Page 27 of Knight’s Absolution

Her head tilted to the side, eyes sharpening with curiosity. “Why would you want to touch me?”

The move was all demon, and for some reason, to Gunner it was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Christ, the last thing he needed now was a hard-on. “To comfort you. To comfort me. You don’t think you’d like that?” he asked, again unable to stop himself.

She blinked in that slow way of hers. “I don’t know.” She looked down and touched the inside of her wrist. “When you brushed your thumb here, it felt…nice.” Her cheeks colored. “It made my skin tingle.”

How could she not know if something felt good? What the hell had she been through? How long had that twisted fuck had her? Her emotions were all over the place, one moment she was smiling, the next there wasn’t a trace of anything there, and a second later she was wide-eyed and blushing.

He knew a lot of dhampirs struggled with emotion or were devoid of them completely. Luna was definitely struggling.

She frowned again when he said no more, her gaze locking with his, knocking the wind from his lungs. “But why would touching me comfort you?”

Because you became my entire world the moment I felt you a year ago. Because I thought I’d lost you forever. Because I need to touch you to prove that you’re real and you’re truly here with me.

“I thought you were going to die, Luna. Seeing you like that scared the hell out of me.”

She continued to frown.

Luna didn’t understand, and now wasn’t the time to tell her. “Would you like to take a shower? I can get you some clean clothes.”

“God, yes. I must look and smell disgusting.”

“Nothing about you is disgusting. Not one fucking thing.” Gunner swung out of bed before he reached for her, before he touched her again, and tugged on a pair of jeans lying by the bed. Luna was obviously strong as hell. How could she not be after everything she’d been through? But there was also a kind of naivete about her. She didn’t seem to understand relationships very well, of any kind. And ones that involved affection, definitely not. She said she had a friend, but he doubted the demon who kept her prisoner all this time had let them get too close to anyone else.

She didn’t even know how to identify what made her feel good. Which told him she’d spent most of her life suffering and deprived. Christ.

He dragged a hand over his shaved hair, and when he turned back, Luna had twisted to watch him. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were wide and bright. She licked her lips before her gaze slid up to his face, and then she blushed harder when she realized he’d caught her looking at his body. He pretended he hadn’t noticed, but he took that little bit of interest, that blush, as a fucking good sign.

“The bathroom’s just through there. I’ll get you some clothes and leave them on the bed. When you’re done, just come through to the living room.” He pointed at the bedroom door. “I’ll be waiting there.”

Jesus, she looked so small and pale. Then her dark crimson lips curled up, flashing her little fangs. “Thanks, Gunner.”

His pulse picked up speed at the memory of those dainty fangs piercing his skin, and his cock surged behind his zipper. “Don’t need to thank me, Luna. Whatever you need, I’ll be the one giving it to you,” he said, his voice impossibly deep and rough with need.

His demon pressed against his skin and purred, and Gunner quickly turned away and walked out. He’d been fighting his inner demon his whole life, and now, with Luna close, the fucker had calmed.

His demon was as infatuated with Luna as he was.

Luna stayed in the bath until the water turned cold. Her hand sat against her chest. Nothing. Her heart had died in that basement, even if she hadn’t.

It made her feel even more of a monster than she already did. Yes, full-blooded vampires didn’t have a heartbeat, didn’t need to breathe, but she was half human. That slow steady thump in her chest had been a connection to that part of herself, to her mother, and to Ronan. She’d felt hers beating and imagined his beating in time.

But Ronan’s wasn’t beating anymore. It had stopped years ago after his powers had been ripped from him and given to another. After he’d been slaughtered.

She squeezed her eyes closed as her body shook and her chest ached. Her eyes stung, and something tickled her cheeks. She brushed her fingers over her skin. They came away red. Tears. And not the kind she got when she used her powers. This crying was an emotional response, and it wasn’t the first time it had happened. She’d done it when Gunner saved her, hadn’t she? Blood running hot and thick down her face.

There was no denying it now.

This was what it was like to have emotions.

She fucking hated it. The anger she’d been able to handle, these other feelings, not so much. It was as if she were in a raging tornado, being pulled in all different directions, and she wanted it to stop.

Swiping her tears away, she made herself open her eyes and fought the confusing feeling inside her. Thankfully, it was quickly replaced by rage. Yes, now she wanted to punch something.

Someone.

Sir would pay for what he did to Ronan. She would find a way to kill him like she’d always planned. Being here at the knights’ compound would make things more difficult, but she’d find a way. But first, she needed to find Spencer. If only she had the first clue how to go about it.

The water she was soaking in was gray and disgusting from the filth that had coated her body and now swirled with pink from her tears. Screwing up her face, she climbed out, drained the tub, and turned the shower on, nice and hot.