Rune

by H. D. March

  Jim shook his head. “Fuck, Rune, what is it with you? Couldn’t you have talked to them? To Phillips?”

  “Nope, didn’t want to. I’m a man of few words. He was looking for a fight, and well, I…” He raised his hands, a wicked grin sneaked over his face. “Let’s just say I enjoyed the workout.”

  The inspector blew out a low swear. “We’ll discuss this again, just leave will you, you crazy bastard.”

  “I’ll need to pay a call to the diner and check the area out, see what I can pick up.”

  Jim took a sip from his coffee. “It’s too late for that; you won’t find anything now.”

  Rune didn’t like the implication. Casually, he kicked at one body that groaned on the floor. “When did the killing take place?”

  “Yesterday, early evening.” He picked up his phone. “Marnie, get in here and clean up this place, oh, and call old Dr Matthews.”

  “So, why is it only now you’ve contacted me?” Rune ripped out a long release of curses; he would have missed vital evidence. “Almost twenty-four fucking hours later! You know damn well I’ve been assigned to this case.”

  Jim pointed to the prone body on the floor. “Because that asshole you’ve just hammered was on duty. Don’t need to be a genius to work out he didn’t want you there. He knows who you work for.” He swallowed another gulp of his coffee, now tepid, no curl of heat rose from it. “Only now he informed me, selective memory, I’d call it. But whatever, I’m bringing him up on a charge of misconduct.”

  “About fucking time.” Rune scrubbed a hand through his overly long hair. “Doesn’t he realize what this could cost us? That dick head deliberately held back information that I could have acted on. He knows what I’m working on. Is he for fucking real?”

  Jim scratched his head. “He knows all right, yet Phillips is pretending he doesn’t, that he followed procedure. Yeah, like hell he did.”

  “How many victims?” asked Rune.

  “Four, and as usual, it’s been kept away from reporters and covered up,” said Jim.

  “What about relatives?” Rune knew it was getting harder and harder to keep the lid on the rogue vampires, and that unless they sorted it, and soon, the shit would hit the fan. They kept it quiet because of the widespread panic it would cause.

  “Two were drifters; the others too fucking young to die. We informed the parents, told them it was a hit-and-run car accident.”

  He gave a nod; it was plausible, yet again somehow they’d managed to keep the murders under wraps.

  §§§

  Rune settled into the driver’s seat, his mind on the killing that had taken place. It was around the same time he’d come across Jessalyn. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced she’d been there, had witnessed the massacre. Now, all he needed to do was get her to open up and tell him the truth. Along with who was chasing after her.

  His lips curled into a sudden grin, his thoughts centred on his delightful sub, and what he intended doing to her.

  §§§

  Jess lay relaxed in bed, finished with her examination of the room. No way could she work out what half the things were. She’d opened the drawers to the large, bow-fronted unit and rummaged through the various objects. Her expression changed to shock at the blindfolds, cuffs, and whips along with an assortment of clamps and various objects that she didn’t have a clue about.

  She’d taken a strange looking object, it resembled a whip, but was a mass of long suede fronds. Flicking it through the air, she slapped it against her palm, it didn’t hurt, then glanced up as the lock clicked and turned, the door pushed open.

  Jess swallowed, Rune was a whole lot of man, pure male, and hers until Monday. A shiver slipped over her, as he neared. She couldn’t describe it as a walk, his golden eyes glittered, and his hips twitched in a jiving roll. God, but he was a sexy bastard.

  She noticed his lips quiver, as if he were privy to a private joke.

  “I see you’ve been into my play room and discovered some toys.” He stood beside the bed and tugged the sheet back, his eyes darkened. “You don’t ever hide your body from me, Jessalyn.”

  “Well, excuse me; you’ve only just returned?”

  He shook his head; his finger touched between her breasts, it ran a line all the way down. Over her stomach, pausing at her belly button, where it circled and nudged, then continued its journey down to her thatch of pubes, he buried it to the hilt, deep in her sex. Jess didn’t move, couldn’t, a swarm of randy sensations plundered her fanny.

  Pulling it out, he didn’t move and licked at his forefinger. His tongue trawled over the taste. “You will learn, Jessalyn, now stand, because I intend to punish you.”

  A wicked grin crossed her features, he’d said he wouldn’t hurt her and somehow she trusted him. “Oh yes please, sir.” She scrambled to her feet, tumbling off the bed, and waited expectantly before him, no longer worried about her naked state. Only one thing was on her mind, and she was looking at it.

  “You may not like what I’m going to do to you.” His fingers snapped the button of his jeans; dragging the zip down, he stepped out of them. Rune stretched and tugged at the pale T-shirt splattered with red blotches.

  Jess frowned. “Is that blood?” A flood of images from the drive through came to her. And she canvassed them again, blanking. But not before she’d seen the intense interest on Rune’s face.

  “Yes.”

  God, trying to get information from him was worse than pulling teeth. “And?”

  “And it’s none of your business.”

  Bastard.

  He cricked his head towards the room. “Now, Jessalyn, you need to be taught a lesson.”

  She pushed her hair back and tried to brush past his big body, a sudden anger infused her at his attitude. Jess was pulled up short when he clamped her arm.

  “I don’t want any tantrums, so cut it out.” Rune released her and she almost fell.

  Jess turned from him because she was so tempted to stick her tongue out. Childish, yes, satisfying most assuredly.

  “Now come, I intend to begin your education.”

  Jess stood in the middle of the room, her arms folded, then unfolded them when her tits surged over forearm. “Where do you want me?” Then remembered. “Sir.” Asshole.

  He gave a soft sharp snort and pointed. “Over there.”

  She turned to the red object. And gave a questioning glance.

  “It’s a kneeler, you’ll place your knees just so, and lean over, giving me access to your delectable ass.”

  She paled, remembering his words on finger fucking.

  “Now, Jessalyn.” His tone low, he took a threatening step towards her.

  He’s not going to hurt me. She kept repeating that thought and did as he asked. She felt open and vulnerable. Jess couldn’t understand how Kitty enjoyed this so much. Maybe it was the Dom LeBron that had made it so pleasurable. Yet she couldn’t honestly say that anyone could be any sexier than the hunk before her.

  She peered across at the thud of the freezer door closing; she’d spotted it on her inspection. Jess couldn’t work out why he kept one in this room. He hunkered down before her and, taking her arms, flicked a cuff on each wrist, linking them to the metal bar at the front.

  At once, she struggled. “Whoa, I don’t like this, stop.” Oh, fuck, what was the safe word?

  “Stop it, Jessalyn. I told you I mean you no harm, I’m merely going to spank you.”

  Her eyes glazed with fear, God but she was a wimp. “What you mean, hit me?”

  “My hand will be caressing your ass, and when you experience what I’ll be giving you, that will be your punishment.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Then I’ll begin, and soon, Jess, you’ll be begging for more.”

  “I frigging doubt that,” she muttered beneath her breath. And waited for him to chastise her again, relieved that he hadn’t heard. Or, if he had, had chosen to ignore her.

  Jess stiffened at the ca
ress of his palm over her buttocks. It soothed across; unexpectedly, he removed it and slapped down hard. A sharp shock of heated pain shot through her. The lying bastard. A shiver broke at the touch of freezing ice skating across her skin. Again, he slapped her hard, blistering heat to freezing cold and it confused the hell out of her.

  Over and over, he continued, moving across her thighs, inside, outside, across her buttocks, he was relentless. And a swirl began to pull at her stomach muscles, a sudden build-up of heat. Her clit began to throb, and she waited for the hard slap, needed it, at each assault she craved another. Unable to help herself, she began to move, to arch into his hand, a sudden driving urge cut into her, needing him, and her juices soaked across her fanny.

  “Do you like this, Jess?” His voice soft, it tore into her randy thoughts.

  “God yes!”

  “You are so responsive. Tell me what you want?”

  “You, Rune, sir.” She felt like kicking herself at her whine.

  “Jessalyn, that will be your punishment because I have no intention of relieving your needs.” He moved in front of her, his expression thoughtful. “I wonder.”

  “What?” Jess bit her lip; every nerve ending bitched on high alert. Her clit throbbed with an incessant drum that pulsed through her body, and she tried to rub herself against the bench but couldn’t. Just one touch, one long stroke and she’d be there.

  Rune didn’t answer; instead, moved to a cupboard and pulled out a tube. Then, returned and knelt behind her. His big body leaned across her, and shiver upon shiver sped across her dimpled skin. The need that cried to break out over her skin acute, it was soul destroying. His hot breath blew over the nape of her neck. “I’m going to finger fuck your ass. I want to see if you get off on it.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut. Oh God, why didn’t he simply fuck her, put her out of her misery? Never had she experienced this intense pain before, the sheer desperation to come a physical need.

  “Easy, little sub. I’ve lubed my finger, and now, I’m going to insert it, slow, okay?” His arm curled around her hip holding her still, his finger rimmed her anus.

  Jess tried to hitch up to connect her fanny with his hand but was held still.

  “Don’t move, at all.”

  Jess shivered at his finger driving in; it felt strange, wrong and then he was buried to the hilt so incredibly right. An intense riot of emotions slammed into her stomach.

  “How does it feel?”

  “Please? Sir?”

  He gave a hint of a smile. His finger slid back, and then in hard, pushing and teasing.

  Jess groaned, the strumming into her ass gave the weirdest sensations, a swarm of heat hit her groin, it fired over her stomach and exploded. She strained into her orgasm, her head thrown back she screamed as wave upon blissful wave of her climax hit her. It smashed across sanity, her brain shut down and she collapsed with a shudder, her body soaked in perspiration.

  §§§

  Rune looked on, his expression perplexed. He’d never met anyone so sexually his equal in over two hundred years. What the hell was it about her? She was human, yet there was something there that called to him. He’d almost caught her thoughts about the drive through before she’d shuttered him. And Rune knew that wasn’t an easy feat and he wanted to know, how the hell could she do it?

  He could read her mind as easily as if she’d spoken the words. Only those of his own kind were able to put a block on it. Which was why they couldn’t find the damn rogues that were intent on a killing spree. His telepathy was similar to a radio station; he only tuned it in when he wanted to listen to something. Otherwise, it became a damn problem.

  He dragged back a frustrated breath; she wasn’t fully human, couldn’t be. And neither was she vampire, he’d know his own kind. Rune decided he wouldn’t rest until he knew everything about her.

  What she was.

  Because there was something magical, some other mortal or creature possessed her body. And he intended finding out what or who it was.

  Chapter Eight

  Jess devoured her food, the tray rested on her lap. She glanced up at a moody looking Rune. “Aren’t you hungry?”

  “No.”

  Sod off, you miserable twat. She missed his flare of anger and dabbed at the gravy with the thick slice of bread. Jess had begun to wonder if she were about to starve to death before the knock came on the door. And a scrumcious delight waited for her.

  “This evening I introduce you as my sub.”

  She sat back and rubbed her stomach. “What does that involve?” A loud belch exploded with the suddenness of a cannon shot. “Oops, pardon me, er, sir.”

  He raised one castigating tawny brow. “You’ll be wearing an outfit of my approval. I will show you the club and the dungeons.”

  “Aren’t dungeons places of torture?” The food she’d ate rose in her throat.

  “Not in this case; there are a variety of select rooms in the club, and all for personal pleasure.”

  She absorbed his words and hooked on his ass as he loped across the room, to stop and stare in shock when he opened her holdall.

  “Hey, get out of there!” At his blast of cold fury, added, “sir.”

  He didn’t reply, instead pulled out her vibrator. The General lay across the palm of his hands. “Very impressive; now, I have some understanding on how you were able to take me.”

  “Hey, don’t put all the glory that way, the President is at least a good four inches bigger. So, come on, credit where credits due.” She was determined that her sexual technique would be admired. That it wasn’t down solely to plastic, The General.

  He gave a brief nod of his head and dropped it back into her holdall. Rune tugged a drawer open and pulled out a black shiny piece of material. “You will wear this. In half an hour, I will come for you, be dressed.”

  She stared at the slam of the door, then down to the scrap of material on the bottom of the bed. Boy, he was a smooth-talking bastard and knew just what to say to melt a girl.

  Like not.

  A bedside manner he certainly didn’t possess. Talk about needing a personality implant?

  A short while later, Jess stood in front of the mirror, staring at the slut looking back. Christ, surely he didn’t expect her to walk in front of strangers wearing this abomination?

  The black cat suit clung to her, the G-string visible, her legs encased in pvc, the body of it plunged in the front down to her navel, whilst her tits managed to appear selectively covered, just. At the rear, it was a mirror image, yet the cheeks of her ass were visible along with the thong riding between them.

  She pulled on the gloves, they hooked over one finger, giving a vee shaped effect on her hand, and covered her wrist and at least a further three inches up her arm.

  Slipping the high stilettos on, Jess stared at the vision. This so wasn’t her, was it? She looked hot damn good and sexy with it. Even if the appearance did yell I’m a slut. Her hair sparked around her hips, striking lights shimmered off the red shards in her locks. She was relieved it was so long; at least it hid the crack of her ass.

  Jess spun around at the sound of the door opening. And her mouth dropped open; Rune appeared in a pair of snug fitting black leather trousers. She swallowed at the sexy image, his bare chest surged out, his pecs bulged, along with rippling biceps, and the tease of dark blond hair snaked down a taut stomach.

  Straight to an impressive ridge.

  One that appeared even now to be growing.

  He ground to a halt, his perusal clear. His golden gaze swept from the tip of her patent shoes to the top of her gleaming hair. His eyes shimmered yet he said nothing. Rune handed her a small bunch of beads.

  She looked down at them and back at him. What the hell?

  “It’s a clitoris clamp. I’ll put it in place, and then the pleasure will be all yours.” His sinful grin loped over his face. He retrieved them from her curious fingers.

  Jess frowned, are you for real? She squealed when he dropped t
o his knees and spread her legs. The thong allowed for easy access. Her breath hitched at the clamp biting on her clit, it burned and buzzed, giving a delicious sensation along with the beads that rubbed against her.

  Rune rose and fingered her throat, placing a band of leather around it. “That’s to show you’re mine, that you belong to me.”

  A squiggle of desire sped over her fanny, she liked his words. They made her as horny as if his hands and tongue were all over her. She didn’t care that they were lies, only made for a few days that Kitty had paid for. It was the now and present that concerned her.

  She could pretend, couldn’t she?

  He clipped a leather strap to the link on her collar. “And now you come with me, I’ll be introducing you to the club.”

  She balked. Jess didn’t expect to be taking the starring role in the canine adventure of a BDSM bitch. “I feel like an animal.”

  “Continue to behave like a bitch, then I’ll treat you with the same obedience tactics.”

  Her hot glare burned over him; she lanced her thoughts into little darts through his hard hide.

  Twat, then amended that, at least a twat was useful. And followed, stomping on sulky strides or at least as much as the stilettos would allow.

  Once downstairs, the opulent surroundings amazed her. What she’d expected, she didn’t know, but it certainly wasn’t the impression of luxury. She glanced up to the overhanging chandeliers, they glinted and shone cascading a brilliance of light; hell, there was no impression on those. They oozed the real thing.

  With wide eyes, she followed Rune into a large room, the huge windows swathed with red brocade, and the plush seating, covered in a crushed velvet. The tables dotted around the room glowed in the soft light, whilst against the walls panelled with a rich wood curved inverted coves. Curled love seats nestled snug, along with one or two amorous couples. Everywhere she looked, it screamed class and taste. So, not what she’d expected, but relieved it wasn’t a seedy dive. Then recalled the cost, at the prices he charged, she shouldn’t have expected anything different.