Page 53 of Rough Ride

“We can’t…the ranch, all that. We just can’t.”

“Understandable. Of course, you shouldn’t have slept with her last night.”

He turned around and frowned at the club owner. “What do you mean by that?”

“You slept together last night, St. John.”

Then, he remembered who Crysta had gone to lunch with. “Damn women.”

“They didn’t say anything to me; although, I’m pretty sure you were the subject of much gossip at lunch. No, I could tell.”

“Just by looking at us?” He hated that he was that easily read, but he knew he had been a bit territorial about her since they arrived.

“I work in a club that involves sexual behavior, and I teach classes in it. Of course, I picked up on it. I’m saying though, if you had gotten her to submit, you wouldn’t be here.”

“We…with the ranch, we just can’t do that right now. With the issues we’ve been having, I would rather not complicate things. Then, she’s been through the ringer lately. With her father sick and Joe dying, then having to move over here to help me keep the ranch, adding pressure to her already stressful life just doesn’t seem fair.”

Even as he said it, he knew it was an excuse.

“Take some friendly advice.”

“Do I have a choice?”

Micah smiled. “Complicate things. She’s worth it.”

He glanced at the screens and saw the two women walking out of the store. “I guess we better get down there.”

* * *

As they walked through the club, Crysta couldn’t fault the women who turned their heads to look at Eli. When he had shown up in her room dressed in leather pants, she was ready to sign over her body to him. She had been right. He was gorgeous in leather. In fact, it took all her control not to take a bite out of that perfect ass of his. And she knew what it looked like up close and personal.

Trying to ignore him wasn’t doing any good though. Just being there beside him as they walked through the crowd had her body humming. She wanted to feel his hand on her waist. Hell, she wanted to feel it slip up beneath her mini skirt, and she had never been one for public play. At this moment, she wanted to do anything to have his hands on her.

To try and take her mind off it, she looked out over the crowd. They were standing on a platform above most everyone else. It was an eclectic group and she really liked that. She spotted the locals right away. It was funny after only being in Hawaii less than three months, she was starting to identify with them.

“You know, Micah must really like you,” Eli said, his breath feathering against her earlobe. “This place is expensive.”

She didn’t say anything. It was hard to talk to him. To steady her libido, she continued to look out over the crowd. It wouldn’t do for her to beg him to spank her. And that’s just what she wanted. Then, two women moved apart and she saw someone she recognized. It was dark in the club, but she recognized the dimples and the easy smile.

She glanced at Eli. “Isn’t that Sean Kaheaku?”

Eli’s eyes narrowed. “Looks like him. I didn’t know he was a member here.”

“I guess he does have more money than his stepfather.”

“Sam kept him around for awhile, but when his mother died, he disowned him. He allowed him to keep the name, but well…he took all the money that came into the marriage and kept it.”

“What an ass.”

Eli nodded but his attention was still on Sean. “I really had no idea he was a member here.”

“Eli,” Evan Chambers said as he walked forward. “And of course, Crysta. I understand May was a little rude to you today.”

She laughed and accepted the kiss on the cheek. She thought she heard something from Eli but when she looked at him, he was just staring in their direction. When she turned back to Evan, he was smiling.

“May was fine. I taught high school so she only scares me a little. I thought she was going to come by tonight?”

He shook his head. “She was, but she laid down after work and then didn’t move. She gets so tuckered out these days. I only stopped by for a few minutes to talk to Micah.”

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