Lark looked around the room. What they needed right now was a distraction. Something to get his mind off the AI in his head, but nothing that would compromise Black Bay’s security more than it already was. Her stomach chose that moment to rumble and the noise gave her an idea. “Are you up for a walk to the mess hall?”
Turning onto his side so he was fully facing her, he propped himself up on an elbow. “I have a slight headache, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“Good.” She grinned. “Because you’re going to take me on a date.”
Grady’s eyebrows popped up. “To the mess? That’s not very romantic.”
“Oh, but we’ll make it romantic. You’ll hold my hand, I’ll tell you how handsome you look, and you’ll tell me the same despite my obvious bed-head hair and wrinkled clothes.” She made a goofy face at him, intending to make him laugh. But his expression was serious as his eyes roamed her face. He cupped her cheek and her breath locked in her chest.
“You’re stunning,” he told her. “I’ve always thought so, from the first moment I saw you. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Her heart beat so hard it felt like it was trying to throw itself against her rib cage as her cheeks heated with a blush. She’d always hated the way she looked – hated how people stared at her – but when Grady said things like that, she believed him. Looking into his eyes and seeing the sincerity in his gaze, she had no choice but tobelieve him.
In wonder, she raised her hand to the hard line of his jaw and he nuzzled into her palm, kissing it gently.
His voice was low and deep as he uttered, “You are perfect to me.”
Emotion clogged her throat and she shook her head. This man… They were close enough together that it took the barest movement on her part to meet his mouth with her own. Their lips clung, their breath mingling as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
What started as a soft tender exploration quickly evolved into a heated exchange as their tongues met and explored. He had no fear of the fangs that sat against the roof of her mouth or the deadly toxin she could emit with barely a thought. There was no hesitation on his part, and as someone who’d always been conscientious around others regarding the fear she evoked in them with little more than a glance, Grady’s response was heady.
With a little moan, she held him tighter, dragging her knee up his outer thigh until her leg was hooked over his hip and her core was pressed against the thick ridge of his erection.
Grady nipped her bottom lip with a sexy little growl before he sealed his lips to hers once more. His tongue plunged and danced with her own. His hand squeezed her ass, lifting her, encouraging her to move against him.
Her breath hitched as intense pleasure shot through her and she cursed the thick, tough material of the cargo pants she’d donned. She wanted nothing between them. Even Grady’s thin hospital gown was too much of a barrier.
A throat clearing was the worst sort of intrusion and as their mouths parted, Lark wanted to hiss at Kong who was standing in the doorway with a giant grin on his stupid face.
“Figured I better interrupt before the clothes started flying and I saw something that would scar me for life.”
Grady grunted, Lark glared, and Kong kept right on smiling.
“So I take it the procedure worked since you and Lark grappling didn’t set off your weapons system.”
She hadn’t even thought of that, and by the look on Grady’s face, neither had he. Grady cleared his throat but his voice was still gruff when he said, “Seems so.”
“Good.” Kong looked back and forth between them. “I came to see if you guys wanted me to grab you some food.”
Grady shook his head. “Thanks, man, but we’re going to take a walk over to the mess.”
“Well, okay then.” Kong nodded as his smile turned sly. “I’ll grab your clothes while you talk down that pup tent you’ve got going on in your johnny.”
Turning on his heel, Kong let out an evil cackle while Grady muttered, “Asshole.” Turning a look of chagrin her way, he added, “I don’t know why I’m friends with him.”
Lark shot him a wry smile. “Some days I ask myself the same question.”
But they both knew the answer. Kong might be an asshole, but he was a loveable asshole.
As Lark had predicted, they walked hand-in-hand to the mess hall. Grady would never say no to having her close, feeling her skin against his even in such an innocent way. When they went inside, Lark chose their table. It was the same one he’d once sat at with his sister and her then-boyfriend, Jace. That night, they’d been surrounded by armed guards ready to put him in the ground if he so much as twitched.
His first night at Black Bay. While he’d broken through some of the programming at that point, he’d still been cold and robotic except for his rage. And yet, he’d been fascinated with Lark. She’d broken through the wall of conditioning and, without even trying, peeled off another layer of the Commander to reveal more of Grady Carter.
Sitting where Lark was now, Paige had tried to get him talking. He should have asked about her, asked how she was doing. That would have been the brotherly thing to do. Or, as a soldier, he could have asked for more information about Black Bay – it would have been useful intel – but instead, he’d asked who the redhead was. Even back then Lark had consumed his thoughts. He was positive she always would. She was a magnet that drew him.
He looked at the food in front of him. Baked chicken, wild rice, and mixed vegetables. He wasn’t really hungry but he knew he needed to eat. According to the statistics his processor was scrolling through his optical display his energy levels were low – most likely a result of the procedure he’d undergone compounded by the strain of searching for the connection with the AI – but all he could think about was getting Lark back in his arms. That kiss… Honestly, he was surprised she hadn’t fried his circuits it had been so hot.
For a moment, he imagined scooping Lark up into his arms and running off to some private little nook where they could resume that kiss. The idea held a lot of appeal right now. Much more appealing than the food.
