Christie turned to Boone again, wanting to make sure that this was all legit. If something happened to Milo…
“I trust him,” Boone said. “I’d let him do it to me.”
“Okay. But if Milo so much as whines.”
“I’ll stop him.” He touched her hand, and the effect was immediate and more calming than she could have imagined.
Kate got up and went to check the chicken. She got a spoon out of the drawer and tasted the sauce, smiling her approval.
Christie liked her. She was a tough cookie, and it was good to have her on the team.
“We still have to get this room finished,” Boone said, in his familiar whisper. Then he looked at Christie. “You can go in your room,” he said. “Get some clothes, whatever.”
“Did you throw it all out?”
“Seth is going to do that for us when he leaves. I don’t want to put those sheets in your garbage.”
“That’s smart,” she said. “Good.”
“You want to go there now? Give Seth some room to finish up his work?”
“Sure.” She got up, and walked with Boone down the hallway. Glancing at Seth as she walked by, she saw he had some sort of electronic device he was working on, but she had no idea what it was. If Boone trusted him, so would she. Hell, what choice did she have.
Boone moved right next to her in the hallway. He put his hand on the small of her back. A simple move meant to reassure her. It did that, but holy crap, so much more.
Everything about last night came back in a head rush. The way he looked, standing naked by the tub. The feel of his chest on her back. The way her hand had been filled with his thick cock.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“It’s okay,” he said softly. “I’ve got you.”
She smiled. She’d never get tired of hearing him say that. It didn’t just make her feel safe. It made her swoon. Her grin got bigger as she thought about that. Her? Swooning? Nate would be on the floor laughing if she’d suggested such a thing. But then, he’d never have imagined her in a situation this bizarre. This terrifying.
She stopped smiling at the door. Everything inside her revolted at the idea of walking in there. Her favorite room. Her sanctuary. Defiled in a way that turned her stomach.
“Christie.”
She looked at Boone. His green eyes were steady, his whole body strong and determined. But he wouldn’t push her. He’d let her make the call. “Let’s lock and load,” she said.
In return, he graced her with that half smile of his. That, and standing by her side as she opened the door.
Of course, her gaze went straight to the bed. He’d remade it, which surprised her. Nothing fancy, just some of her sheets with a comforter she’d gotten as a gift from a client. Clean pillowcases. No trace of the red, sticky mess. No scent at all. But it wasn’t her bedroom. Not anymore.
She walked past the bed, Boone at her side, and headed straight for the closet. Boone stood by the door, his shoulders looking so broad in his dark shirt. He’d pushed the sleeves up past the elbows, which made him look incredibly sexy.
Since she wanted out of there, she got right down to business. She got her suitcase from the top shelf. In it, she packed underwear and bras, and built out from there. Mostly jeans, T-shirts, and one dress that didn’t need much in the way of an iron. Shoes, a pair of pajamas she doubted she’d wear. It was like packing for a trip of unknown duration. A no-frills vacation to her living room.
She turned to pull a pair of sweats down, and caught sight of Boone. He was staring at her suitcase as if mesmerized. When she looked to see what had caught his attention, it made her giggle. How do you take down an ex-Delta Force? Dazzle him with a pink thong.
She picked it up with her index finger, watching Boone as she lifted the Victoria’s Secret weapon. He was spellbound. He didn’t even blink.
When she dropped it back into the suitcase, his whole head moved down to catch the flutter.
Feeling wicked, she decided to test her theory further. While he was still in the trance, she undid the top button of her jeans. No effect. Then she unzipped, figuring the sound would distract him. Nope.
This would be the real test. Another thong. Would he go back and forth between thongs? Would his head just explode? She lowered her jeans, slipping them down past her hips.
Aha. He’d looked. His eyes widened quite a bit more than expected. But still, no other body movements. Well, she couldn’t swear that was true. She didn’t have a very good view of his fly.
She lowered her pants down past her knees and let them drop. She had to toe off her sneakers before she could take them off completely, but he didn’t seem to mind. Once the jeans were off, she went to phase two. She turned around.