Chapter 05 RUNE
Color me shocked. Brandon AKA Behold Thy Horns looks forward to arguing with me.
Who would’ve thought?
I won’t lie and pretend like that doesn’t do wicked things to my insides because it does. It’s been far too long since anyone made me feel important, even if it’s for something as silly as online rivalry. People always leave me behind, and so far, Brandon has never forgotten me. As we move through the next shot, I get more comfortable. Every time Sadie asks for a slight change or to get closer, I’m well past willing.
Currently, he has me pinned against a tree. I don’t even care about the potential scuffs on my leather jacket or the ants probably crawling in my hair. I’m cupping his handsome face, staring into his soulful hazel eyes, and wishing we were anywhere else. Behold Thy Horns drives me up a wall, but Brandon, the man behind the screen and holder of the best damn speaking voice I’ve ever heard, makes me feel dizzy.
And all he’s done is say a few nice things to me. God, I must be desperate.
“Hover just above Rune’s lips,“
Sadie instructs him, and I melt internally.
I have no shame as I cup the side of his face, positioning him and teasing the minuscule space between us. My heart is a constant gallop as his masculine cologne wafts into my nose. It’s easy to take that secret, greedy inhale as his breath hits my lips. Fuck. He’s so close.
“I can’t believe you have a lip piercing,” I mutter.
He smirks. “I can’t believe you have your nipples pierced.”
My cheeks burn. “Well. I’m one of the lucky ones to have had no complications. You can tug on them all you want.“
It takes me a moment to realize what I just said, how I said it. Breathless and low. Fucking flirting with the man!
Brandon stills, ruining Sadie’s shot. So she has us swap spots. He is against the tree, and I’m pressing into him. “If you’re comfortable enough with it, I think it’d be gorgeous if Brandon ran his nose up Rune’s neck and Rune held the back of Brandon’s head.”
She’s trying to get us to fuck. I’m sure of it now. I nod shakily and slide my palm up the side of his neck and around to his nape. Brandon shivers a little before tugging me flush to his front. “Never done this before,“
he whispers.
“Done what?”
“Any of it,“
he says against my skin, lips leaving a scorch trail.
This isn’t what is supposed to happen. The man is turning me into literal putty as his big hands slide lower; the left is terrifyingly close to my ass. My lips part against my will, a moan builds in my throat, and he’s done virtually nothing. It’s the way he’s doing virtually nothing. The strength in his hold, the tenderness of the moment, and how, even though I’m riled up, he’s so respectful.
I’m kind of obsessed—wonder what he’s like when he’s alone.
A tiny groan slips out, and Brandon presses the faintest, barely-there kiss on my Adam’s apple.
“Beautiful, you two!”
When we separate, I’m damn-near panting. I fluff my curls to hide how affected I am.
Checking the time on her phone, Sadie says, “I think we have time for two more poses. Let’s move over to that gazebo.”
People get married here.
I’ve driven by a few times and spotted the newlyweds sharing their first kiss under this very roof—a tasteful white canopy to symbolize the pureness of love—or something along those lines. Vines curl up the support pillars, and a few hibiscus shrubs line the circumference. On either side of the octagon are benches. Sadie instructs us to sit together on it.
“Alright, Rune, I want you to lie your back over Brandon’s lap. Brandon, push a hand through Rune’s hair.”
I twist so I can recline over his legs, as she said, and he cradles me with one arm. His bicep is the perfect mix of soft and firm against me. I look up at him, and a soft smile spreads over his lips. That ring in the center of his lower one winks at me. I want to suck on it.
“What’s your natural hair color?“
he asks as his fingers glide through the teal strands. Always so careful not to hurt me.
“I forgot,“
I rasp, unable to look away. Granted, I’m not supposed to, but even without the pictures, I doubt I’d want to.
He chuckles. “You forgot?”
“I haven’t seen my roots since I was thirteen.”
His eyebrows raise in surprise. “And how long ago was that?”
I hesitate. Sadie snaps a couple of shots during the silence. Since his hand is enormous, his thumb can stroke over my cheekbone, and that single movement coaxes the words from my tight lips. “I’m twenty-seven. You do the math.”
“Fourteen years,“
he answers immediately.
“Got it,“
Sadie interrupts, and I blink out of my daze. “For the last one, I have a vision. Tell me if it’s too much, okay?”
Brandon helps me sit upright, as if he can tell I’m lightheaded from his nearness. I swear, I keep forgetting that just a little over an hour ago, he was my online arch nemesis.
“What is your vision?“
Brandon asks.
She grins wickedly and says, “The light from this angle would make a gorgeous profile shot. Pose-wise, I’m picturing Rune straddling you, chin down, and you kissing his forehead.”
I peek over at him, and he’s blushing. “O-Okay.”
“Don’t sound so excited,“
I tease and nudge his side.
He shoots me a look that says, "Bring it on," and the man lifts me onto his lap like a ragdoll.