I know, and that boy couldn’t be devious if someone paid him a million dollars and, of course, he’s clean. But, others, while they might have been clean, might not be anymore.”

“Yeah. I understand. Circumstances change, you have your priorities.”

“Yep. So, I’ll get to work on this. You let me know if you notice anything strange.”

“Going out tonight. Crysta wants to see Rough ‘n Ready.”

Dillon’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? You’re going to take a woman you’ve slept with there and just let her wander around?”

He grimaced. “Micah invited her and those women encouraged her.”

“And you say the whole romance is over?”

“What?”

“Son, you might not want to admit it, but from the expression on your face, it’s not. And, from my background check, she’s a member of a few clubs.”

“Yeah. A submissive.”

Dillon chuckled. “Oh, sorry I’m going to miss that, but Jillian is under a self-imposed deadline for the next book.”

Dillon had married a bestselling erotic romance author about a year earlier and moved to the islands to be with her.

“Okay. Well, let me know if you’re missing any employee records, but they should all be up to date.”

“And you be sure to tell me how it goes tonight; although, I’m pretty sure I’ll hear it from Micah or Evan.”

He just hoped he didn’t make an ass out of himself.

sixteen

Eli walked into Crysta’s room that night and came to a stop. She was bending over, straightening her skirt. Well, what there was of the little black, leather skirt she had decided to wear that night. He flexed his hands wanting to have the right to tell her to change. She had the longest legs…and almost every inch of them was showing in that fucking skirt.

She straightened and turned around. Her eyes widened as she gasped.

“Lord, Eli, what the hell are you doing sneaking up on me like that?”

It took a second for him to form words. She was wearing a black, sleeveless shirt tied at the waist. She’d opened it far enough down that just a hint of her breasts was showing.

Her hair was pulled back on the sides. A dangle of red stones danced from her ears. Bloody hell.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

He shook his head, trying to get his thoughts back in order. “Yeah. Yeah, sure.”

She smiled. “That’s good because I’m looking forward to tonight.”

Every bit of his Dom wanted to say no. Fuck, he wanted to scream it, then take her back into his bedroom and spank her ass red for suggesting it. He wanted to deny her time in Rough ‘n Ready. He wanted her in his room, on his bed and screaming his name. He wanted to spank that magnificent ass until it was red, and he wanted to fuck her until she couldn’t walk straight. Hell, until he couldn’t walk straight either.

Fuck, he just wanted her.

Eli rolled his shoulders trying to ease the tension. It didn’t help much as he watched her step into the four-inch heels. He was so used to seeing her in jeans or casual clothes. Dressed up for a night of submission…that was different.

She grabbed her purse and smiled at him. “Ready?”

In his mind, he saw himself stepping forward, slipping his arm around her waist, and pulling her against him. He wanted that right, wanted to be able to choose to keep her all to himself tonight.

But, she wasn’t his any more than he was hers. He stepped back and motioned with his hand.

---