My breath caught in my throat, and butterflies filled my stomach.
This fearsome man who fought for me, bled for me, and killed people for me was so tender toward me. A teddy bear compared to the grizzly he showed others. How many others had seen him shed tears? Seen him give the smile he gave me now? How many time they were told by him how special they were? How strong they were? And how he believed in them and woulddiefor them.
“Let me know when you two are back so we can have a get together and celebrate,” Mom said, her voice a little stronger than it was seconds ago. “I love you, Isa. Rune, it was nice talking with you.”
With Rune’s warmth and his help to keep me feeling, I swallowed back the rising emotion. I didn’t know when I’d next talk to my parents. Who knew how much time would pass here.
Lowering my gaze and sliding my hand down Rune’s neck to his chest, I spoke around the lump in my throat. “I love you too. Love you, Dad. Talk soon.”Lie.
Rune ended the call and dropped the phone next to us on the bed to turn me so I was straddling him. I rested my hands on his shoulders, barely holding back the shudder from the wonderful bliss of touching him. The way tingles and zaps spread through my body.
Guilt flooded through me from getting turned on after a heavy phone call with my mom.
I wanted to know why my feelings and senses were being flipped on and off like some little kid was playing with the light switch because he was bored.
It didn’t help that I could feel every inch of him under me and that my body responded to him so easily.
My fingers curled into his soft cape, and I met his stare. His eyes darkened with lust, but the pained look was still there and more prominent.
It stayed quiet between us for a few seconds. Only the rain pelting the window and thunder rumbling filled the otherwise uncomfortable silence.
“Say something,” I said, my pulse pounding in my ears.
What was going through his head?
Again, I knew I could connect the link, but I didn’t want him to know my struggle with my feelings. I didn’t want him to know about this numbness that crept closer and closer each time it presented itself. And he’d know right away and take that on himself. Maybe even blame himself. He already thought I didn’t trust him or feel safe around him. So it was safe to say he’d take this on too and believe he was the reason I couldn’t feel anything without touching him.
Rune swallowed hard and cupped my cheek. The gentle touch sent his warmth rushing through my body, and I shuddered. He leaned forward, slipping his hand behind my head and into my hair as his forehead rested on mine.
“Since your first breath in this lifetime, you have impacted those around you. Including me,” he whispered, his voice thick. “You continue to ripple the water around you with a gentle touch, turning it into something so beautiful. You see these beautiful ripples of change as something jarring and chaotic, and that’s simply far from the truth. I see the doubt in you,elskan mín. With your every move, you hesitate as you wonder if it’s the correct step. But you must see it from my eyes that every step you take and are unsure about brings so much light and pureness to those around you. It’s not just me you affect, it’s all the goddamn realms.”
My lips parted, and my cheeks heated. I gripped his shoulders harder and hoped to god Rune couldn’t hear my heart pounding against my chest.
He saw so much in me that I didn’t. Believed in me when I didn’t. Knew me better than I did.
I wasn’t sure what I had changed or affected.
The doctor and nurses, sure. But everything else? No.
I’d been nothing but a mess, and to a lot of people outside my family and a small group of friends, I was a blubbering mess who felt too deeply.
Just like when I wailed over the butterfly’s wing being plucked...
“Stop doubting yourself,elskan mín,” Rune warned. He wrapped my hair around his fist and held me in place as he brushed his mouth against mine in feather-soft kisses. His warm breath fanned across my lips, mingling with my even ones. “At some point, my beautiful mate, you’ll know what I mean when I say how special and important you are. How loved and needed you are, as your mother said. Because, Isa...”
He gripped my waist with his free hand and rocked me against him while he kissed me hard as I gasped. His hand at the back of my head jerked my head back for him to control the kiss as he swept his tongue inside my mouth, tasting me. My hands flew to the back of his head, holding onto him. Leaving me no time to respond to it, he ended the kiss and stared hard into my eyes. His blue ones darkened, and a knowing smile pulled at his full lips.
“Your mother was right about you being a blessing. Something greater,” he said cryptically.
I jumped in Rune’s hold as thunder cracked, vibrating the house, and the power went out right as lightning lit up the room as it struck somewhere nearby. My breath hitched as I stared into his eyes that held a fiery-blue back glow from the lightning.
ChapterSeven
Ipacked a large military-grade bag with the stuff Aaliyah had grabbed from my place when she was looking for me after I disappeared. It wasn’t a lot, but I was still thankful for having my things this time in different realms. It gave me a sense of comfort and normalcy.
She grabbed my purse and wallet with my keys at the bottom of the bag. But my car wasn’t here, which defeated the purpose of having the keys.
Though it raised questions.
