He stiffens a little but relaxes after a few seconds. “You too. I—you look great.”
I chuckle, not believing it. “I’m covered in dog hair, and this shirt is too tight.”
Leaning back to look at me, he shakes his head a little. “I like it. Burgundy is a good color for your eyes.”
“Thanks.” I smile, feeling my cheeks heat.
“Stay just like that,” Sadie barks. “Great. Got it. Brandon, can you dip Rune back and support his leg? I want a shot of those boots in the light.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
I move to band one arm around his middle, subtly feeling just how much thinner than me he is. My free hand drifts down to cup his leg behind his knee and pull it up over my thigh. Rune gulps as I lean him back, clinging to me fully now.
“I won’t drop you,” I assure him.
“Perfect time to get rid of me,” he retorts, but looks more scared than anything.
“Why would I do that? I like arguing with you.”
His perfectly straight nose scrunches as his glossy lips pull into a frown. “Youlikearguing with me?”
“Mhm.”
“Maybe not with that face, Rune!”
He quickly drops the frown and focuses on my eyes again. Those long fingers I’ve seen in countless videos start to ease their hold as one hand travels down to my chest. The move catches me off guard, and I momentarily stop breathing.
“Drop your head back. Let those curls hang and close your eyes.”
His pale neck bobs before he slowly leans into the pose. It’s one thing to see someone on a screen, and another entirely to witness them from every angle in person. Rune is…stunning, truly. When I first saw him, I thought he was a model: high cheekbones, regal and elegant, pouty mouth, and haunting eyes. And his height only adds to the package. Stretched out like this, leg hooked around me and jacket draping open, I spot his pierced belly button and nipples through the sheer blouse.
“That is perfect, you two!”
His head snaps up as he grabs my shirt. “How come he isn’t in a compromising pose?”
“That can be arranged!” Sadie says. We separate, and she reveals a blanket, throwing it over the grass. “Brandon, come kneel on this, one leg up so Rune can perch on it.”
I wet my suddenly dry lips and assume the position. Rune gingerly sits on my thigh, keeping his hands to himself. We haven’t received directions yet, but I take the opportunity to place my hand on the small of his back so he feels secure.
“How come you posted today?” he asks, keeping a low volume.
I think about it while Sadie swaps something on her lens. “I knew I’d be busy, and I didn’t have high hopes about this. In the event it all went wrong, I wanted something to look forward to when I got home.”
“You look forward to that? Me?”
“It’s the highlight of my day,” I answer honestly.
Because despite all of the arguing and petty comeback videos, he’s become a constant in my life. In the morning, the first thing on my mind is to check my notifications in case he’s commented or posted something. Atnight, I lie in bed daydreaming of all the ways I can rile him up and garner more of his attention. Our feud has helped me get out of my depressive funk.
And now he’s right here in the flesh.
“Sorry about the delay. Ready to get started?” We both look at Sadie and say yes.
CHAPTER 05: RUNE
Color me shocked. Brandon AKABehold Thy Hornslooksforwardto arguing with me.
Who would’ve thought?
