Gideon stepped toward her, into the falling water. Within seconds, he was as soaked as she was.
“I’m her sister,” she said, as if this might repel him.
“I don’t care.”
Or rather, the only reason he cared was because it put her at risk.
She looked up, startled. “You… don’t?”
Gideon reached for her wrist so she couldn’t bolt, running his thumb gently over the little knot of bone there. “Let me see your back.”
She seemed about to refuse, so he took her face in his hands. “Let me see. Please.”
Her shoulders slumped and she turned, letting the sodden towel fall to the stone at their feet, leaving her back exposed to him.
He hissed through his teeth at the crisscrossed scars ridging her back, the red lash lines cutting through her pale, smooth skin. Some had healed; others were still raw. It made him want to weep.
“Oh, Rune…”
“I know.” Her voice cracked on the words and she lifted her hands to her face. “I’m hideous.”
“No.” The word burst out of him, angry. How could she think that? Gideon stepped closer and locked his arms around her waist. “Not possible.”
He lowered his mouth to a scar on her shoulder, kissing the raised skin. A breath escaped her. He kissed another scar, and the tension left her body. “You are the kindest, cleverest, bravestgirl I’ve ever met.” He kissed more and more scars, tracing them gently with his mouth. “These scars are only further proof of that.”
No pain flared. He was touching her without consequence.
His curse was broken—and here was the cost: Rune in pain; her courage in tatters.
“She could have killed you.” Pulling her closer, he pressed his cheek against the crown of her head. “Why would you risk yourself?”
“Because I couldn’t stand the thought of her making you suffer.” Rune’s hand lifted to his arm, skimming down to his hand, where she linked her fingers with his. “And because…”
Still facing away from him, she turned her head so her temple grazed his jaw, nuzzling him.
“Because I was stupid enough to fall in love with a witch hunter. Stupid enough to hope he might love me back. And if he did, I wasn’t going to let anything come between us again.”
She turned into him, forcing his embrace to loosen. As she studied his face, watery rivulets traced down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
Her hands lifted to the buttons on his shirt, her eyes asking a silent question. Gideon nodded and let her undo them. Let her peel the soaked garment off him and drop it next to her towel.
Rune stared at the brand on his chest, lifting her palm to the scar. As if she didn’t believe her sacrifice had worked. As if she were waiting for the pain to flare; for the branded lines to turn ember-red.
But they didn’t.
All Gideon felt was pleasure at her warmth, her gentleness.
Rune laid her cheek against the scar.
“I would do it again,” she whispered. “Just for this.”
I don’t deserve this girl.He slid his palms against her cheeksand tilted her head back.But I want to. I want to be the man who deserves Rune Winters.
He let his eyes trace the lines of her face before lowering his head to kiss her lips.
Rune’s breath shuddered. She slid her fingers into his hair.
“Were you in my bed last night?” he said against her mouth.
