Nosey Little Dot

The private elevator to Rune’s penthouse opened with a soft chime, but the sound was swallowed by the apartment’s cavernous quiet. It's been weeks since the lawsuit and Runes was yet to bring himself to ever face the public again. Now he stopped by the office every other day like today and left before closing hours.

He had even had to propose to Posy again and move the wedding dates in a bid to save his company weeks ago and he couldn't be more furious.

The moment the elevator doors chimed, his eyes went over to the door and he froze.

“Yumi.”

Yumi didn’t pause to take in how dark and disorganised the apartment looked. Her heels struck the marble like gunshots as she crossed the threshold, the door sliding shut behind her

She had rehearsed this moment the whole ride up: how she would walk in, how she would say the words, how she would slap him hard across the face for taking her for a fool! But her pulse was a drum in her ears now, and her palms were damp.

Rune appeared from the hallway, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, cuffs undone. He looked like he’d been working late; a stack of documents lay on the counter behind him. “Yumi,” he said, surprised. “What are you…”

Her hand cracked across his face before he could finish. The sound was sharp and shocking in the quiet room.

He staggered back a step, palm flying to his cheek. “What the…”

“Do you take me for a fool?” she hissed. Her voice trembled with rage. “You moved the wedding up with Posy and didn’t even tell me? After everything you’ve said to me?”

Rune’s eyes narrowed, "Is that why you slapped me?!” He snapped.

Yumi glared at him and his anger softened into something that almost looked like shame. “Yumi…”

“Don’t.” She jabbed a finger at him, trembling. “Don’t you dare say my name like that. Is this some type of a sick game to you?”

Rune exhaled slowly, shoulders dropping. “It isn’t like that.”

“Then explain it to me!” she snapped. “Explain how I’ve been sneaking around, hiding, waiting for you, while you stand in front of cameras and smile at her. Explain how I’m supposed to feel when the invitations go out with a new date and I find out from someone else!”

He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s politics, Yumi. Family pressure, Yolanda, the board. Moving the wedding up wasn’t my idea.”

“You think that makes it better?” She laughed, brittle. “You think telling me it’s ‘politics’ makes me feel less like an idiot?”

Rune took a tentative step toward her. “I never meant for this to happen.”

She recoiled, eyes blazing. “But it did.”

Rune dropped his gaze to the floor for a heartbeat, then back to her. “You know how the Sterling Empire is to me. Our stocks have been crashing for months now and I need to save it. The only way to save it is by marrying a Balmero.”

Yumi exhaled, she has in fact seen the headlines and Sterling isn't in a good place currently.

“Hey.” He said, covering the distance between them. “I always wanted you anyway. You know that.”

Yumi said nothing. All this was supposed to be a game. He was supposed to pay attention to only her and here he was getting married to that spoiled obnoxious brat called Posy! Fuck, she couldnt stand that smug look on her face at the bridal shower. It infuriated her greatly.

“I don’t want your excuses,” she whispered.

Rune moved closer, slow enough for her to step back if she wanted. She didn’t. His hands hovered at her arms, not touching yet.

“Hey. I didn't mean to,” he murmured. “You know I only care about you. I hate that I can’t stay away from you.”

Her pulse skittered. “You’re marrying her,” she said, voice breaking a little. “You’re going to stand there and promise her everything.”

“I know.” His thumb brushed her jaw, tentative.

She should have slapped him again, should have told him to go to hell. Instead she stood very still, every nerve lit up. His fingers slid up to cradle her face, and before she could think better of it his mouth was on hers.

Yumi’s breath hitched against his lips. She had told herself a thousand times she wouldn’t do this again, and yet here she was, fingers fisting in his shirt.

Rune deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until her chest hit his. His hands moved down her arms to her waist, gripping as though she might vanish. She tasted anger and whiskey on his tongue. Her own hands slipped up his back, nails grazing skin under the open shirt.

“Rune…” she murmured against his mouth, but it came out more like a plea than a protest.

He drew back just enough to look at her, eyes dark. “Tell me to stop,” he said, voice rough. “And I will.”

Stop? Hell no. This was her pay back for having to sit through that bloody bridal shower and being humiliated by that brat.

Her heart pounded. The city lights spilled across his face, outlining the hard cut of his jaw. She couldn’t speak. She didn’t want to stop.

He kissed her again, slower this time, coaxing rather than demanding. His palm slid up to the back of her neck, fingers tangling in her hair. Yumi trembled, caught between fury and desire.

Somewhere between kisses they began moving, backing toward the sofa without breaking apart. His jacket slid from his shoulders. Her blazer followed, falling in a whisper to the floor.

Rune pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard. “You're so sexy,” he muttered.

“Better than her?” she challenged, eyes shining.

He answered with a soft laugh that wasn’t really a laugh, more a sound of defeat. “A hundred times over..”

They fell onto the sofa, his hands bracing either side of her, her back sinking into the leather. He kissed the corner of her mouth, then her throat, his breath hot against her skin. Yumi’s fingers threaded into his hair, tugging just enough to make him groan.

Time blurred. The anger that had brought her here shifted into something else. An ache, a craving to feel wanted even if it was wrong. He traced the line of her collarbone with his lips; she arched into him with a soft gasp.

He pulled back again, searching her face. “Yumi…”

“Don’t,” she whispered. “Just… don’t talk.”

He kissed her until words stopped mattering. Her hands slid under his shirt; his fingers skimmed the edge of her skirt before finally slipping in, yanking her panties to the side..

The city outside kept glittering, oblivious.

They paused only long enough to take off every piece of clothing they both had left. He brushed his thumb across her lips one last time, then bent to kiss her again.

They both faded into a tangle of limbs and whispers, the sound of fabric shifting, a satisfied moan at his first entrance, a groan on his end. Somewhere deep down Yumi knew she would hate herself in the morning. Somewhere deep down Rune knew he was digging a hole he couldn’t climb out of. But for that moment neither of them cared.

Outside the windows, the city’s pulse went on while his groans and her moans filled every corner of the penthouse, oblivious to the rather nosy red dot, capturing their little secret.