Read Online Runes (Paranormal Romance, YA,) by Ednah Walters - Free Book Online Page A

movement from inside. Nothing. The garage door was open and I’d seen his Harley, so I knew he was home. Maybe he was asleep. Relieved, I turned to leave.
    He yanked the door open. “Can’t stay away from me, can you, Freckles?”
    “Don’t flatter…” My voice trailed off when I found myself staring at his bare chest. Not that I was complaining, but did he have something against shirts? “Yourself,” I finished weakly.
    He chuckled, drawing my attention upwards, past the water droplets on his chest to the wet hair caressing his shoulders. At least he had a legitimate reason for walking around shirtless this time. Still, you’d think he’d put on a shirt before answering his door.
    “Can we talk?” I said.
    His brow shot up. “About?”
    “The incident at the park.”      
    He looped a towel I hadn’t noticed around his neck, crossed his arms, and leaned against the doorframe. His eyes narrowed. “What incident?”
    “You know, when that girl attacked me and—”
    “You tripped and landed on your lovely ass?”
    “Lovely…?” My face warmed. “That’s not what happened and you know it,” I protested.
    “That’s what I saw.”
    “Liar.”
    He straightened his body, the smile disappearing from his face. Aye, he was intimidating when he stopped smiling. Antagonizing him would get me nowhere.
    “Forget I said that. Can you, uh, finish getting dressed, so we can talk? Please?”
    He sighed and gave me a look that said he was humoring me. “Fine.”
    I released a breath I hadn’t known I was holding. Since he’d left the door open when he disappeared somewhere inside the house, I peeked in and blinked at the emptiness. When Eirik’s family lived here, they’d decorated the large living room with rich, earthy colors—brown, tan, and dark green. Torin’s idea of décor was one leather couch and a table. There was nothing on the walls. No side tables. No TV. No pictures.
    “Nosey, aren’t you?” he said, appearing suddenly.
    I jumped back, my face flaming.
    “Uh, I, uh…” I couldn’t come up with a single excuse.
    He stepped on the porch, closed the door behind him, and lifted his arms. “Is this better?”
    “Much.” The plain, black T-shirt hugged his chest and arms. Whatever soap he’d used—or was it shampoo?—smelled nice. He walked across the porch and leaned against the top porch rail, his arms and legs crossed. He was barefoot. There was something extremely sexy about a barefoot guy in jeans.
    “Do you want me to wear shoes, too?” he asked, sounding annoyed.
    “No.” Once again, heat rushed to my face. I crossed my arms and hugged myself. Now that it was time for answers, I wasn’t sure where to begin. “What are you?”
    Torin chuckled. “What kind of a crazy question is that?”
    “The kind you ask someone without a medical degree, who saved your life in a matter of seconds,” I said. “You healed me today, Torin. I don’t know how, but I know you did.”
    He shook his head. “That’s an active imagination you have there, Freckles.” His eyes narrowed. “Or you must have hit your head after all.”
    Frustration bubbled to the surface. “I didn’t imagine everything that happened to me at that park. The Dahl girl kicked me in the chest and broke my ribs. I remember the pain, not being able to breathe. I thought I was dying just before I blacked out. When I regained consciousness, the pain was gone. I don’t care how much you deny it. You healed me, Torin. So, uh, thank you.”
    He frowned as though he didn’t like my explanation or my gratitude. I couldn’t tell which. “Do you know how insane you sound?”
    “Insane is what I thought you were yesterday when you said you could use magic to fix the Peterson’s mailbox, yet you did, and my car and now my ribs. How did you do it?” A slight narrowing of his gorgeous eyes was the response I got. I swallowed and bit my lower lip. “Are you like them?”
    He straightened his body and shoved his hands