“And that would definitely be enough if you’d grown up at Lumen Academy and this was a regular mission. But lucky you, you’re a super special one-of-a-kind gal and get all the extra attention. So, get your game face on, girl, because this is happening.”
Just then the door to the gym swung open and Gage entered. The butterflies in my stomach instantly awoke and started to run amok.
He lookedgood. Real good.
I frowned.
Maybe a littletoogood for someone who’d been bedridden only yesterday. We brought Gage back to the Lumen Compound three days ago. He’d been in the healing center ever since. I’d visited him last night and he’d definitely looked better than the day I’d found him, but notthiswell. Dang, those healers were good at their job. What had once been deep gashes on his face, chest, and arms were now only very faint lines. And rather than sporting matching shiners, he had only the slightest tinge of bruising under his eyes. My frown deepened as he walked toward us without so much as a hitch in his gait.
“You look good,” I said when he reached us, meaning how well he’d healed, but Gage took it in a different direction. He looked me up and down, slowly, and I swear the temperature in the room jumped at least ten degrees. In a black sports bra and high waisted yoga pants, I suddenly felt nearly naked.
“So do you,” he replied huskily, his gaze stopping on my mouth and holding. His tongue darted out to swipe across his bottom lip and I almost spontaneously combusted. Any concerns about the speed of his healing completely left my brain, along with any other thought that didn’t include his lips pressed against mine.
I swayed toward him. I wanted a taste. Now.
“I think I need to get a hose to cool you two off,” said Skye’s voice, shaking me from my Gage-induced stupor, and I jerked back a step, remembering we weren’t alone. Marlow and Skye were still there. Embarrassment instantly washed over me.
“That’s some major eye fu—”
“Skye,” I shrieked, batting a hand at her only to have it ghost through her shoulder and a chill to sweep up my arm. Yuck. I hated that feeling.
Something started to chirp from the other side of the room.
“Shoot, that’s me,” Marlow said. She jogged over to her gym bag and pulled out her phone, tapping the screen to turn off her alarm that sounded like a chirping bird.
“Gotta go,” she said. “I have a class in five. But good job today, Tatum. You’re really coming along.” She turned to Gage. “It’s nice to see you up and moving around. I hear Dash is looking forward to testing your sword skills when you’re ready.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” he said confidently. “There’s a thing or two I’m looking forward to teaching you Lumens. The first being how to fight dirty.”
Marlow chuckled, and then sped out of the room with a wave.
Once she left, Skye started to circle Gage. “You know, I never paid too close attention to Gage since he was a Shade and all, but I can totally see why you’re into him.” She stopped directly behind him and openly ogled his butt. “Nice. I approve.”
“Oh my gosh, Skye. Stop.” I mean… she wasn’t wrong, he had an amazing ass, but even so, I didn’t like her talking about it. There was just something extra uncomfortable about spirit-Skye checking out my kinda-sorta-maybe boyfriend.
Gage’s perceptive gaze didn’t miss the slight flush of anger on my cheeks. “She’s talking about us, isn’t she?”
“Not exactly.”
A grin spread on his face. “She’s checking me out, then?”
“Ohh, smart too. I like that,” Skye said as she snuck a peek at his package and then wiggled her brows. At that, a ball of possessiveness caught fire in my gut, and I shot Skye a death glare, but all it did was cause her to giggle.
“Skye, seriously, if you don’t stop I’m going to make it my mission to find out how to stab a spirit,” I growled.
“Too easy,” she said in a singsong voice. “I’ll give you a few minutes with lover boy, and then we’re outta here. Aurum is waiting.” She disappeared with a wink.
Right. Aurum. Winged lion who shot lasers from his eyes.
I swear, Gage had the ability to scramble my brain like no one else. It was one of his special skills, at least where I was concerned. The moment he walked through the gym door I’d completely forgotten Skye was here to take me to see the guardian angel.
“I think I like this look on you,” Gage said as he prowled toward me.
“What look?” I asked as he tugged me into his arms.
Gage’s grin turned downright scandalous. “The jealous one.”
I started to protest, but he cut me off.
