Page 91 of Lifebound

Fuck, I was so horny, and the feeling was so intense that it almost convinced me to touch myself right there. A little would do it—because I’d kissed Rune and I knew that the moment I brought back the memory andfelthim the way I had when I was in his arms, I’d be a goner. It would beveryfast, and I would breathe easier after.

But still, I had no idea if Miriam or even Rune could see me or hear me through the walls or the small window that showed the sky. As much as it pained me, I decided not to do anything.

After the bath, Miriam actually put blush on my cheeks. She made it herself, she said, with berries and some herbs, and it actually had a really nice creamy texture. I showed her my mascara in my backpack, too, and I showed her how to use it. She absolutely adored how it made her already long lashes longer. She didn’t like my lip gloss, though. Said she preferred the tint of color she got from eating cherries in the morning.

It felt like ages before I finally made it outside of the cottage again, to find Rune standing at the very edge of the cliff, hands in his pockets, looking out at the town below. He must have heard me, though, because he turned with his mouth open, ready to speak, probably to tell me that we had no more time.

But then he saw me and stopped. Clamped his mouth shut, froze in place, and it was so incredibly obvious.

I had never felt giddier in my life.

Rune liked the dress and how it looked on me. My hair was wet, sure, but I’d combed it back, and I wore clean clothes and I actually smelled citrusy because of the soap Miriam had given me. I feltreborn.

Rune’s eyes scrolled down my body, and behind me Miriam giggled. Put her hands on my shoulders and whispered, “He’s mesmerized.”

Which wouldn’t have been a word I’d pick, butyes, Rune looked mesmerized.

“When you’re ready, come behind the house. I’ll be waiting,” Miriam said before she let go of my shoulders and walked away. I didn’t even turn my head.

My eyes remained on Rune, and my heart was thundering, and I still felt so goddamn giddy that of course I had to find a way to ruin it. The intensity of his gaze was going to suffocate me if I didn’t speak soon, so I said, “Don’t forget to pick that up.”

Like an idiot, I pointed at his feet.

Rune looked down, eyebrows raised. “What?”

I grinned. “Your jaw.”

The look on his face. Runealmost laughed,but before he did, he put his fist over his mouth and turned his back to me once more.

I couldn’t stop myself, though. I was giggling like a schoolgirl because how cringe was that? Possibly the cringiest thing I had ever said in my life, but I had no regrets. Because the pressure was off and when Rune faced me again, he was smiling and his eyes wereglowing.

“Your dress is…” He nodded, glanced at my cleavage like he couldn’t help himself. I didn’t have big boobs, but the corset made them look bigger and rounder andbouncier,too. Miriam had really outdone herself with it. If she ever came to Earth, she’d be sold out in a second.

“Say it, Mr. Moody. C’mon, you can do it.B-e-a-uuutiful,”I said, and I was trying to imitate Jim Carrey from that movie Dad loved, but I couldn’t make it sound right.

“Blue,actually,” he said as he grinned and came closer. “I was just going to say blue.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, you weren’t. You were going to saybeautiful.”

“Nope. Not beautiful.”

Nowmyjaw hit the floor. I even opened my mouth to make a point, but before I could say anything, Rune stepped to my side and whispered, “Don’t forget to pick that up,” before he went inside the house. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

He closed the door behind him, leaving me alone at the edge of the cliff, smiling at the sky like a goof.

“We match,” I told it, and held the fluffy skirt of my dress to the sides to show it.

My lips burned and I might just die before nightfall, but right now I had a full stomach and I was clean, and there was just something about putting on a beautiful dress and doing a little makeup.Thank God I’m a girl,I thought to myself, and for now, I just enjoyed the good mood, the burning sensation on my lips, and the memory of Rune’s kiss.

twenty-five

Miriam hadtwo light brown horses, just as big as most I’d seen in this place. The carriage they were strapped to wasn’t all that comfortable, but it had two wide seats that fit us well. It also had two small windows on either side, and she told us not to pull back the brown curtains in front of them, which wouldn’t be a problem. At this point I really didn’t want to see anyone—or have anyone see me.

Rune put his long black cloak over my shoulders and tightened the leather ties almost all the way so that the fabric fell over my boobs and hid my cleavage. He was looking, though. The whole time he worked those ties—extra slowly, I might add—his eyes kept going lower, and I couldn’t believe I didn’t want to break his teeth for it.

No, I wanted him to look at me instead. I wanted him to want me as much as I wanted him.

Just until I got it out of my system, of course. Because when I did, it wouldn’t be like this anymore. I’d have my control back and I wouldn’t be horny all the time and I could put my entire focus on something else for a change.

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