Page 84 of Rune
“Would I what? Cover up my super-secret crimes with a real business?”
“Hypothetically.”
“I guess? I mean, it seems like a good way to avoid issues with the government, right? Taxes and all that. Plus, I mean, a cleaning business also has some crime perks, right? Lots of access to cleaning supplies without suspicion. And the skills to clean up a crime scene.”
A chuckle escaped Rune.
“Careful, you’re starting to think like a criminal now.”
“I think I’ve proven what a terrible criminal I’d be. Couldn’t even shoot you when you were standing three feet from my face. Or, you know, track down the right person.”
“Eh, you were new at it. Who knows what you could accomplish if you applied yourself,” he teased.
“I think I will leave that to you,” I told him, getting to my feet. “I’m gonna take a shower too.”
“I’ll take the brace off,” he offered, reaching for my arm.
He was barely touching me, but it felt like every nerve ending was sparking at the touch, at his nearness.
He removed the brace, tossing it onto the dresser, then ran his thumb over the creases left behind on my skin.
My lungs felt pinched; my pulse skittered.
“Gotta stop looking at me like that,” Rune murmured.
“Like what?”
“You know what,” he said, lips twitching just enough for one of those dimples to show itself. “Need some help with the shirt?” he asked.
Nope.
“Yes.”
The smile stretched a little wider, like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“I can do that. Arms up as high as you can get ‘em.”
One arm was not a problem. The other had my ribs screaming enough that I could only get my hand up to shoulderheight. But Rune made it work. And then I was standing there topless—throbbing, thrumming, aching.
A muscle twitched in Rune’s jaw and that towel he was still wearing did very little to hide his own growing attraction.
“Shorts too?” he asked, voice rough.
“I don’t want to accidentally use my bad hand,” I said, knowing I sounded breathy and not caring.
Rune sucked in a deep breath, his chest expanding wide, then released it as his fingers grazed down my hips, pulling my shorts and panties down my thighs.
Once I stepped out of them, I was completely bare. And Rune wasn’t much more covered, with his hard-on testing the limits of the towel around his waist.
His gaze was helpless but to slip from mine, to trace the curves of my chest, hips, thighs, then back up again just as slowly. When his eyes met mine again, they were heavy-lidded, their depths molten.
“I, um,” I started, having to wet my lips to keep going. “I might need some more help.”
Rune’s eyes blazed. “With what?”
“Washing my hair. I’m one-handed and can’t raise the other one that high.”
The sound that moved through him was damn near a growl. “I can help with that,” he agreed, reaching down for my hand and pulling me through to the bathroom.
