Page 23 of Knight’s Absolution

She’d taken his vein and sucked until he was pale and weak and more than likely close to death.

Pressing her ear to his chest, she listened to his heartbeat. Strong and steady. Good. That was good. If she killed him, his brothers would never let her out of here alive.

But that wasn’t the only reason she was relieved he wasn’t dead, was it? There was that same strange feeling inside her, that pull to be close to him, that same desire to keep him alive that she didn’t understand.

Her gaze slid to his mouth surrounded by a trimmed beard, and she swallowed as zaps like little electric currents shot through her lower belly. That was new.

His breathing was even and deep. He didn’t look like he was dying.

Yes, he was covered in bite marks, her bite marks, but he was warm—no, hot. And despite looking paler than usual, and a little thinner, his body was still solid, thick with muscle and—completely bare.

Her gaze moved over him, taking in every inch. Tattoos covered both of his arms, and on the right one, the colorful swirls and patterns covered his shoulder and pec as well. On the left side of his chest there was an intricate swirling design, but it wasn’t a tattoo. She ran her hand over it and winced. It looked as if it’d been branded into his skin.

Luna glanced down over his abs to where the sheet rested low on his hips. Very low. She couldn’t see underneath, but there was no missing the fact that he had nothing on.

His body was so different than Sir’s.

Luna jerked again at the thought of Sir, her skin growing clammy. That was also new.

She tried to shake off whatever the hell was happening to her. She needed to stop this now and get away from here. She needed to find Spencer and make a plan. They couldn’t stay in Roxburgh. Sir would come for her, he’d tear down these walls to bring her home, and he’d destroy everyone in his path while doing it.

Her gaze darted to Gunner. No.

That couldn’t happen, not to him.

What was it about this male? Why did her body react the way it did when he was close? She pulled away—

Gunner’s grip tightened again. “Trying to sleep, female.”

She froze, her gaze darting to his still closed eyes.

Pushing against him again, she tried to climb off the bed.

Gunner growled and tugged her back. “No.”

Luna blinked down at him. No?

One of his massive, calloused hands curled around the back of her head, and he gently but firmly brought her face to the crook of his neck. Without her say-so, she breathed him in deep. His scent was so good, and oddly calming.

“Drink,” he said. “Then sleep.”

She jolted again, her gaze moving down her own body. She was in a huge, oversize shirt. It didn’t smell like Gunner and it was splattered with blood. Mainly demon. She was naked underneath. Had they had sex? Had he taken payment for the blood he’d given her?

She’d been so lost in her bloodlust, she couldn’t remember much of anything. “We’re both naked,” she said, her throat scratchy, voice husky.

His eyes snapped open, his gaze clashing with hers. “When I shift, I lose my clothes. You needed to feed. Didn’t have time to dress, love.”

Love?

No one had ever called her that before. Why was he calling her that? Maybe he called all females that? For some reason that made her…angry.

His gaze slid down her body to the shirt she was wearing, and his jaw tightened.

She licked her lips. “I’m sorry you had to…uh, suffer through that. Um…did we, did you and I…”

“Did we what?” His eyes flashed, narrowing.

“We’re in bed together,” she said by way of explanation.