Page 13 of Ravaged Devotion

“Master Rue,” Avan, their head butler, bowed to him at the door and then swept an arm toward where Ryker and the rest of them sat.

Without glancing up, Ryker noted the way Rue hesitated the moment his eyes landed on him.

His lips twitched in a barely concealed grin.

Rue must have thought he’d creamed himself when he woke up covered in dried spunk. Probably started to worry over the constant wet dreams and the timing of them. He’d never guess that it was Ryker’s doing, that the come didn’t belong to him at all, but he was smart enough to take the obvious pieces and put them together.

He only woke soiled on the weekends Ryker was there.

Did he think his body was betraying him? Getting off to Ryker’s presence despite its owner’s reluctance?

Ryker hoped so.

“You’re late,” Rhys stated the moment Rue’s hand reached the back of the chair directly across the table from Ryk.

Eulalie tried to smooth things over, ever the optimist despite having known her now husband for four decades. “What kept you, dear? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine.” Rue glanced over at Ryker, for barely a second before he lost his nerve and looked away. His cheeks turned pink.

Ryker downed the rest of his hot coffee to prevent himself from laughing.

Rue’s father hadn’t been from Usurn originally. Thanks to his species, he’d passed on part of his traits to Rue, including what the universe had termed mood eyes. Because of his mixed blood, they weren’t as bold or intense as his father’s had been, and didn’t carry the same range of colors. Typically, they appeared hazel; a person needed to be close and paying attention to catch any changes.

Ryker had always paid attention.

Too much, even.

He knew like the back of his hand what the shifts in color meant. How, when blue bled into the brown, Rue was sad or worried. Or what it meant when they turned greener.

Right now, his irises were a full spectrum of color, giving away just how uncomfortable he was.

Which was exactly how Ryker wanted him.

“The annual company trip is next weekend,” Rhys stated then, booming voice demanding all of their attention.

Every year, the board of directors of Hart Holding took a vacation and called it team building. Ryker wasn’t sure who they were trying to kid, considering none of the actual workers or rest of the staff were ever invited, or given a workshop of their own. It was only ever the members of the board and their families, off to some tropical destination or spa retreat.

“Have fun.” Ryker was looking forward to having distance between them, if nothing else.

“You’ll be attending this year,” Rhys announced. “Both of you.”

His hand froze with the refilled coffee cup halfway to his lips.

Rue, who seemed just as surprised, recovered sooner. “Um, what exactly will we be doing?”

“You’ll love it,” Eulalie jumped in, smiling broadly at her son. “Your father has chosen the most beautiful location. A secluded mountain resort in Poda, only a few hours from here. The pictures are lovely. I’ll send you their website later.”

“You want to take us to the middle of nowhere?” Ryker set his cup into its saucer with a loud click.

“You’re both graduating this year,” Rhys replied. “This is the best way to get you familiar with the board members before you officially join the company next year.”

He scowled. “He’s a music major, dad.”

“Your mother and I have already discussed this,” Rhys waved Ryker’s concerns off. “Your brother will fit in with the marketing team. Surely his skills will be put to good use there.”

“Providing jingles for robot vacuums and the latest self-cleaning toothbrush?”

Rhys looked at him and held his gaze. “I don’t like your tone, son.”