CHAPTER 31

The days passed quickly,and Faye adhered to her schedule, spending two hours with Rune each day. But the man never fully used his time. He'd leave seemingly frustrated after an hour. Which worked for her. It gave her more time to read.

Faye curled under a blanket on a chaise, reading her latest romance book. Her sister sprawled in an oversized chair. Her head and legs laid over the armrests with a book of her own.

"I thought it would take you longer to get him to eat out of your hand," Sparrow remarked, turning her page.

Faye closed her book on her finger and turned toward her sister. "He's not eating out of my hand." In the last week, Faye graduated from playing with her hair to draw his attention to giving Rune a glimpse of the very tops of her breasts with square neckline shirts.

She smiled to herself. Every time she fidgeted with the top seam his veined misted shadows crept from beneath his eyes. Affecting him gave her a heady feeling of power she hated to admit was as thrilling as it was addictive.

Sparrow arched up, pulling the pillow she'd been laying on free. "He bought you a fucking library," she said, hurling the cushion at her.

Faye tucked her head behind her arms with a laugh. "He didn't buy it," Faye insisted, returning to her book. "This room was already here."

"Filled with books you like." Sparrow mumbled.

He restocked it. "He said it was overdue for an update."

"You're overdue to make out with him."

Faye returned to her book, saying quietly, "He hasn't tried to kiss me."

"What?" Her sister swung her legs and sat up. "I thought I heard you say something, not boring." Faye could feel her sister's gaze burning into the side of her face. "Do you want him to try to kiss you because that's a whole other game."

"He won't."

"I bet his ass will."

Faye lowered her book and stared up at the ceiling. He seemed to forget himself at times. She still thought of him wet, and shirtless, standing in the doorway as he leaned closer to her.

Is there a reason you are at this door, vsenia.

She'd forgotten the door between their rooms meant something to dark-bloods. Opening it was an invitation to her bed. He'd teased her, desire clear in his dark gaze. Then he pulled it all back to look down at her with his unfeeling pale blue eyes. She wanted to crack his control and bring those dark eyes out of him.

Faye glanced at her sister, and she immediately jumped to her feet with a squeal. "You've finally decided not to be boring," Sparrow said in a rush, flopping down beside Faye and shoving her back into the chair.

"Get your fat ass off me." Faye twisted to lay on her side.

Her sister paid her no mind wiggling to take up more space. "You'll need to get closer to him." Sparrow snapped her fingers and widened her eyes, saying, "That settee you dreamed with him on, sit there. It'll help jog his memory."

Faye rapped her nails on the book cover. "Maybe we should work on getting his eyes all black first."

"Their eyes change with strong emotion. Do this and you'll have the Pure Blood eyes you like so much. Sit next to him." Sparrow glanced down at her and stood. "Get up, it'll be easier to show you."

Faye got up, stuffing her blanket to the side and laying her book on it. "I feel like I'm going to regret this," she said, peering up at her sister.

"He's yours. You're allowed to kiss him if you want. We are going to remind fangs he's fated to you. Pull on the leash you have on him a little bit."

At the word leash, a scene rose in Faye's mind. Rune was in his bed, lying on his back. His wrists were bound and secured over his head. His white-blonde hair askew over his dark sheets. A few stray locks of his hair over his hard, chiseled chest. She straddled his hips, holding a leather strap that wound around his throat. She pulled it taut, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

Faye flushed, banishing the thought, and Sparrow elbowed her side. "Don't blush yet. You're just sitting next to him. He's going to get his panties in a bunch if you sit next to him like this." Her sister scooted closer to her, pressing the side of her body against hers. "This works in a bar, by the way, but your Shadow Prince is too stuck up for that."

Sparrow moved a few inches away and angled herself so her knees pointed toward Faye. "Be close enough that your knees almost touch, but," she patted the triangle of space their legs created, saying, "But have enough space here to fit both your hands."

Faye played along and set her hand down beside her.

"When you're talking to him, lean forward a little. Play with your shirt or your hair to get his attention, but don't move that hand." Sparrow pointed to Faye's hand between them. "He'll move his hand closer to yours, like brushing your fingertips or some shit."

Faye curled her fingers inward when Sparrow brushed her pinky. Her sister dropped her head back and slumped her shoulders saying, "Bitch, don't do that. You want him to kiss you."

Faye slouched, leaning back. "This feels so awkward."

"It will be fine when you're with him. Come on," Sparrow said, slapping her thigh.

"Fine." Faye sat up, positioning herself the way Sparrow said.

"He's going to touch your hand. When he does lean toward him and look at his mouth."

Faye wrinkled her nose. "Are you serious?"

"Works every time. And he's a boring dark-blood so you'll have to kiss him first."

"How do I know when I'm supposed to kiss him?"

"Because he'll be this close to your face," Sparrow said, holding her hand in front of her nose.

"I don't know."

"Just do it. You'll thank me later." Sparrow got to her feet. "We'll pick out something cute for you to wear to your date with him."

"It's not a date."

"Only because your ass isn't treating it like a date." Her sister pulled her along. "He's fated to you. The man is destined to be your bitch."

"I don't want to make him my bitch."I want him to look at me the way he did during our dreams.

"The fucker bought you a library. A whole ass library. He has it bad whether he wants to admit it or not."

Faye wanted him to feel something but was afraid to hope. Voices drew her attention as they approached the great room. She peered over the railing to see a long dining table placed near the back of the room between the two staircases. Sadi and a man sat across from each other sharing a meal.