“I can give Bruiser, stop running and see what I’ve got in store for you.”
His tone turns salacious, and I laugh as we circle the island opposite each other. Sabin walks into the middle of this ridiculous--but entertaining--cat and mouse game, and I slam into him in my attempt to avoid Bastien’s attempt to tackle me. Sabin grabs my waist to steady me and then looks at all of us in an effort to figure out what’s going on. I hold up my hands innocently.
“He started it, Captain," I declare, and then salute him.
Sabin rolls his eyes.
“I’m not here as acting hall monitor," he rubs his hand over the nape of his neck. “I actually wanted to ask if you’d hang with me for a bit?” he offers cryptically.
I look around, waiting for whoever he’s asking to respond, but everyone is staring at me. I look up at Sabin and realize he’s asking me to hang with him. Bewilderment stalls my response and Sabin fidgets nervously at my silence.
“Um, sure," I finally manage to squeak out.
He relaxes and gives me a devastatingly handsome smile that makes his dimples come out to play. I’m instantly reminded of theheartbreakerI initially pegged him as and not the rigid Captain Cockblock that I’ve later come to know.
“Put on some jeans and shoes," Sabin instructs me, and then he grabs a cookie and walks out.
I look over to the guys wondering if they’re just as shocked as I am by this turn of events, but they all just shrug. Quick as lightning, I snatch the last cookie on the plate and sprint for my room. I slip on some skinny jeans, lace up my black combat boots, and keep on the dark green slouchy shirt I was already wearing.
I dash out of my room, and I’m surprised to find Sabin leaning against the wall just outside of my door. He’s in a pair of well-fitted jeans and an ash-colored t-shirt, and I can’t help but take in how incredibly gorgeous he is. If only he wasn’t such a dick. His brown hair looks like he’s been running his fingers through it, and it makes him look a little more rugged and a lot less controlled.
His tattoo stands out in contrast to his light gray shirt. Below his elbow, the tattoo is a reflection on water of trees and the night sky. Above his elbow is a detailed tree line that reaches up into a sky full of stars, with a full moon sitting on the top of his arm into his shoulder. It’s stunning, and I want to sit and trace all the beautiful detail that I know I’d find if I could just get close enough.
“Where are we going?” I ask as I try to rein in my pathetic mental worship of an asshole who confuses the shit out of me.
“You’ll see.”
32
Sabin leads me down the stairs and out to the garage. He straddles an ATV and motions for me to get on. I keep my distance from him so he can keep itclassy and respectful,exactly what he accused Valen ofnotbeing the last time I was on an ATV. We drive out of the garage and hang right, driving in a direction I haven’t explored yet.
“Is it safe to leave our barrier, with what just happened?” I yell to him when I realize how far out we are going.
“Yeah, we’ll be entering another protected barrier right away so no worries.”
The telltale tingling sensation of magic sweeps over me when we leave our barrier and enter the new one. I breathe a sigh of relief when my magic doesn’t spaz out and do anything crazy.
We ride for a while before the trees start to clear to make way for green manicured lawns. We drive in the direction of a huge building, and I suddenly remember that there are stables on the property next to the paladin.
I can’t contain the excited squeal that tumbles out of me when I realize where we’re going. Sabin laughs. We stop next to the building, and he turns off the ATV.
“I take it you know where we are?” he asks with a dimple-filled smile.
I nod my head excitedly.
“Should I interpret your girly squeal as an indication that you ride?”
“I’ve never ridden anything, but I’ve always wanted to.”
I wait for Sabin to call out the innuendo, but he just smiles.
“Good to know.”
The stables are pristine. The stalls are enormous with intricately carved wood and iron doors, and it’s incredibly clean. It’s clear these horses are living in the lap of luxury. I don’t know how many stalls we walk by before Sabin stops. He grabs a rope and opens a door. He motions for me to step in behind him and I follow obediently.
“Hey there buddy," Sabin coos. “You down for some exercise and a little showing off?”
He clips a rope to the halter of a humongous gray horse, and then casually hands the rope to me. He walks out of the stall, leaving me all alone, and I’m stunned that I’m now standing here without any additional instructions. I hope this horse is happy to stand around because if it wants to go anywhere, I doubt my puny little self and this rope are going to stop it.
