Free Seeress: Book Three (Runes Series) by Ednah Walters

when to work that British accent to his advantage, and I almost forgave him, but I had standards. “What are you doing?”
    “Trying to get your attention. You know I hate to be ignored.” He bobbed his head to indicate the book, which was on top of his head. “What are you reading?”
    “ Moby-Dick ,” I said, forcing my heart to behave. It wasn’t easy with his chest pressed against mine and his legs trapping one of mine.
    “Isn’t that the book you’re reading to your father? You’re cheating again?”
    I put the book face down on his back and ran my fingers through his hair. I tended to get caught up in the stories Torin and I read together and sneaked a read without him, which drove him nuts. This was different. Dad had read Moby-Dick to me when I was little, and I had a feeling this time round, we might not finish it. I couldn’t even explain why I was reading ahead. I still didn’t feel like discussing my father.
    “Guilty,” I said.
    “And you look it.” He slid his arms under my shoulders and propped himself on his elbows. His face was inches from mine. “So what did you do while I was gone?”
    “After the shop, I came home. Cora visited after dinner. Where were you?”
    “Touching base with the other Valkyries.”
    I frowned. “About the Seeress?”
    He nodded. “Most Valkyries are being called back to Asgard.”
    My stomach hollowed out. If he left… I couldn’t even begin to imagine my life without him. “You’re not—”
    “Not that I’ve heard. I’m sure they have enough helpers in Valhalla.” He stroked my hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    He couldn’t promise that. “But if they order you—”
    “I’m not going anywhere, Freckles.” His voice said he’d defy any orders, which would only land him in trouble. He lowered his head and added, “No one will ever make me leave you.” The kiss that followed was sweet and too brief. He shifted and switched our positions, his arms wrapping around me. “So when you said you came home, do you mean you came alone or did Andris pick you up? Because if he didn’t, I’m going—”
    I pressed a finger to his lips. “Whoa, slow down. Andris did. Poor guy. He has a stalker and acted really fugitive-ish. He also seemed to think you won’t approve of my working at the shop after school.”
    He stiffened. “Why would you want to do that?”
    “It’s something to do.”
    “You do me after school,” he retorted.
    I giggled. “That sounded wrong.”
    “That’s because you have a dirty mind.” His tone said he didn’t find my comment funny. “You know what I mean. We hang out and do stuff. Now that it’s warmer, I plan to teach you how to move faster without hitting someone or something, and I’m not talking about while riding a Harley.”
    “You should have said something or texted me.” He stared at me like I was a ditzy teenager, which I wasn’t. He hated texting. “I don’t read minds, you know.”
    “Well, now you know. Then there’s creating portals in the air instead of solid surfaces. Portals to places around the world without appearing in someone’s bedroom or in the middle of some high society ball in London. That happened to me once, and it wasn’t funny. They thought I was a stable boy trying to steal the family silver.”
    “And the bedroom?”
    “The woman believed she’d conjured me. I mean, she was standing naked in front of a mirror talking to herself when I walked through it.” He shuddered. “One mistake and it had to be with a bloody witch.”
    I ignored the comment about the witch. “No one walks blindly through portals. You must have seen her.”
    He smirked. “I was young and cocky, and she was hot.” A wicked twinkle entered his eyes.
    “Oh, you were such a man-whore.” I tried to slide off him, but his arms tightened and his legs lifted and trapped me.
    “That was before I met you. Now, I only lust after one woman.” He buried his face in my neck, his breath fanning the