Page 76 of Rune
Alone, we sat awkwardly for a moment before Rune got to his feet. “I’m just gonna set out a new toothbrush for you. And towels. But don’t try to force taking the brace or clothes off. I can help.”
“Okay,” I agreed, watching him disappear into the bathroom.
“The prospect room is the one at the far end of the hall,” he called to me. “If you need anything, you can find me in there. Feel free to move around the clubhouse, though, if you need more to eat or drink. Or just go stir-crazy in here. Do you need me to grab anything out of the car?”
“I think I’m good until the morning. Thanks.”
“Get some sleep, okay?” he said, stopping in front of me to gently place a hand to the side of my face. “And take some of the pain meds, if you need them.”
With that, he was gone, turning off the big light as he went.
Alone, I made my way into the bathroom, impressed with how clean it was, then finally looking at myself in the mirror.
It was worse than the guys let on. And they were right, it was only going to get worse with time. Half of my face was bruised, swollen in parts as well. Lifting up my shirt, the bruises only looked worse.
On a sigh, I dropped my shirt, brushed my teeth, and made my way toward the bed.
The sounds of the clubhouse were foreign—male voices, the faraway hum of televisions, and the never-ending fan of the air conditioning that must have been set to Antarctic.
I buried under the comforter, loving how the pillow smelled like Rune.
But no matter how comfortable the bed was, how soft the bedding, how safe I knew I was, sleep was elusive.
I climbed out of bed and made my way to the door.
Just this once, I didn’t overthink it. I just followed the urge to see Rune again. Reaching the door at the end of the hall, I hesitated, listening for a moment. But I heard nothing inside.
Turning the doorknob, I tiptoed inside.
The room was massive and built almost like a school gymnasium—with white cinderblock walls with small rectangular windows way up high near the ceiling. A whole wall was lined with storage cabinets. Toward one side were doorways into bathrooms. And on the final wall were several sets of bunkbeds.
I inched forward, glad that someone left the light on in the bathroom so I didn’t approach the wrong bed.
It was easy to spot Spike and the guy I heard someone else call Cain, as well as a few much younger guys. But I didn’t want to approach the wrong twin if Croft was in the room too.
Rune was closest to the cabinets with one arm over his head and one hanging off the side of the bed.
I made my way in that direction, careful not to run into anything. Reaching out, I grabbed Rune’s hand.
He jerked awake with a gasp, eyes unseeing for a second.
“Baby?” he asked, voice sleep-rough.
I tightened my hand on his, then pulled.
Rune didn’t hesitate.
He threw off the blankets, stood, and followed me as I pulled him out of the room, down the hall, then into his room.
“Are you okay?”
“I can’t sleep.”
“You hurting too much?”
“Can you just… stay with me?”
“Of course,” he agreed, making his way toward the bed. “Come on. You slept like the dead with me last time.”
