Before Grace could have dwelled any further, the sharp sound of her doorbell ringing broke through the silence of her apartment, making her jump.
Confused and still trying to process what she had just experienced, she climbed out of bed. She glanced at the clock and noticed that it was past midnight.
Who could be at her door at this hour? She wondered as she wrapped her silk robe tightly around her nightgown and stepped out of the bedroom. She made her way to the front door and unlocked it, half-expecting to see one of her team mates.
Instead, she found Rune standing there. His tall frame was illuminated by the soft light of the hallway.
Grace opened her mouth, questions on the tip of her tongue, but before she could have spoken, Rune moved forward. His hands cupped her face as he stepped inside and kissed her.
It wasn’t a hesitant kiss - no. It was urgent, full of longing and hunger, as if he had been waiting for this moment forever.
Grace froze for a heartbeat, her mind scrambling to catch up with how fast things were happening. The dream, the kiss, the way his lips felt against hers - it was all the same. Too real to be a coincidence.
But as his warmth surrounded her, she stopped questioning for the time being. Her arms slipped around his neck, pulling him closer as she kissed him back with the same fervor.
Rune pulled away slightly and locked his gaze with hers. His breath felt hot against her skin as he whispered, "I couldn’t wait anymore, Ms. Blackwood. I needed to see you. To feel you."
Grace’s chest tightened at his words. At this point, she was sure that those dreams were definitely more than just dreams because it seemed like Rune experienced them too. "How… how are you here? What’s happening?" She asked, waiting for some answers that could explain the dream.
He smiled at her while reaching out to brush a strand of her hair from her face. "Kissing or touching you through a dreamescape can never be enough for me." His voice was low, smooth, and full of certainty. "So here I am, to experience all that for real."
The rest of the questions and the doubts - they all melted away as Rune leaned in again and captured her lips in another searing kiss.
This time, his hands slid down her sides and pulled her even closer, forcing their bodies to press together. The heat between them was electric and each touch sent shivers down her spine.
"Rune," she murmured against his lips, her voice trembling much to her surprise.
"Shh," he said softly, his lips trailing down her jawline to her neck, leaving a path of fire in their wake. "Let me show you how much I have missed you."
Grace felt herself being guided backward. Her feet moved on instinct as he pushed the door shut behind him, and then, his hands were everywhere - gentle yet insistent - as he led her back into the apartment. By the time they reached the living room, her robe had slipped from her shoulders. It landed on the floor, leaving her in her silk nightgown that was doing a very poor job of covering her.
Rune pulled back just enough to look at her, his dark eyes roaming over her figure. "You are beautiful," he said in a husky voice that was filled with emotion.
Grace just watched him silently, taking in the raw desire that had taken over his eyes.
Slowly, he closed the distance between them again and his lips found hers in a kiss that was slower this time, more deliberate. His hands slid up her arms, then down her back before pulling her flush against him.
Grace’s tangled her fingers in his soft strands. They moved together and her breaths started coming faster as she melted into him.
Rune’s hands found the hem of her nightgown and his fingers grazed the bare skin of her thighs as he slowly lifted the fabric. The silk slid over her skin, leaving her vulnerable, exposed, but she didn’t feel self-conscious. Not only because he had already seen her, but also because of the way he looked at her - with such awe and desire - it made her feel powerful.
He kissed her again, deeper this time. His hands explored every inch of her while she clung to him. Her nails dug into his shoulders as the intensity of their kisses grew.
"I need you," Rune whispered against her lips, his voice was rough with longing.
Grace cupped his face, brushing her thumbs against his cheekbones as she looked into his eyes. "Then take me, Rune."
His breath hitched, and for a moment, he simply stared at her, as if trying to commit every detail to memory. Then, without another word, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
The candle she had lit earlier still flickered on the bedside table, casting a warm glow over the room. Instead of heading to the bed, he set her down gently next to a table sitting nearby the entrance. His movements were tender despite the urgency in his eyes.
He then leaned over her, bracing his hands on the table on either side of her as he kissed her again.
Grace felt as if she was drowning in him, every sensation was amplified, every moment stretching into eternity. She let herself get lost in the warmth of his embrace, the way his lips and hands seemed to know exactly what she needed.
As they came together and their breaths mingled, she realized something she hadn’t before. This wasn’t just about passion or desire. It was about something deeper, something she couldn’t yet name but felt in every fiber of her being.
In Rune’s arms, she felt different. She felt whole. She felt cherished.
All the thoughts left her completely when he pulled away from the kiss to take off the last piece of fabric that was left on her body.