End of Night, page 15
Hedra made a small grimace as Nora took her hand and squeezed lightly. “People have moved on, okay? There won’t be any more gossip, especially not without Mateo there shooting his mouth off.”
“It isn’t just that,” Hedra said. “It’s hard to be there without Dianne.”
Nora put her arm around Hedra and purred softly to her. “I know, honey. I’m sorry.”
Hedra leaned into her sister, closing her eyes. She believed that her siblings had shown up here solely because of her birthday and didn’t think Chase had said anything about Mateo contacting her again, but it was good to know for certain. She didn’t want them worrying about her or, worse, going after Mateo again.
Everett’s purring joined Nora’s, and Hedra smiled at him when he took her hand. “Hedra, are you sure you’re okay? You can talk to us. You know that, right?”
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m really happy you’re here. I’ve missed you.”
Nora stroked her hair before purring to her again. “We’ve missed you too, honey.”
CHAPTER 17
Boone growled at Alfie when the poodle strolled into the living room with Hedra’s Croc in his mouth. He dropped it on the floor before the fireplace and snarled at Boone when he snatched up the shoe before Alfie could start chewing it.
“Cork it, you little shit,” Boone said. He studied the bright pink Croc with the multiple tooth marks in it. “You’re lucky Hedra hasn’t turned you into a furry Croc. I think this is the third pair of hers you’ve tried to destroy.”
Alfie bared his teeth before trotting out of the living room, no doubt in search of Hedra’s other Croc. Boone dropped the shoe on the sofa before sitting next to it. He rested his head on the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling.
Last night, Hedra hadn’t come home until close to midnight. He’d been in bed but wide awake. He’d hoped like hell she would come to him, but she had gone straight to her room. He’d tried to sleep, knowing that if he did, he would switch to his tiger form and sleepwalk to Hedra’s room.
But sleep eluded him. He’d briefly considered switching to his tiger form and pretending he was sleepwalking, an idea his tiger wholeheartedly endorsed, but in the end, he couldn’t be that pathetic. If Hedra wanted to be with him, she would have joined him. But obviously, his reaction in the hallway, how he’d freaked out when her brother touched her, had annoyed her. He couldn’t blame her. He was treating her like his mate when they weren’t even dating. Hell, they hadn’t even had sex.
We did. Sort of.
He rubbed his forehead. Thirty seconds of being in Hedra’s perfect pussy was not sex. His dick hardened just thinking about that moment, and he pulled at his jeans to relieve the pressure.
He’d tossed and turned for most of the night, finally dozing off around four. He’d woken at just after eight, still in his own bed, with only half an hour to get to Abena’s place. He’d showered and rushed out of the house with barely a word to his nan or Hedra. He’d sent Hedra a text later in the morning to say happy birthday, and she’d responded with a brief thank you that he’d obsessed over way too much.
After the world’s longest work day, he’d gone shopping for Hedra’s birthday gift and returned home. He hadn’t been at the office today, and he hadn’t received an invite from Chase to Hedra’s birthday party. Nan was in her room, and Hedra was in the shower, and any hope that Hedra might invite him to her birthday party had died a sad and dismal death. He glanced at his watch. It was just after six, and Hedra would leave for her party in less than an hour.
His tiger made a mournful cry that hurt Boone’s heart.
“I know,” he said. “I want to go too, but we aren’t invited.”
His tiger trilled sadly, and Boone stood up abruptly. He would give Hedra her gift when she returned from the party, but in the meantime, there was no point in sitting here feeling sorry for himself. He would ask Nan what movie she wanted to watch tonight and order them Thai food for dinner. Nan loved Thai food.
He walked to Nan’s room and knocked on the door, studying the light coming from under Hedra’s bedroom door.
“Come in,” Nan called.
He stepped into her room, his smile dying on his face. “Nan? Why are you dressed up?”
Wearing a bright yellow shirt with red pants and a blue scarf tied around her neck, Nan sat on the side of her bed, applying glittery pink lipstick to her lips. Alfie sat on the bed beside her, a matching blue scarf tied jauntily around his neck.
Nan stuck her lipstick into her pocket as Boone said, “Are you going out tonight?”
She gave him a ‘why are you so dumb’ look. “I’m going to Hedra’s party, obviously. Did you get hit on the head today looking after that celebrity?”
A wave of self-pity washed over him. Nan had been invited to the party, but he hadn’t been. He had to sit home alone while others celebrated the birthday of the woman he lo-
“Althea, is Jerry meeting us here or at Ryan’s grandmother’s?” Hedra, looking amazing in a short pink dress that showed off her perfect legs and clung to her ass and breasts in all the right ways, walked into Nan’s room through their shared bathroom.
“He’s on his way here,” Nan said.
Hedra turned to Boone, taking in the track pants and t-shirt he’d changed into after work. “Why aren’t you dressed?”
“What?” he asked.
She joined him and pulled at the hole in the right leg of his track pants. “My birthday party isn’t formal, but I want you to at least wear pants without holes. Go put on some jeans and,” she traced the stain on the shoulder of his t-shirt, “a clean t-shirt.”
“I’m invited to your party?” Boone said as his tiger trilled happily.
“Of course you are,” she said with a puzzled look. “Why would you think you weren’t?”
“I think he got hit on the head today at work,” Nan said.
“I didn’t get hit on the head,” Boone said. “But I didn’t want to assume, and Chase didn’t send me an invitation or…”
“He didn’t send you one because, obviously, I want you there. No invitation needed,” Hedra said. “Go get dressed. We have to leave in half an hour, or I’ll be late for my own party.”
He grinned at her. “We can’t have the birthday girl late for her party, can we?”
“No, we can’t.” She returned his smile. “So, get your butt in gear, Boone Jameson.”
“I have never seen someone more in love in my life.” Shay draped her arm over Hedra’s shoulders.
Hedra tore her gaze from Boone with difficulty. “I’m not in love, Shay.”
Shay raised one perfect eyebrow before pointing her chin to the left. “I wasn’t talking about you, babe.”
Hedra followed her gaze. Ryan’s dog, a German Shepherd named Sam, was stretched out on a large dog bed in front of the fireplace. Alfie, his blue scarf still tied around his neck, sat between Sam’s front legs and stared adoringly at him. As they watched, he stood on his hind legs and licked Sam’s face.
“Adorable,” Shay said with a grin before nudging Hedra. “I do like that you assumed I was talking about you, though.”
“I… no, I didn’t,” Hedra said.
Shay laughed and sipped at her wine. “You’re a shit liar, Hedra.”
“I know,” Hedra said.
“Besides, I already knew you were in love with Boone. Knew it the night he picked your drunk ass up from my house.”
“Shay, sweetheart, could you talk a little louder?” Hedra asked. “I’m pretty sure not everyone in the room heard you.”
Shay laughed again. “Babe, three-quarters of the room are shifters. They’d hear me even if I whispered.”
Hedra sighed, and Shay squeezed her. “Don’t worry about it. They’re all too busy having fun to eavesdrop on our conversation.”
Hedra studied the massive room. Ryan’s grandmother lived in a literal mansion, and the room they were currently in was bigger than Hedra’s old apartment. Expensive pink and silver birthday decorations adorned the room, and tuxedo-clad servers circled with trays of appetizers and booze. According to Shay, Ryan had paid for the entire party.
With the exception of Boone and Chase, the Shadow Security team was gathered in a corner of the room, drinking, eating, and laughing as Wes’s mate Eleanor gestured wildly and finished her story before slinging her arm around Wes’s waist. He stared down at her with an adoration that made Hedra’s chest ache.
Hedra’s gaze slipped to Boone. He stood with her brothers, and desire, amusement, and a deep longing washed over her in a confusing mix that made her a little shaky. Despite the rough start yesterday at Boone’s house, it was apparent now that Boone and her brothers were rapidly becoming besties, and Boone had charmed even Everett, the most reserved of her brothers.
Her sister’s laughter made Hedra smile. Nora sat on the couch with Chase, Althea, and Jerry, and she grinned at Althea when the tiger shifter poked Chase in the chest and said something that made him blush bright red.
“I can’t believe I’m having a birthday party at Beverly Shepherd’s mansion,” Hedra said. “I’m friends with Ryan Shepherd, Shay.”
Shay grinned and pointed to the two huge bouquets on the fireplace mantel. “Don’t forget that you also got flowers from Abena Nkosi and Karena Potter.”
Hedra shook her head. “I don’t even know how they knew it was my birthday. Boone said he didn’t tell either of them.”
“Oh, the two of them are thick as thieves with Ryan’s grandmother, Beverly,” Shay said. “They did a couple of movies together when they were younger. Ryan said Beverly had drinks with them a few days ago and must have mentioned she was giving up the mansion for your birthday party tonight.”
Hedra shook her head. “This small world shit is blowing my mind.”
Shay laughed. “The adage of everyone knows everyone in Hollywood is true.”
“Is Beverly here tonight and just hiding in her giant mansion?” Hedra asked.
Shay shook her head. “No, she’s out of town visiting Ryan’s mother in rehab.”
“Ryan’s mother is an alcoholic?” Hedra asked. “Or is it drugs?”
“Alcohol,” Shay said.
“It sure has been kept hush-hush with the paparazzi,” Hedra said.
“Vanessa’s drinking problem is an open secret amongst celebrities and paparazzi,” Shay said.
“Well, it’s good that she’s getting help.”
Shay made a face. “She isn’t serious about it. She goes to rehab once every few years to get Beverly off her back, but she always starts drinking again. I thought Ryan and Ryleigh cutting off contact with her after the whole stalking thing might convince her to get sober, but it hasn’t. She calls Ryan and Ryleigh regularly and leaves voicemails that waver between hostility and pity, but both are standing strong and refusing to have anything to do with their mother. They’ve put up with her abuse long enough.”
“That’s really sad.” Hedra studied Ryan, who stood beside Grayson, one arm around his waist and her head resting on his shoulder.
“It is, but Ryan is tough, and she has Grayson now,” Shay said. “And Ryleigh’s living with her boyfriend, Gavin, and doing well. But enough about the celebrity life. I want to talk about you and Boone.”
“There is no me and Boone,” Hedra said.
Shay gave her a look, and Hedra looked around before lowering her voice. “There’s a slight Boone and me, but I’m not sure anything will come of it. Sleeping with him right now is a mistake because he’s my employer, and once I’m finished working for him, I’m not sure he’ll be interested if I’m not living in his house parading my fabulous tits in front of him.”
“Your tits are fabulous,” Shay said solemnly. “But I’m pretty sure it’s more than just physical for Boone.”
“You don’t even know him,” Hedra said.
“True, but I’m very perceptive about these things,” Shay said.
“Are you?” Hedra asked.
Shay dissolved into giggles. “Nah, I’m pretty oblivious, to be truthful, but Grayson told Ryan and me that you positively reek of Boone’s scent, and I might be obtuse, but I and -hell, everyone in this room - aren’t blind. We see how he looks at you. Is his scent so strong because he marks you in his tiger form or because he’s marking you while he fucks you?”
“Shay.”
“What? Ryan says that if Grayson marks her while they’re banging, the marking is much stronger, even though he’s in his human form,” Shay said.
“Yes, that’s true, but Boone and I aren’t… having sex.”
“You paused,” Shay said.
“It was a natural conversational pause,” Hedra said.
“Bullshit,” Shay coughed into her fist. “Tell me the truth, Hedra, or I will start singing happy birthday and trust me, you don’t want that to happen. I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, babe.”
Hedra laughed. “Fine. We did some stuff, and we almost had sex but were interrupted by Althea.”
“You got caught by Boone’s grandma having sex?” Shay said. “Yikes.”
“We weren’t caught. Althea called for me from her room,” Hedra said. “Not that it mattered. She could smell that we were…”
“Going to bone town,” Shay said.
Hedra nodded. “Yeah. It was so fucking awkward. Anyway, I’m honestly not sure where I stand with Boone, but I do know that if I don’t get to fuck him soon, I might lose my mind.”
Shay studied Boone. “He is pretty delicious looking. Sounds like the two of you need to have a direct conversation about where you’re headed.”
“It’s not… I mean, we haven’t even had sex. I’m not jumping into a conversation of - hey, Boone, would you like to date me after I’m done working for you? What if the answer was no… how fucking awful would that be?” Hedra said.
“What is life without risk?” A hint of sadness tinged Shay’s smile.
Hedra took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry you’re sad, Shay.”
Shay visibly shook off her melancholy. “I’m not sad tonight. I’m happy to celebrate the birthday of someone I’ve only known for a short time but already feel like I’ve known her for a lifetime.”
“Agreed,” Hedra said. “You’re the best, Shay.”
Shay kissed her cheek. “You are, too.”
Ryan joined them, and Hedra had to fight the huge grin. Talking to one of her favourite celebrities would never get old, no matter how self-effacing Ryan was.
“Thank you again for not only hosting my party but covering the cost of everything too, Ryan,” Hedra said.
“It was my pleasure.” Ryan linked her arm around Shay’s. “Now, are we talking about how Boone can hardly keep his eyes off Hedra or what?”
Hedra’s cheeks flushed as Shay gave her a delighted grin. “Told you, babe.”
CHAPTER 18
“Hello, little lamb.”
Hedra’s heart kicked into overdrive as Boone stepped outside. He shut the French doors behind him and crossed the stone patio to where she stood at the far end, studying the massive and stunning landscaping behind the mansion.
He stopped just behind her, and her entire body ached to touch his. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she said. “Just stepped out to get some fresh air.”
It sounded plausible, but it was a lie, wasn’t it? She had stepped outside in hopes that Boone would follow her. In hopes that she would be granted even a few precious moments alone with him on her birthday.
And maybe to give him a quick blow job, yeah?
She ignored her inner voice, but when Boone stepped close enough to slide his arms around her waist, and she felt the hard length of his erection pressing against her ass, she couldn’t stop from grinding against it. His sharp inhale made her grind again, even as she said, “Boone, behave.”
He kissed the side of her neck. “I can’t help it. Staring at you in this gorgeous dress has made me hard all fucking night.”
He tasted her throat again, his warm tongue licking a path to her earlobe before he sucked lightly on it. “You’re all I can think about, sweet lamb. I want you so much.”
“I want you too,” she whispered before facing him.
He kissed her in a sweet and coaxing manner that made her shiver with need and press her body against his. He cupped one breast, grunting in disappointment when he couldn’t feel her nipple through her bra.
She grinned. “Sorry, hazards of having big tits. The bra needs to be like armour to keep them looking perky.”
“You should just go without one.” He nipped at her collarbone before purring to her.
“That’s not happening,” she said with a laugh.
His cute grin had her aching to drop to her knees right there and get her mouth on that magnificent dick. What was it about Boone that made her want to forget every reason she had for not getting involved with her boss?
Girl, it’s way too late for not getting involved. You’ve seen each other naked. Why are you torturing yourself?
She decided inner Hedra was right. She’d already stepped so far over the inappropriate line with Boone that pretending she shouldn’t fuck him because he was her boss was laughable. Plus, it was her birthday. Shouldn’t she get what she wanted most for her birthday?
“I have something for you, sweet lamb,” Boone said.
“Is it your dick? Because,” she palmed his erection, and his groan was beautiful music, “I really want your dick.”
“He wants you too,” Boone said with another low groan before tugging her hand away from his cock. “But I have a birthday present for you.”
“A dick can be a present,” she said.
He laughed hard, and she leaned against him, loving the sound.
Suddenly looking a little nervous, he reached into the front pocket of his jeans and brought out a small white box with a crumpled green ribbon tied around it. “Shit, the bow got messed up.”
“I don’t care.” She snatched the box from him, tracing the edges with her finger. “I love presents, Boone.”
