“Don’t forget me! I’m named for cheese, too!” Babybelle skips along at his side. “Tell him.”
“And Babybelle wants you to know she’s also named for cheese.” I hold my fingers a couple of inches apart. “She’s the cutest little cheese.”
“That’s me!”
We reach the milking barn, and in no time at all, Rune’s loaded half the hay bales onto the trailer, and I drive them back toward the hay maze. He runs beside the tractor carrying Babybelle, and when we reach the others, she goes racing off to play with the werepuppies.
I stare after them, a bit worried. Not that anyone will be intentionally mean, but the fae pups are so much stronger than my familiar.
Riselda sees me looking and says, “Don’t worry. Everyone will keep an eye out. We’re pack.”
“Thanks.”
By the time we come back with the last of the hay, the other werewolves have finished setting up all the bales they had, and the hay maze is a good five feet high and looking great. With Rune pitching in, the last of the bales get added to the tops of the walls, bringing them to seven feet.
Rune and I walk the maze, and my heart races withexcitement as I purposefully pretend I don’t know the solution and head down one wrong path after another. I turn a corner and stop short at one of the dead ends. “I’m going to put up funny signs at each of these.”
He grunts from directly behind me,closebehind me, and every nerve in my body lights up in awareness of him.
I spin to find him blocking the way, trapping me in the small cul-de-sac. The other werewolves are only a few yards away on the other side of the bales, but the maze makes it feel like there’s no one here but the two of us.
He steps even closer, his wide shoulders blocking out the rest of the world, his eyes flashing gold as he stares at my mouth.
“Rune,” I whisper. “Your family’s here.”
“And yet, my fire—” He frees my hair from its messy bun and coils a lock around his fingers. “—all I can think of is you and the burning pleasure of your mouth.” His hand tangles in my hair, finding the back of my neck and pulling me to him.
No kissing. Kissing is bad. I’m keeping my distance until Operation Wish Swap is a success!
Shut the eff up, horny Autumn hisses. And she must take over, because my palms glide up his chest. This can’t be the real me, right?
Only I’m straining upward, pulled by his grip on my neck and my own answering need.
The first gentle brush of his lips sends electricity racing through me, and I gasp.
Rune’s answering moan sounds of pure hunger. His arms wrap around me, lifting and crushing me to him as he nips atmy lips, demanding entrance.
I—
“Uncle Rune!” “Uncle Rune, where are you?” Astrid and Agnar’s voices jolt us apart.
“I’m here!” he calls out. Then he brushes his hand over my hair and drops his voice to a low growl. “Until next time, my fire.”
Rune waves for me to lead the way out of the maze, and my body prickles, feeling him right behind me the entire time.
Dear god, how am I going to survive spending the entire weekend with him?
CHAPTER THIRTY
Rune
Astrid and Agnar come racing over and jump up to plant their paws on my thighs. “Is it done?” “Can we play?”
Babybelle bounces around in front of Autumn, baaing repeatedly.
“No, I didn’t forget about you,” the redheaded witch grins down at her familiar with fond affection. “You can all do the maze. Run around to the entrance and see if you can find your way here!”
They take off, and I smile to see the pups so excited to try this human game.