Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, #1)

by Kristen Ciccarelli

FOR THOSE AFRAID TO BE WHO THEY ARE

It was why Rune never cut herself. She couldn’t afford to let them find the scars.

Every time Gideon looked at the young heiress, she reminded him of the sea: steal-your-breath beautiful on the surface, with the promise of untold depths beneath.

He’d spent the last two hours making it for her, feeling slightly ill as he sewed every petal. Roses always brought the painful memories rushing back. But Harrow’s advice—to woo Rune—kept ringing through his head, and his mother could never resist the silk roses his father used to make her after they argued.

“Your laugh is like a fuse,” he said. “It lights you up.” Rune’s heart thudded. No one had ever told her that before.

“Maybe you’re right.” She stepped around him, lantern in hand, and unlatched the white gate at the garden’s edge, stepping into the meadow beyond. “One of us thinks ourself too good for the other. But it’s not me.”

“If we’re going to do this,” he said when he caught up with her, “there are some things you need to know.” She glanced at him. “So you can decide if this is what you want. If I am what you want.”

His body buzzed at the lack of her. As if Rune in his arms was the only true thing in the world, and until she was there again, everything was wrong.

“I remember the sound of your laugh,” he said as the back door of the house came into view. “It pulled me like a magnet toward the beach, where I found the most beautiful girl in the world standing on the shore.”

“Rune.” His thumb brushed across her knuckles. “I would like to come in, but I promised to go slow with you.” Lifting her hand, he kissed the sensitive part of her wrist, making her shiver. “And if I step through that door tonight, I’m afraid I won’t keep my word.”

But it wasn’t only her physical attributes that had him spinning. It was her kindness. Her thoughtfulness. Her wildness. It was her willingness to argue with him. If he wasn’t careful, he might fall in love with her.

Rune squinted into the distance. “Verity?” Stepping around Gideon, she started toward the voice. “Wait,” he warned. “It could be an illusion.” But Rune was already running. “Why don’t you shoot me and see if I bleed?” said Verity, materializing out of the darkness. She slit her eyes at Gideon while pulling Rune into a hug. “Tempting,” he said, holstering his pistol.

He kissed her slowly, deeply. Claiming her in front of Verity. At least, that’s how it started. As Rune softened, and her hand slid up his chest, he forgot their audience entirely—just as Rune remembered it. She pushed against him, halting the kiss, and stepped out of his reach. “Buttercups are my favorite,” she whispered, breathless and walking backward. “But daisies are also acceptable.” The corner of Gideon’s mouth turned up. “Noted.”

“Gideon, the thought of you inside that building … it felt like being held underwater.” She lowered her gaze to the pulse at the base of his throat. “Like being starved of air.”

I’m in love with him. Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter.

“You,” she whispered. “I’m afraid of you.” His heart sank like a stone. “Me?” She backed up a step. “The way you make me feel is …” She hugged the bundle of clothes tighter. “I’m afraid it’s something I could get used to. Something I could need.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ll be the end of me, Gideon.” And then, much more quietly: “Maybe you already are.”

“I can learn to like them.” His arms locked around her waist and dragged her back to him. “I can be civil.” She raised an eyebrow, as if to say, Can you? For you, yes. She bit down on her lip again, thinking. “And you’ll dance with me?” “That’s a given.” “What if we fight all the time?” “I’d rather fight with you than do most other things.” Her forehead pinched in surprise. “You would?” “Yes.” He dragged the bridge of his nose across her cheekbone, breathing in her soapy scent. “And after we’re done fighting, I’ll take you to bed, and we’ll reconcile. In fact, I think we should fight every day just so we can make up every night.” Gideon felt her breath quicken. She liked the sound of that. He was wearing her down. “You won’t come to resent me?” she whispered. “For what?” His breath tangled with hers. “For being shallow and silly.” “You aren’t those things, Rune.” She wrinkled her nose. “Sometimes I will be.” “Sometimes I’ll be a brute. Can you handle that?” Rune cocked her head. “I think so.” A small smile tugged at her mouth. “Yes.” She ran her hands up his chest and over his shoulders, sliding her fingers into his hair. “Do you need more persuading?” “Mmm, yes please,” she murmured, tugging his mouth down to hers. “Try using fewer words this time.”