don’t.”
She reached for his cock again, but he stopped her before she touched him. “Liar.”
“I don’t want to screw. Not now, not with you.”
“Don’t preach at me, dammit.”
“I’m not. I just want you to slow down. We can do whatever you want. But let’s take our time, okay?”
She pulled away from him completely, kicking off the stupid blankets and her pants. Naked from the waist down, except for his socks, she wanted to laugh at herself, but she was so afraid that it wouldn’t be laughter at all.
Boone was right, she had been dreaming. This time, she hadn’t seen the red dot in time. Boone had fallen over her body, dead, and his blood had been hot and thick, like the blood all over her bed.
Why couldn’t she stop shaking? Boone was alive, and the blood on the bed was fake, so why did she feel as if she were going to be sick if she didn’t do something right now?
He touched her shoulder, making her jump. “Okay?”
She nodded, and his hand gentled. It was so large and warm. If she just focused on his touch, she’d be okay. She’d stop trembling.
He moved over so he was sitting beside her. His legs touched hers and she didn’t even care that he was still dressed. She leaned over, pressing herself against the hard bulk of his body.
His arm slipped around her shoulder. And then, with his other hand, he touched her face. He was so tender, she cried out. Tears came then, and he kept stroking her cheek, whispering soft words that meant nothing and everything. She tried to stop, but there was no stopping. The tears poured out of her, wracking sobs that shook her so that she didn’t feel the old trembling at all. Boone brought her closer but never stopped touching her.
Finally, she was empty. The only thing holding her together was the arm around her shoulder, the touch of gentle, coarse fingers against her skin. She looked up into his face, and even though it was dark and there were shadows all around her, she saw the kindness in his eyes. He knew. He understood.
He came toward her slowly, still patient and watching, until his lips brushed hers. The panic was over and now she understood his caution. This was what she’d wanted all along. To be close, to be cared for.
He kissed her more deeply, letting her know that there was no rush, that she was safe. Only when she parted her lips did she feel his desire, hot and sweet on her tongue.
For a long time, they just kissed. As the seconds drifted by, everything outside faded and she felt herself relax deep inside. When her hand went to his thigh, he didn’t try to stop her. She stretched her fingers out but they didn’t reach all the way across. The memory of him in the bathtub, before they’d made love, when he’d given her comfort. She pulled back, wishing she’d turned on the light. “Are you sure you’re a soldier?”
He laughed softly. “I’m pretty sure.”
“How’d you get to be so nice?”
“I’m not that nice.”
“Liar.”
He shook his head, and then he kissed her again. A long, slow, deep kiss as they fell backward onto the awful bed. He lifted her shirt, patiently moving first the right side, then the left. They parted, but only so he could pull it over her head. Where it went after that, she had no idea. But the move did rouse her to finish the job she’d started before. His jeans were already undone, so she pulled and tugged until they were off.
Eventually, they were naked. Boone had maneuvered them into the traditional position, then pulled the covers up to their waists. She rested now, her head in the crook of his arm, her leg curled over his, touching as much of him as she could.
“It’s late,” he said.
“So?”
“You have to be exhausted.”
She moved her hand down to his cock. Bless his little testosterone-laden body, he was still hard. “Make love to me until I fall asleep.”
He laughed again, but a moment later, he was over her, his legs between hers, his hands on either side of her head. One kiss, fast, then a nibble on her chin. Before she could even react, he’d moved down to her chest, to her breasts, and his tongue painted slow circles around and around, coming near, but not touching her nipples.
She reached for him and tugged at his hair, letting him know that teasing was fine and good, but damn.
A quick study, he took her right nipple between his teeth, not biting, just holding, and then he licked and sucked until she was squirming and pulling his hair a lot harder.
He stopped but only long enough to torment her left nipple in the same dastardly fashion. The only thing she could do was wrap her legs around his waist and ride it out.
By the time he’d moved down, she was ready. As much as she loved the whole foreplay thing, that wasn’t what she wanted now. She pushed herself up by her elbows, and that got his attention.
“What?” he whispered, his voice as thick and low as his tongue.
“Please,” she said. “I want you in me.”
He didn’t move for a long moment, and she thought he was going to ignore her, especially when he bent his head. But all he did was kiss the top of her mound, then the top of each thigh. He rose up, so tall, his shoulders so wide and strong. His hands brushed her sides, moving slowly upward until he had to brace himself or fall.
She’d never wanted like this before. Not with the boy she’d thought she’d loved in college, not with the men she’d hoped would become the one. She opened herself to Boone, and when he pushed himself inside her, she felt something shift. She couldn’t have said where, except it was awfully close to her heart.
She folded herself around his body and wished again that she could see his eyes. In the end, it didn’t matter. She knew who he was. And she knew who she was with him.
WHEN SHE GOT UP THE NEXT TIME, she was alone in the bed. Boone was gone, and her heart sank, missing him. She listened, but she didn’t hear talking, or walking, or Milo, and she was instantly afraid.
After pulling on her clothes, she padded to the door in Boone’s socks, opening it slowly. No one was in the living room. Had she dreamt that Seth and Kate had spent the night? Listening again, she still heard nothing. Even though she really needed to use the bathroom, there was no way until she found out what was going on.
Where was Boone? Maybe he’d taken Milo out? She hoped that was it, but since nothing good had happened in such a long time, she didn’t count on it.
Quietly, she went through the living room, scoping it out. No bags, no clothes, nothing that said Seth and Kate were there or ever had been.
The kitchen was empty, too. But there was a note on the table and the coffee was almost finished dripping. Christie let out a breath as she picked up the note. Okay. Boone had Milo,
