Page 55 of Ravaged Devotion

“You try learning the person you thought you’d given yourself to was the wrong one!” Rue snapped, glaring for good measure. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes and he stubbornly wiped them away with the back of his hand. “I was mortified! I didn’t know how I was supposed to face you after. You and Ryder share everything. It wasn’t a matter of if he’d tell you about my mistake, it was a matter of when. I figured when he finished testing the game, the first thing he’d do was find you and have a good laugh at my expense.”

“You thought I would make fun of you?” Ryker sounded hurt. “For sleeping with a man while thinking it was me?”

“Since it wasn’t you, that means that it was all in my head. It was always all in my head. You never wanted me, but I’d arrogantly convinced myself you did.”

The Black Hart clicked his tongue. “And when I fucked you with that umbrella? I suppose that was all in your head as well? Or when I got you off in the bath?”

“That’s not…” He pursed his lips. “It isn’t the same.”

Ryker surprised him by laughing, the sound light and almost incredulous. “Oh, sweetheart,” he drawled, “what am I going to do with you?”

Rue held still when he stepped forward, one hand capturing him by the nape as he bent down to bring them eyelevel with one another. There were flecks of gold in Ryker’s irises, noticeable only because they were so close.

“Blue,” the Black Hart murmured, and it took a second for Rue to realize he was talking about his eye color. “I like it best when you’re like this. When I can read your mood, and it’s open to me.”

“…Ryker?”

He hushed him, much like he had in the bathtub when he’d been comforting him. “Do you think I’m like this for anyone else, Rue? Do you think I’m careful with them?” His other hand lifted, and he swept his thumb over Rue’s full bottom lip.

Rue couldn’t hide his confusion. “Ryker?”

“No,” he shook his head once, “you haven’t earned the truth. Not yet. No matter your reasoning, you chose to leave me behind. There are consequences for that, little brother.”

That damn title again. Rue tried to pull away, but Ryker held firm forcing him closer instead, until he was practically sliding off the edge of the bed, their noses almost touching. A waft of the Black Hart’s cologne engulfed him, something peppery with hints of powdery rose. Not a scent anyone would associate with the imposing, frenetic man before him.

“By running, you placed yourself in my father’s hands. Practically giftwrapped and tied with a neat bow. Do you know what he said to me last night?” Anger flickered across Ryker’s face. “He plans to send you away once we’re back in the city. Wants to ship you off planet, away from me. Again.”

Rue’s heart sank, but he made himself think logically. Against Ryker, that was always the smartest course of action. Those who didn’t know him well enough wouldn’t realize that this particular Black Hart was led by feeling. His emotions fueled his actions, which more often than not, led to him taking drastic measures and causing all sorts of chaos and mayhem.

He didn’t need to know why Rhys suddenly wanted to get rid of him, or why he’d thought that was the right threat to use against his son. All Rue needed to know was if that’s what the head of their tiny fucked up family wanted, then that’s what would happen.

Not being able to accept things with Ryder had taught him a valuable lesson. It was the reason they’d all ended up this way. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice, and besides…

“My mother is gone,” he struggled to get the words out, but somehow managed. “There’s nothing left for me here anyway.”

The fingers on the back of his neck pressed into him harder, the first clue that maybe he’d mis stepped, despite his careful consideration.

“If your eyes didn’t just change to brown, I would put you over my knee and spank you so hard even the creatures outside hear your screams,” Ryker shocked him by stating. He practically shoved him away, glaring when Rue was sprawled out on the bed. “I should have realized sooner you’re this big of a clueless idiot. It would have saved myself years of torment.”

“I don’t know what you want from me,” Rue admitted.

“I’ve gathered that much. Finally,” the last word was uttered under his breath, Rue barely catching it. But then Ryker continued. “Nothing left for you, huh? Guess your friend’s downstairs don’t mean shit to you then.”

He bristled. “Don’t threaten them.”

“Why not? I certainly don’t give two fucks about those people. Do you think one of them can make it to the pool house? The girl, Lenore, right? She’s on the track team, isn’t she? Co-captain even. Must mean she’s a fast runner.”

Rue tried to get to his feet, intent on pushing Ryker, but the Black Hart caught him by the wrists and slammed him back down onto the bed, dropping over him in the process to pin him beneath his weight.

Knowing he didn’t stand a chance against the other man’s strength, Rue switched gears.

“Please.” He shook his head. “I can’t watch…What happened to my mom…I can’t…” His heart started beating too fast, the air catching in his lungs.

Ryker’s expression softened, and without warning, his mouth sealed over Rue’s. He swallowed the gasp that escaped him, driving his tongue in deep, tracing the roof of his mouth before coaxing Rue’s to dance and tangle.

The kiss left Rue lightheaded, his arms still pinned at either side making him starkly aware of the power imbalance between them.

And just how much he enjoyed it.