Steam rose from the water. Tall boulders circled the pool, buffering the wind. Snow accumulated on the stone, but flakes melted a couple of feet above the water. Strings of paper lanterns stretched from one side to the other, making the haze appear to glow.

She wasted no time undressing: boots, jeans, shirt. In her lacy thong and bra, she descended the natural rock steps into the water.

That body would be the death of him.

She ducked under and emerged, smoothing her wet hair back, revealing her perfect ears. “Come in!”

He recalled Dalli’s words: “Win her.” He wanted an iron bond with Josephine.

Then the forge had best be hot.

FORTY-FOUR

Jo didn’t know what had gotten into Rune, but as he strode toward the edge of the springs, with his eyes so dark and threatening, her laughter died. As if in response to a threat, her body tensed, her mind becoming more alert.

He started to undress, his movements growing quicker and quicker, until parts of him blurred.

She blinked, and he was in the water with her naked. She swallowed hard as he stalked closer. Steam dampened his smooth skin and his black hair. As his torso flexed, his tattoos glided over chiseled muscle. Soon the water would erase that blood rune on his side.

Standing before her, he used a claw to slice away her bra and then her thong, tossing the scraps away. “Nothing comes between us.” He grazed his knuckles over a nipple, his silver rings clinking against her piercing. “Tell me why you’ve seized on me, Josephine.” He coiled his arms around her, drawing her close, trapping his straining dick between them. It was hotter even than the water. “Why do you want more from me?”

Breathless, she said, “Because you’re mine.”

“Why. Me?” He grasped her nape. “I’ll tell you—because I’m the first Lore male you’ve ever known. If you’d met another before me, your attentions would be fixated on him.”

Dickwad! As if she didn’t know her own mind? And he was harshing her buzz.

“You’re too bloody young and inexperienced to—”

She cupped his sac and tugged.

“Josie?”

“You’re making me sound like an idiot. Which doesn’t mesh with me being extraordinary in every way, now does it?” Yank.

Groan. He eased his legs farther apart for her and rocked his hips.

“If you underestimate me, Rune, I will always have you like this: by the balls. Get me?”

His gaze locked on hers. “Two can play at that.” He cupped her pussy with a firm grip.

She sucked in a breath.

He rubbed the heel of his palm against her clit as he murmured, “Do you want to play nice with me?”

Jo did, she really did. She let go of his balls—and grasped his shaft.

Each time he kneaded her, she stroked. “That’s it, Josie.” His free hand caught hers, and he linked their fingers.

They stared at each other, both fondling beneath the surface of the water, both breathing heavy. Their clasped hands squeezed rhythmically.

Then he leaned down to take her mouth, his tongue seeking and twining with hers. She moaned into the kiss, making him groan again.

Still cupping her, he slipped his middle finger into her pussy. She dimly realized her feet were no longer touching the bottom of the pool; he held her in the palm of his hand. She gave a cry, stroking him fast.

He took her mouth over and over, slanting his lips. He kissed her like he wanted to scald her. Brand her.

Her breasts slipped against his rigid chest, her nipples raking along his skin. When she thumbed the head of his cock, another of his fingers found its way inside her.

By the time he broke away from the kiss, she’d gone boneless, happily resting in his hand.

In a husky voice, he told her, “I’m going to take you.”

First thought: Where? “Ohhh, take me take me.” Maybe she was still a little drunk. “But today, on the mountain, I was thinking. . . .”

“About what?”

“I’ll need my hands for this.”

Curiosity lit his eyes, and one of his sexy ears twitched. He freed her and set her down.

She ran her palms up his tattooed torso, rubbing his flat—and clearly sensitive—nipples, then laced her hands behind his neck. She tugged him down so she could reach his ear. Nipping his lobe, she whispered, “I wanna suck your cock, Rune. Can’t stop thinking about it.”

He shuddered. “A very feasible alternative.” He traced from her to the steps, sitting on a higher one, which put most of his dick above the surface.

She rose in the waist-deep water taking her time to join him, loving the view.

Molten gaze eating her alive, he started to masturbate his big cock for her. “You want to take this between your lips,” he rasped, his tongue daubing his own. “You need to suck on it.” That smoldering sensuality . . .

She nodded, spellbound. Each stroke of his big fist made need tighten in her belly. Up. Down. Up . . . Down . . .

Once she reached him, she leaned in to kiss his throat, but not to bite. She eased lower to lick drops from his chest.

He cupped her tits, weighing and massaging them.

When she grazed her teeth over one of his nipples, all the muscles in his mighty body tensed. “I’m not to be teased tonight.” He gave her breasts a squeeze to show her he meant business.

“Uh-huh.” Ignoring him, she moved to the other one, twirling her tongue as she gave it a sizzling suck.

A gust of breath left him.