Page 34 of Savage Don

Really, I’m just trying to buy some time. If I’m not careful, I could drown beneath the waves of my own stupid ambition.

“You’ve been sleeping for the past twelve hours,” Ray points out.

“Well, then I should at least have something to eat, and I should definitely wash up before you put me to work. Right?”

Stroking his iron jaw, Ray nods. “You are right. But you have the order wrong. First, we’ll wash you up. Then, we’ll get you something to eat.”

My stomach growls as I watch him carefully. This is a predator. A ruthless hunter. And I’m his caged prey. If I’m not careful, he could rip my throat out.

… Still, some food would probably help my hangover. I’ll need to be on guard.

“I’d rather eat first,” I bargain. “Trust me, I work better when—”

All it takes is for Ray to lift one thick finger into the air and my lips slam shut.

“Slaves don’t make decisions,” he reminds me. “They follow orders. If you want to tell me what to do, then I’m going to send you right back to your daddy.”

Dread worms its way down my throat like black bile. No. I can’t go back there. My only hope is here with Ray. Otherwise, all that I’ve worked for will be washed down the drain.

“Fine,” I pout. “Show me the bathroom and I’ll wash up.”

“First prove to me that you can stand up,” Ray says, that single finger bending, beckoning me forward. “What good is a slave if she can’t even walk?”

My gut twists and turns as I look over the side of the bed. The floor still looks like it’s spinning. But I don’t have much of a choice.

“It didn’t sound like you just wanted a slave who would run your errands,” I mumble, pushing myself over so that my feet hang off of the mattress. “In fact, to me, it sounded like not being able to get up from bed might have been a feature, not a bug.”

My feet hit the soft carpet and I take one final deep breath.

“You definitely are perceptive,” Ray smirks. “See how much you learn when you relax?”

“I’m not relaxed.”

“I’ll change that.”

With a defeated sigh, I push myself off of the bed.

It’s too much for my addled body to handle. Immediately, a constellation of black spots cloud my vision. My head goes light and I feel like I’m falling into darkness.

Then, I feel a familiar warmth slip under the small of my back. The hand is strong enough to keep me from falling, but soft enough that I only want to sink further into its touch.

“Sorry…” I hear myself whisper. Slowly, the black dots disappear and I can see the bedroom clearly again.

I also get a better look at Ray. He holds me around the waist, keeping me upright.

He’s even more handsome up close. Even more devilishly delicious in the sunlight. And all the more terrifying.

Those sharp brown eyes of his are filled with a calculating fire. They burn deep down into my soul as he pulls me upright.

His thick cheekbones rise above his teasing smirk. The salt and pepper stubble framing his dark red lips like they’re some kind of sinister masterpiece.

I can’t help but study him. The slick-backed hair. The subtle creases in his forehead. The smile lines. The dark tattoos that flicker up from under his turtleneck like black flames.

“Don’t be sorry, kitten,” he rumbles, nice and close to my ear. “Be ready.”

My racing heart stirs as he takes one hand off of me, leaving the other splayed out against the small of my back, just to make sure I don’t topple over again.

“Ready for what?” I ask, taking a deep whiff of him.