Page 25 of Ravaged Devotion

The air whooshed out of him, ears ringing, panic setting in strong. It was so intense, his vision winked in and out, and his stomach lurched, making him worried he’d vomit.

No.

No.

No.

No.

How could he have found out?

How—

“Did you spread these legs,” Ryker’s left hand dropped to the outside of Rue’s thigh, traveling up to his hip as he spoke darkly, “and invite my twin inside of you?”

Good Light.

Tears pricked at the corner of Rue’s eyes, mind trying to untangle the mixture of feelings. The ones the Black Hart’s deadly words were bringing.

And the ones caused by the almost gentle touch on his body.

Ryker’s hand shifted to the narrow of Rue’s back, and then his fingers slipped beneath his waistband and tugged once threateningly before going still. “Answer the question.”

“I…” What was he supposed to say?

He’d wished it’d been Ryker?

He’d thought it had been him?

“He was waiting for me and…” And what?

Rue couldn’t say it.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

“Did he force you?” Ryker’s voice dropped lower, and it was impossible to miss the way it hitched.

Was he trying to give Rue an out?

Offering him an excuse?

Why?

Was it because hating him for leaving was already as much as Ryker could handle? Perhaps he really feared he’d kill him for this.

Would he?

A desperate sound slipped past Rue’s lips, and he wished he could bury his head in his arms, hide his face, but the Black Hart’s grip held firm.

“Did Ryder force you to—”

“No.” The confession was deafening, and Ryker went still over him.

“You wanted it?”

Rue tried shaking his head, still unable to do it properly. “Please. Let me up. We can talk—”

“You’ll run,” he said it with so much certainty, even Rue momentarily believed it.