“Whoa,” I breathed out in a rush. I strolled forward across the wood paneling floor to the large floor to ceiling windows. Stars twinkled out in the dark, blue night. “Rune?”
“Yes?” he asked hesitantly.
“Don’t worry, I love it.” I cleared my throat and peered at him over my shoulder. “Is this all a dream?”
He shook his head, a pleased smile forming on his lips. “No, beautiful. This is your life.”
I stretched my back before turning back around. “Okay, show me to the bedroom. I need a shower and a bed. If you didn’t have all of this, those would be my only requirements.”
Rune turned and bent at the knees. “It’s a haul there. Jump on.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I jumped aboard.
He walked us for ten minutes up stairs and down different hallways until we came to a stop inside a bedroom fit for royalty. Rune turned his head and peek at me out of the corner of his eye. The man-god asked gently, “What do you think?”
“Honestly? I think you spoil the shit out of yourself, but I’m not complaining. All that pre-emptive spoiling led to my being spoiled. I’ll take it, stud. You outdid yourself here.”
“There’s a balcony over here. It spans the entire length of the wall. When it’s nice outside, we can open the walls up. There’s no need for scenery pictures. We have it live.” Still holding me against his back, he stepped out onto the balcony. “See? It’s peaceful out here. We can be lazy and bask in the sun, and no one will bother us.”
I pressed my cheek against the side of his head while we stared out at the tops of trees and the immense expanse of the night sky. I whispered, “I think I found my prince.”
He snickered quietly. “That is my reminder for what I need to tell you.”
“Yeah?” A bird with a massive wingspan flew across the sky.
“Well, I went ahead and got you that job. If you still want it.” He held perfectly still.
My eyes widened. “Worried you’re stepping over boundaries?”
“Maybe a little. Are you mad or happy? Then I’ll know if I did the right thing.”
I grinned and watched another bird fly. “In the future, definitely double check with me. But this time, I’ll let it slide because I fucking want that job so bad.” I kissed the shell of his ear. “Thank you, stud.”
He cleared his throat. “Don’t thank me yet.”
“Why?”
“Um, you start tomorrow. The manager wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Fuck,” I groaned, letting my forehead rest on his shoulder. “I need to take the quickest shower ever, and then get to bed like six hours ago.”
Rune helped me down to my feet, and he pointed at a door on the other side of the room. “That’s the bathroom. I’ll grab a shirt for you while you’re in there.”
“Thank you, stud.” I went on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I promise tomorrow you’ll get your reward. As long as nothing else life changing occurs.”
He pushed me gently toward the bathroom. “Get going, beautiful. Your dream job awaits in the morning.”
