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• Luna •

Warm, soothing water washed Luna. She spun repeatedly before stopping and anxiously touching her face. Her hands shook uncontrollably. Even after she used every drop of the small shampoo bottle and an immense amount of conditioner, her hair still wasn't clean. The longer she bathed, the dirtier she still felt. And she knew she had to leave soon.

But she couldn't resist. Luna wanted the water to wash away the memories of the night before. She loved the perfect bubble shower and shaved her body to let time pass.

She finished her shower as slowly as she could while gulping. She moved fast in the hospital. The patients had to bathe quickly. They got in trouble for staying too long. Chase called it "learning to adapt." As she dried herself, she wiped him away with her towel.

She and Amir were out. Yet they weren't free. Chase disappeared. Neither of them had a plan for what to do next. For her, Amir risked everything. She was his life. Even though he didn't have to, he fought for her freedom.

And she was grateful.

She wondered if Faisal had given Cami and Darren the antidote. They must have agreed to be test subjects. Luna couldn't bear losing Cami. From the moment she saw her, she was her best friend.

Holding onto her towel, Luna crossed into the room. Amir faced the window with his back to her. He turned and peered at her from head to waist.

He paused and asked, "Is everything . . . okay?"

She smiled. "Yes. I'm sure there's some hot water left."

One side of his lips curved up. "Know what day is coming up?" Luna shook her head, and Amir gestured at the desk. "Seventh of July."

"Oh God," Luna whispered, upset that she hadn't thought of it before. "I've been so . . . so caught up in that place's chaos. I didn't remember my birthday. I forgot our birthday."

Amir stayed silent.

"I didn't think about it or care. I would have spent my birthday in that hellhole if you and Decker hadn't freed me. If you never flew over here, as you did . . ."

"You had a lot to think about," he interjected.

"But it's a big deal," Luna continued, her lips quivering. "Amir, you sacrificed yourself for me. You almost didn't have a birthday, either."

He tensed and glanced at her before returning to the window. "Everything is fine. Let's think about the future, shall we?" She nodded as he spoke. "I will go into the bathroom while you change. Give you some privacy."

"You're amazing, A."

"So are you. I'd do anything for you, Moon."

Before Amir went into the bathroom, Luna bit her lip. "Amir . . ." He peered around the corner at her with heavy eyebrows. "I only wanted to say thanks. For everything."

He rushed forward and cupped her cheeks. She inhaled as he dropped his forehead to look at her. "Don't thank me. I love you. I couldn't take you being inside those walls any longer. They'll pay for hurting you and others. No matter what, I had to get you out."

"You didn't have to risk your safety," she said. "You know that your life is just as important."

He kissed and held her sore forehead. "To save you, I flew here. Listen, I need to clean up. I hate hugging you like this. I placed drinks and snacks on that counter. Eat and relax."

"Amir . . ."

"Yes, Luna. I can sense your sadness." He kissed her cheek while holding her hips. "Tell anyone who comes when I'm showering you need sleep."

She laughed. "I will."

"I want you to rest. I've studied tranquilizers and can still feel them in you."

Luna nodded as he gathered his clothes and hygiene and headed to the bathroom. She bent over and took her bag. After hearing the water start, she sat in the center of his bed and looked through the items.

She grinned at the bathroom door and flushed. Amir was in the shower, naked, and cleaning himself. It was their first time alone, and she was still in a towel.

Her heart jumped.

Why am I thinking about such things?

They weren't at the Holiday Inn for a romantic weekend, but maybe the fact that they were running for their lives made her think about the bigger picture. She found someone who loved her and her daughter and would never leave.

Looking left, Luna laughed out loud. She saw Amir's burrito-shaped blanket in the corner. It amazed her. His comfort blanket.

She ate a Three Musketeers Bar quickly, blinking several times. Amir was so considerate when he thought of her. He knew she wanted her favorite candy—it was delicious. She hadn't eaten candy in months.

Luna sipped a Coke after getting up. She hadn't had it in ages. She put it back on the counter and went to the clothes that he had grabbed for her. The shirt and cute black-and-gold underwear looked comfortable. She grinned at the dolls.

"Ibrahim and Aluna," she muttered, knowing how Amir felt about their future.

When she looked to her left, she saw some legal papers lying on top of his suitcase. Her eyes bulged as she shuffled. Amir bought my studio for me?

The water cut off, and the door opened, revealing Amir wearing the sweatpants he'd gotten earlier, hanging low on his hips, and a white button-up shirt. Luna stared at the water drops on his chest and stomach. He took good care of his face and hair.

And she felt like a fool because she was still in a towel and her nervous body could barely hold her together.

Her cheeks were blazing hot, and she was sure he could feel her pulse.

One dark eyebrow raised.

Luna glanced at the wall and then at her lap. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have looked at you that way."

He walked up to Faisal's bed and sat down in front of her, but he didn't look at her. "I'm trying not to stare so you don't feel weird."

She laughed. "You do know that I'm in the room, don't you?"

"Yes, but would it bother you if I stared at you?" Amir asked, peering down. She shook her head as he continued. "Did you eat or drink in your towel?"

Luna looked at him. Her stomach wobbled. She laughed out loud, a real laugh.

"I want to hear you do that again," he whispered.

"What?"

"Laugh," he whispered, leaning closer to her and stroking her cheek. "When you laughed, it was like hearing my favorite song on the radio. It was comforting."

Though she wanted to make him laugh, the excitement was gone. She was full of emotions and didn't know what to do. But she stopped speaking. Her body ached, and she had a million butterflies in her stomach.

"You bought my studio?"

Amir nodded. "I had to—I didn't want something you loved taken away."

He sat beside her. She touched his jaw and traced his clean-shaven face. Her heart raced when his facial hair tickled her. She stroked her hand over his jawline and up to his wavy hair. When she touched him, he shivered and gasped.

"Luna." He breathed her name into himself and whispered it like a prayer.

Luna couldn't move, feeling Amir's aura connect to hers. She froze, unable to look anywhere else. The soft color of his brown eyes shimmered from the light, and she leaned forward, placing her lips against his. Her body reacted strongly to the small touch. Their souls touched while she moved her tongue with his. Like their first kiss, this kiss was more passionate and hungry. Her heart was racing, making her dizzy.

If they didn't stop now, they might do more, and Luna wasn't sure how he would feel. Amir had never had sex, and she didn't feel good about taking that moment away from him. She knew that, like many people, he had always looked forward to his wedding day.

Amir stroked her wet hair with his fingertips. Their kiss deepened as she tasted him more. His taste covered her chin, neck, cheek, and skin. It was just the two of them, lost in the moment.

The night had already slipped from Luna's memory. She opened her mouth further and swallowed Amir. Since they kissed, they craved one another. His kiss made her feel intoxicated and thirsty, and he slowly trailed his fingers along her neck and throat.

She stroked his stomach and chest. Her fingers traced the outline of his ribbed abs, and she could feel how her touch affected him. He made a sound as he marveled at her body. She melted once he emitted an adorable throat growl, which turned her on.

Amir sat on her and held her with one arm while she slipped back into the bed. Their mouths never parted while they lay in each other's embrace. Their love was rare, pure, and eternal, and she was ready to give him her whole body. Her blood surged with excitement and trepidation.

He gazed at Luna with affection. Amir's irises glittered like diamonds as he gently stroked her shoulder. As he moved toward the edge of her towel, she tightened her grip on his neck. His languid movements and gentle touches made her heart race. She stared at his perfect jawline and then looked at the beautiful shape of his face.

God—Allah—he made him so beautifully.

Amir's eyes fluttered when he touched her towel's zipper. "If you feel uncomfortable, I'll stop."

Luna said, "I don't," a little too quickly.

"I didn't think we would do anything."

She let out a soft giggle and felt his arousal hit her core. "You weren't?"

"Well, I guess we're together and finally out of there." Amir kissed her softly. "I realize this may not be the best time. It could be too much."

"Everything's fine," she assured him. "This is good."

He chuckled and bit his lower lip. "That's what I wanted to hear. Was that weird to want that?"

"You forget that I can read your mind. Almost always." Luna smiled at him.

"Is that so?" On his knees, Amir kissed her lips and nibbled the bottom one. "What am I thinking now?"

"That you're craving something sweet," she whispered while he wrapped an arm around her and positioned himself between her legs. She chuckled and arched her back. "And desserts might not be enough."

"Maybe," he answered, laughing deeply.

When Amir rose, his mouth sank to the countless goosebumps on her shoulders and neck. His intense gaze jolted her heart again.

You are so beautiful. Beautifully made.

She smiled at him and reached up to kiss him.

"You are beautiful in every way," he said, as if he knew what she was thinking. Maybe he could.

Luna helped him remove his shirt while her towel opened. She tangled his hair and swallowed.

"Your aura is very sensual," he murmured in a sultry tone. "It's vibrating my soul, if that makes sense."

"It makes perfect sense." She leaned forward, coaxing him. "The feeling is mutual."

Amir's arms strengthened as he caressed her lips and chin. Luna wanted him to drop his pants, but she was also having fun with the sexual tension between them. His skilled fingertips soothed her skin as they traveled down her body, shaking her. She felt her anatomy—a bright white light filled the room, ruining the moment.

He quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed his gun, and paced toward the window, where he cautiously pulled aside the heavy curtain to see what was going on. Luna rose and covered herself with the sheet. She rushed to the gun Sergeant Decker gave her.

Terror climbed up her throat. Had they found them already? Luna twirled to where Amir stood, as she still clutched the towel around her. Her hand shook so badly that the pistol rattled.

"It was headlights," Amir breathed. He let go of the curtain and looked at her again. "Their bright lights were on."

"Headlights?"

"Just lights, Annie," he said, placing his gun on the dresser.

"Annie?"

"Yeah. Annie Oakley."

"Are you seriously making jokes right now?"

"You want to know my jokes and not how I know about Annie Oakley?"

Luna paused and breathed. It frightened her. And Amir was making jokes. Even a roadrunner couldn't match her speed. Now she understood this was all they had left to live for. Constantly looking backward. She was afraid and ready to defend herself whenever she saw lights or heard a knock on the door.

This was their new normal.

When she saw the lights shining through the window, she grabbed a gun, stood back, and got ready to kill. That was dreadful.

"Luna?"

She lowered her head to relax. Her arms, legs, and stomach burned. Warmth crept up her chest. She cried. So many horrible memories came flooding back to her. Pressure hit her chest deeply, tightening around her lungs with pain going down her veins. She remembered her treatments. She remembered her injections. She remembered. . . She remembered... Oh, God; she remembered how painful the last experiment was.

Her neck twitched. She cried for weeks but didn't let them fall since St. Matthew's would think she was weak. She didn't want people to know she was struggling.

In seconds, Amir was tracing her cheeks with his fingertips. Luna wouldn't look at him. She was stuck. "Luna," he whispered, placing both hands on her shoulders. "We're fine. No one else is here but us."

Yet, the spotlights weren't her biggest concern. It was the result of everything she had been through in those long, hard weeks. Knowing she had no control over her life or body inside. The worst part was Sarah hadn't seen her in so long. She understood each ache and saw how other people got treated. It hurt her.

She shot and harmed others to flee. Because they did their job and kept the inside safe, their families will miss them. She knew she killed people. Their blood was on her hands.

Then Chase. . .

"Say something," Amir whispered. "Luna, I need you to talk."

She closed her eyes and sat up straighter on the bed. She had to be strong. She didn't need to think about everything. It hurt her so much that she begged herself to be brave and move on.

Amir said in a calm voice, "Baby, look at me."

Luna closed her eyes because she knew that seeing Amir's face would break the dam again, releasing tears faster than a bathtub could fill. She didn't want him to realize how damaged she was.

He turned and kissed her closed eyes to wipe away her tears. "I'm here, Moon. Whatever you're going through is okay."

His last words were the final straw.

The dam burst open, and she lost it.

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