A Little Harmless Ride (23 page)

“
Our local law enforcement official is trying to suggest that Jerry tried to lure you out there to get shot.”

Her eyes widened then they narrowed when she looked at Mitch. “Oh, for pity’s sake, the man was thanking me. He wasn’t trying to shoot me.”

“
But he could be working with someone,” Mitch said.

“
What for? He loves that land.”

“
Killing you doesn’t mean that St. John would lose the ranch. It means that he would get it all.”

“
So, your brilliant plan is that these two lured me out to shoot me and take the ranch.” She gave Eli a glance. “You suck at shooting.”

He had to fight a smile. It wasn’t the time or place to laugh about something like that, but damned if she didn’t make him proud.

“
I can’t buy the land, Mitch. You forget, it would go up on a chopping block for charity. That would make it very easy for me to lose it. And since Crysta has already said that she’ll sell to me, that seems stupid.”

“
Okay. From now on, don’t go out with less than a group of four,” Mitch suggested.

Before Eli could agree and insist that she never leave the house again, the doctor pushed through the doors and walked towards them.

“
Jerry looks good. It was touch and go for a while, but he’s stabilized. Does he have any family?”

Eli shook his head. “I think he should have someone here when he wakes, though.”

“
I can stay, boss.” It was Danny who had quietly slipped in. “I’d like to stay, in fact.”

Eli studied him for a second then nodded. He looked at Crysta, who looked like she was about to collapse.

“
Okay. You call if he wakes up.”

“
And don’t let Mitch in to talk to him unless we’re here,” Crysta said.

He could have kissed her. She was ready to take on Mitch just for suggesting that Jerry wanted to hurt her. She was strong and loyal. Was it any wonder he loved her?

He couldn’t imagine his life without her. As they walked side by side down the corridor, he glanced at her. Today, he had almost lost her. She could have been the target just like Mitch suggested. And then it would be over. He would lose everything if she were gone.

Eli knew what needed to be done. He would lose everything material, but he would keep her safe.

And that’s all that mattered.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Eli had been quiet since they got back. Hell, since they’d left the hospital he’d barely said two words. She knew he was mad at her, but she didn’t engage. She had no energy to fight.

It truly wasn’t her fault, but she felt it was. She should have known better than to be out in the open. It was stupid, she knew that. Worse, she felt she let Eli and Jerry down, and to an extent, her Uncle Joe.

When they had arrived home, she had gone upstairs and showered. It was crazy, but she was sure she could smell gunpowder. And…she just needed to be clean.

Now that she made her way downstairs, she wondered where Eli was. She wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation, but she knew it was coming. Her father had taught her

She stepped into his library and found him sitting in front of the big window.

“
I think you need to leave,” he said without turning around. He was sipping whisky and said it just like he could have said they were expecting rain. No big deal. You need to leave.

She looked at him, irritated that it hurt her to hear the words. She had been through this before. Not exactly this, but something similar. Finding your Dom and fiancé fucking his personal trainer was a little different. Still, the rejection was the same.

This hurt more, even knowing what was behind it. He was trying to protect her and she would not have it. If she left, he lost everything. It would give whoever was doing this the result he or she wanted. She would feel like a coward.

She wanted to pick up one of the massive books in the library and hurl it at his head. “I’m not leaving.”

He turned and gave her a narrowed look. “Didn’t you hear me?”

The coldness in his voice turned her blood to ice. “Yeah, I heard ya.”

“
What did you not understand about it? I don’t want you here. I want you gone.”

“
Seriously?” She snorted trying to hide the pain that was now ripping her heart to shreds. It seemed so easy for him, and maybe it was. Maybe she had been the one to think there was more to their relationship than just submission and sex.

“
I think I have the final say on who stays and who goes.”

“
I might be your sub—
was
your sub—but I don’t have to listen to you outside of the bedroom.”

“
Really? I think I run this ranch.” He stood and set down his whisky.

She walked closer and looked at him. Crysta was trying to hide her emotions. It was amazing that the words hurt her more than anything in the world.

She crossed her arms more for protection than for warmth. Tears were burning the backs of her eyes. She blinked.

“
I think we both own this ranch, and I’m not leaving. Even if you are a fucking ass, I can’t let you lose it. Joe wanted you to have it and I will be damned if I leave. I can, however, avoid any time with you.”

She turned to leave, knowing that any second she was going to cry in front of him. She would not do it. Giving him that satisfaction was a little too much for today. She might not have a lot, but she had her pride.

She was at the threshold when he grabbed her by the wrist. Before she knew what was happening, he’d backed her up against the wall and was nuzzling her neck.

“
I’m sorry.” His mouth touched the tender skin just beneath her ear. “Babe, I’m so sorry. I went a little crazy. For a second there, I thought the blood was yours.”

Crysta closed her eyes and tried to ignore how wonderful that made her feel. She shouldn’t be happy he was scared for her, and she definitely should still be pissed. But his body crowded hers, the heat of his flesh warming her.

“
I…I just couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.” He said the words in a jolting fashion, something that tugged at her heart. It was as if the words had been pulled from somewhere dark.

He pulled back from her and settled his forehead against hers. “I don’t know what I would do.”

“
Nothing happened to me. I’m fine.”

He closed his eyes but not before she saw the pain there. How could she have thought he was cold? She knew that’s what he showed a lot of people but inside he was warm. So warm, and loving.

“
I haven’t done a good job at protecting you,” he said, the words filled with torment.

She shook her head and cupped his face. She gave him a long, sweet kiss.

“
I was shot at once.”

His lips twitched. “All in a day’s work. I don’t think so.”

“
And it’s not your job to protect me, Eli.”

“
I promised your father I would take care of you.”

She shook her head. “Alphas. Surrounded by them all the time.”

“
I told you to leave.”

She smiled, but then she felt it fade. She cupped his face again and leaned in for a slow, wet kiss. “I won’t leave you, Eli. I love you.”

He didn’t say anything for a few moments. She started to wonder if she made a mistake, but she fought the urge to take it back. Loving him wasn’t a mistake. It might not be smart, and it caused so many issues that she didn’t even want to think about it, but it would never be a mistake.

Eli still said nothing as he stepped back and took her hand. The house was still quiet, just the two of them, as he led her up the stairs to his room. He let go of her hand and bent down to pick her up. He walked into his room and laid her on the bed. He undressed her slowly, kissing and loving every inch of her. He slid his tongue over her body. He left no part of her flesh untouched.

When she was nude, he undressed, his gaze on hers. It had been two weeks of pleasure, of play, and now this. He climbed on the bed with her and pulled her up. He sat back, slowly entering her. Together, they moved. No hurry, no rush. This was about feeling, about love. It was about mutual pleasure, sharing together this one moment in time.

She bent her head back as he kissed her throat. His teeth grazed along her jaw as he licked and nibbled her sensitive skin. Crysta wanted this to last forever.

“
God, your skin is the most amazing thing,” he said. “So sweet and tempting…it’s like you’re made of honey.”

She shivered, loving the way he talked to her. She always did. The lazy pleasure they took in their bodies soon dissolved into the rising need of completion. The urge grew and almost without warning, her orgasm exploded through her. She convulsed as she whispered his name. He kissed her then, thrusting up into her once more, and followed her into bliss.

* * * *

The creak of the floor was the only thing that gave Eli a warning that someone was in the house. He slipped off the bed, taking his handgun with him.

“
I would rather you not shoot me, St. John,” Dillon said from the hallway. “And I really don’t want to embarrass Ms. Miller the first time I meet her.”

Turning, he walked away.

“
Wait. What?” Crysta said starting to wake up. She was nude, of course, the sheet falling to her waist as she sat up.

Eli sighed. “It’s Dillon, love. He apparently doesn’t understand when I say I can handle things on my own.”

He leaned down and gave her a long kiss. “Let’s see what he wants.”

By the time the two of them made it to the kitchen, Dillon was already making coffee. “I take it you didn’t bring Jillian with you?”

He shook his head. “She’s still in the self-imposed deadline area. The woman is tyrannical about her writing time.”

Dillon smiled at Crysta. “Crysta Miller I assume. Nice to meet you. Sorry about waking you up, but I made coffee.”

“
Thank you for making yourself at home, Dillon,” Eli said, but he wasn’t going to complain beyond that.

A good cup of coffee would get his blood pumping. Of course the sex he had wanted to have would’ve been better, but Eli didn’t see a way of getting that to happen at the moment.

“
I didn’t want to waste time. I’ve gone over everything and we have little to go on. But, there is one person I think we both need to talk to and I don’t want to involve the authorities.”

“
I don’t like the sound of that,” Crysta said.

Both men ignored her and her snort was filled with disgust.

“
Who?” Eli asked.

“
Sean Kaheaku.”

“
He wasn’t here. He was on Oahu,” Crysta said.

“
Yeah, but he’s got something going on. I can’t get into his records, and he was back that night. There’s another problem.”

“
What?”

“
He had a meeting on Oahu with his stepbrother. Then, five thousand dollars was transferred from Sean to Sam’s account. Sam also acted suspiciously while he was on the island. He was out buying ammo.We need to figure out what those two are up to. I want you with me, St. John.”

“
And I’m going,” Crysta said.

“
No.” Both men said it at the same time. Eli knew from the look on her face, they had a fight on their hands.

“
Stop me. I’m not staying here at the house by myself, or with a guard. And I am not going to spend a bunch of time arguing with you about it. I have my own questions for Sean, if you don’t mind.”

“
I said no,” Eli said. He tried frowning at her, but it did no good.