Chapter Twenty-Four #2
It had to be done to make all of us safe again.
The only thing I was genuinely conflicted about was the fact that I both wanted my life back but also didn’t want an excuse to leave the clubhouse. Not yet.
As it turned out, my business ran just fine without me micromanaging. Even Baseboard Guy adjusted to his new cleaner. Who, apparently, cleaned grout better than I did anyway.
So, without the stress of my career pulling me away, I wanted to stay cocooned with Rune as long as we could. Though, yeah, I wouldn’t mind breathing some fresh air. Or getting some much-needed vitamin D.
Holed up with Rune while also being able to take a walk on the beach or go get coffee—that was the goal.
Until then, I would be content with glass room picnics.
“Ready?” Rune asked.
“I almost fell asleep, you took so long,” I admitted, standing to stretch and yawn.
“It’s better up there when it’s dark anyway,” he assured me.
With that, we made our way into the basement with its barracks-style sleeping arrangements and over toward the steep ladder leading up to the glass room.
“When you get to the top, use your elbows to pull you in,” he instructed as I tested going up a couple rungs with my one good hand and the elbow of the other.
“Got it,” I agreed, forcing myself to keep going before I lost my nerve. I wasn’t afraid of heights but had never been a fan of ladders. The quicker I got this part over with, the more I could enjoy the picnic—before the dreaded descent afterward.
Rune was right behind me the whole way, though, making comments about my ass that distracted me enough to keep going until, finally, I was at the top.
Where I paused, awestruck at what he’d put together.
Because I knew from stories there wasn’t much in the glass room, save for a small mini-fridge, a couple pillows, binoculars, and snacks.
Rune had transformed it. Not just with the abundance of mismatched blankets and pillows on the floor to create a makeshift bed, but with draped twinkle lights, a basket with, I imagined, food, and even my tablet on a stand so we could watch a movie.
“Take your time. I’m just gonna…” His hands squeezed my ass.
“You’re gonna fall,” I chided him as I hauled myself into the room.
“But what a way to go,” he said, following me in and closing the little door.
“This is amazing. I can’t believe how much you got done. How many trips up that ladder did you need to do?”
“Eight. Until I remembered that Spike and Cain are basically club servants and made them do some of the trips.”
“Well, it was worth all of them,” I said, moving to lie back as Rune moved in with me. “This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“The bar is too low, baby,” he said, grabbing another blanket and draping it over us. “Comfy?”
“Unbelievably so.”
“Do you want to eat? Watch a movie?”
“Just enjoy it for a while,” I decided.
“We can do that.” He reached for his phone and put a playlist on he’d clearly chosen for the date—all sensual and soft.
Then his arm slid under me, pulling me close as we stared up at the glass ceiling as the moon slid out from behind a cloud for a moment before disappearing again.
It wasn’t long before the closeness and the romantic atmosphere had me turning my head, finding Rune’s face near mine, and pressing my lips to his.
It wasn’t long before the kiss tipped from soft and sweet to something needier, hungrier.
Rune reached for something, hit a button, and blanketed us in darkness just before he rolled me under him.
His own need was just as clear as my own, his hard length pressing against me.
Anticipation sizzled across each nerve ending as his hands and lips explored me, as my own moved greedily over him.
Then our clothes were off, and he was slotting between my thighs. My hips rose to meet his; then he was sliding deep inside with one thick thrust.
It was all sighs and groans and rhythm then as we drove closer and closer to that precipice, the sensations amplified by the exposed feeling, even if there was no way anyone could see anything with how dark it was in the glass room.
“That’s it. Come for me,” Rune groaned with his lips on my ear.
Then I was soaring, sinking, crashing into the pleasure.
He came with me, groaning out my name.
Afterward, we stared up at the stars, sweat drying, hearts slowing back down.
“How about some champagne?” he asked as he sat up.
“I love champagne.”
“Shit,” he said a moment later after yanking his pants into place and reaching into the picnic basket.
“What?” I asked.
“I forgot the flutes.”
“We can drink out of the bottle.”
“Nope. We have to have the flutes. Give me two minutes,” he said, leaning over me to give me a kiss, then yanking open the door, and disappearing down the ladder.
I stayed just like that for a blissful moment or two.
But there was a flash of light that illuminated the glass room.
I was curious enough to turn to see the lights flick off… as the car pulled up out front of the gates.
I had no reason to suspect anything.
Yet my stomach flipped.
My heartbeat raced.
A cold sweat started on the back of my neck.
I pressed onto my stomach and scooted closer to the window, praying I was still as hidden as Rune claimed.
And it was from that position that I saw two men exiting the cars, leaving the doors open, then reaching into their waistbands. With the moon peeking out, it flashed off the muzzles of their guns.
They found us.