Page 51 of Knight’s Absolution

“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.

What would they feel like on her lips? Warm or cool? Were they soft or firm? That scar through the upper one intrigued her. “Like it? I love it.”

They flew around for a while longer. Zooming high and then plummeting, making her belly flip in a different way. Luna laughed and screamed and begged him to stop, then begged him to do it again. And Gunner laughed as well. His was deep and low, and she loved it all so much she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.

Eventually, though, he lowered them to the roof of the compound. His large hand sliding to the back of her neck and squeezing gently before he released her. If she still breathed, that touch alone would have stolen the wind right out of her lungs. Now she was aware of how different things felt against her skin. She was hungry for it, for touch, for the sensation of different textures, greedy for the warmth of Gunner’s skin, the coolness of his hands, like now, after he’d been flying.

He reached back for his shirt.

“Wait,” she said, the words flying from her mouth before she knew they were coming.

He paused, brow scrunching. “What is it?”

She bit her lip.

“You can ask me anything, you know that, love,” he said, watching her carefully.

She did, he’d made sure of it, and right then she wanted this more than anything. Her fingers actually tingled from wanting it so bad. “Can I…will you let me touch your wings?”

CHAPTER 15

Maybe Luna shouldn’t have asked? Gunner’s expression had shifted. And she’d never seen that look on his face before.

His wide chest expanded sharply, and he nodded. Just that.

She didn’t understand his reaction or the look in his eyes, but she couldn’t resist moving closer so she could touch either. His cheeks had darkened, and each exhale sounded rougher. As much as she wanted to know how his beautiful wings felt, she didn’t want him to do something he wouldn’t like.

“Are you sure? You’re breathing faster. You don’t like them being touched?”

“It’s not that,” he said, his voice tight. “No one’s ever…touched them before.”

“Why?”

He cleared his throat. “Letting someone put their hands on my wings, it’s an act of total and complete trust.” He clenched and unclenched his fists. “And they’re…yeah, they’re highly sensitive. Touching someone’s wings is…it can be intimate.”

“Oh.” Now she wished she hadn’t asked. The last thing she wanted was to make him uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. I won’t—”

“Please,” he said suddenly. “Please, Luna, I want you to.”

The belly swirls went crazy. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

One word but said so low her knees did that wobbly thing again. “You’re positive?”

He dipped his chin.

Okay. She moved around him slowly until she was at his back. Anyone would feel vulnerable having someone behind them, but even more so for a warrior like Gunner.

“I’m going to touch you now,” she said.