Rune (22 page)

He held four fingers up.

“But how?”

Rune continued to stroke his hand over her. “I’ve been putting you into an induced sleep, letting your body heal. It was the only way to keep the pain at bay. There was nothing else I could do to help you.”

Quietly, Jess absorbed the information. He was a handy guy to have around. She hoped this time she would remain awake and experimentally moved her shoulder. A ripple of discomfort hit her, but nothing like the exploding intensity of the weeks before. It was bearable, the type you could toss a painkiller down your throat and it would go.

“So, little one, apart from randy, how are you feeling?” His golden glow teased over her.

“A lot better; how is my back looking?”

“It’s a vast improvement, and on the mend. I still need to put the cream on, but it’s almost as good as new.” With soft fingers, he touched her back. “How does that feel.”

She froze, waiting for the lancing sting. “Bearable, hardly any discomfort at all.”

“Do you want to try laying on your back?”

“Heck yes. It will be nice to have a different view when I wake up.”

Taking care not to hurt her, he helped Jess roll slowly over. At last, she lay looking up at Rune.

“How does it feel?” he asked.

She wriggled and waited for the discomfort, yet none came. “Manageable.”

Rune leaned over her; his fingers traced her lips, along with his tongue. “When you are fit, I’m going to make the most pleasurable, lazy loving with you, Jess.”

“I look forward to it.” Jess swallowed and tried not to grip his hand to lead it down to her fanny, because God she needed him. A sudden thought occurred to her. “I’ve been here for four weeks?”

He nodded.

“Do you know if Kit has put a doctor’s note into the cafe? Only I can do without losing my job.”

He gave a loud huff, his anger evident. “Jess, the most important thing is your living, not some fucking doctor’s note.” Rune studied her worried face, cursing his temper, at once sought to put her at ease. “And yes she has; it’s not something I’d have been concerned about, but your friend did.”

“Thank God for that.” Another thought followed. “And for four weeks you’ve, er, you know?”

“As I already said, Jess, I’ve taken care of all your needs, every single one.”

Embarrassment scorched her face; she didn’t go into the details and wouldn’t ask. Yet was so relieved she hadn’t had a period, now that would have been way past shaming. And froze, remembering Kit’s words, it was over four weeks and she hadn’t come on? It was pretty obvious he hadn’t thought of that.

The distinct worry nagged at her, could she be pregnant? And tentatively placed a hand over her stomach, it felt the same. Jess decided it was the trauma of her ordeal that had set her back. No way was she having Rune’s baby.

Yet Jess discovered she liked the idea. And blanked her thoughts. She wasn’t having Rune looking into that part as a prospective vampire daddy.
Nah.

Then wondered about her own because she had a strong gut feeling she wasn’t going to like it.

Chapter Nineteen

Kitty bounced into the room and Jess smiled at her friend. She was the first person to visit her since she’d been consigned to Rune’s bed.

“My God, Jess, your hair, what’s happened?”

“Ask Rune; it was sticking to my back, so he cut it off.”

Kitty slapped a hand over her mouth, her laughter broke through. “I can’t believe he did that. But actually, Jess, I like it.”

“Gee thanks.” She patted the edge of the bed, unashamed with her nudity. “Come here.”

Warily, Kitty hugged her, careful of her back. “Hun, you don’t know how glad I am to see you again; your guard dog wouldn’t let anyone near you.”

“Yeah, well, no doubt there was a reason, and it wasn’t concern for me.”

“Don’t underestimate him, Jess, he’s all but not slept or moved from you for a month and you doubt his feelings?”

Put like that, she flushed; it gave her a warm glow, but it also terrified her.

“So, where is he?” asked Kitty perching on the side of the bed.

“Think he’s meeting up with your LeBron to make sure Caprice is still doing well.”

“Any news on that bitch?”

“Storm, no. But guess you already know that Rune is a vampire.” Jess couldn’t believe her easy acceptance of the fact. How she spoke about it as if she were explaining he was a lawyer or something. Maybe she was becoming desensitised with everything that had happened recently.

Kitty looked away. “Yep, LeBron told me.”

“When?” Jess wondered how long she’d known.

“While you were here; from now on, no secrets, Jess.”

“None,” and Jess crossed her fingers. Dare she tell Kitty her suspicions about maybe being pregnant? And decided to let it go, she might not be, and didn’t see the point in worrying her yet until she was sure. Also, she knew that Kitty would confide in LeBron, and he in turn would tell Rune, no way could she chance that.

“Oh, and by the way, your mother has been on the prowl, wanting to know where you were,” said Kitty with a wicked glint in her eyes.

“What did you tell her?”

“That you’d been attacked by werewolves courtesy of a jealous bitch Storm, and your vampire lover was looking after you.” Her chuckle bounced around the room.

“Please don’t tell me you actually said that.”

Kitty gave a wicked laugh. “Yep.”

“And?”

“And she hasn’t been back since, called a few times, but strangely she hasn’t questioned it. Took it in her stride, think she’s more concerned with the latest makeover she’s had.”

Shit, that didn’t bode well.
And again wondered what or who her father was, and why Doreen appeared to be taking the news of vampires and werewolves without question, as if it were normal. She had visions of her father being Satan; it would certainly be a fitting match with her bitch of a mother Doreen.

All too soon, Kitty rose to leave. “I don’t want to tire you.”

“I’m fine honestly,” protested Jess, enjoying her company.

“Whatever.” She leaned over and gave her a kiss. “I’ll be back soon.”

§§§

Rune loped towards her in his sexy ass drawl of a stride. Jess tried without success to keep her libido under control, to contain her rampant urges that grew stronger every day.

“Did you enjoy your visit?” he asked, sinking into his usual seat, the one he’d been in for the last four weeks.

“Yes, I love Kitty to bits, she’s my best friend.”

“Your only one.”

Okay, smartass, did you have to sneak that one in?
“So?”

“What did you talk about?”

“Er, none of your business?”

Rune took her hand and sucked on each finger, slow supercilious luscious licks. “You are my business, Jessalyn. Don’t ever forget it.”

“I doubt I will, not with you around to remind me.”

“And?” he pushed.

“Not a lot, girl talk, that kind of thing.”

“Like periods?”

Jess choked and exploded into a coughing fit.
Hell, where did that come from?

“For four weeks, you haven’t taken your pill. And prior to that we’d been sexually active.”

“Yeah, and?”

“And for four weeks I’ve seen to every need of your body, bar a period.”

She glowed red, talking about her bodily functions made her blush. “Do you have to get so personal?”

“Jessalyn, there’s nothing I don’t know about your body, now answer me.”

“Oh, well, that’s simple, when I stop taking the pill, my periods take a while to adjust.” Her lies spewed out.

“So, why was I under the impression that once you stopped taking the pill, you’d come on?”

Shit, he appeared to know an awful lot about monthly cycles, and she noticed how he appeared to examine her.

“No idea.” And she didn’t; heck, she’d only gone on it in preparation for the hope of a stint at Caprice. It certainly hadn’t been for her active sex life.

He continued to study her in silence and finally nodded. “You would tell me if you found out you were pregnant?”

“Of course, I’d need the child maintenance.” She didn’t notice the shot of anger blast over his face. Jess decided on sneaky tactics to take his mind off it. “Rune, will you join me?” And flicked the sheet back.

His groan rumbled through the room. “Christ, Jess, I’d love to but daren’t.”

“Why?” Jess felt put out at his abrupt refusal, and also, there was an itch that needed scratching, right between her legs.

“You’re not up to me making love to you yet.” He cupped her cheek and swept a delicate soft kiss across her lips. “I want you fully recovered before I take you again.”

Shit!
“Can’t you just hold me, I need you, Rune.”

He hesitated. Jess could read the passion on his face and pushed home. “I can give you a hand job.” She flashed a wink. “Look at it as my way of thanking you, for looking after me, taking care of my needs. And now I get to see to yours.”

A wicked smile curled his lips, and in silence he stripped. Jess sucked in her breath, her eyes drawn to his tattoo and then to his erection.

“Woman, you are a bad influence on me.” He slid into bed and Jess melted into him, warily moving she tried not to wince. She scented his unique aroma, and gripped his engorged cock. It pulsed and throbbed a staff of silken steel, but she knew she was in no state to take him yet. Jess ran her hand up and down in a slow drawl. Her head rested on his chest, and she could sense the effort it cost him to hold back. His breath scuttled out in a shiver his hips rose off the bed thrusting into her hand.

“Jess—” A loud groan broke free and he came hard. “Fuck…that was too quick.”

“It was also needed.” Carefully, she rolled onto her back. “I’ll be glad when I get relief.”

Rune snatched a tissue from the bedside cabinet and wiped at his belly, leaning over her, his tongue traced her lips, and his breath misted across her face. “Then we’ll see what we can manage, sweet sub.”

She trembled with anticipation when his hand slipped down her stomach and edged over the vee between her legs. A long sigh of satisfaction rasped out when his fingers found her clit. “Oh God, I’m so going to enjoy this.”

“Just don’t go arching your back or coming too hard,” warned Rune, his concern evident.

“Sorry, can’t promise that.”

And Rune burst out laughing.

§§§

Doreen drove up the hill towards the tor. The summer rain blew in and she cursed the weather. Why did Frazer have to live here?

In the depths of the Earth. What the hell was wrong with a penthouse suite in a plush apartment block?

She parked up beneath the boughs of the huge oak. The splatter of rain drops scattered down, dripping onto the leaves, sneaking through and bouncing onto the ground. She pulled a grimace at her Loubutin heels sinking into the soft earth and reached out to the hard bark. Her palm nudged at it, and the soft swirl of cogs creaked, whilst a door appeared. Doreen glanced around and stepped inside.

She adjusted her eyes to the dim light and trod down the spiralling stone stairs that led to the lair of Frazer. Each stride slow, the rock resembled a smooth pebble, centuries of footsteps imprinted on it.

The staircase descended into a large oval room. Her heels clacked across the marble floor. And she nudged, pressing at the double doors that stood at the end.

Inside, a huge domed chamber splayed out, almost cathedral like in its impression. But that was Frazer for you, she decided, size counted.

Doreen didn’t like the scene before her. She snatched in a whip of frustrated jealousy, some things, she decided, never changed. Frazer reclined against the sumptuous pillows whilst alongside him lay his slaves, all women, all sexy and all young. It was a replica of the Arabian nights, and the only thing missing was the camel and the Bedouin camp.

Bastard
.

Which was why she strived to push back her age.

Doreen trod towards him; as his only wife to give birth to a daughter, she knew she was special. Most mortals either died giving birth or bred hideous creatures. These, she discovered, had been sent down to the subterranean levels to serve.

Only Jessalyn remained different. And even though she’d asked, he’d never said why it was only when she reached thirty that she could divulge her parentage. She was curious to know what was so important about that age.

Doreen gave a low hiss of breath and a bolt of hot desire slammed into her stomach. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his ripped torso, the mop of dark hair, or his sharp features. The loose bottoms he wore clung to slim hips.

“Doris, what do I owe to this delightful pleasure?”

“Doreen,” she bit.
Why the hell couldn’t anyone get her name right?

“Of course.” He indicated she sit.

She spat her distain over the women that laved him with a host of lust. “I need to speak to you. Alone.”

He waved his hand. “Leave us.”

One hesitated. “Now, Lara, or you’ll be sorry.” He flashed a wink. “And I’ll withhold sex for a week.”

She scuttled away. Doreen crumpled and sat before him. She wished he hadn’t gone for the nomadic tribe image. She struggled to fold her legs up beneath her. But what he liked today would be different tomorrow.

“Doris my love, what is it?”

“It’s Doreen, will you remember my name?” She curled her nails into her hand and cringed when she felt one snap.

“Doreen.” He acknowledged with a bow of his head.

God, he was taking this Arab theme to the top.
“It’s about our daughter.”

“Jessalyn?”

Oh great, got that right!
“Yes, she’s reached the age of thirty.”

“Then it’s time I met her.”

“Well, you might find that a bit of a problem; apparently, a few weeks ago, she was attacked by werewolves, courtesy of a bitch named Storm, and is currently being nursed by her vampire lover.”

“Why did you allow this to happen?”

“Don’t blame me.” She puffed her small chest out. “I’ve been the one left to deal with all the usual things, the parental crap and all that. I’m her mother, one she doesn’t listen to and you are a waste of space as a father, you haven’t wanted anything to do with her until now.”