Page 134 of The Tenth Muse

We agree to drive three hours past the cabin, in the opposite direction we came from, just in case. If my dad can somehow still access the tracker in the car then he’ll search for me in that area.

If he bothers to look at all.

We decide not to deal with Williams’ car until tomorrow, coming up with a plan to sink it in the same exact lake as mine. This way, a cohesive story can be painted by anyone who goes looking.

It’s dark by the time we return home, the six hour expedition being closer to seven with extra stops for snacks and gas. The ride back is infinitely better. Once my car is at the bottom of the pond, I feel renewed, watching in slow motion as the water takesa version of me that I’ll never be forced to be again. It’s as if I’m attending my own funeral.

A beautifully welcome death.

Getting to sit next to her in the truck for the second half of the trip is nothing short of agony. Runa’s fingers trail the top of my thigh, every so often shifting from a light grazing movement, to holding steadily right above my knee. The distraction is borderline criminal on her part, she knows what she’s doing, drowning every other thought out of my mind and making every worry insignificant until the only thing coursing through it is her.

For tonight at least.

Tomorrow the worries will build again, not so strongly as today, and maybe even less the day after, until eventually there might not be anything left except peace.

Runa parks the truck in a way that blocks the clearing from being accessed by other vehicles. It feels like overkill, considering how remote this cottage is, but I don’t question her extra care.

She really thinks someone else might come for me.

It’s sweet, but unnecessary. It’s done now, it’s just me and her.

And Chewbacca.

The plant greets us with a long gargle, snapping her trap upwards toward the sky.

“Is she turning black?” Runa frowns, shining the flashlight to look closer.

“Yes, I told you, that’s normal. She’ll grow a new trap, maybe even two once this one falls off.” I assure her worry.

Runa’s eyes grow wide, “Two?”

She practically jumps up and down, patting the plant joyously. “Did you hear that Chewie, girl? Two traps!”

“I saidmaybe,” I try to calm her down before she gets her hopes up, “She’s still pretty young.”

It does the opposite, only doubling her excitement. “So it’sdefinitelygoing to happen then?” She squeals.

I grab her by the waist and bring her into me, tired of dancing around the obstacles thrown in our path today. “Can I have you to myself yet?”

Runa’s smirk is seductive, so confident and sultry it just makes me want her more. “Since you’re asking so nicely.” She tucks a pink strand of hair behind my ear, “We’re gonna have to figure out a way to get this color in town. I’m absolutely obsessed with it.”

At this point she’s messing with me, delaying the inevitable just to see how frustrated she can make me now that I’ve voiced my physical need for her. “I’ll shave it off right now if you don’t kiss me.”

She throws her head back, letting out a perfectly cinematic witchy cackle. Before I’ve even taken a full inhale she’s already stolen it from my lungs, capturing my mouth in a kiss so full of fire my entire center heats. I feel her hands under my thighs, scooping me and lifting me up. Every inch of my body immediately becomes hot upon contact with her. My legs squeeze her hips, my ankles cross behind her back, and only the thin fabric of my underwear separates her flesh from mine.

I devour her, shaky hands carving along her flesh with a hungry need while my lips make unspoken promises to her mouth. Runa moans, the sound vibrating through my being directly into my core. “I need you, now.”

My plea is all the time I can suffer to spend away from her lips, a smile tugging at the corner of hers as she walks us into the bedroom.

Runa drops me to the bed gently before taking a few steps back. She pulls her hair down from the claw clip that’s held itin place all day, the long, raven strands tussling softly down to her low back. She gazes down at me, the attention of her stare forcing me to come up to my elbows.

It feels like a thousand spotlights on me, drying my mouth, forcing me to lick my lips while I wait for her to make the next move.

“Take your clothes off.” Runa’s voice is commanding, but gentle, and she hums appreciatively when I move without any delay.

A crooked smirk paints her face, satisfaction at the way I don’t hesitate.

Not when it comes to her.

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