Chapter 18
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RADLEY AWOKE THE NEXT morning to the scent of freshly brewed coffee. She blinked in surprise as she lay in her warm bed. Boone had spent the night at her place after he’d brought her back home, but she still had a broken coffee machine. Didn’t she?
Tying a silk robe around herself, she walked quietly into the kitchen. Boone was standing at the counter, a shiny new machine on the counter beside him.
“Surprise,” he said, looking quite pleased with himself.
“When did you get this?” she asked, mystified.
“One of the guys did me a favor. I texted Coop when we went back to the office last night. He left it with your doorman. He also says I owe him a favor,” Boone added with a chuckle. “Can’t wait until he calls that one in. I’ll probably be delivering him emergency condoms or something.”
Radley laughed. “That sounds about right. You should’ve woken me up,” she said, noting he was already dressed. Then again, he didn’t have any other clothes or pajamas. Boone wore the same outfit he’d had on yesterday.
“You needed your sleep,” he countered.
She reached for a coffee cup then stiffened, her hand going to her side.
Boone cursed, moving toward her. He untied the sash of her robe, letting it fall open, and inspected her skin. The bruising on her side was even darker than it had been the night before—an ugly, bluish-purple that had grown in size. It hurt more, too.
“Hell, Radley,” he murmured.
“It looks much worse than it feels,” she said.
Boone scoffed. “You just winced in pain reaching for a damn coffee cup. I should’ve been more gentle with you last night,” he said, looking chagrined.
“You shouldn’t have,” she countered.
“But—”
“No buts. I’m a big girl, Boone,” she said, retying her robe. “I told you to make love to me because that’s what I wanted—needed. And,” she added, trying to soothe him. “It hurts a lot more today. I promise you weren’t hurting me last night—far from it.”
“I still hate that asshole for even touching you. And to attack you in your own building? He’s a fucking dead man.
” Still muttering a curse, Boone turned, handing her the coffee cup she’d been reaching for.
Radley took a sip, smiling. “Please tell me you’re going to start making me coffee every morning. I’m more of a night owl.”
“So I gathered. And anytime you want me here, that’s where I’ll be.” He glanced down at what he was wearing. “I’ll have to swing by my place later to grab some more clothes. I’ve got a duffle bag in my truck with some clean gym clothes, so I can wear those in the meantime.”
“Yeah, no sense doing the walk of shame heading into the office,” she teased.
Boone chuckled, the sound a low rumble that made her insides do a funny little flip. Even now, just out of bed, Boone was sexy as hell. Dark stubble coated his jaw, and he looked deliciously rumpled from sleep. “The guys know I spent the night here. I’m also damn sure I don’t give a shit.”
“You did warn them to leave me alone,” she said agreeably. Radley flashed him a sly look. “Xaden’s never going to let us hear the end of this.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said.
“Any word from Holt?” she asked.
Boone nodded, growing more serious again. “The local police went to Mike Cameron’s place in Virginia. No surprise—he was gone. I’m guessing he’s still around the Seattle area,” Boone added darkly.
“So, I have a roommate for the time being?” she joked.
“Oh, we’re definitely going to be more than roommates,” he said huskily. “And if you weren’t hurt, I’d be carrying you back to bed right about now.”
“Such a shame that I’ll have to shower and dress myself then,” she said coyly. “I was hoping you’d help. You know, since I’m injured and all,” she said, her hands going to the sash on her satin robe.
Boone’s eyes heated, and he moved toward her, kissing her slow and sweet. “You’re a tease, Radley.”
“That’s what you love about me. Not love,” she hastily corrected herself.
“You sure about that?” he questioned.
Radley gaped at him in surprise, but then Boone was moving down the hallway, a man on a mission, leaving her heart racing as she stood barefoot in the kitchen. “I’m starting the shower!” he called out. “Better hurry if you want to see me naked, Rad.”
Radley stood there dazed a moment, wondering what had just happened. Boone never did what she expected. Never.
And that was something she was learning to love about him, too.
***
THE SCENT OF RADLEY slammed into Boone as he strode back into her bedroom, her sheets and bedspread a tousled mess.
His lips quirked. Someday he’d drag her right back to bed, but he’d seen the pain in her eyes from her bruised side.
Today was not that day. While he’d thrill at making love to her in every way imaginable, he also wanted to take care of her.
He entered the master bathroom, his gaze skimming over the large shower and noting her shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Fluffy towels hung from the towel bars, and she had more perfume, makeup, and girly things on the bathroom counter.
He reached inside the shower, starting the water, and was happy to see that Radley had followed him from the kitchen.
She might like being in charge, but he wasn’t going to let her injure herself.
“Come ‘ere,” he said huskily, smirking as she dropped her robe and strode toward him completely naked.
Shy, she was not.
Boone quickly stripped as well, and Radley’s eyes on him made his blood heat. He kept in good shape, but he absolutely loved her eyes on him. “This is looking promising,” she teased.
He raised an eyebrow. “No funny business. Just lots of soap suds on your skin and hot water sluicing over your sexy curves.”
She licked her lips. “Uh-huh,” she said, watching his cock rise to attention.
Boone ignored his body’s reaction to her, guiding Radley into the shower. She made a show of moaning, caressing her breasts as she stood under the spray, and he cursed. His little kitten was more of a vixen.
He was going to be permanently hard around her.
Boone grabbed the shampoo bottle and began washing her hair, ignoring the sad eyes and playful sounds of protest at him ignoring her delectable body. He began to massage her scalp, and then she relented, finally relaxing into his touch.
“Good girl,” he told her, and she smirked.
Boone held her to him but cupped one breast, his thumb lightly strumming over her nipple.
It pebbled beneath his touch, Radley whimpering.
The sight of his hand on her womanly flesh was arousing.
Her skin was flawless—nothing but smooth, creamy satin.
His own muscled hand looked rough in comparison.
And wasn’t that the crux of it. Boone was hard everywhere she was soft, even a little rough around the edges compared to her polished sleekness.
And he couldn’t keep away from her.
Radley shamelessly arched back, rubbing herself against his stiff cock, pushing her breasts further into his hands. Boone cursed, letting his other hand trail down her flat stomach, his fingers parting her pussy lips.
She was wet for him. Ready. Wanting.
Boone stroked her gently, listening to Radley’s sweet whimpers and moans. “Do you need to come, sweet girl?” he asked, fingering her slowly as her body grew hot to his touch. The warm water sprayed over them, and having a wet, naked woman in his arms was driving him wild.
“Boone.”
He nuzzled her hair, holding her to him. “You’re a vixen. A goddess. And so very much mine.”
He sank two fingers into her, listening to her low moan of pleasure. The water continued to pour around them, the steam-filled shower making it feel like they were in another world. Boone pumped into her slowly, gently.
“Harder,” she pleaded. “More.”
“You’re hurt,” he told her, but his thumb slid over her clit, the new sensation causing her to gasp.
Boone pumped his fingers in and out, stretching her slick inner walls. Radley began to pant in his arms, clinging to him, her entire body flushing from his attention and the heat from the water. “You’re such a good girl,” he crooned. “You’re not going to come until I tell you to.”
He took her faster, leaving her gasping for breath. He was bringing her close but not quite there.
“Boone—” Her voice was choked. Desperate.
“Not yet,” he said firmly, listening to her helpless pleas. His cock twitched, but he ignored it. This was about her—Boone’s command over her body. He rubbed her clit then stopped again, listening to her cry of frustration.
His hand cupping her breast toyed with her nipple, teasing her, forcing her to focus on the new sensation. The fingers of his other hand remained buried inside her wet, hot pussy, but he didn’t move them.
She was clenching around him, desperate, needing just a tiny bit more to fly over the edge.
“Come for me, Radley,” he rumbled. “Come on my fingers. Now.”
He strummed her clit again, his fingers quickly pumping in and out of her core, and she screamed, tightening around him as her body orgasmed and she was lost to everything but him.
Radley was mumbling and completely flushed from head to toe as he set her on the bench in the shower.
Boone grabbed the loofah, applying body wash, then bathed her, Radley too tired to protest. He paid careful attention to her full breasts, to the tender spot between her thighs, caressing her gently.
His lips pressed against her skin, a silent promise.
“Holy shit, Boone,” she finally said, watching as he stood up and set the loofah back on the shelf.
He smirked. “You’re welcome.”
Radley shot him a withering look. “How am I supposed to go to work after all that?”
He leaned down, putting his hands on either side of her, and kissed her, hard. “Be a good girl and I’ll make you scream even louder tonight,” he promised.