A Little Harmless Ride

by Melissa Schroeder

  She laughed. “I bet.”

  He let her go because seeing her hold a baby had stirred feelings in him he hadn’t had. Ever. Being a foster kid made him his own man. He had no family, save Joe. Now that he was gone, he pretty much had no one. And that’s the way he had always liked it.

  But now, he thought glancing at Crysta rocking the baby in her arms, he was wondering why starting a family had been something he never thought about before now.

  * * * *

  Crysta tried to enjoy the night even with Eli acting like an ass. Truthfully, since his episode when she first started talking to Devon, he had behaved. It had been fun to just laugh and gossip. It had been so long since she’d had a night out like this; she didn’t realize how much she had missed it.

  “So, the ladies say you’re going to Dupree’s tomorrow for lunch,” Micah said as he walked them to the door. Evan popped his head out of the kitchen. “Hey, are y’all already leaving? It’s early.”

  Eli chuckled. “For you it is. Crysta and I work on a ranch, so we get up early.”

  “Besides, both Dee and May want to show me Rough ‘n Ready tomorrow night. I need some beauty sleep.”

  Micah chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. “We’ll give you the silver dollar tour.”

  Evan stepped up, grabbed her and bent her at the waist. “It was very nice meeting you.”

  He kissed her on the check as she giggled. He pulled her back up and handed her off to Eli, who did not look happy with the situation.

  “Good night,” she said and stepped through the door.

  “Give us a call tomorrow,” Micah said to Eli.

  They were walking down the path to the rental car when Eli said, “So, you liked them?”

  She shrugged. “May and Dee are hard not to like. They really are nice.”

  “Well, if they accept you, you have it made.”

  She smiled at him as he opened the passenger side door. “They were nice to me because of you, Eli.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “They love you like a brother and they want to make sure no one is mean to you.”

  It was dark out and only a street lamp lit the area but she was sure he blushed.

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  When she said nothing he asked, “Are you going to get in?”

  She nodded and said nothing, unable to stop smiling. Seeing Eli St. John blush didn’t happen every day. All in all—a pretty good night.

  Now if she could remember that it wasn’t a date and there would be nothing else at the end of the night, she would be fine.

  Sure, no problem at all.

  * * * *

  They rode up in the elevator together. Being on one of the top floors, they ended up alone for the last couple. Eli was itchy, from the inside out. The woman had him beyond hot. He just needed to make sure that he controlled himself. Tomorrow night they would be at Rough ‘n Ready. If he could get the ladies to keep an eye on Crysta, he could get one of the private rooms.

  That didn’t even sound good. Not like it usually did. He hadn’t been this intrigued by a woman. All he wanted to do was strip her down and fuck her. As they stepped out of the elevator, her phone chimed. She frowned over the number.

  “Hello.”

  They walked down the hall as she talked on the phone.

  “Uh, yeah, but how did you get my number.” She was quiet for a second then laughed. “Okay. I’ll accept your sister gave you my number.”

  Then, more silence on her part. “Oh, I’m having lunch with the ladies tomorrow.”

  She glanced in his direction.

  “I’m going out tomorrow night.”

  She waited for Stryker to speak. It irritated Eli he couldn’t hear what the ass was saying to her.

  “Yeah. I take it you don’t play?”

  She was quiet for a few moments. “Well, I guess if you want to come to the Big Island, that’s cool. I assumed you’d been there before. I don’t know much about—”

  Silence again. “Oh, okay, sure. I’d show you around the ranch.”

  He tried not to get pissed that she was making a date with the bastard. Granted, he had been just thinking of taking on a sub tomorrow night, but he wasn’t planning it right in front of her. Well, okay, not on the phone.

  Shit.

  He slid the card into the slot and opened the door. He was lucky to get two rooms that had an outer area that connected. They both had their own rooms, but they had another door, which locked to the outside. It was the easiest thing he could think of for security.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  She clicked off her phone and offered him a smile. “That was Devon.”

  He grunted.

  “He wants to find out more about the ranch.”

  “Is that so?”

  She nodded and turned in the direction of her room. He followed her. They both had locking doors inside, but she had left hers open.

  “So, that should be fun. I’d like to talk to him about his work.”

  “Is that what you call it?” Eli asked.

  She turned and frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “It was obvious he was interested in you.”

  She sighed. “Eli, we’ve been through this. You don’t have any say in who I date and, since you were pretty happy to use his jet on the way over here, I’m assuming you trust him.”

  He did. He actually liked the man. Devon Stryker had many secrets, but Eli had always been sure that Micah would never allow him to be around Dee if he were dangerous.

  “He doesn’t play.”

  She shrugged. Her nonchalance aggravated him on some level he couldn’t seem to grasp. “I told you that I wasn’t sure I was made out for that either.”

  “But you’re going to Rough ‘n Ready tomorrow night.”

  “Yeah. Both Dee and May said I should go and I know Micah wants to show me around.”

  He didn’t know what else to say. He wanted to argue more about it, but he was running out of reasons she shouldn’t talk to Devon…other than he didn’t want her to. And that smacked of jealousy.

  Eli St. John, jealous? That had never happened. Not since he’d become a man. He was sure once or twice during his teens, he had been. He’d learned right off how to control that, though. Being jealous over a woman was stupid and it lead to situations.

  But he was. That had to be the only reason he was trying to figure out a way to make sure Devon never made it over to the island. He was pretty sure the man was lethal.

  “I don’t like it.”

  Her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t like the idea of Devon being at the ranch.”

  “And?”

  “That’s it. I don’t like it.”

  She was looking at him as if he was crazy and he didn’t blame her. He did sound crazy. She had made him that way. He was walking around half aroused most days. He had wanted to hit Rough ‘n Ready up tomorrow night, but the thought of taking on a sub…well he didn’t want one if it wasn’t Crysta.

  Shit.

  “I’m sorry but I’m pretty sure you’ve lost it. Devon just wants to be shown around.”

  “He wants in your bed.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I swear to God St. John, you’re the only one who has kissed me. You have some kind of idea that men are all drooling over me and I can assure you that isn’t true.”

  Just her mentioning the kisses had his blood heating. The memory of the way she sighed, the taste of her passion…the feel of her pressed up against him had his cock twitching.

  “Are you telling me that no one has tried to kiss you before?”

  She must have detected the change in his voice. The glance she gave him told him she heard the change in his tone.

  “No. Only you have manhandled me.”

  He stepped toward her. He knew it was stupid, it was a huge mistake, but there was a bit of challenge in her voice he couldn’t resist.r />
  “I wouldn’t say I handled you just like a man, yet.”

  She settled her hands on her hips. “Eli, I can’t deal with this. Either you let the innuendos go, or just…”

  She broke off as he stepped forward grabbing her. She came easily, willingly.

  Crysta opened her mouth, probably to argue with him, but he was sick of that. He did the one thing he could do.

  He damned them both and slammed his mouth down on hers.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Crysta’s brain shut down. For a moment or two, she just couldn’t seem to think. Every thought dissolved as Eli slanted his mouth over hers and deepened the kiss. She could do nothing but respond. Her brain finally got into the action and screamed for her to stop.

  She ignored that crazy bitch.

  Instead, she twined her hands around his neck and moved closer. His body was so hard, so hot. And damn, the man could kiss. It was like he was some kind of expert on how to make her melt with just the use of his mouth. At this moment, she would do anything to keep kissing him. He didn’t need a weapon to threaten her. All he needed was his mouth—it was lethal.

  He slipped his hands down to her ass and urged her even closer. When she pressed against him, she shivered. There was no doubt he was aroused. She shivered against him. Heat pulsed through her blood. She couldn’t get close enough to him. Moaning, she bent her head back to give him better access to her throat. He nipped at her skin, his teeth grazing over her jawline. His fingers slipped through her hair and pulled at the combs that held her hair up. She shuddered as they stumbled back over to the bed. Crysta fell and bounced up, but Eli gave her no time to think, he covered her body, devouring her mouth again.

  Again, she was drowning. Crysta had never had a man who was so overwhelming with just a kiss. Okay, the body didn’t hurt, nor the feel of his hard cock against her sex. He flexed his hips and she moaned against his tongue again. Soon, though, she wanted more. She wanted to feel his flesh next to hers. Eli must have had the same thought.

  He easily undid her wraparound dress, pulling it free from her body. He balanced himself on one hand and looked down at her.

  “Damn, woman. If I had known you were wearing that under the dress, I probably wouldn’t have been able to concentrate. Hell, we would have never made it to Ross’ house.”

  She’d worn the red lace bra and matching panties. She had always liked sexy lingerie and, most of the time, wore it to please no one but herself. But seeing Eli’s reaction to it sent another wave of heat pulsing through her body. He eased the dress from her body, then rolled over so she was sitting on top of him.

  “I had to see that in full view, love. Please tell me you haven’t been wearing things like that beneath your clothes at the ranch.”

  She smiled down at him. There was something about Eli that made her feel so…well…girly. “Sometimes.”

  He closed his eyes and swallowed. Hard.

  “Lord.” He opened his eyes. They’d darkened even more. “Are you trying to torture me?”

  She thought for a second, cocking her head to the side and smiling. “Maybe.”

  He sat up and pulled her down so that he could kiss her again. She was hot, getting hotter by the moment. Arousal danced over her nerve endings, as she tried to control her needs. It wasn’t as if she was going to hold off anything, but she had a feeling this might be the only night she was afforded a taste of Eli. She wanted to savor it…him. She cupped his face and deepened the kiss.

  He groaned as he sucked on her tongue. Soon, it wasn’t enough for either of them. He rose off of the bed, and tossed her back on it. She laughed as she bounced. He was tearing at his clothes, throwing them behind him. This was a new feeling. Eli St. John was acting desperate. This was a man who thought everything through, but when it came to her, he lost his control.

  When he shucked off his jeans, she was happy to find him completely nude. Of course Eli St. John went commando. She laughed.

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Your laugh,” he said with the most serious look she had ever seen on his face. “There are times I hear it dance over the air when I’m working, and it’s like you’re calling my name.”

  Her heart turned over and she was in danger of telling him right then that she was falling for him. How could she not fall for a man who said things like that to her? Especially when he was already naked and she was ready and willing.

  Keep it light, Crysta.

  Instead, she smiled up at him as he stepped closer. Without hesitation, she slipped her hand over his cock. She slid her fingers down one side of it, then back up over the tip and down the other side. He shuddered.

  “You like to tease, love?”

  His voice had deepened, as did his accent. Something dark and dangerous swept through her. Power surged as she wrapped her fingers around his cock. He pulsed against her palm. Eli settled his hands on his hips and leaned his head back. She bent her head, touching the tip of her tongue to the crown of his penis. The salty, sweet taste of his precum slipped over her taste buds. She slid her mouth over his shaft. She moaned against his cock. He started to thrust in and out of her mouth, his fingers slipping through her hair.

  Soon, though, he apparently had enough. He pulled back and she frowned up at him.

  “Oh, love, don’t look like that. This might be the only night I get to be with you, so I don’t want to be alone.”

  He eased her back, undoing her bra and pulling off her panties. Instead of joining her on the bed though, he went to his knees. He placed a large hand on each of her thighs, spreading them apart. She was already unbearably wet and had to fight the urge to close her legs. She wasn’t a prude, but there was something so utterly carnal in the way he was looking at her sex.

  He trailed a finger along her lips. The light touch was enough to send her over the edge, but he didn’t allow for it. He leaned in and gave her pussy a long, leisurely lick.

  “Hmm, you have no idea how often I’ve thought of you, what you would taste like.”

  He buried his face between her legs and drove her crazy. He slipped his tongue inside her, lapping at her, teasing her clit, and basically pushing her to the edge. But each time she got close, he pulled back. When he was finally joining her on the bed, she was unable to even think of her last name.

  He covered her body once more, then stopped. “Fuck.”

  She giggled.

  “That’s not funny, woman. I have no protection.”

  She snorted, trying to bring her laughing under control. “Sorry. I thought you were just saying what you wanted to do.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you are a smart ass?” he asked.

  “Many times.”

  “Still doesn’t help the situation. We have no condoms.”

  “You don’t, but I do.”

  Relief spread over his face at first, then his eyes narrowed. “And just why would you have protection?”

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

  Without warning, he rolled off her, flipped her on her stomach, and onto his lap. He smacked her ass twice. The slaps were quick but hard. The sting filtered out over her flesh. Her sex clenched and grew damper. Shit, she always liked a Dom who knew how to spank well.

  “That will teach you to be so naughty. Tell me why you have them.”

  “Cuz I want to,” she said and was rewarded with another smack. Damn, the man knew just where to place his palm. The sting intensified, as did her arousal. Her nipples were so damned hard. She wanted to rub them for relief but resisted. Barely.

  “Tell me, Crysta, or it could get worse.”

  She laughed. “Okay. Truth is, I always carry them. Just habit.”

  He grunted. She couldn’t tell if he was irritated by that comment. “Where?”

  “My purse.”

  He rubbed her ass with one palm while holding her still with his other hand. She squirmed and he gave her another swat.
r />   “Let me guess, you like to be spanked?”

  He didn’t wait for her to answer. Instead, he swatted her ass again. With each connection with her skin, he heightened her arousal. The pain filtered out over her flesh sending ribbons of heat surging through her. Before she was satisfied, he was setting her back on the bed. He grabbed her purse. Rifling through it until he found her stash then dropped her purse back on the table. He walked back over to the bed, ripping the package open. He had the condom on in record time. Joining her back on the bed, he covered her body once more. He rose to his knees, pulling her up with him. Entering her in one, hard thrust.

  “Oh, god.”

  It had been months since she’d had sex, the intrusion was a little much for her to take.

  He stilled and leaned down to kiss her. It was part apology, part desperation. She could taste it there, need for her, for this. “Sorry, love.”

  She lifted her hand to his mouth. “No apologies. Not tonight.”

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and rose up against him. He moved his mouth down to her breasts, as he continued to thrust into her. Soon, she could no longer hold back. Her orgasm slammed through her. Before she had recovered from the first, a second one tripped over the last one. She screamed his name, as he shouted hers and followed her into ecstasy.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Eli watched her sleep. It comforted him in a way he didn’t expect. He had never been into staying over for the night. There was a reason he rarely dated women on his island. Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t remember the last time he had a date. He had plenty of encounters, but he hadn’t been out to dinner or the movies in…well, almost forever.

  Crysta was changing things and he wasn’t sure he liked that. He didn’t like change that much. Joe had always laughed at him and told him it was part of life. Eli always thought he’d had enough change early in life to last a lifetime.

  Now though, he was thinking that he’d been rash saying they shouldn’t be involved. It would cause problems, but he had seen her reaction to the spanking. The woman was made for submission. He’d never had a woman that responsive, and he had only been teasing. Getting her to submit would be sweet.