“You sound jealous.”
“I’m not jealous; I’m pissed. She tricked me. We had a night together, and it was . . . different. I didn’t even swive her.” Shared breaths, broken boundaries. All an act. “She played me just as I played patrons, making them believe I loved each one alone.”
“What did she do?”
“I thought she was half-infatuated with me. All along, she plotted to get back to him, the one she truly wants.”
“Then win her from the other. You and I both know you’re an unparalleled lay. Unleash your arsenal upon her—your full arsenal—and she’ll be yours.”
Rune stopped pacing. “You’re right. If I hold nothing back, I could have her eating out of the palm of my hand.” Yes, he would make her love him instead of the other. And once she did, Rune would hurt her as he’d been hurt.
Not that he was hurt. He was simply irritated.
“That’s the spirit!”
He frowned. “Say I did win her, I think she’s the jealous type. She’d expect monogamy, and I can’t do that.”
Dalli gave him a rueful grin. “It’s not so bad. Most beings want a devoted partner they can call their own.”
“Nymphs don’t.”
“Maybe we desire freedom just a bit more.” Her gaze grew distant.
Daydreaming of someone in particular? “Dalli?”
She raised her face. “By the way, I suggest you shower before you go. The scent of nymph arousal wouldn’t be a good opener if she is indeed the jealous type.”
“She needs to get used to it, because I will be bedding others.”
“Rune, trust me on this.”
“Very well. Just this once.” He stripped off his trews, then headed for her bathing chamber.
As he strode past her, cock swaying, Dalli sighed. “I’m going to miss that.”
“Trust me, dove. It’s not going anywhere. Rune the Insatiable does not do monogamy.”
THIRTY-ONE
“That little vampire bitch!”
When Jo strolled back into Rune’s demolished museum, she heard him muttering, “Should’ve fucked Dalli sideways.” Whatever that meant.
He twisted around on Jo. “What the hells is this?”
She shrugged with a smile. “Dunno.”
“I don’t understand you! You knew how much I valued these things.” The ends of his hair were wet from a recent shower. How many had he been with this time? “You knew this collection was priceless.”
“Yep.” How could she still find him so attractive? With his black leather pants and white tunic, he looked as gorgeous as ever. The bow slung over his shoulder and the quiver on his leg just amped his hotness level. Outside—gorgeous. Inside—not.
His expression turned menacing. “Do you think I won’t punish you?”
Try it. You won’t like what happens. She didn’t necessarily want to show him her powers—no reason to since she would never see him again—but she would if worse came to worst. She started toward the bedroom, making her way to the fire. “I’m ready to be let out now.”
He followed. “You destroyed everything because you couldn’t get out? You aren’t a prisoner! The wards are for protection as much as anything.”
“If I’m not a prisoner, then let me go.” She sat on the arm of his favorite chair.
“Without repercussions . . . ?” He eye-fucked her T-shirt clad body, as if he’d just realized she was naked beneath. He really is insatiable.
“I could’ve trashed your library too.” She’d left it untouched; though she couldn’t read, she revered books. Maybe all the more because she’d never delved into their mysteries.
“The only reason I’m not tanning your ass right now is because you’re going to pay me back sexually.” He closed in on her, towering over her. “And, Josephine, you can’t imagine the tab you just ran up.”
A laugh burst from her lips. “You’re so not serious.”
He drew his head back in confusion. “I am the one who’s been wronged here! Me! In thanks for tracing you to safety and treating your wounds, you wrecked my home. I saved your life!”
She stood to show him she wasn’t intimidated. “Please. I would’ve rallied.”
“You’re young. There was chance you hadn’t been frozen into your immortality yet.”
“Frozen means . . . ?” At his frown, she said, “We might call it something different where I’m from.”
“When a Lorean is at his strongest and stops growing older. When he can regenerate from lost limbs and such. The transition to full immortality.”