End of Night, page 19
“Honey, you can talk about him anytime you want.” She gave him a serious look. “I mean that, Boone. Your love for him is something I never want you to feel guilty about or hide from me.”
He sucked in a deep breath as an intense wave of love for Hedra made his chest tighten and his heart beat so hard he could hear the heavy thud of his pulse in his ears. He loved Hedra and her kindness. Her acceptance of how much he’d loved Derek and still did shoved away the guilt he felt.
He smiled at her. “I love Derek and always will, but, Hedra, I…”
She ran her fingers along his jawline. “It’s fine, Boone. You don’t have to explain.”
He squeezed her waist, his tiger purring and trilling to Hedra. “I pushed you away this week not just because of grief but because of guilt, too.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I felt guilty because I love Derek and miss him, but being with you has shown me that I can be happy again. That I can find someone amazing and wonderful who I will try every day to be worthy of her love. You are my mate, Hedra, and I love you.”
She stared at him in mute surprise, and he had a brief moment of dismay that she didn’t feel the same way before she kissed him hard. “I love you, too.”
“Thank fuck,” he said, the relief apparent in his voice.
She giggled. “Did you think I didn’t?”
“I didn’t… I mean… it probably wasn’t the best timing to tell you I love you, but you and I both know how fucking short life can be.”
“We do,” she said.
They stared silently at each other, and when Boone’s stomach growled, she smiled softly. “Did you not eat dinner?”
“I wasn’t hungry. I just wanted to be with you,” he said.
“C’mon, handsome, I’ll make you a sandwich.”
He smiled and kissed her again. “You’re perfect, you know that?”
She laughed. “I am far from perfect, but you are about to taste the world’s most amazing ham sandwich.”
“Is that right?” he said with a laugh as she climbed off his lap.
“Honey, this sandwich is about to change your life,” she said.
“A life-changing sandwich, huh?” He followed her out of the bedroom, and she grinned at him over her shoulder.
“I’m more than just a pretty face, Boone Jameson.”
He purred to her, and she took his hand and led him to the kitchen.
“You know, you don’t have to keep cooking me breakfast.” Hedra slipped her arms around Boone’s waist and kissed his throat. “Morning.”
“Morning, little lamb. Did you sleep okay?” Boone flipped the pancake.
“You gave me three orgasms last night, and you’re asking if I slept okay,” Hedra said.
“True, but I woke you in the middle of the night to give you those orgasms, and our relationship is too new for me to know if waking you up means you won’t fall back asleep again,” Boone said. “Some people love orgasms but not middle-of-the-night orgasms.”
“I love orgasms whenever,” Hedra said. “Except maybe on an airplane.”
“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” Boone said.
“I have,” Hedra said. “He didn’t lock the bathroom door properly, and it popped open, and we fell out, and the first seven rows got to see my naked ass.”
Boone laughed. “Are you serious?”
“Sadly, yes,” Hedra stole a piece of bacon from the plate on the counter and bit into it. “Honestly, though, I do know how to cook.”
“I know,” he said. “I like to cook. I did all of the cooking when Derek and I lived together.”
“Well, in that case, I won’t mention it again,” Hedra grinned. “Because while I can cook, I most certainly do not enjoy cooking.”
“I’m glad to be doing it,” Boone said. “After Derek died, I stopped cooking. Partially because I was grieving and my appetite had gone to shit, but also because cooking for one was too fucking depressing. Until Nan broke her hip and moved in, I basically lived on raw meat and coffee.”
She made a face, and he nuzzled her throat. “I like having a reason to cook again, little lamb, so let me.”
She squeezed his waist and snagged another piece of bacon. “No complaints from me.”
As Boone slid the pancakes onto a plate and poured more batter into the hot pan, Hedra admired the flex of his biceps before trailing one finger along his ass. “So, I’m not sure what you had planned for this morning, but what do you say we go back to bed after breakfast?”
“Pancakes and sex is the perfect Saturday morning. I am one thousand percent in,” Boone said before glancing at her. “My eagerness is super sexy and not pathetic, right?”
She laughed and squeezed his butt. “Very super sexy, actually. I don’t like guessing games with my partners. There is something not sexy that I want to talk to you about, though.”
“What’s that?” Boone flipped the pancakes.
“Your nan is more mobile now, and she only has two more physical therapy appointments. Pretty sure she’s ready to move back into her own home.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Boone said. “She told me on Thursday that she’s planning on moving back home at the end of next week. I should have told you immediately, but I was messed up with the anniversary and -”
“I know, it’s fine. It’s not anything unexpected and, honestly, I started job searching last week,” Hedra said. “But I did want to talk to you about the possibility of me staying here until the end of the month, even if I’m no longer Althea’s nurse. I found two apartments in my price range, but neither are available until the first of next month. But I can rent a hotel room for a few weeks, so don’t feel obligated to say yes.”
“Of course you can stay here.” Boone’s body had stiffened, and she rubbed his back.
“I don’t have to, Boone,” she said gently. “It won’t affect how I feel about dating you if you’d rather I leave as soon as my job here is finished.”
“I know,” he said.
Boone was still weirdly tense, but maybe it was because he thought she was taking advantage of his generosity. Worried, Hedra slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed gently. “I checked the going rate for what people charge for renting a room in their house and -”
“No,” he said.
“No,” she echoed.
“You’re not paying me rent to live here for a few weeks.” Now he was so tense, it was like trying to hug a piece of plywood.
She stepped back, giving him some space as he slid the final pancakes onto the plate with the others with quick, jerky movements.
“Boone, I think asking to stay was a mistake on my part,” she said. “I’ll move out as soon as Althea does.”
He shut off the burner and turned toward her, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against him. “Little lamb, I’m not upset.”
“You are,” she said. “Don’t lie to me.”
He sighed. “I don’t want you to move out.”
She blinked at him, and he sighed again. “I know how that makes me look and sound, okay? Like I’m some kind of weird, lonely guy begging his new girlfriend to live with him way too soon, but if you think about it, we’ve already lived together for a month, so it’s not that weird.”
He paused. “Okay, it’s still weird, but we get along well, and you could stay in your room if you thought it was too soon, and I can give you plenty of space, and I won’t be weird or clingy or - shit, I might be a little clingy, but that’s just me and has nothing to do with you living with me. I’d be clingy no matter what, but I’ll work harder not to -”
She pressed her hand over his mouth, trying not to giggle as Boone stared at her. “Boone, I don’t want to move out.”
“Ooou, ond?”
She took away her hand, laughing softly. “Try that again.”
“You don’t?”
“I don’t,” she said. “I would love to live with you, but I also didn’t want to be that weird, lonely girl begging her new boyfriend to let her move in with him.”
He laughed and then purred to her. “We’re both ridiculous.”
“Utterly ridiculous,” she said.
They stared silently at each other for a few seconds before Boone said, “So, I guess we’re living together then.”
“I guess so,” she said.
“That part I said about you staying in your own room was bullshit, by the way. I want you in my bed,” Boone said.
“It is a very comfortable bed,” she said.
“It is.” He nuzzled her neck before cupping her breast. “Plus, it’ll be so much easier to make you come in the middle of the night if you’re in my bed.”
“That’s a definite perk to sleeping in your bed,” Hedra said, moaning softly when Boone nipped at her neck and ran his thumb over her nipple.
“Also, you know I’ll just show up to your bedroom in my tiger form anyway,” Boone said. “He’s as obsessed with you as I am.”
“Of course he is. I’m terrific,” Hedra said.
“So terrific.” Boone’s voice was distracted, but considering he had slid his hand into her pajama pants and was lightly rubbing her clit, she couldn’t blame him. What were they talking about anyway?
“How do you feel about cold pancakes and bacon?” Boone sucked lightly on her earlobe.
“Love them,” she said breathlessly. “They’re my favourite.”
“Good. Because I -”
The front door opened, and the telltale tapping of Alfie’s nails on the hardwood had Hedra yanking Boone’s hand out of her pants. Boone turned to face the counter, hiding his noticeable erection as he washed his hands.
Alfie pranced into the kitchen, sniffing Hedra’s pajama pants before pawing at her pant leg. She bent and cautiously petted him, surprised when the poodle didn’t curl his lip at her. “I think I’m winning him over.”
“Just in time for him to move out,” Boone said with a laugh.
Hedra smiled at Althea when she thumped into the kitchen and carefully eased into a chair. “Good morning, Althea.”
Althea sniffed the air. “Good God, Boone. Tell me you’re not having sex on the table. I eat my dinners here.”
“Nan,” Boone said, “don’t be rude.”
“How is it rude to ask you not to bone your mate on the table where I eat my dinner?” Nan asked.
“Nan.”
Boone’s exasperated tone made Hedra laugh. She sat at the table next to Althea. “We’re not boning on the table, Althea.”
“But she is my mate,” Boone said.
“I suppose it could be worse even if she is a human,” Althea said.
“Nan,” Boone growled warningly.
Althea growled back before taking Hedra’s hand and tugging her closer. She kissed Hedra’s cheek before giving her a rare smile. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 23
“I’m happy to hear your nan is doing better,” Abena said. She eyed Boone with a shrewd look before sitting on the couch in the library. “Although, I don’t suppose sharing your nan’s good news is the only reason you asked to meet with me this morning.”
“It isn’t,” Boone admitted. “I’m being reassigned at the end of this week.”
Abena sighed and patted the couch beside her. Boone sat beside her as she reached for her teacup and sipped delicately at the hot tea. “I can’t say that I’m surprised. A shifter with your skillset is not meant for babysitting.”
She eyed him over her teacup. “You’re like a bird with clipped wings here, Boone.”
“I’ve enjoyed working with you, Abena,” Boone said.
She laughed. “I appreciate that. I don’t suppose if I threw a real tantrum to your boss and demanded you stay, that would work?”
Boone grinned. “Cooper wants our clients to be happy, but he’s confident that the person replacing me will be just as efficient at the job.”
“Do you believe that?” Abena asked.
“Yes,” Boone said. “Alison is incredibly competent and skilled at her job.”
“But is she as charming as you?” Abena asked with a soft smile.
“More so,” Boone said as the library door opened and Camilla entered the room.
She joined them as Abena made an unladylike snort. “I doubt that. Good morning, Camilla.”
“Good morning, Abena.” Camilla smiled warmly at her before turning that smile to Boone. “Hi, Boone, how was your weekend?”
“Good, thanks. Yours?” Boone asked.
“Busy,” Camilla said before perusing the tablet in her hand. “Abena, your massage therapist is here. She’s a bit early, but if you’re ready for your appointment, that will give me time to review your calendar next week for Boone. You have some extra appointments that -”
“No need,” Abena said briskly. “This is Boone’s last week with us.”
Camilla looked up from her tablet, her face paling as a soft growl escaped her throat. “What? Why?”
“I’m being reassigned,” Boone said. “Alison will be taking over for me. She’ll stop in on Friday to meet Abena.”
“But your nan needs you,” Camilla said.
“Actually, she’s moving back to her home at the end of this week,” Boone said.
Camilla frowned. “That seems really soon. Your nan isn’t young, and what if she reinjures her hip or, worse, breaks it again?”
“It’s true that with this type of injury, she’s ahead of schedule in being independent,” Boone said. “But that’s all because of Hedra. She was incredible at getting Nan to do her therapy exercises and helping her strengthen and become independent again. If it weren’t for her, Nan would probably need to stay with me for another couple of months.”
Abena patted his hand. “I’m so glad your mate has helped her recover.”
“Hedra and Boone are just dating,” Camilla said. “They aren’t mates.” She stared at Boone. “Are you?”
“We’re mates,” Boone said. “She agreed to keep living with me after Nan moves out.”
Abena smiled at him. “You look very happy, Boone.”
“I am,” he said.
Abena rose gracefully. “If you’ll excuse me, I don’t want to keep Zola waiting any longer.”
“Of course.” Boone stood. “I’ll be here at eleven thirty tomorrow to escort you to your lunch with the studio.”
“Thank you, Boone.” Abena squeezed his hand before leaving the library.
Boone turned to Camilla, “Will you have time to meet with Alison on Friday as well, or should I ask her to - Camilla, what’s wrong?”
Camilla was gripping the back of the sofa, and her nails had punctured the soft leather. Her face was still pale, and she stared silently at him.
Boone’s tiger made a low growl, and Boone shushed him absently before touching Camilla’s arm. “Camilla, your hand.”
She glanced at her hand and made a soft sound before releasing the couch. Her claws returned to nails, and she studied the five punctures in the leather before sighing. “Shit.”
“Are you okay?” Boone asked.
She nodded and then shook her head. “No. I’m upset that I won’t see you anymore, Boone.”
An awkward silence ensued. Boone had never been a people pleaser or the type to tell someone what they wanted to hear just to ease an awkward moment. Besides, telling Camilla he’d continue to see her as a friend wasn’t fair to her when he had no intention of cultivating a friendship. Not when he’d always worry that any acts of friendship would be seen as more.
She took a deep breath. “You’re sure, absolutely sure, that Hedra is the one for you, Boone?”
“She is,” he said, his voice firm and full of an unshakable certainty.
A soft smile with only a hint of sorrow crossed her face. “Then I am so happy for you, Boone. Truly.”
“Thank you, Camilla,” he said.
She hesitated before giving him a brief, hard hug. “Goodbye, Boone. Take care of yourself.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said. “And on Friday when I bring Alison over.”
“Right,” she said. She traced her finger over the punctures in the sofa. “I need to call to get this repaired. Talk to you tomorrow, Boone.”
“Okay.” He waited until she left the room before releasing his breath. He checked his phone, purring happily when he saw the message from Hedra. It wasn’t anything important, just her saying hi and sending him a funny meme, but it made both Boone and his tiger ridiculously happy.
He typed a quick reply and hit send before leaving the library and heading outside to his vehicle. Life was perfect, and for the first time since Derek died, Boone felt truly happy.
“Hedra? I’m home.” Boone stuck his head into the living room, but it was empty.
He walked to the kitchen, smiling when he saw Hedra standing at the counter with her back to him. “Hello, little lamb. Where’s Nan?”
“She went out for dinner with Jerry,” Hedra said.
He grabbed a beer from the fridge and cracked it open. “How did her physio today go?”
“Good.”
He drank a few swallows of beer. “Did you hear back about the private nurse job you applied for on the west side?”
“Not yet.”
He studied the plain cardboard box on the table as his tiger made a soft, worried growl. Boone inhaled deeply, the sour tang of Hedra’s fear hitting him like a brick wall. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t reply, and he quickly crossed to her, turning her and tipping her chin up with one finger. He’d never seen Hedra look this afraid before, and his tiger growled again, surging forward, ready to defend his mate from whatever had frightened her. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
She swallowed hard, her gaze skittering from his face to the box on the table. Boone released her and walked to the table. He studied the box. “What is this?”
Hedra’s voice trembled. “It was on the porch when Michael and Jerry arrived to pick up Althea for dinner.”
