Page 17 of Rough Ride

“You only ask that when you’re mad at me. What did I do?”

“Nothing,” she said brusquely. “Here,” Eliana said handing over the now filled folder she had been compiling. “Two of these men can be released immediately. According to the arrest record they’ve been held for over twenty-four hours without being officially charged. And this one,” she continued as she picked up a thinner file, “he wasn’t Mirandized and made aware of his rights. Get the public defender to insist on his release.”

“You’re changing the subject,” Kye noted as he accepted the files.

“This man can plead to the lesser charge of parole violation and serve community service,” she rambled on filling his hands with the folders she’d clearly been working on for hours, “and these two men are being held on bond. Have the county surrender them to the bondsman instead of serving time. You’ll have to pay legal fees, but they’ll be out before the end of the day. I wrote the instructions down.” She paused as she looked over the table, “I’ve got six more I haven’t started, but I can have them finished today… maybe tomorrow…”

Kye’s hands were loaded with the manila folders which he promptly set on the kitchen counter and walked over to Eliana. He grabbed for her hand and again she moved away. “Will you stop?” he pleaded and caught her in his arms.

“Don’t,” she said quietly and turned her head, blatantly refusing to look at him.

“Tell me why you’re mad. Is it the cases? I’ll take these to Max right away. He’ll be thrilled you got this much done already.”

“I don’t give two shits about Max,” she said finally looking up at him. “I’m mad at you!”

“What did I do?” Kye asked defensively. Eliana pulled out of his arms and walked past him. “Is this about last night?” Her silence was his only answer. “Did… did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you?” She turned to stare at him slightly slack-jawed. “If I did something you didn’t like, Eli I’m so sorry I just thought…”

“You thought? You mean you actually put brain cells behind what you did?” she asked rudely.

“Excuse me for being a dumbass, you seemed like you were enjoying it,” he said feeling entirely confused. Hadn’t she been the one begging him? Straddling him? She certainly had seemed like a willing participant…

“Kye,” she said pinching the bridge of her nose and squeezing her eyes shut. “I’m not talking about that,” she said and Kye felt relief wash over him. “You just… you left. You left the room as if nothing happened and I didn’t like that. It made me feel, I don’t know… cheap or something.”

“Cheap?” he asked once again feeling confusion overtake him. “You’re not cheap, Eli.”

“I know I’m not, that’s why I don’t like that you treated me that way. I’m not just a hookup and leave. I told you that. I told you I’d never been with someone because I’d never found someone I cared about that way. I trusted you with that and then… you just left.”

“I didn’t…” he started to say, but seeing her standing there with a pained expression on her face, he knew that none of his excuses were going to change how she felt. “Come here,” he beckoned with an outstretched hand. Reluctantly she took it and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I didn’t leave because I was done with you,” he started and she looked up at him with round eyes. “I left because I wasn’t going to be able to stop a second time. I don’t want to rush anything with you and…”

“And?” she said encouraging him to continue.

“You haven’t slept with anyone because you didn’t care about them that way. And I… well I have. I’ve been with women I didn’t care about. When they’d had their fill they wanted to be left alone. I’m not proud of it, but it’s the truth,” he said and Eliana tried to swallow her jealousy. “I’m not good at intimacy I guess. I honestly thought it would be best if I let you sleep.”

“I wanted you to stay,” she said with a small pout in her voice. He guided her arms so they were around his neck and she couldn’t help the small smile. “Don’t leave like that again. I’m not any of the other women you’ve been with. And if we’re being honest, I don’t want to hear about any of them ever again.” It was Kye’s turn to smile. “When we’re together, I get all of you or none of you.”

“Deal,” he agreed and kissed her. She returned the affection, rising on her toes to claim more of his mouth. His hands dug into her back and she broke the kiss only to stifle a yawn. “Am I boring you?” he asked teasingly and she shook her head.

“I’ve been up since three,” she explained. “Coffee only goes so far. Especially that nasty brand you have in the cabinets.”

“How about this?” he said running a hand up her back and into her hair, “I’ll take the files you’ve completed to Max. I need to speak to him anyway. I’ll be back in an hour and bring you a coffee from the café stand you like.”

“ExpressO’?” she asked with excitement. “It’s still around?”

“Best espresso in town. Dot left it to her son and retired to Florida about three years ago, but it’s still good.”

“Mm yes please,” she said and kissed his chin. He kissed her quickly before pulling his boots on and gathering the papers he’d set aside. She handed him his coat that had been draped over the back of the dining room chair and he smiled at the front doorway.

“I could get used to this,” he said holding her face and brushing her cheek with his thumb.

“Get used to what?” she asked leaning into the tender touch.

“Living with you. Coming home to you. Bedding you.”

“Bedding?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “I think two people need to have satisfaction in order for it to be considered ‘bedding’.” She was teasing but the heat she radiated gave him chills. Pulling her closer, he tucked the folders under one arm to hold her by the hips.

“You’re crazy if you think last night wasn’t satisfying for me,” he murmured against her lips. She raked her nails over the back of his neck.

“I think we can up the ante next time,” she stated in an equally low tone. Kye was smirking.