Page 70 of Fire of the Fox

He sighed, laying his head back. “I didn’t mean anything bad by that. Anyone would have potential for slipping up in this situation. Another big thing to be wary of is games. If anyone challenges you or offers to play a game, you tell them no and leave immediately.”

I swallowed hard. “Why? What does that mean?”

He shook his head. “Just do it. Please. It wouldn’t be a game for you. It would be a death sentence, and I can’t lose—”

He stopped, taking a deep breath. His amber eyes had found mine again, and they bore into me with some deep-rooted truth that told me what he wanted to say, even if he didn’t finish the sentence.

My heart quickened. That look. The way his eyes traced my face, scanned my mouth. The way his chest rose and fell in a heavy breath, like he was struggling to breathe when looking at me. The way his eyes lit up with an undeniable fire that begged me to give in to him as if I were the gasoline fueling his need.

I was familiar with all of it. Those raging, explosive emotions that threatened to take over everything else. I knew them all too well, because it was how Rune made me feel. He wanted me, and I craved him.

Leaning closer with my breath caught in my throat and cheeks flushed, I whispered, “Rune.”

His name was all I could utter, but it was enough to push him over the edge. He closed the space between us on the couch. His warm hands trailed up the back of my neck and into my hair, urging my face closer. He pressed our foreheads together, and with only inches between our lips, he pleaded in a quiet voice, “Can I?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Please.”

His lips were on mine without another second’s hesitation. It started slow and easy, his lips gently prying mine open, his tongue grazing mine.

My hands pressed into his chest, and his erratic heartbeat matched my own. My skin warmed as the kiss intensified, and suddenly, we were both so hungry for the other, nothing else seemed to matter. I was drowning in him, never to resurface for air.

There was no more space between us, but it still wasn’t close enough. Rune sensed my need to be closer, and he broke away just long enough to pull me onto his lap, my legs straddling his hips. As soon as I was nestled against the hard mass in his pants, I wrapped my hands into his hair and pressed my mouth to his again.

He groaned as my tongue brushed his, and his grip tightened on my hips after I involuntarily rubbed against him. He was quickly losing control, urging me and begging for me with his hands and lips and breathy moans. It made my body come alive knowing I was doing this to him.

“Rune,” I breathed in between kisses.

His lips moved from my mouth to my jaw, traveling down the skin on my neck. I bit my lip and let my head fall back as his mouth and teeth caressed my skin just enough to make my toes curl and my lower abdomen to warm with an incessant need for him.

As his fingers teased their way up the hem of my shirt and onto my skin, a horn blared from the boat. I jumped, and Rune pulled back, breathless. We looked at each other, both of us trying to catch our breaths. His eyes were still hungry and full of want, and mine no doubt matched his.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. With his hands still on my hips, he leaned forward and rested his head in the crook of my shoulder. “We’re back at the dock.”

Swallowing hard, I nodded. Not trusting my voice to say anything coherent, I slid off his lap and prayed I wouldn’t tumble over my weak knees.

Rune stood up, adjusting his pants and clearing his throat. He beamed at me, as if he’d just won the lottery. “Come on. Let’s get you back to your dorm.”

I slowly followed after him in a daze, lips tingling, and heart pounding.

Did-did I just kiss Rune?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

RUNE PULLED ONTO campus, stopping in front of my dorm.

“Thanks again for tonight,” I said, flashing Rune a teasing smile. “Well, besides the part where you threw me over the edge of the boat.”

Glancing at me with a devious glint to his eyes, he said, “It was a pretty fun night. Well … besides the part where I threw you over the edge of the boat.” He paused and looked up at the ceiling. Shaking his head, he grinned. “No, actually, that was kind of fun, too.”

I rolled my eyes and gently punched his arm. He looked at me with his eyes alight. Neither of us had stopped smiling since our heated moment on the boat. My lips still tingled with the memory of his on mine, and I was so high off the giddiness coursing through me I didn’t think anything could pull me back down to earth.

I finally looked at the large brick building of my dorm, and a small wave of disappointment hit me. More than anything, I wanted to spend more time with Rune. I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

I cleared my throat and turned back to him. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded. “We can hang out around the house if you want. Maybe get in a few hours of sparring.”

“Sounds great. I’ll be there around noon.”

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