CHAPTER 65
Faye crossed her leg in front of him, running her shin across his chest. Rune kissed her silken flesh a last time, chuckling as she pushed him away. He rose from his knees, wiping his hand over his mouth. His night breeze curled on her side, flushed, and short of breath. Her lightning-streaked midnight eyes glazed with pleasure.
Male pride filled him. He eased her into a handful of gentle orgasms. He craved the sounds of her soft cries and moans, but he'd exhausted his queen. The Ra'Voshnik purred through his mind. They'd agreed not to disturb the other while they were with their queen.
Until she wanted both of us,it reminded him.
Unlikely, though, if his queen desired it, he would bend to her will. Rune collected Faye in his arms and tucked her under the blankets. Her nails bit into his waist as she looked up at him. "Lie down with me."
Rune moved her to the middle of the bed and slipped under the blankets beside her.
She curled up to him as she had during their dreams. Her head resting on his chest, and he absently ran his fingers through her hair.
"I want to ask you a question." Faye didn't look up at him, her fingertips tracing the muscles down his side.
Rune remained silent, listening.
"Why do you let me do these things to you?" Her voice was quieter. Hesitant.
He grinned and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You need to become acquainted with yourself before you can learn another. This is what you need, and I am honored to give it to you."
She traced circles over his chest, seemingly mulling over his words. "But you're the Shadow Prince. You rule Hell. It doesn't upset you?"
A chuckle escaped his lips and Faye braced herself up on his chest to glare at him. "I believe you feel more for me than you are willing to admit," he purred
She settled back against his chest with a huff, "Keep dreaming fang face."
Rune couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips. His minx cared, worrying for him. In a soft tone he said, "You do not offend me, and I rather enjoy your treatment." He pulled his fingers through her black hair, watching the strands fall. "I have found, if you live long enough, there are few roles fate will not assign you. You are not tarnishing my status or title, neither of which mean a great deal to me."
"I'm not going to act like your dark-blooded woman. You can tell me no, or you're not in the mood. I don't expect you to serve me."
"I am aware."
Faye jabbed a finger into his side in response and curled closer to him. He stroked her hair, running his fingers down her back as her breaths grew deep and even. Faye dozed off as he lay awake staring at the red tapestry billowing over the ceiling. He felt content. He was still repairing much of the groundwork between them, but he could feel a bond beginning.
She would come to his way of thinking in time. Until then he would shower her with pleasure and let her come to dark-blooded society when she was ready.
Faye woke to a soft rumble, the lulling vibrations keeping her in a half sleep. She was warm, comfortable. The scent of amber and sandalwood mixed with the sweet floral scent of the bedding. Faye sighed as fingers brushed through her hair making her scalp tingle.
She curled closer, her leg draped over his. She took a deep breath, opening her eyes. Would this be what life with him would be like? She gazed over the opulent room. Spoiled in wealth and luxury.
A pang of guilt twinged in her chest as she scratched her nails lightly over his torso. She hadn't abandoned her village or forgotten where she came from. Rune would help her care for her village. Her thoughts wandered to her vampire. Her growing feelings for him frightened her. She had no safeguards to protect her heart from this affectionate side of him.
"Are you well?" He caressed her back.
Faye sighed, snuggling closer to him, and closed her eyes.
"I bought you a gift."
Faye smiled against his chest. "Did you?"
His hand returned to her hair. Twirling strands around his finger before letting them fall. "A gown for the wedding we will attend."
"There's a bunch of dresses in my closet." Along with more clothes she hadn't worn yet.
He chuckled. "This is a formal event. You need a gown, not a dress."
"And where is this gown?" Faye asked, sighing as he stroked the backs of his fingers down the side of her neck.
"It was delivered to your closet."
Faye groaned, "That means I need to get up."
"We can stay as long as you wish. I could tend to you again."
A flutter of memory teased between her legs. She still tingled from his earlier attentions. Could almost feel him licking inside her. "You've tended enough."
He laughed softly and squeezed her to him, and said, "As you command."
Faye lowered her brow at his words. He had strange customs but if he was willing to accept her, she would make the same effort for him. She pushed off his chest, sitting up. "I'm starving. How long was I sleeping?"
"A few hours," Rune answered. "Did you prefer to dine here or return home?"
"They have food here?"
"Kayla's establishment is full service. If you wish, you could witness training while I massaged your back."
His offer was tempting, but Faye scooted closer to him and patted his hip before saying, "We can do that another night."
Rune got to his feet and gathered her clothes, laying them next to her before he began dressing. Faye pulled her shirt over her head and slowed as she pulled on her pants. Her lips parted as his muscles tightened and rippled with his movements. She bit the inside of her lip, and as though he could feel her gaze, Rune glanced at her. She wasn't sure when his arrogant smirk became endearing, but she liked it all the same.
He adjusted his jacket as he walked to her and outstretched his hand. "Shall we."
She took his hand and her surroundings shifted, refocusing until she stood in the hall outside her bedroom. Faye's hand slipped from his as she stepped into her room.
"May I come in?" He asked at her threshold.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I think we're past that point in our relationship." When he only caned his head at her, Faye rolled her eyes and said, "Come in."
"Treating you casually is disrespectful."
More of his weird customs. Over her shoulder, she asked, "Can I just tell you it's okay, then you won't be disrespecting me?"
"Leaving the door between our rooms open is how you would tell me you would like me to tend to you." The backs of his fingers caressed the small of her back. "You should, by right, be in the larger room, and I should be in the consort's room."
Faye turned and settled her hand on his waist as she craned her neck up to look at him. "I'm not taking your room," she said, giving him a pat and stepped back. "Why are you in that room if it's a…queen's room? Or something."
Rune thinned his lips and his eyes hardened for a moment before his features relaxed. He met her gaze, and said "I needed a room on an exterior wall. This was the only one available at the time."
Faye smoothed her hand over his side, stopping herself from asking about the strangely specific response. If he wanted to explain it later, she would listen. She opened her closet door, and said, "How about if I have the door open you can come in and I would welcome your company?"
The corner of his mouth lifted as he strolled to her. "And if you want affection you will come to my bed?"
Faye smiled at him. Her vampire compromised with her. They could make this work. Her gaze fell to a large black rectangular box resting on her dresser in the back of the closet. A smaller black box on top of it. She expected a package. How big was this gown that needed a box that took up the top of her dresser?
Faye walked into her chandelier closet and another black box caught her attention. The one from the brothel she and Rune just left. She pulled her gaze away from it, reaching for the smaller box. She removed its lid and pulled away the black tissue packed inside. Black satin heels nested in the bottom of the box. The front of the open toed shoes were simple, but the heel. Faye took it out of the box.
Glittering dark gems accented with tiny purple jewels covered the heel and faded into the back of the shoe. The swirling, delicate pattern was reminiscent of paintings she'd seen of the Darkness.
"These are beautiful," Faye said, arranging the heel and tissue back into the box before setting it down. She took the lid off the larger box and rested it on the side of her dresser. The box was filled with layers of the same black tissue paper, crinkling as she removed them.
This was a gown? Faye lifted the gray slip out of the box.
"This is really elaborate for lingerie." Faye held the garment away from her with straight arms, studying it. The material was lightweight. The gray fabric glittered as it caught the light. Faye squinted, leaning closer. Tiny gems were sewn into the fabric. Thousands of them.
"You are holding a gown," Rune insisted.
"It's see-through," Faye said, holding the so-called gown between them, meeting his gaze through the sheer fabric.
He chuckled, leaning his shoulder in the doorway of her closet. "It will not be when you put it on."
Faye reappraised the cut of the gown. It exposed more than it covered. The front of the dress was connected to a beautifully crafted jeweled collar. Faye didn't see how this would stay in place having such a deep V cut while also being backless. The draping of the back of the gown dipped too low to properly cover her ass. At least the long skirt was modest.
Faye arched her eyebrow at the slit that ran high up the front of the dress. She was wrong. There was nothing decent about this dress. She turned, saying, "Rune, I can't wear this. Can you return it?"
"These types of gowns are purchased with blood. I will not return your gift."
"What?" Blood? She must have misheard him.
Rune nodded and said, "Blood is a common commodity among the dark-blooded."
"For what? Your blood wine?"
"I rarely barter my blood. I imagine it would be a very expensive bottle of crimson wine. My blood is more likely to be used in spells or tonics." Rune said, taking the gown and hanging it up. "Come, you are hungry and need to meet with your sister to regale sordid tales."