Rune by H.D. March

searching look before leaving. Jess followed his sexy ass shaking roll as he walked away.
    She nibbled her nails, that twat was on the pull, she was sure of it, why she didn’t know but went with her feelings. Leaning on the bar, she ordered a vodka and coke and sipped from it. Frigging hell! Next time, she’d ask for a triple because she couldn’t taste any alcohol and wondered if the barman had forgotten it.
    Absorbed in her thoughts, she jumped at the woman’s voice that chilled over her.
    “Just who do you think you are? I saw you panting over him like a bitch on heat!”
    What the heck? She turned to face a fine-boned, chiselled female stabbing her with a heated glare. “Are you talking to me?”
    “Of course, you moron.” The dark-haired woman threw her a furious toss of anger. “Rune is my man; you don’t have any right to him.”
    Hey, technically, he’s bought and paid for. “Don’t I? Did you study for a degree in rudeness, or does it come natural?”
    “What do you think?”
    “That you’re a frigging jealous bitch?”
    “How right you are.” She pulled her arm up and lashed out, slapping Jess hard across the cheek.
    The crack of her hand stung. “Big mistake, you cow.” Jess threw herself forward. She didn’t do pain, yet neither did she back down. Not ever. Her fists pummelled into the dark-haired woman. Her quick fire temper erupted.
    The glass she’d sipped from fell to the floor, and she unleashed her bunched fists. Slamming them into the woman’s face, or at least attempting to, they fell grappling to the floor. Jess winced at a stabbing pain shooting through her thigh. Then screamed at the large hands handling her, dragging her back.
    “Jess, cut this out, now!” Rune’s furious voice and words rung over her as he hauled her to her feet. She sucked in deep breaths, her rage still trained on the dark-haired attacker.
    She gasped and swallowed a glut of anger; her chest heaved with a wave of fury; it surged up and down with uncontrolled rage.
    §§§
    “Jess, remain here and don’t fucking move.” Rune left her leaning against the dark mahogany panelling that adorned the walls.
    He crossed to Storm. “What the hell do you think you’re playing at?” He scrubbed a hand through his tawny hair. “Consider yourself banned from the club. Now, get the hell out!”
    “But…”
    “But nothing,” he yelled.
    Storm hesitated, then, spinning around, flounced away in a spate of jealous rage. Rune watched as she wove her way through the crowd, then glanced at the swirling light. His heart hammered in his chest. He followed its destination as Jess dropped to the floor, a shaft of pain crossing her face. At the same time, the dagger slammed into the panelling behind, where it would have hit her chest.
    On trembling limbs, he crossed to her. The very real terror that she could have been taken from him shook him to the core.
    He checked she was safe before tugging at the knife. “Stay put, Jess, don’t move until I tell you.”
    A puzzled frown lingered on her face; she’d kept her glare centred on the retreating woman. When she’d taken a step forward, pain lanced through her thigh and she’d fallen to the floor.
    Rune checked out the blade, no distinctive marks, it was plain and bland. He slipped it into the band of his trousers. His worried gaze searched the room, yet saw nothing suspicious. Only a few curious glances that soon turned away. He bent over Jess and scooped her into his arms, determined to keep her safe.
    He was sure that whoever had been chasing her, whatever she’d seen at the drive through, it was all connected. Someone, somewhere wanted her dead.

Chapter Nine
    Rune held her curled in his arms. His muscles bulged hard, his strides stiff and controlled. “I’m taking you back to our room, one that you’ll be safe in.”
    She snuggled against him, into his body. “Whatever you say.”
    Carrying her up the winding staircase, he noticed her discomfort, how she