"Are you alright?" Grace asked as she entered the room, only to be met with absolute darkness.
She reached out for the wall, locating the switchboard before switching on the light. She then turned it down enough to allow just a little warm glow to fill the room.
Only then did she turn to face the room and her eyes flickered toward the coffee table that was cluttered with empty beer cans. Some had toppled over, their contents long drained, leaving behind the faint scent of alcohol lingering in the dimly lit room.
Rune was sitting on the couch, his posture slouched, one hand gripping the half-full can while his gaze remained fixed on the floor. The darkness that had consumed the space mirrored the storm inside him.
It had been nearly half a day since they returned from the nearby town where they found the high-rank group, and ever since then, Rune had locked himself inside the bedroom.
With a quiet sigh, she stepped closer, her soft footsteps barely making a sound against the carpet. She perched herself on the armrest of the couch. Slowly, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles beneath her touch. Read exclusive chapters at freewebnovel
"Are you thinking about them?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with concern.
Rune remained silent, but the way his grip tightened around the can of beer was enough of an answer. She didn’t need words to know what was weighing him down. Meeting the people from his world - his past - had stirred something in him.
Her fingers squeezed his shoulder lightly, offering comfort without pushing him to speak. She had begun to think he wouldn’t open up to her when, unexpectedly, he turned his face toward her. The raw emotion in his eyes stole her breath.
She saw - vulnerability. Guilt. A torment that ran deep.
"I can’t stop thinking about it," he finally admitted, his voice hoarse. He set his beer aside and reached for her hand, holding it between his own as if grounding himself. "I’m worried about the future. I brought this trouble to you, Grace. If I wasn’t here… if you hadn’t taken me in-"
"Stop," she cut him off before he could finish that thought. Her fingers curled around his, firm and unwavering. "You are wrong if you think I regret anything."
His brows furrowed, and his expression turned conflicted. She could see the battle waging inside him - the urge to protect her, to push her away for her safety, and yet the undeniable longing to keep her close.
"Even if they are stronger than us," she continued, leaning in slightly, "even if they come after us with everything they have, I’m not afraid to stand by your side. I made my decision when I chose to let you into my life. I’m not going anywhere, Rune."
His breathing hitched, and for a long moment, he just stared at her. Then, in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, he confessed, "Sometimes, you make me feel like I don’t deserve you."
Her heart clenched at his words. The changes in the outside world had changed them all in different ways, but she had witnessed most of this change in Rune.
"You deserve everything," she whispered, shifting closer until their faces were only inches apart.
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Her plan was to comfort him, but that move of hers caused the air between them to grow thick. It suddenly felt charged with something electric.
She watched as his eyes flickered down to her lips, and her heartbeat hammered in response. She barely had time to react before he closed the distance between them.
His lips met hers in a slow, deliberate kiss, as if he was savoring the way she felt against him. It wasn’t just a kiss... it was a confession, an unspoken plea for her to stay, to not let him go.
She responded instantly, her fingers sliding up to cup his face, her thumb brushing over the sharp edge of his jaw. The taste of beer lingered on his lips, mixing with the heat of his breath as he deepened the kiss, his hands pulling her closer.
A soft sigh escaped her as he shifted, his arm wrapping around her waist to tug her onto his lap. Their bodies fit together perfectly, the warmth of him seeping through the fabric of her clothes.
He started tracing his fingers along her back, leaving a trail of fire in their wake as he tilted his head, pressing harder, kissing her with a desperation that sent shivers down her spine.
Grace clung to him, her fingers tangling into his hair as she let herself get lost in the way he felt against her. The slow, languid strokes of his tongue against hers soon turned into something hungrier, needier. Every brush of his lips, every soft groan against her mouth only made her crave more.
His hands slipped beneath her sweater, skimming over the bare skin of her waist, making her gasp at the contrast of his cool touch against her heat. She arched into him instinctively, her body betraying just how much she wanted this - wanted him.
Rune pulled away just enough to look at her, his breath ragged. His eyes were dark, pupils blown wide with something primal. "Grace…" he murmured, his voice strained with restraint, as if asking for permission, for confirmation that this was what she wanted.
She didn’t hesitate. Instead, she leaned in, brushing her lips over his once more, a silent answer to his unspoken question.
That was all it took.
He groaned softly, flipping their positions in one swift motion, pressing her back against the couch as his body hovered over hers. His lips found the curve of her jaw, trailing hot kisses down the column of her neck, making her shudder beneath him. Her hands roamed over his back, feeling the tense muscles beneath his shirt, memorizing the way he reacted to her every touch.
His lips continued their descent. Every kiss, every touch, sent her pulse skyrocketing. She arched into him, breath hitching as his hands moved with a reverence that made her feel like she was something fragile, something precious.