LITMIR.BIZ

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even in the army anymore.”

      “Doesn’t matter. I took an oath.”

      “Ah. I see. An oath.”

      “It matters.”

      “I’m sure Nate would say the same thing.”

      “You know how he felt about the Force.”

      “Yeah. He died for it.”

      “I can’t, Christie. I’m sorry. It’s not an option.”

      “Fine.” She went on washing. Not looking at him. Bruising the china.

      He put down his cloth and took her by the shoulders. He turned her to face him and made sure she was looking him straight in the eyes. “I’m not telling you because it could be dangerous for you to know. Okay? You have enough to worry about in your life without me adding to it.”

      She didn’t respond. Her lips, which had been pressed together when she turned, loosened. Her eyes softened and he felt her relax beneath his hands. “Okay. I’m sorry I pressed. I just keep wondering why anyone would want to kill my brother. You can understand that, can’t you?”

      “What I can tell you is that your brother was the best of the best. What he did, he did for his country. He honored you. He honored us all. I was, I still am, proud to have served with him.”

      Her eyes closed. She breathed in and out slowly. When she looked at him again, it was the vulnerable Christie he’d seen so often in the last twenty-four hours, but this time, there was no fear, just sadness. “Thank you,” she whispered.

      Boone nodded.

      She turned back, and they finished the dishes in silence. He put the towel away. Milo scratched at his locked doggy door, and Christie got quiet.

      Boone took his weapon out from his jeans. “You have a leash?”

      “Yeah.”

      “Great. I’ll take him outside.”

      “No. Please. Not here. I’d rather take him to a park. Somewhere not around here.”

      “Sure, we can do that. Go get the leash. We’ll be back in no time.”

      THEY WENT TO WESTWOOD, and walked by the university. Milo seemed no worse the wear for his implant ordeal, but Christie was silent and jumpy. It wasn’t a long trip, but the ride home felt as if it took forever. He went into the house first; they both had their weapons ready and he had the scanner. They went through each room, each closet. Then they checked the locks on every door and window. Christie was so keyed up, he suggested they go to the kitchen and have some tea.

      She surprised him with hot chocolate, instead. “What the hell,” she said. “We already had evil cookies.”

      He sat her down, and they drank the sweet drink. Even he had to admit, it was damned tasty. Still, they didn’t talk.

      Tonight, he’d have to be vigilant. It could happen, although he doubted it would. The geek would be angry, yes. But not yet to the point of breaking. That would take a little more time. A few more trips parading for the last remaining camera—the one that focused on the path out front.

      That would do it. It had to.

      Christie finished her drink just as he finished his, took their mugs to the sink and rinsed them out. Then she put the dishes away from dinner, wiped her hands and went to the door where he was waiting for her. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said, turning out the kitchen light. She touched his arm. “You’re welcome to join me.”

      Boone looked at her, into those dark brown eyes. He should say no. Offer to stand outside the bathroom until she was done. Instead, he kissed her.

       10

      CHRISTIE CLOSED HER EYES and sank into his kiss. Her pulse sped, but the rest of her relaxed. She felt small, protected. Amazingly turned on.

      She’d thought about how he would kiss when it was just for them, not for the camera. She’d been shamefully off the mark. He teased her mouth open farther so he could slip his tongue between her teeth. He brushed her tongue with his, making her shiver, tasting of sweet chocolate. His exploration of her was intense and focused, as if this kiss would tell him all he needed to know.

      What, she wondered, did he want to know about her? He knew that she was scared to death. That she’d lost her bearings and felt as if there were constant earthquakes tearing up the very ground beneath her feet. He knew she was willing, that she wanted him, that more than that, she needed him, even though the need itself confused her and made her ashamed.

      His hand moved from her shoulder to the small of her back. He pulled her closer so her body and his were tight together. His erection, hard and thick, pressed against her stomach, and she remembered the feel of it in her hand.

      She wanted more. To feel him between her lips, on her tongue. Inside her, pushing and urgent.

      He pulled back.

      She took a deep breath, then found his hand, pulling him along as she headed for the bathroom. Closing the door behind him, she closed out everything else, too. No stalker, no microchips, no warriors. Just the two of them.

      “I should wait outside,” he said.

      “Not gonna happen.”

      He smiled. Not that half smile, either, but a wide, devilish grin. “And what is gonna happen?”

      “I’m gonna take off all my clothes,” she said.

      “Oh?”

      “And so are you.”

      “We did that last night.”

      “That was for comfort.”

      “And this?”

      “Don’t think so much.” She backed up until she was closer to the shower. Then she pulled her T-shirt off. She’d worn one of her Wonderbras which made her look bigger than she was. It was pink and lacy, and he certainly seemed to like what he saw.

      He stared as he pulled his own shirt over his head and tossed it behind him.

      It was her turn to be mesmerized. She had to give it to the U.S. Army. They knew how to make their men hot as hell. Yeah, she’d seen him last night, but not for long enough, and not just standing there, letting her stare with abandon.

      She toed off her sneakers and her socks, which wasn’t terribly easy, at least not while trying to look sexy. But then, he had to crouch down to get his shoes off.

      While he was down there, she figured she’d make it worth his while. She undid her jeans, and pushed them down and off.

      He looked up. Got really still. She, wearing her mind-snapping thong, moved in close. Boone just looked for a long moment, his lips slightly parted, then his hands came up to the side of her panties and he pulled them down. He wasn’t in a hurry.

      She heard him moan as the panties dropped to the floor. At first she thought he was going to ignore her and glom on to the thong, but he wasn’t much interested in anything but her.

      His hands moved up her outer thighs as he looked up at her face. “You’re a dangerous woman,” he said.

      “Me?”

      He nodded.

      “I can’t even hit the target.”

      “Don’t kid yourself.” He rose, his hands still on her hips. “You’ve got one hell of an arsenal.”

      “I’d feel a lot better if I could shoot straight.”

      “You’ll learn. I’ll teach you.”

      “That’s actually not what I want to learn right now.”

      He

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