Chapter 7
SEVEN
Jem
I didn’t expect to miss him this much. It’s ridiculous, really. I mean, it’s only been a week since we were last together.
I’ve spent the last seven days running around like crazy.
If I’m not working at the dress shop or working on the alterations for Fern’s dress, I’m over at her place helping with wedding planning.
So far, we’ve gone over the reservation for the reception, worked on her vows, tried different makeup and hairstyles, and booked appointments to get our nails done the morning of the wedding.
Between fittings, fabric orders, and last-minute changes, I barely have time to breathe, and yet every quiet moment, he’s there.
If I’m not daydreaming about him or literally dreaming about him, he’s texting me.
Rune: Eat yet?
Rune: Don’t stay too late.
Rune: Drive safe.
Rune: Don’t work too hard.
Simple texts, short, to the point, but they mean everything. I press my lips together as I stare down at my phone, rereading his last message for the third time.
Rune: Thinking about you.
My stomach flips.
“Get it together, Jem,” I mutter to myself, tossing my phone onto the counter.
I glance around my shop. Everything is done for the day. Tomorrow’s appointments are prepped, the dresses are hung, and the lights are already dimmed.
I could stay. I should stay. There’s always more to do.
Instead, I grab my purse.
Nope, not tonight. Tonight, I’m taking a break.
I know exactly where I’m going as I grab my keys and lock the door behind me. I smile all the way to my car and climb behind the wheel. Making a left at the stop sign, I pull into the parking lot of Salsa Supreme.
I order and then wait impatiently until my order is called out. I grab the bag, the warmth seeping into my hands, and grin to myself as I head back to my car.
This is a good idea. Right? It’s totally normal. I’m just bringing food to the guy I haven’t stopped thinking about all week. The guy I’m fake dating.
No big deal.
My heart is already racing as I start the drive up the mountain toward the lumberyard. The further I go, the quieter it gets. The town fades away, replaced by trees and winding roads and that peaceful, woodsy calm that always makes me feel like I can finally breathe.
I tighten my grip on the steering wheel.
What if he’s busy? What if I’m interrupting? What if—
A truck appears around the bend ahead, and my breath catches.
No way, I think, but it is.
Rune is heading my way.
I slow, pulling off to the side of the dirt road.
Rune drives past me, and I see his head whip in my direction.
He slams on the brakes. I burst out laughing as he throws his truck into reverse and backs up until he’s next to me.
His window rolls down, and he leans out, that familiar intensity in his eyes softening the second he sees me.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hi.” I grin.
“What are you doing up here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” I tease.
He huffs out a quiet laugh. “Work. What about you?”
Instead of answering, I lift the taco bag and shake it at him.
His eyes drop to it, then back to me. A slow grin spreads across his face. “Follow me.”
My stomach flips, and I grin. “Okay.”
He turns around and drives past me. I shift into drive and follow him up the road a half mile before we turn onto another street. We drive down the gravel road for a few minutes, then pull into a driveway.
I scan the cabin and surroundings as I shift into park and grab the bag of tacos.
His cabin is exactly what I imagined and somehow…
not at all. It’s tucked into the trees, halfway between town and the lumberyard, like a little hidden world.
The structure is simple and sturdy, surrounded by tall pines and quiet. It’s peaceful and private. Very Rune.
I park behind his truck and step out, looking around as he comes up beside me.
“You live here?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“I love it,” I say honestly.
His gaze shifts to me, something soft flickering there. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He nods, then holds his hand out to me. “Come on. Let’s eat.”
I follow him inside, my eyes pinging around the place as he leads me into the kitchen.
The cabin is sparsely decorated. It’s clearly a man’s house, with the leather couches and giant flat-screen TV.
A bookcase is tucked into one corner, stuffed with old paperbacks that look like they’ve been read a dozen times.
Rune pulls out my chair for me, and we both sit at the kitchen table. His knee brushes against mine, but neither of us pulls away. I pass him a chicken, birria, and shrimp taco, then take one of each for myself.
“Thanks for dinner,” he says as we unwrap our food.
“No problem,” I say, taking a bite of taco.
“So,” he says, watching me. “You’ve been busy.”
“Very,” I admit. “Wedding stuff is no joke.”
“You’ve been working too much.”
“I know, but it’s almost over. Plus, Fern is worth it. Her wedding is going to be perfect.”
“You sound tired.”
My chest tightens. “I’m okay,” I say softly.
He nods, but his eyes don’t leave mine.
“What about you? What have you been doing for the last week?” I ask.
“Working. I’ve been pulling a lot of reports, and we had some guys quit or retire, so now we’re scrambling to hire new people to replace them.”
“Sounds stressful.”
He shrugs, moving on to his second taco. “It’s not too bad. We’ve already got people applying, and I’ve been helping out more with the guys in the meantime.”
By the time we finish eating, I feel lighter, calmer, like I can finally breathe again.
“Did you build this place?” I ask as we gather up our trash.
“No, just bought it. You want the tour?”
I grin. “I’d love that.”
He smiles, taking my hand as we leave the kitchen and head for the living room.
His cabin is very him. Every room is simple and clean. Not a lot of clutter, but everything has a purpose. The furniture is solid wood, and the space feels warm despite how minimal it is. It feels safe.
I trail my fingers along the back of the couch as he shows me around.
“Bedroom’s this way,” he says.
My heart skips a beat as I follow him.
“Guest bedrooms.” Rune nods to the first door, then the second. “And this one is mine.”
When we step inside, I pause, taking it in. Big bed. Dark wood. Neat.
“Nice,” I murmur.
He turns to look at me, and the air suddenly changes. The space between us feels smaller, charged and heavy.
“I missed you,” I say softly, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Rune’s jaw tightens as he turns to face me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He takes a step closer. “I missed you too,” he says, his voice low.
That’s all it takes. The distance between us disappears. His hand moves to cup my face, and then his mouth is on mine.
The kiss is immediate and deep, as if he’s been holding back all week and can’t anymore. I melt into him, my hands gripping his shirt as I press closer. He groans against my lips, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me tight against his chest.
“Jem,” he breathes.
I tilt my head, kissing him again, harder this time.
“I want you,” I whisper.
He stills for a second. “Shortcake…” he murmurs, like he’s trying to slow things down.
I shake my head, my fingers curling into his shirt. “I mean it. I want you.”
Rune scans my face quickly, searching for any sign of doubt and finding none.
His control snaps. His mouth crashes back down on mine, his hands gripping my hips as he backs me toward the bed.
I go willingly, my breath catching as the backs of my legs hit the mattress. He follows me down, one hand braced beside my head, the other still holding me as if he’s afraid I’ll slip through his fingers and disappear.
“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice rough.
I shake my head, my fingers sliding up into his hair, tugging enough to make him suck in a breath. “Don’t you dare.”
His eyes flash fiercely with something dark and possessive and a bit wrecked. That’s all it takes. His restraint shatters completely.
He kisses me like he’s starving, as if I’m the only thing that’s keeping him tethered to the earth. His weight settles over me, solid and grounding, the heat of him seeping into every inch of my skin. I feel small under him, in the best way. Protected. Claimed.
My hands move over him without thinking, tracing the hard lines of his shoulders, the strength in his arms, the steady rise and fall of his chest. He shudders when I touch him, like even that is too much after being apart.
“Jem…” My name sounds like a plea on his lips.
“More,” I beg, my breath coming in harsh pants as he kisses down my neck.
“Need to get you naked,” he says between kisses.
I nod eagerly. I have no experience with this, and I hope it doesn’t show. Rune doesn’t seem to mind my fumbling fingers on his jeans or the way I impatiently tug at his shirt. He’s just as impatient, just as clumsy with my clothes.
Somehow, we work together, rolling on the bed and wiggling out of our clothes. I giggle as I see him angrily kick off his boot. He curses as his jeans get tangled around his ankles, and I laugh out loud.
I love how eager he is to be with me. It’s such a turn-on.
Soon, we’re both naked, and Rune growls as he rolls me under him again.
“So soft,” he murmurs as he kisses along my clavicle.
I shiver under him, my nipples hardening to painful points. A fire is roaring inside me, heating my blood and causing my core to tighten with need. As if he can sense it, Rune kisses lower, his palms cupping my breasts almost reverently.
He trails kisses over the soft mounds, and I watch as he licks his lips and draws one stiff nipple into his mouth. We both moan as he sucks on the sensitive flesh, his tongue flicking before he releases it and moves to my other breast.
“Oh, God,” I gasp, my back arching off the bed. “Rune!”
“Love hearing you say my name like that,” he groans, switching breasts again.
“I—”