18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
We froze.
The knocking came again.
Tor.
“He will not see you in this.” Rune’s breath caressed my lips.
No shit.
I can’t do this with Tor on the other side of my door. Nyx told him I wanted to see him. This was wrong.
Rune moved as I pushed him off.
“You’ve got to hide or leave or something. He cannot see you in here with me.” I raced to my wardrobe for a robe. Rune sat on the bed, watching me, his heated eyes speaking volumes.
Tor was not allowed to touch me or see my body in the lingerie.
The robe stopped above the knee, and I cinched the tie for emphasis.
“Happy?” I asked and walked over to the door trusting he’d leave or hide in the bathroom. Something. Anything to avoid being seen.
As I opened up for Tor, a hand glided up the back of my robe, teasing fingers trailed along my inner thigh.
My grip kept the opening between Tor and I small.
“Sapphira. Hey, Nyx said you wanted to see me.” His blue eyes scanned my robe and the candles behind me.
What he didn’t see was the over six-foot-tall Fae’s fingers teasing the edges of my garter belt. His mouth dangerously close to the side of my neck hidden by the door.
Tor hadn’t discovered Rune’s silent torture or scented the heated touches that lingered in the room.
“Should I come in?”
Teeth nipped the flesh of my shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Tor. I did want to talk but I’m feeling... unwell.” A whole truth since I squeaked the last word while Rune sucked on the lobe of my ear and it took every bit of my control to remain still. I wasn’t well with Tor on one side of the door and his brother teasing me on the other.
“Yeah, you don’t look so good. Do you need me to come take care—”
Fingers ran along the edge of the lace panties over my ass.
“Nope. I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll be all right. I’ll come find you in the morning.” Pushing Rune back with my body, I then slammed the door behind me, before facing him with a sneer.
Tor may still be near, and while he hadn’t heard us talking earlier, I didn’t want to push it.
“What is wrong with you?” I mouthed and Rune smirked. He caged me in again with hooded eyes watching me. His head tilted to the side, his pointed ears listening for his brother to leave.
Boots walking down the hall came shortly after. Guilt, shame, and other emotions I’d hate to admit brewed in my torso.
Rune sensed the change and gave me space. His presence still felt like gravity, and I nearly grit my teeth to stay rooted in place instead of revolving around him.
“This shouldn’t have happened.” My fingers pinched the bridge of my nose. What a mess.
A sigh escaped my lungs as I strolled over to the bed and sat on it, eyes on the burning candles.
“What do you want, Rune? Is it just to sleep with me? Torture me? I’m trying to be good. To stay away.”
I heard the rustling of clothes before his large body crouched down before me, his head slightly lower than mine.
“I want to be the one you answer the door for in your lingerie on purpose.”
Was it too late to take back my questions?
“I want to torture you in pleasurable ways, not emotional ones.” He cupped my face and tears brimmed my eyes. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I tried to push away his touch, but he wasn’t moving.
“You don’t even know me. We’ve spent what maybe five hours together?” I said, though it felt like a lifetime in those hours.
“I know that you liked fighting with me. That your spirit is bright, and fierce, and my chest feels like it’s ripping apart every time you dim the fire for my brother.” His thumb caressed my lips. “You like that I don’t treat you like a princess who needs to be held gently, and stood in front of.”
I looked down, afraid to see those truths I kept inside shining in his eyes.
“You think I didn’t see you watching me out the corner of your eyes these last few weeks? I did. Every stare, every gasp, every race of your heartbeat.”
A set of fingers touched the bottom of my chin and lifted.
“I have to go. But when the full moon no longer holds me hostage, we will talk.”
He leaned in and I closed my eyes. Ready for a kiss. But my forehead got the attention instead of my lips.
“Do you want company?” I asked, watching him stand and eye the setting sun outside the window. “I’ve never seen a werewolf, but I’m not afraid.”
“While I can usually control the beast, it is a struggle around you. He’s very… intense. I think it’s best to keep you and my wolf side separate.” He leaned out the large window.
Was he going to jump? There were vines on the side that I used when I needed to escape sometimes. I’d think that would be easier.
I was about to tell him that when he jumped. It was pointless to run over and make sure he landed. The male knew what he was doing. No battle slayed the beast. I doubt he’d let jumping out a two-story high window kill him.
Rune’s scent clung to the comforter. I bundled it up to lay on my side and inhaled him in.
The truth was out. I wanted Rune more intensely than his brother. I let Rune cover me in his scent, touch me, take me to the bed. He burned in my touch and I relished in it. I didn’t know where we’d end up, but I wanted to see.
Tor was great, perfect even. But not perfect for me.
I hate the possibility of hurting him, but I had to trust my gut.
I needed to talk to my parents and break the news that I wanted the wrong brother. I changed out of the tight lingerie and tossed on a set of black pants with knee high boots and a soft long sleeve tunic and left for the throne room.