Ryker had already told them about Rhi running from James and hiding in the dumpster. He recounted their earlier conversations. “I have no doubt her father moved them to a compound. Whether or not it’s part of the Ministry is yet to be determined.”
Rory began putting the clothes in the dresser. “That poor child. First, she loses her mother, then she’s hauled off to live in a cult. I’d like to know what made her run now.”
“I thought you could talk to her. She needs a woman’s touch.” Sutton stared at Ryker, eyes narrowed. Ryker knew what his father was doing – reading the situation. “Don’t look at me like that, Pop. You know Mom is better equipped to handle this. It’s what she does. What you both do. It’s why I called you.”
“Fair enough. We got a room down the hall. When she wakes up, give us a call, and we can all sit down over breakfast. Might I suggest you carry her to bed? She doesn’t look comfortable on the sofa.” Sutton smirked, and Ryker pinched the bridge of his nose. Meddling Gryphon.
Rory laughed softly. “She is pretty. And strong.”
“And way too young. She’s barely older than Mac, for fuck’s sake.”
“So? We know age is a number that means little in the scheme of things. But think of it this way; the younger she is, the more years you’ll have with her.” Sutton clapped Ryker on the shoulder. “See you in a few hours.”
Ryker followed his parents to the door. Once it was closed, he turned and stared at Rhi. Her hair was fanned out over the arm of the sofa.
She looks like an angel.
His Gryphon wasn’t wrong, and his dad was right; she looked like an uncomfortable angel, so against his better judgment, Ryker strode over and lifted her in his arms. She smelled like garbage, but underneath was her unique scent, something earthy and sweet, and Ryker had to admit it called to him. When she took a shower, it was going to be harder to ignore. Rhi stirred in his arms but didn’t wake. She nuzzled his neck, her breaths tickling his skin. Ryker didn’t linger. He took her to the bedroom and set her in the middle of the king-sized bed. He removed her shoes, then pulled the covers up. Rhi turned onto her side, her hair falling over her face. Ryker pushed the strands back, enjoying the softness. If she were someone different, he would imagine grabbing fistfuls of her long mane, tugging it while fucking her hard from behind. But she wasn’t one of his lovers who knew the score. Who liked it rough. She was a young woman who’d been sheltered the last ten years and no doubt had been taught sex was something that should only happen between a married couple. Or at the least between a couple in love.
Rhi was a beautiful, naïve woman, and Ryker wasn’t going to taint her innocence.
Rhiannon
Rhi startled awake. It took her a few seconds to remember she wasn’t at home. The previous day came barreling back, and she felt both elated and nervous. The clock on the bedside table showed it was after eight. That made her smile. Sleeping late wasn’t allowed at home. Pushing the plush covers off, Rhi sat up and stretched. When she went into the bathroom to pee, there were full-sized toiletries lined up on the counter. Rory. Rhi was excited about meeting Ryker’s parents, but first, she needed a shower. It was bad enough Ryker had been around her all evening, smelling the stench of trash. There was no way she was going to meet his parents in the same condition. She turned on the water, letting it heat. After peeing, she stripped out of her dress and pantyhose, gathered the things she needed, and climbed under the spray. Rhi took her time, enjoying the wonderful water pressure. While the conditioner sat on her hair, she shaved her legs and her armpits, singing her song. The one her mom took her name from. When she was finished, Rhi was loath to get out, but she was ready to meet Rory and Sutton. To find out how they were going to help her get away and start a new life.
Just as she turned the water off, there was a knock on the door. “Rory put your new clothes in the dresser,” Ryker called out from the bedroom.
“Thank you. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“I’m going to order breakfast. Anything in particular you want?”
“Can I have pancakes?” Rhi had always loved her mom’s pancakes. She had loved everything her mother cooked.
“Yes. Bacon or sausage?”
“Bacon, please.”
“You got it.”
Rhi waited until she heard the bedroom door close before she stepped out of the tub. Not that she thought Ryker would sneak back in to get a look at her naked, but she didn’t want him to see her with no clothes on. Rhi’s body was nothing special. If Ryker figured that out, he’d have no reason… Stop. She couldn’t allow herself to get caught up in him. He was probably going to hand her off to his parents and be on his way. Rhi finished in the bathroom quicker than she wanted. She found the new clothes and underwear where Ryker said they’d be. The bras and panties were lace. They felt strange against her skin. Rhi chose a long-sleeved tee that was softer than anything she’d ever felt. She pulled on a pair of jeans that hugged her legs. It felt weird wearing them after so long of having to dress like every other woman. Even the married ones were required to wear the oversized pants and tops that did nothing for their figures.
Not wanting to keep Ryker waiting, Rhi towel-dried her hair, removed the tangles, and left it down to air dry. Ryker was standing by the window, looking out. He turned, smiling when he saw how she was dressed. “I hope the clothes are okay. I told you Rory would dress you like a biker chick.”
Rhi looked down at herself. She was barefoot, so until she put on the soft leather boots, she thought she looked like a normal woman. The few women she came across when she and James made their weekly trips to the city were usually in jeans and sweatshirts or tees under jackets. She had only recently been allowed to leave home, so she hadn’t been to the city during summer. For that, she was thankful. She’d definitely stand out if she’d had to wear her cotton pants.
“Rory and Sutton would like to join us for breakfast, if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s fine. I’d like to thank her for all my new things. I’ll have to find a job so I can pay her back.”
“That’s not necessary. Like I said before, it’s what we do.”
Before Rhi could argue, there was a knock at the door. Ryker went and paused only a second. Without looking through the peephole, he opened up to let a couple in. A couple who could in no way be Ryker’s parents because they weren’t old enough.
The woman was a pretty blonde dressed as Ryker had described Rory. The man was dark-haired like Ryker. The woman approached Rhi, assessing the clothes. “Hello, Rhi. I’m Rory, and this is Sutton.”
“Uh, hi. You… thank you for the clothes. But…” Rhi didn’t want to be rude about the couple’s ages, but she had to ask. “How is it possible you’re his parents. Is he adopted?”
Rory laughed. “Oh, I promise you I birthed him and all his siblings. Sutton and I have good genes, that’s all. Now, why don’t you come sit down and tell us about you and the man you ran from?”
A knock sounded on the door, and Ryker let in a young woman bringing room service. The woman kept eyeing Ryker, and although it brought out a jealous streak, Rhi couldn’t blame her. Ryker ignored the woman’s glances except to sign the paper she presented. When everything was spread out on the table, the four of them sat down. As Rhi poured syrup over her pancakes, she wondered where to begin.