Grace cleared her throat. “Sorry, nothing. And no, we won’t be friends, we’ll be sisters, always.”
Luna felt warmth gather behind her ribs as she stood. “I’d…I’d like that. More than you know.”
Someone knocked at the door, and her smile widened.
Gunner.
She strode over and pulled the door open. “Hi,” she said as those now familiar but still so new flutters and swirls exploded to life in her belly.
Gunner’s gaze moved over her black jeans and T-shirt. The muscle in his jaw jumped. “You look nice.”
“So do you,” she said and stepped closer. He immediately opened his beautiful tattooed arms for her to fill the space. The first Gunner hug of the day might just be her favorite. She breathed in his scent greedily. “You feel nice, too.”
He made a kind of choking sound and tightened his arms around her. It was kick-ass, as Grace would say.
“Mmm, and you smell nice,” she muttered.
His mouth went to her ear. “You as well.”
Little tingles danced all over her skin. That was new, and it was just as nice as the belly flutters. Together they were, yeah, wonderful. Exhilarating, like laughter, but better.
Someone cleared their throat.
“We’ll just head off, then,” Grace said.
“Have a nice night, you two,” Mia added.
The other females left, and Gunner loosened his hold on her. “You ready?”
“Let me just grab my sweater.” She rushed to the bed and grabbed it, then moved back to him. “Where are we going?”
“Not far.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s still too dangerous to stray far from the compound, but I hope you’ll still enjoy it.”
She pulled the door shut and took the hand he was holding out for her. “I know I will.”
He chuckled, and the tingles and belly flips grew even stronger.
“Your faith in me is humbling,” he said and led her to the elevator.
She squeezed his hand. “I enjoy everything we do together.”
He glanced at her, and his expression grew intense. “Being with you is the very best part of my day.”
Her knees actually wobbled at those words, and heat washed her skin.
Did he really mean it?
They walked on, and he hit the button for the control room.
“How do you feel about flying?” His gaze searched hers.
“Flying? Like in a plane?”
“I do fly a plane, actually, not that I’ve needed to use it in a while, but I meant flying…with me.”
Holy shit. “Really?”
“Do you remember me bringing you here?”
“Not really.”
He squeezed her hand lightly. “All the more reason to give it a go.”
She couldn’t contain her grin. “I’d love that.”
“Good,” he muttered, his eyes glittering.
The doors slid open and he led her from the elevator into the control room and out to the balcony.
He tugged off his shirt and tucked it into the back of his jeans, and Luna struggled to keep her hands to herself and not to run them all over his bare chest. That was something else she was enjoying. Touch. Like her sweater and Gunner’s skin.
Before she came here, her world had been all about the hunger she lived with. She barely noticed the texture of something, the temperature.
Everything was so much brighter now. Clearer.
“You okay with me carrying you, love?” Gunner asked.
She was. It was shocking how much her feelings had changed in such a short time. “Yes.”
He closed the space between them, and with a grin he scooped her into his arms. “Hold on tight.”
She flung her arms around his neck as his wings sprang from his back, instantly moving, catching the air, and lifting them off the balcony.
“Okay?” Gunner asked as they went higher.
She nodded, smiling, but knowing her eyes must have been as round as saucers.
Gunner shot higher, and she clung tighter to him, burying her face in the crook of his neck, and laughed like crazy. She heard and felt Gunner chuckle, and she loved it. Loved the deep, raspy sound. It gave her those same tingles across her skin.
“Look down,” he said gruffly.
She laughed again and shook her head. “You’re trying to scare me.”
“Are you scared?” he asked against her ear.
She breathed in his scent, the fragrant skin of his throat, and everything in her calmed. She shook her head. “No.” I’m never scared when I’m with you.
“Then look, love.”
Lifting her head, she looked down at the compound, at the area around it, and gasped. “We’re so high.” She looked up. “And the stars seem so close, like I could reach out and touch one.”
“Do you like it?” he asked, pressing his lips to her hair.