It felt like we fell forever before we hit the ground. Somehow Lucas timed it, exchanging our positions so I landed on top of him. He grunted as we hit the bottom of the cave, but he didn’t make another noise.

Our breaths still came fast as the cart slowed down. But we were alive.

I pulled back enough to see Lucas’ face. “Are you okay?” I asked as I cupped his cheek in my hand.

Lucas leaned into my touch. “I’ve survived much worse,” he said as he wrapped my braid around his hand, and then raised his mouth to meet mine.

At first, the kiss was a soft brush of lips, but it slowly turned into more. My body heated, and I tightened my arms around him. He felt safe. Good. And I wanted more. His tongue touched mine, and I moaned, unable to stop myself. And not caring in the least. He growled, and twisted my braid tighter, as he devoured me. I ran my hand under the back of his shirt, and his muscles tightened. I wanted to be closer, but—

Gobble’s tiny hand swatted my cheek. “Stop messing about and look around.”

I pulled away from Lucas, completely out of breath. I’d only been kissed once before and it didn’t count. Not really. Daniel and I had been bored and I wanted to know what it was like.

The thing about growing up with everyone on the compound was that they all started to feel like family.

But Lucas, he was an unknown. Someone new. And it wasn’t just the newness that was affecting me. It was everything about him. Even with all the reasons I had to pull away, I couldn’t stop my feelings from growing.

I stared at him, not knowing what to do or say as he quietly watched me. And then I started laughing.

I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the ridiculousness of the situation. I’d thought I was going to die. Then I was kissing the hottest guy I’d ever seen. The guy I wanted more than anything, who was slowly becoming everything to me. It was absurd, but I would’ve kept kissing him if not for the creepy little Tinkerbell hitting me.

Yes. Absurd was the right word. My life had taken a turn for the completely absurd.

Using the lip of the cart, I slowly hoisted myself up and Lucas followed suit. I started to climb out, but he stopped me, grabbing my hand. He moved his other hand to my cheek and slid his thumb along my skin.

Something intense burned in his eyes and I wasn’t sure what to say. What was really between us? Before I could decide, the look was gone and he was lifting me up and out of the cart.

“I think we’ll be walking from here,” Lucas said.