Chapter 04 BRANDON
I should go. It’s the only thought playing in my head.
Run with my ass on fire. I thought I was hallucinating a few minutes ago, having been thinking about Rune for most of my drive. How eager I was to see his response, how much of a tantrum he’d throw when he saw that I dragged his favorite band through the dirt, but now? Now I can’t seem to stomach my actions, let alone face the man in real life.
He’s dressed to the nines—platform stompy boots with those cool buckles up the shins, a sheer, sparkly blouse poking from beneath his leather jacket, complete with spikes on the shoulders and chains hanging from the breast pockets. I can’t even comprehend his makeup. Ethereal and glittery as usual, with intense eyeliner that makes his already hauntingly blue eyes brighter. I want to throw up.
Flicking his teal curls over his shoulder, he lifts his pointy chin and seems at a loss. “I don’t want our drama interfering. I signed up for this. I need this. And Sadie is a sweetheart. I’m game if you are.”
He’s…what? “You want to do this? With me?”
“No,“
he admits. “But we’re here and—“
Rune throws his hands up in exasperation.
“Then I’ll tell her I changed my mind. Consent is everything with this kind of thing, and I’d feel better if I left. The last thing I need is you telling half the internet I forced you to do something you didn’t want to.”
He considers my words for a moment. “Guys?“
Sadie calls.
“We’ll be right there!“
Rune stomps into my personal bubble and says under his breath, “Online, we might be enemies, but right now, I need you to get with the program. I don’t want to have another man walk out on me when it matters.”
He’s so close I can smell him. Sweet and airy. Like…flowers or something. His eyes are burning into mine with something like desperation. And what he said—the way he said it—settles in my chest and anchors.
“Okay,“
I tell him. “Let’s do this.”
Blinking in surprise, he nods and gives me some space. “Thanks.”
Sadie quickly goes over her ideas for the shoot. We will ease into it, so to speak, and depending on our comfort level, the poses will become more complex. To start, she wants us to stand under some hanging branches with Rune draping his arms around my neck. I haven’t moved a muscle.
“Please let me know if anything is too much,“
she says gently. “Brandon, are you okay with the pose?”
Rune keeps plucking at the chains on his jacket. I gulp down some of my anxiety and nerves before nodding. “Yeah. It’s good. I’ve never done this before.”
“That’s perfectly fine. I’ll talk you through it.“
She gestures towards Rune.
I force myself to stand in front of him. Our eyes meet. Now that we are about to start, he seems more nervous than I am. His dark jeans clash with my dress pants, but this is the nicest outfit I own. If I had known he was going to wear something more…cool, I’d have dressed down.
“Do you want me to…?“
I trail off, wondering who is supposed to touch whom first.
“Rune, hun, can you open up the jacket a bit so it’s hooked over your hip? The blouse is stunning and should be shown off. Great. Now gently loop your arms over Brandon’s neck. No–wait.“
She scurries over to me, pushes my hair behind my ear, and off my shoulder. “There. Okay.”
We move at the same time. Rune’s arms band around my neck as I place my hands on his hips. “Lean into each other,“
she urges.
I step closer, careful not to step on his boots and apply more pressure to my hold. His fingers work into my hair, almost fisting the strands at the nape of my neck. It’s…wildly intimate and a lot. This is the most I’ve ever done with a man.
“That’s it!“
She starts snapping away.
“For whatever it’s worth,“
I say softly. “You look really nice.”
He stiffens a little but relaxes after a few seconds. “You too. I—you look great.”
I chuckle, not believing it. “I’m covered in dog hair, and this shirt is too tight.”
Leaning back to look at me, he shakes his head a little. “I like it. Burgundy is a good color for your eyes.”
“Thanks.“
I smile, feeling my cheeks heat.
“Stay just like that,“
Sadie barks. “Great. Got it. Brandon, can you dip Rune back and support his leg? I want a shot of those boots in the light.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
I move to band one arm around his middle, subtly feeling just how much thinner than me he is. My free hand drifts down to cup his leg behind his knee and pull it up over my thigh. Rune gulps as I lean him back, clinging to me fully now.
“I won’t drop you,“
I assure him.
“Perfect time to get rid of me,“
he retorts, but looks more scared than anything.
“Why would I do that? I like arguing with you.”
His perfectly straight nose scrunches as his glossy lips pull into a frown. “You like arguing with me?”
“Mhm.”
“Maybe not with that face, Rune!”
He quickly drops the frown and focuses on my eyes again. Those long fingers I’ve seen in countless videos start to ease their hold as one hand travels down to my chest. The move catches me off guard, and I momentarily stop breathing.
“Drop your head back. Let those curls hang and close your eyes.”
His pale neck bobs before he slowly leans into the pose. It’s one thing to see someone on a screen, and another entirely to witness them from every angle in person. Rune is…stunning, truly. When I first saw him, I thought he was a model: high cheekbones, regal and elegant, pouty mouth, and haunting eyes. And his height only adds to the package. Stretched out like this, leg hooked around me and jacket draping open, I spot his pierced belly button and nipples through the sheer blouse.
“That is perfect, you two!”
His head snaps up as he grabs my shirt. “How come he isn’t in a compromising pose?”
“That can be arranged!“
Sadie says. We separate, and she reveals a blanket, throwing it over the grass. “Brandon, come kneel on this, one leg up so Rune can perch on it.”
I wet my suddenly dry lips and assume the position. Rune gingerly sits on my thigh, keeping his hands to himself. We haven’t received directions yet, but I take the opportunity to place my hand on the small of his back so he feels secure.
“How come you posted today?“
he asks, keeping a low volume.
I think about it while Sadie swaps something on her lens. “I knew I’d be busy, and I didn’t have high hopes about this. In the event it all went wrong, I wanted something to look forward to when I got home.”
“You look forward to that? Me?”
“It’s the highlight of my day,“
I answer honestly.
Because despite all of the arguing and petty comeback videos, he’s become a constant in my life. In the morning, the first thing on my mind is to check my notifications in case he’s commented or posted something. At night, I lie in bed daydreaming of all the ways I can rile him up and garner more of his attention. Our feud has helped me get out of my depressive funk.
And now he’s right here in the flesh.
“Sorry about the delay. Ready to get started?“
We both look at Sadie and say yes.