With his mouth still devouring her, he drew her hand under his untucked shirt. Sliding her palm up his chest, he pressed it to his scar. Rune felt the raised skin beneath hers. Cressida had branded him years ago, like he was nothing more than an animal, and now the brand was warm beneath her palm and growing warmer.
Hot.
The hotter it grew, the more Gideon stiffened, his muscles growing taut. Just like when he’d kissed her on theArcadia.
Only this time, Rune recognized it for what it was.
Pain.
Rune tried to pull away, but he had her pinned to the desk. And even though something was wrong—that was clear to her—Gideon wrapped his hands around her thighs and pulled her closer, tighter, as if he didn’t want to let her go.
Or perhaps he didn’t wantherto lethimgo.
“Rune…” He leaned her back, lowering her down to the desk. Rune wanted nothing more than for them to continue this horizontally. Except his whole body was trembling, as if he was trying to hold off something excruciating.
“Gideon. Wait.” She pressed both hands to his chest. “What’s wrong? I feel like I’m… hurting you?”
Her words seemed to break the spell. Either that, or he couldn’t take the pain any longer. Gideon wrenched himself out of her embrace and stumbled back, his brand glowing ember-red through the white of his shirt. As if a scorching-hot iron were searing his skin.
Rune’s breath trembled out of her.
What had Cressidadone?
Gideon bumped into the end of a bookshelf. He grabbed hold of it, using it to steady himself while his whole body shook.
Rune pushed herself down from the desk. Wanting to go to him; unsure if she should.
“It’s a curse,” he said. “It’s why I kissed Abbie. To find out if anyone can trigger it or just… you.”
Rune’s lips parted, but no words came out.Me.
“It happens when I touch you. Skin to skin.”
Her blood roared in her ears. “Just me?”
He nodded.
Feeling lightheaded, she pressed a hand to the desk, letting it bear her up. “So you and I, we could never…”
He shook his head.
Never.
The word was like an echo in an empty cavern.
Rune pushed off the desk. Pacing. Her hands tightened into fists as a tempest welled inside her.
Gideon watched her, a conflicted expression creasing his brow.
She wanted to kill Cressida with her bare hands. How could she do this? It was socruel.
More selfishly: it meant Rune could never have him.
Not that she could have him anyway. Being with Gideon was an impossibility.
But I don’t repulse him.
And he hated her flirting with other people.
