Out in Blue by Sarah Gilman Page A

hers.
    “I brought food. You should eat something. Devin is going to be here soon.”
    Her eyes flashed. She looked ready to argue as she opened her mouth. He lifted a hand and covered her lips with a finger. “Please. Let’s not talk about what we cannot change. Before you go, have dinner with me?”
    She stared at him for a moment, then shut her eyes and nodded.
    Wren led her to the kitchen and had her sit while he served the lasagna, salad, and wine Lexine had packed for them. Food still held no appeal in the grand scheme of things, but starving himself wouldn’t do him or anyone else any good. The only worthwhile part of the effort was sharing the normal activity with Ginger. He spent more time watching her than eating.
    Ginger picked at her food without enthusiasm. After a few minutes, she pushed her half-eaten lasagna aside and folded her arms on the edge of the granite countertop.
    “I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
    Wren didn’t feel the fork fall from his fingers but he heard it hit the tile floor.
    She knotted her fingers. “I realize you may find this odd. I’ve had a couple boyfriends and I am not a virgin. But I’ve never kissed anyone until you.”
    Wren had to swallow before he could speak. “Kissing usually comes before intimacy.”
    She nodded, her cheeks so red, her blue eyes seemed violet, but her gaze was steady and unflinching. “I didn’t have any feelings beyond friendship for the man I slept with, years ago, in Haven. We had a long relationship with no depth, and the casual, no strings attached kind of sex. I wanted the first man I kissed to mean more to me than that. I wanted to mean more to him .”
    “Gin—”
    “You let me touch and even preen your wings. So, I know I used that first kiss wisely.”
    Wren moved around the kitchen island, pulled her to her feet and eased her back against the wall. He pressed his body against hers and nuzzled her neck, pressing his lips to the sensitive skin below her ear and breathing her in.
    The essence of jasmine still clung to her skin. Could it be her natural scent was so lovely?
    Ginger shivered and ran her hands along his shoulders to his hair, coaxing his face up to hers. She stared into his eyes as she kissed him, the intense warmth in her gaze making his chest ache.
    “You didn’t deserve that,” Wren said, when he came up for air.
    “Huh?”
    “Casual sex.” He stroked her hair back from her face and moved his body against hers so that a breathless mew escaped her throat. “He didn’t deserve to touch you, if that’s all he had to offer. Damn it, if I could make love to you, I’d—”
    The cell phone rang. He ignored it, refusing to release Ginger from the tight embrace. But as soon as the infuriating chimes silenced, they started over again.
    He released her and snatched the phone from the counter.
    “Yes?” he snapped.
    Vin’s voice answered. “Devin is here. He’s on his way over now.”
    “We’ll meet him out front.” Wren disconnected the call and shut his eyes.

Chapter Eleven

    Ginger’s heart beat too fast as Wren hung up the phone. She stayed against the wall, her hands clenched into fists, taking deep breaths.
    Wren set the phone down on the counter, resignation written on his features.
    “Devin is here.” He tapped the phone. “I hope you don’t mind if I keep this? Lark will be calling again.”
    Ginger waved off the phone.
    “This way.” Wren led her out the doors to the flight deck. The clouds had cleared and the wind had died down, leaving only cold stillness under the star-speckled sky. He picked her up and glided down to the lawn below. He set her on the frozen grass, his hands lingering on her arms.
    Ginger glanced over and saw Devin moving swiftly toward them. In the moonlight, Devin’s light skin and platinum-blond hair appeared spectral, a disconcerting contrast to his black clothing and leather jacket. His copper eyes reflected the light like a nocturnal animal.
    Wren brushed a light kiss