Page 40 of Stealthy as a Wolf

I snorted and nearly drowned myself in the process—another thing I was determined to hold against him. I sputtered, caught my breath, and growled my annoyance. “He’s not right, either.”

“I agree with him,” Boone argued. “You deserve more than a quick fuck in a dirty motel room for your first time.”

“Yeah, you both made that abundantly clear when you all but tossed me out of the bed in your rush to get away from me.” When I couldn’t wrestle the tangles out of my hair, I grabbed the bottle of cheap conditioner again and squirted another huge pile of it in the palm of my hand.

The shower curtain was wrenched to the side. It startled me so much that I jumped and lost my hold on the bottle. It thunked to the ground, splashing water and shooting up a stream of white conditioner. The ridiculousness of the situation got the best of me. Tongue in cheek, I blinked up at him with innocent eyes and snarked, “Honest, that’s never happened to me before.”

His booming laughter echoed in the crowded space, and it went a small way to fill the tiny hole their rejection left behind.

“Honey, I totally understand your predicament.” Boone gazed down at me, his expression sobering. “Since the first time I opened my eyes in the back of the van, I’ve been in the same situation.”

Ignoring the water beating down on me, wanting answers more, I gazed up at the big man. “Then why send me away?”

He pursed his lips, indecision darkening his eyes…and I reached out and flicked him on the forehead.

“Ouch!” He rubbed the abused flesh, looking torn between amused and exasperated. “What was that for?”

“The truth, please.” I shivered as the cold air invaded the shower stall.

Boone canted his head, a scowl flickering across his face, then he stepped into the shower with me, crowding me in the corner, still wearing his pants. Once inside, he yanked the shower curtain shut behind him.

When I realized I was gaping at him like an idiot, I sputtered, “What do you think you’re doing?” I tried to keep my voice firm, wincing when it emerged more as a squeak.

It was like he didn’t hear me. He stepped even closer, slipping his fingers into my wet hair and cupping the back of my neck. “We didn’t kick you out of bed. We left you in it. Burke has his reasons. He’s doing the right thing. The honorable thing.”

I ignored what he said about Burke. I was more interested in what he didn’t say. “What about you? Why did you leave?”

I tried to ignore his naked chest just inches away from my face and the sweatpants that were so soaked that they left nothing to the imagination. It was almost more distracting than if he’d been completely naked.

Almost.

Boone reached up, tucked a finger under my chin, and tipped my head back. “My face is up here, honey. If I didn’t love having you stare at me, I could almost understand why women find it annoying.”

I rolled my eyes, pursed my lips, but that didn’t stop the heat from sweeping into my cheeks. He began to massage the back of my head, stepping closer, bumping into me until I was backed fully under the spray. Then he began to rinse the conditioner out of my hair. My muscles turned to putty under his ministrations, and I didn’t even try to stop the moan that escaped.

Who knew something so perfunctory could be so sensual?

“Deep breath, then I’ll tip you back for a quick rinse under the water.” One hand curled around my waist, the other cupped the back of my neck, and my stomach fluttered at his gentle touch.

He was asking me to trust him.

He didn’t move until I gave a shaky nod.

Eyes locked on mine, he gently dipped my upper body back, taking my weight in his arms, and my stomach went weightless. He was totally absorbed in his task, careful to keep the water from spraying my face or dripping into my eyes. Only when my hair rinsed clean was he satisfied, and he slowly tipped me back upright.

With no will to move away, I remained cuddled up against his chest. The autumn scent of rain and berries lured me closer. I couldn’t resist stealing a taste and licked his nipple.

A purr rumbled in his chest, his hands tightening in my hair, then he cursed, carefully tugging me away. His expression was full of hunger, and a muscle ticked in his jaw as he restrained himself from taking what I offered. “While I don’t disagree with my brother, I climbed out of bed for a different reason. I want you for more than a single night. I want you for more than a quick fuck in a dingy motel. When we’re done with this mission, I want a chance for a future with you.”

Stricken by his words, my whole heart just ached—because what he was asking was impossible. My future was bleak, me endlessly running from one place to the next until I would eventually be hunted down. I couldn’t ask anyone to share that fate.

I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to them. “Boone—”

He kissed away my rejection before I could even voice it. When he lifted his head, his smile was gentle. “I’m not asking for anything but a chance to convince you to give me a shot. If you get to know me, I think you’ll like me.”

I did like him.

More than I should—that was the problem. “Boone…”

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