“I'm sorry,” Rune said when he looked at the screen. “I have to take this.”
I just nodded.
“Lora.”
“Just answer the damn phone, Rune,” I said.
He slid his finger over the screen and jerked the phone to his ear. “Yeah.” His face twitched. “What?” A pause. “Fuck.” He glanced at me with wide eyes. “All right. I'll be right there.” He hung up and just stared at me.
“What's wrong?”
“It's . . . I've got to go.” Rune handed me his bowl. “Can you hold this for me?”
“Sure.”
He started the car, then sped off. I ate absently, unable to waste ice cream, even under those circumstances. With his wild driving, we got to the gallery in a few minutes.
“Can I come back tonight?” Rune asked.
I wanted to say no. I knew it would be best for both of us. But I couldn't stop myself from saying, “Yes.”
“Thank you. I don't know how late it will be.”
“Call me,” I said. Then drawled, “Oh, wait. You never asked for my number.”
He winced but pulled out his phone again. After unlocking it he traded it for his ice cream, then ate rapidly as I typed in my number.
“Here, I'll take that.” I traded him for his bowl again, now empty.
“Thank you.” Rune chewed at his lip. “Lora, you know it's not meaningless, right?”
“Do I?” I got out of the car.
Chapter Nine
Later that night, Rune texted to ask if I was still up for a visit. When I said I was, he said he was five minutes away. I looked down at my silk robe and shrugged. Why bother getting dressed if he was coming over for sex?
Meaningless sex. I had to keep that in my mind. I couldn't get attached. Not any more than I already was.
I went downstairs to meet him. Most businesses on my street didn't bother with extra security measures. They had cameras, and that was enough for them. But I had seen a few riots in my time, and I loved my home too much to leave it undefended. So in addition to cameras, I had steel panels that unfolded from the walls to cover the windows at night, and a recessed steel door to cover the main door of the gallery. With a backdoor to match, my place was as safe as a bank vault.
Uncertain if Rune was going to make it, I had locked up the gallery. With all the panels and doors in place, it was so dark that I was practically blind. I turned on the hallway light and went to unlock the security door. I swung the heavy door back into its recessed spot, and there was Rune, looking gorgeous and grim.
I unlocked the outer door and waved him in.
Rune stepped into the darkness, his scent—heavier on the musky man than cologne—wafting over me and his stare sliding down my robe. I locked up, including the steel door, and as I turned around, he grabbed me.
With a growl, Rune took me down to the hardwood floor. I gasped as he flung open my robe, then moaned as his mouth latched onto a breast. In seconds, I was writhing beneath him, lifting my hips to grind my sex over the bulge in his pants. Brutal sounds came from him—grunts, growls, and snarls. He nipped his way up my throat, then took my mouth.
Naked on a puddle of silk, I had never felt more beautiful and desirable. Rune was voracious, slashing at my tongue before gnawing at my throat again. Yes, gnawing. He took chunks of my flesh into his mouth to massage between his teeth. Then he was onto my shoulders. Kissing and biting as I pulled his T-shirt up. He growled when I got it to his head, annoyed to have to pause so I could take it off him.
That's when I saw his eyes.
Lust. Pure lust lived there. But not just any sort of lust. This was base, animal need. There were no thoughts in Rune's head beyond mating. Surprisingly, I liked that. It made me feel even more powerful to have driven him into such a state. Had he been thinking about me all day? Contemplating ways to take me even as he collected wayward spirits? Whatever had driven him into such a state had clearly been centered around me. This made up for his careless comment about the sex being meaningless. This was wild, yes. Carnal, absolutely. But far from meaningless.
Then he noticed that I wasn't wearing any panties.
With another growl, Rune dove. His hands lifted my legs then propped them on his palms. He pushed back, curling me in on myself and bringing my sex to his open mouth. I watched as his tongue slipped out and lapped at me. Slowly. He dragged it up, through me, then pushed against my bud. Ground, then sucked. Those startling eyes closed in bliss.
