Chapter 3 Sable
SABLE
I wake in a foreign bed. My eyes open to a foreign ceiling. The air is foreign in my nose.
The silk sheets fall from my body as I rise and catalog the exits: one door, three windows that open onto the side yard, and another window in the bathroom.
Ryker wants me to feel out of place here. Wants me to feel afraid.
Too bad.
My cheeks still sting from the slaps he gave me last night, and I have to smile as I raise my hand and feel the tender skin.
Honestly, I didn’t expect that from him. Most bosses don’t get their hands dirty; they just have someone else do it for them.
But now it’s clear that Ryker is not a man to be trifled with. He’s dangerous, unpredictable. But most of all, he can be provoked.
Smiling, I get up and walk to the bathroom. I quickly shower, wrap my hair in a towel, throw on a robe, and continue my exploration of the house.
Most doors are locked, and tons of men in suits stand guard, watching my every move. “At ease, fellas,” I tell them as I pass.
No reaction. They’re well trained.
Their eyes say that they want me back in my room, tucked away in my little corner of the manor. But that’s not happening.
My mom is married to Dominic Vale now, and that makes this place mine.
I try another door, and it opens, leading me into a large living space with charcoal colored walls, modern furniture, and an enormous plate-glass window that looks out into the gardens.
Instantly, the hairs on my neck start to stand up, and I glance to my left to see Ryker sitting in a chair like a king. He has his feet up on a stool and a cigar in his hand.
His eyes are on me, and for a split second I almost feel vulnerable. After all, I’m only wearing a robe and a towel. Meanwhile, he’s wearing dress pants and a loose mauve shirt with the top buttons undone.
“Well, you certainly look the part,” I tell him, leaning against a thigh-high desk. “Big, tough, mafioso man.”
His lips twist like he wants to smile but won’t let himself. His eyes flash as he lifts his chin at me.
“I see your cheeks are still red from last night,” he remarks, taking a slow drag from his cigar.
Despite my lack of a sexy outfit, Ryker still can’t hide the fact that he’s checking me out. I watch his gaze roam up my legs, halt on my hips, then continue up to my breasts.
Men always think they’re being so subtle when they check us out, but we always know.
“And I thank you for that,” I counter. “It will save me having to put on blush later.”
This time, Ryker actually smiles. I have to admit, it’s actually a sexy smile. And from a guy who knows how to handle himself too.
“You’re quite a little firecracker, aren’t you?”
Placing a hand on my hip, I look back defiantly at him. “You know, I would have thought Dominic Vale’s son would have been a whiny, spoiled brat who let his men do all his dirty work for him.”
“Is that right?”
“Guess I was wrong.”
He smirks and pours himself some kind of alcohol from an expensive bottle.
“You may live here now,” he says. “But this is our home and our rules. Don’t forget that.”
“Uh-huh.” I nod, pulling the towel from my hair and shaking it loose. “And I suppose that means doing whatever you want me to do?”
Ryker’s eyes narrow back at me. Slowly, he shakes his head, like he’s appalled by my behavior.
“You have quite a high opinion of yourself.”
I shrug, tossing my hair. “I managed to handle you quite easily.”
“Oh, you think so?” He laughs, rising to his feet. God, he’s tall—well over six feet with broad shoulders that seem to form a wall in front of me. “You know I went easy on you, right?”
“Oh, right. Cause I’m a girl?” I see where he’s going with this. But if he thinks he’s gonna get to me…
“Hey, I only put like fifty percent effort in. If I put in all one hundred—”
“You wanna put money on that?” I suggest, getting right up in his face. He smells like wood-scented soap, whiskey, and cigar smoke. The heat from his body pounds against me like there’s a fire raging within him.
He laughs, a deep roar straight from his belly. “Hey, if you wanna make me richer, princess, I’ve got no problem showing you who’s boss.”
I can feel my blood getting hotter as I stare into his defiant eyes. My teeth clench down, and I lick my lower lip. He can’t possibly think I’m just a harmless little girl, can he? Not after the bruising he got last night.
“Fine,” I reply. “Let’s go. Right now.”
His eyes flare. “You gonna wear that?” he asks, pointing to my robe.
“I’ll change now. Tell me where to meet you.”
“We’ve got a gym out back. Last door on the left. You’ll see it,” he replies, brushing past me. The feeling of his arm against my shoulder sends a barrage of conflicting sensations through me.
I whirl and watch as he exits the room, leaving me behind like I mean absolutely nothing to him. Then I’m rushing back to my room, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
I throw on some yoga pants, a sports bra, and a loose T-shirt. No one ever sees me like this, but I’m not about to put myself at a disadvantage by wearing a five-thousand-dollar dress to a sparring session with Ryker Vale.
He’s right; the gym is easy to find, and he’s already waiting for me when I enter, wearing loose shorts and a tank-top.
I didn’t realize just how jacked he truly is. Like he was sculpted out of solid muscle—a Greek statue come to life, only with a very nice tan.
It’s just us two. None of his men are here.
“Okay.” He smiles. “No weapons, no clawing, scratching, biting, or any of those cheap girl tactics.”
He’s really trying hard to piss me off, but I’m not going to let him get to me. Without hesitation, I lunge straight at him.
For just a brief moment, I see the shock register on his face. He wasn’t expecting me to rush him, and I manage to drive my elbow straight into his ribs before he twists out of the way.
“Dirty.” He smiles, raising his hands.
“Just how I like it,” I counter.
He dashes in, feinting a punch with his left hand. But I remember from the bar that Ryker is right-handed, so I prepare myself for the follow-up.
But it doesn’t come.
Instead, his left hand connects with my cheek, snapping my head to the side.
“Remember how that feels, princess?” he taunts. “Plenty more where that came from.”
He attacks again, but I duck and sweep his leg out from under him, sending him tumbling back onto the mat. I swear there’s a flash of admiration in his eyes as I swing my foot down at him.
He rolls quickly out of the way and vaults back to his feet. But before he can make a move, I kick him hard, right where my heel got him last night.
I hear his breath as he winces and takes a step back. We circle each other, the tension rising, both of us waiting for an opening.
Fuck it, I think, dashing in, using my speed and size to my advantage.
I act like I’m going to punch him, but just as he moves to block, I throw my whole body into him.
And hit a solid wall of man.
My legs go out from under me, and I collapse on my back. Laughing, he drops onto me, snatching me into his arms as I fight to brace my knees against his chest.
His skin is hot. Beads of sweat fall from his body and land on my face. I can taste the salt on my lips as he looks down at me triumphantly. But there’s something else in his eyes…
…something lingering, like he’s searching my soul.
“Gotcha,” he whispers, sending a shiver up my spine.
His hand finds the back of my neck, and his fingers thread through my hair, searching for a grip.
Something stirs inside—butterflies in my chest and heat pooling in my belly. For a hint of a second, my mind goes blank, like I’m lost in the blackness of space.
He moves closer, leaning in.
My eyes move to his lips as they slowly part, revealing the pink of his tongue—
Suddenly, there’s a sound from behind, and I tilt my head back as the door opens and one of his men walks in.
“Excuse me, sir. Your father would like to see you.”
The moment shatters like a glass bowl being dropped on a concrete floor.
Ryker scoffs and sits back on his heels. “Of course he does.”
Quickly, I roll out from under him and get to my feet. I’m panting like a horse. Try as I might, I can barely even catch my breath.
Ryker, on the other hand, simply grabs a bottle of water, takes a sip, and walks off, leaving me alone in the gym.
My whole body is tingling like I’m being poked with pins and needles. I want to shout something at him or race up behind him and grab him by the throat and pull him back.
But I’m Sable Noir. I don’t behave like that.
So I simply watch him go. And once he’s gone, I let myself raise a hand to my cheek, which still stings from his slap.
I’m tense as I make my way from the gym back to my room. I strip down and get in the shower, replaying every move from our fight in my mind.
But was it really a fight? He slapped me again, but he didn’t hurt me.
My inner thighs tingle as I recall the look on his face as he gazed down at me, his fingers threaded through my hair. But I quickly push the thoughts away.
“No entanglements.”
That’s the rule of this house.
And that’s fine. I don’t want Ryker anyway. He’s a Vale, and he’s also my step-brother now.
I shut off the water and grab another towel.
I’m in control, and I’m not going to break.