Page 80 of Between Smoke and Shadow
“I hate that he survived,” I admit. “That was my best chance of killing him, and I failed.”
I expect her to blanche or give any indication she’s offended by my cruelty. Sometimes, I forget that she’s lived a far more brutal life than I have. She may be soft-spoken and timid, but she’s undoubtedly seen terrible things.
“Enough of my brother,” I say, clearing my throat. “We need to talk.”
She nods slightly, blue eyes wide and full lips parted. I’m tempted to forgo all my confessions and use my tongue for more enjoyable things. I have to resist though—there’s no time to waste on my selfish desires.
“Two people are aware of my relationship with you,” I say, slowly, carefully. I give Rune a moment to digest that information, hating the way her skin pales. Knowing that I’ve put her life at unnecessary risk, whether I meant to or not.“Tora figured it out on her own. She saw the way I look at you. I’m going to be more careful.” I pause, waiting for some sort of reaction. When I don’t get one, I force myself to continue, “Joran had suspicions after the City of Mirrors, but I’ve all but confirmed it now that I have him guarding you.”
“Harrick,” she whispers. Her lip quivers and wetness fills her eyes, like she’s trying not to cry. When the tremble of her lip moves through her whole body, I move instinctively. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her onto my lap. She doesn’t resist, but she doesn’t stop shaking either.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t do it to put you at risk, and if anyone were to know our secret, those two are the most trustworthy. I’d leave my life in both of their hands. But if you ever get nervous or if they say anything, you tell me. I’ll take care of it. I won’t letanyonehurt you—I promise.”
Rune doesn’t respond. A tear leaks from the corner of her eye, and then another. My heart splinters, and I’m wiping her tears before they dip into her mouth. I’ve frightened her and I hate myself for it. I hate even more that she has every right to be scared—that I can’t protect her the way she deserves.
“Rune, look at me,” I say. When she does, I gently cup the sides of her face, thumbs smoothing over her cheeks. “I will protect you with my life.”
“Don’t,” she says sharply. Her voice pitches as she stares at me. “Don’t you dare. If you die protecting me, I’ll die anyway. You realize that, right? If someone tries to kill me, and you get in their way, they will kill me as soon as you’re out of it. Sodon’t.”
I study the planes of her face. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, and yet she’s so determined to convince me she’s worthless. Like her death would be nothing but an unfortunate casualty.
“I won’t be able to stop myself,” I say, tracing her jaw.
Rune opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off with a kiss, cupping the back of her neck. Her hair is damp, probably from the shower that’s left her smelling like that soap. I let my hands drift down her sides, keeping my touch feather light. I settle my hands on her hips, feeling the press of her bones against my palms. She’s a little softer than she was when I met her, a little fuller. Still too thin, but healthier every day.
When she pulls back, her face is red from where my stubble scratched her. Swollen lips, a dazed but happy look in her eyes. I wonder if she can feel how turned on I am. She must, and yet, she doesn’t acknowledge it. She smiles though, the shy half-smile I’ve come to crave.
“I am yours,” I whisper, pressing my thumb to her puffy lower lip. She stills in my lap, but I don’t slow my words. “I don’t know how, but I’m going to find a way for us to be together. I promise.”
I return my eyes to hers, hoping I look calm and confident and not at all like the bundle of nerves I am. Rune’s eyebrows scrunch together and her mouth dips into a frown. My nerves coil, and I’m desperate to shove my declaration back down my throat.
Too soon. Clearly, too fucking soon.
“I love you,” she says.
I’m too stunned to respond, and she looks almost as surprised by her confession as I am. Before I have the chance to process it, let alone say it back, Rune kisses me. Her hands, small and thin and cold, cup my jaw. I’ve barely managed a shock breath when she settles over my lap, growing bolder by the second. I’ve never seen her like this, so confident andsure. The fact she’s behaving this assuredly formehas my cock straining against my slacks.
She’s kissing me so desperately our teeth keep clanking together. It’s hurried and wild, and easily the most erotic kissI’ve ever shared. I slide her hips against me, grinding her over my rapidly hardening cock until she’s moaning into my mouth.
“Fuck,” I say, breaking away to unzip her coverall. Her lips chase me, mouth trailing open kisses down my throat. We’ve done this enough times now that she doesn’t get flustered as I peel off her sleeves. The coverall pools around her waist, baring her breasts to me. I claim one nipple before tasting the other.
“More,” she says. She links her ankles behind my back, pulling us together until our hips collide. “Please, Harrick.”
Her words have clouded every other thought in my mind. All I can think of is her. Her smell, her taste, her touch.
“How much more?” I ask, because I’m too dizzy with arousal to draw the line myself. “Tell me what you need, sweetheart.”
I hope she wants me to taste her. I’ll do it all night if she lets me, bury my face between her soft thighs until all other men are ruined. Even thinking of another man touching her has me pulling her closer, trying to imprint myself on her skin.
“Take this off,” she says. Her words are barely a whisper as she tugs at my shirt.
I don’t hesitate. I flip her onto her back and sit on my heels, undoing my buttons until I’m able to pull my shirt over my head. She stares up at me while I do, shimmying out of her coverall as I toss my shirt to the ground. Her clothes join mine on the floor a second later, and I look back to her in surprise.
She’s fully naked, her smooth pale skin on display. She looks terrified, but excited too, and her eagerness sets my heart on fire.
“Is this okay?” she asks. She still has her hands over her breasts.
“You’re so beautiful,” I say. I move her hands to either side of her face, letting my eyes drift over her naked body. I commit every curve, every soft line to memory. “You are beautiful, Rune. I am so in love with you, I don’t know what to do with myself.”
