Chapter Five: Her Decision

The tour of Ryker’s house started on the ground floor. I had already seen the living room so he showed me the family room first, which looked like a second living room. There were a few entertainment rooms but what really interested me was his home theater. I couldn’t imagine living in a place this nice. The entire time he kept watching for me to react to everything and I obviously did. Ryker had to have been enjoying my amazement.

We walked up his spiraling staircase to the second floor. “The left wing consists of guest rooms so I hope you’re okay with my family coming in and out which my siblings visit a lot,” he explained. “Most of the time unannounced.”

“Would my family be able to visit?” I asked, mostly for Colton.

Ryker shrugged and answered, “Of course, I know how important family is.” That was another box checked.

One of his chefs let us know dinner was ready so we made our way to the dining room. We sat down at the table with the food already there.“Are you impressed?” he asked since I was staring down at the food, clearly astonished. There were several plates in front of me. I wasn’t used to eating a full-course meal.

I chuckled and said, “You know I am.”

“You have a cute laugh,” Ryker said, looking at me in awe.

A blush snuck onto my face and I ignored him as I began eating. My taste buds were in heaven.

Halfway through our meal, Ryker asked, “How do you feel about me being a dragon shifter?”

I hadn’t thought much about it yet because to me a person was a person. The auction ran background checks on all the suitors and wouldn't allow anyone dangerous. Otherwise, maybe I would have been scared since there were a lot of violent shifters out there.

“Uh it’s not a bad thing,” I said, staring down at my food. “We’re all people, but I guess it makes me a little nervous. I’ve mostly been around humans and we didn’t learn much about shifters in school.”

Ryker stared at me for a while before saying, “All you need to know in regards to my species is that dragons are known to be dangerous but passionate.” He leaned toward me and brushed his hand down the side of my face. “I’d never hurt you Reina and if you decide to marry me, I’d only protect you. Trust me, you’d want to be loved by a dragon.”

I swallowed nervously as he glanced at my lips. “I trust you,” I whispered and he grinned as he pulled away from me.

I took a deep breath before continuing to eat. It was hard to focus on how good the food tasted after he turned me on like that…

When we were done eating, a woman walked into the dining room and grabbed our empty plates. “You don’t have to do that,” I said. “I can wash my own dishes.”

Ryker shook his head and placed his hand on mine. “Let her, it’s her job I promise she’s being paid well,” he said and she nodded in agreement with a smile. “You won’t have to lift a finger while you’re with me, understand?” I never imagined that either.

“I understand,” I mustered, despite how flustered his words and gaze made me feel.

Ryker nodded and grabbed my hand. “Let me show you the garden.”

I smiled and got up, walking beside him and out the back door.

The sun was down but the moonlight suited his garden. There were several paths and a three-tier lion water fountain in the center.

Gardens reminded me of my father since we’d spend Sunday afternoons in ours when I was a kid. Maybe I could do the same with Colton, especially since Ryker didn’t mind.

During our walk through his garden, I started to feel almost at home. I wanted to spend a lot of time in it.

I stopped walking forward and took a step, jolting back into Ryker, startled by the sound of growling, clawing, and whimpering.

Ryker held me and rubbed my back to calm my anxiety. “I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you this,” he warned me before continuing. “Living out here isn’t nearly as safe as within the city. Technically we’re right outside of the territory of a werewolf pack. A few witches are living close by and if you leave these gates there are a lot of fae that are a threat to humans.”

I thought I’d be safe here… I knew Ryker would protect me but I wanted to be able to leave these gates without needing him by my side.

I pulled away from him and he grabbed my hand.

We walked back into the house and Ryker suggested, “Why don’t you take a shower? I have something you can wear to sleep.”

My eyebrows raised. “You have women’s clothes…?” I asked and followed him up the stairs.

Ryker laughed. “Is that a red flag?”

My lips puckered out and I swayed slightly. “Kind of,” I said, wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Ryker opened the door to his room and walked in after me. “If I’m being honest I wasn’t looking for a wife, the auction is usually just another social event for me. That doesn’t mean I’m incapable of being loyal.”

“You sure?” I questioned because it’d be a problem if he wasn’t ready for marriage.

Ryker closed the distance between us and looked down at me. “You’re the only woman I’ll touch,” he whispered as he caressed my cheek. “You can trust me on that.”

I held back a blushing smile as I felt butterflies invade my stomach. I… believed him.

After he gave me a pair of pajamas from his closet I walked into the bathroom. I gasped quietly because it looked less like a bathroom and more like a spa. There was a bath on a platform that I couldn’t wait to try one day.

Before I took my clothes off I checked my phone. Darren called me about six times and left a voicemail. I rolled my eyes, still upset with him because of what he said earlier.

I looked up at the chandelier, walked to the shower, and opened the glass door. I got in and fiddled with the knobs before I got the setting I liked.

As the warm water hit my skin I closed my eyes and thought about Ryker. I was trying to figure out if I could see myself fulfilled with him.

When I was done I turned the shower off and grabbed a soft towel to dry myself off before stepping out onto an equally soft rug. As I put my clothes on I got worried about where I was going to be sleeping tonight. Something told me Ryker wouldn't let me sleep in a guest room alone. To him, I wasn’t a guest…

When I left the bathroom Ryker was walking back into the room. “Ready to sleep?” He asked as he turned the lights off. He walked to the window and pulled the curtain to let in the soft moonlight.

I watched as Ryker took his shirt off and tossed it to the side, revealing his muscular build. He smirked when he noticed where my gaze was focused. My eyes darted away and I hugged myself awkwardly. “Don’t be embarrassed,” he said and I rolled my eyes at the fact that I only fueled his already big ego.

A bit of a squeal escaped my mouth when Ryker pulled me in after I walked to the bed. He stared at my face and it worried me. Sure he’s been staring at me since I got here but I cleaned all my makeup off in the shower. “Um, if you—“

Ryker cut me off and slowly said, “God, you're beautiful.”

My brows raised, not expecting him to say that… I think he meant it because he said it as if he was simply thinking out loud. “You're joking…” I was sure he was surrounded by gorgeous wealthy women.

“I'm not,” Ryker said, dead serious. “You really are beautiful, I noticed that right away but don’t think that’s the reason I wanted you.” He pushed my hair away from my face to see more of it. “When I saw you, I felt like I needed to know you.”

That…

That was the same thing my father said he felt when he saw my mother at the auction.

I wrapped my arms around him, cuddled up against him. “Ryker… I made up my mind,” my voice muffled against his chest. “I want to marry you.” At that moment I felt like I needed to.

“Good.”

I slept peacefully that night in my soon-to-be husband’s arms after having an eventful day.

I was disappointed not to feel Ryker in bed in the morning. I heard the shower and assumed that was the answer to where he went. The bed still smelled like him.

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand next to the bed and decided to finally listen to my brother’s message, “Reina, please call me back when you can. I did a little research on Ryker Hart. He’s not a good person, Reina.” I had no idea what he was talking about. I didn’t know anything about Ryker until meeting him but there was no way. “He’s not only a bad person, a lot of people have described him as a beast.”

Ryker Hart, a beast…?