Page 77 of Rune
He climbed on the bed and patted his chest in invitation.
“I’m only using you like a lizard with a hot rock,” I warned him as I scooted closer and rested my head on his chest. “You guys keep this place so cold.”
“In everyone’s defense, there is usually a lot of alcohol involved around here. Makes everyone hot. I’ll half-close the vent tomorrow if it’s too much.”
“It’s not so bad right now.”
He was like a fireplace, actually. Warm, comforting, begging you to stay close.
His arm looped around my hips and the other gently slid up and down my spine, sifted through my hair, gently rubbed my scalp.
Within five minutes, my eyes were too heavy to keep open.
“Tired now?” Rune asked, voice whisper-soft.
“Mmhmm.”
His fingers circled a little more slowly on my scalp as I listened to the steady thump of his heart below my ear, and he leaned down to press a little kiss to the top of my head.
I drifted off to sleep, soothed by his nearness, knowing that nothing would happen to me when I was with him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Rune
“Hello?” I answered Carmen’s phone when it rang for the second time in the morning but didn’t manage to stir the exhausted woman.
“Rune?” Sofia asked, her voice sounding cautiously optimistic.
“Yep,” I said, massaging Carmen’s scalp when she stirred a little.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re picking up the phone. I’ve been so worried about Carmen.”
With good reason.
But I couldn’t let her know that. The last thing she needed was to know someone was actively trying to hurt the sister she’d just left.
“I’ve got her,” I told her instead. It was true. Without worrying her.
“Good. I love you for her. Is she there?”
“Yeah, she’s right here, but she’s sleeping. Everything okay?”
“Yes, totally. I just know she’s worried about me on this road trip, so I want to call on top of texting and sending videos.”
“Where are you?”
“Altoona.”
“Pennsylvania still?”
“I know, right? This state goes on forever. But I should be at my hotel in Columbus tonight.”
“How’s it going? Having fun? Hammy behaving?”
“She loves the car so much. I practically have to drag her out to stretch her legs when we stop.”
“I’m glad you got her with you for this long a road trip. We know she’s a big softie, but she looks intimidating.”
