Damn, the way she looked at him made him feel good, whole.
She pulled him down, and he covered her softness with his hardness.
Her mouth moved along his jaw. “Come inside me.”
Boone was shaking with need. He didn’t want to rush this time around. Give her more than a hard and fast pounding against the wall.
He’d savor her. Cherish her. Show her how much he wanted her.
He notched the head of his cock between her legs. She was slick and warm. Their gazes met, and he slowly pushed inside her.
She moaned his name. Damn, she was so beautiful.
He took her hands in his and pressed them over her head. He moved inside her—slow and steady.
Her lips parted, and she never looked away. He’d never felt so connected to somebody else.
Pleasure swelled inside him. For a second, he closed his eyes, breathing through the sensation of feeling this woman. It was just the two of them—nothing but the feel and smell of Gemma.
He opened his eyes, needing to see her.
“So good,” she panted. “So perfect.”
“No, you’re perfect.” He pulled back and thrust back inside her. “So warm and tight.” He leaned back, watching where his cock split her.
Damn. He moved his thumb to her clit and rubbed. She cried out his name.
“That’s it, baby. Take it.”
“Give me everything.” Her body arched. “I want it all.”
“Take my cock, Gemma. You look so good filled with me.”
She moaned, her breasts heaving.
Boone gripped her hips, holding her tight as he powered inside her.
Her hands clutched at his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin. “Make us come, Boone. Together.”
“Yes.” His control was gone, his hips moving faster.
His. The word echoed in his brain. He wanted to keep her. The dark need ripped from his battered soul.
“Boone, oh, God. Hurry, I’m coming—”
On his next thrust, her pussy clenched tight on his cock. She screamed, her body shaking, her hands flexing on him.
He thrust home one last time. “Gemma.”
“Boone.”
The orgasm hit him like an electric shock. He made a guttural sound, the first hot jet of come almost hurting. Groaning her name, he could barely think through the pleasure. It felt like everything was pouring out of him.
Spent, he collapsed, catching himself and dropping down beside her. Instantly, she snuggled into him, a blissed-out expression on her face.
“I’m floating,” she said dreamily.
He smiled. He felt like he was floating, too.
“Let’s stay right here, forever,” she said.
He ran a hand down her back. “Someone will need to put more wood on the fire and get food. And feed Atlas.”
She jolted, looking around. “Oh, he wasn’t watching, was he?”
“No. He’s in the bedroom.”
“Phew.” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “I guess we both broke our droughts in the most spectacular way possible.”
He stroked a hand down her side. “We did.”
He felt a small sting of guilt. She was in a bad situation, dependent on him to keep her safe. He shouldn’t have touched her.
“No, Boone Hendrix, no thinking.”
He met her gaze. She looked ready to fight him.
“I’m a big girl who knows exactly what she wants.” Her tone was fierce.
He smiled. “Okay.”
She nodded. “Good.” Then her voice lowered. “I want to kiss you.”
“So kiss me.”
She did, pressing her lips to his.
He slid a hand up into the tangle of her hair. “You can do anything you want to me.”
Her eyes sparked. “Really?” She pushed him flat onto his back and climbed on top.
Boone sipped his coffee, watching Gemma play with Atlas as she baked muffins in the kitchen.
There was a rap at the front door. “Morning.”
Boone rose and let Shep in. “Morning.”
“Sleep well?” his friend asked.
Boone knew Shep didn’t miss much. He was eyeing Boone with a speculative look. Boone had tidied up their impromptu bed in front of the fireplace, but he was pretty sure Shep knew that Boone had spent the best part of the night with his arms wrapped around Gemma.
Hell, he’d spent most of the night inside Gemma.
“We did,” Boone replied.
“Smells good in here.”
“Gemma bakes. She’s making muffins.”
“You lucky fuck,” Shep murmured. As he strolled in, Atlas woofed a greeting.
“She’s also baking dog treats,” Boone said.
Shep shook his head.
“Morning, Shep.” Gemma’s face was flushed, her hair in a messy bun. “Coffee?”
“Please.”
“I’m guessing black.”
“You guess right.” Shep took the mug from her, then nodded at the door.
Boone got the message. “We’ll be outside.”
She smiled at him. “The muffins will be ready soon.”
The Colorado sunlight seemed brighter than Vermont. Boone scanned the pretty yellow of the Aspen trees, mixed in amongst the evergreens. He breathed in the crisp mountain air.
“Haven’t seen you this relaxed…ever,” Shep said.
Boone shrugged a shoulder.
“It’s because of her.” Shep sipped his coffee. “You’re falling for her.”
Boone shifted, his gut tying in knots. “She’s in danger. I had no right to touch her. I’m her protection.”
“She isn’t a job. You’re more than just her bodyguard.” Shep’s gaze met Boone’s, his face serious. “You couldn’t pay me to put up with a woman, but there’s no doubt looking at you that you’re fucking happy right now.”
“Shit.” Boone sipped his coffee and burned his tongue. “I don’t want a relationship. I don’t want the feelings. When you let people close…” It hurt when you fucking lost them.
Shep gripped his shoulder. “I know you lost your family, Boone. Your parents and your uncle. Then we lost Charlie, Julio, and Miles.” Shep looked away and dragged in a breath. “None of them would want you to be unhappy.”
“I couldn’t save them.”
“You are not to blame for their deaths, Boone. You barely made it out alive. When we got there, those fuckers were about to kill you.”
Vander, Shep, and the others had arrived just in time. Sometimes, Boone wished they hadn’t rescued him. That he’d died with his friends.
“They knew what they signed up for,” Shep said. “We all did. They sure as hell wouldn’t blame you.”
Boone noted Shep didn’t include himself in that little speech. He knew Shep struggled with it as well. The death of their friends was just the culmination of a long line of things that had eaten at them.
“The shit creeps up on you sometimes.” Shep’s jaw tightened. “It sucks we lost them. It sucks that I wasn’t in time. It will always suck.”
“I often wish it had been me.” Boone dragged a hand through his hair. “That Julio was still here with his kids. Teaching Eddie to ride a fucking bike.”
“I know you taught his kid to ride a bike.”
“And I know you bought the bike for him.”