Free Son of Thunder by Libby Bishop

deeply again would be a long one. No man would wait that long, especially a god.
    “I’m so sorry, Liv. He was wrong to leave you, especially at a time like that. But, my beautiful flame,” he took her hand and squeezed it, “I’m not him.”
    “He left a deep scar, Viking. I don’t know if I can trust you completely, and you’re leaving anyway.” Why the hell am I saying this? She sighed. Maybe because he isn’t pushing you for something you can’t give. “That said, I trust you to help me find Erik, mostly because you need to find him as badly as I do. And because of the consequences that would come from losing the bastard, I’m confident that you won’t betray me in that way. Beyond that”—she sighed—“you’re going to have to prove yourself worthy of a deeper connection.”
    He didn’t respond, and she could only guess at what he was thinking.
    “I have no plans to betray you in any way,” he said softly. “I do need you, in and out of bed, but I won’t shatter the tentative trust I have from you. That I can promise.”
    She really wanted to believe that.
    “I’m still wildly attracted to you, though,” he teased.
    She laughed, knowing he was trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere in the car. And she was grateful for that. “Of course you are, Viking.” She met his gaze again. “I’m irresistible.”

Chapter Seven
    Hearing Liv confess to her past broken heart caught Rune off guard. And from her body language, she hadn’t expected to share that much. But she had, which meant she felt the same emotional connection growing between them. A part of him was pleased with that.
    But he had to be careful, for both of them. He would have to return to Asgard shortly after their hunt ended and retake his place. Short visits would be all that he could give her, and she deserved far better than that. Yet, he couldn’t stop the feelings that were deepening by the second, nor could he deny that when it was time for him to go he would greatly miss the fiery redhead—both her intelligence and the feel of her body. He’d had centuries to learn to live with longing, with the loss of passion and beautiful strength. She didn’t have that, and her sense of loss would be less bearable than his own.
    He needed to get home to his loved ones, his family. But a part of him wanted to stay on Earth.
    For her .
    Just the thought of not seeing her every day, or hearing her laugh, or sharing the little things, had a knife twisting in his heart. It caught him off guard, the realization that—
    The air around him suddenly crackled, and it felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. The suddenness left him winded and made the hair on his arms stand on end.
    How did no one know you were here, Erik?
    “What’s wrong?” Wariness tinged her voice, and she stared at him.
    “Take a right.” He pointed to the upcoming turn. “Here.”
    Flicking on the turn signal, she maneuvered the car without question.
    “A left.” Then, about two miles down the scarcely populated road, the glitter of diamonds was so thick that stretches of air looked like a snowstorm had hit. A rolling pulse hummed along as well, riding the breeze, signaling that they were nearly on top of their prey. “Stop the car.”
    She did so, pulling off the road and parking in a small turnaround.
    “Where is he?”
    “He’s close.” He turned to look at the sliver of lake visible through a veil of trees. “Or, his killing space is. I need to track on foot now, Liv.”
    “Of course.” She immediately got out of the car.
    After he closed his door, she beeped the alarm then rounded the car to stand next to him. “Lead the way.”
    He strode forward, trying to narrow in on the direction the power was pulsating from. After several minutes he locked onto it, and they walked until he found the source—a small cabin by the water. Not as isolated as he’d thought it would be, but the nearest neighbor was a few minutes’ walk away, and the property was