Unbreak My Heart (43 page)

“I know that’s supposed to put it in perspective, Boone. But dammit. Two weeks without you? That sucks.”

I shifted my body, dropping my feet to the concrete and leaning over to touch her face. “It’s part of the deal with me. You know that.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” she retorted. “And if you say I should get used to it, I’m gonna punch you in the junk.”

I laughed. “You’re threatening to dick punch me when you won’t see my dick for two weeks? Harsh.”

“I lashed out. Sorry.” She smirked and eyed my crotch. “You know I’d never do anything to hurt our cock.”

“
Our
cock?” I repeated.

“Mmm-hmm. It’s just as much mine now as it is yours.” She slurped her drink and held a piece of ice between her teeth, her eyes glittering with devilment as she crunched down on it.

Fuck. Me. She’d tortured me with ice last week. I’d actually begged her to let me come.

“Besides, our cock likes me better because it knows that I make it feel good.”

I laughed again. “That you do. So is it our pussy now too?”

“Nope. It’s mine. Internal versus external thing that requires maintenance, that you as a man wouldn’t have patience for. But you have unlimited lifetime usage rights to my pussy.” She grinned. “I’ll admit my pussy loves you way more than it loves me. Way more. So it’ll expect a really long goodbye kiss before you take off. For two freakin’ weeks.”

“Deal.” I looked at her. “And there’s something else.”

“What?”

“There’s a retirement party a week from Saturday night.” I scooped her onto my lap. “Would you consider flying to Fort Hood and attending it with me?”

Sierra tilted her head back to gaze at me. “It’s important to you?”

“Yeah. A party isn’t representative of military life, but it is a bonus. And it’d really be a bonus for me if you’d be there with me.”

Her eyes softened. “I’d love to come.”

I rested my forehead to hers. She had no idea what this meant. I’d never brought any woman to an event. The first—and only—one I’d attended, I’d gone alone. I’d been the only guy who didn’t have a date. From that point on I’d avoided them.

She leaned back. “So it’s formal formal. Like I have to wear a long dress and you wear…?”

“My dress uniform.”

“I finally get to see you in uniform?”

“Any time you want to play soldier and spy, all you have to do is ask.” My hands followed the outside curve of her thighs. “I’ve dreamed up a few interrogation methods that are all kinds of kinky.” I opened my mouth on her throat and squeezed her ass.

She arched back with a gasp.

“Bed. Now.” I wrapped her legs around my hips and stood, carrying her inside.

Later, we were
entwined together, I’d started to drift off, when I felt her planting insistent kisses on my left pectoral.

“Sierra. Babe. After that last time I am wiped out. I have to be curbside at oh five hundred.”

“I wasn’t kissing you to tempt you into fucking me again, dumbass. I was just kissing your heart goodbye. I didn’t want it to feel left out since I said a very thorough goodbye to our cock.” Her next kiss was whisper soft. “I’m so focused on worshipping other areas of your body I forget about this one…and your heart is one of the best things about you.”

God. What she did to me when she told me things like that. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You don’t have to tell my heart goodbye, because it’ll be right here with you when I go.”

T
he first couple
of days without my man hadn’t been too terrible.

Wednesday night after work I paddled around in my pool. Then I nursed three fingers of Crown and watched the weekend preview for college football. I paused the TV during the ASU profile to snap still shots of Ky’s stats and then texted the images to him begging for his autograph.

He responded with
PISS OFF
and a hundred middle finger emojis.

Thursday night the McKay-kateers showed up to watch the football game. None of us gave a damn about the Eagles or the Rams, so the game served as background noise. I baked molasses cookies and had a lively discussion with Hayden about his business ethics class.

Friday night I attended my first pro hockey game. I loved it from the first drop of the puck—not just because I knew the Scorpion’s star player. The atmosphere? Infectious. The fans? Maybe more rabid than football fans. Watching the players literally skating circles around each other was as entertaining as the fights. The first time I shot to my feet and yelled at the player from Minnesota for tripping Mase, Anton smirked at me and said they’d created a monster.

But home alone at night…I missed Boone like crazy. More than I anticipated.

Saturday, while Lu worked on her landscaping project, I watched the Sun Devils game on TV. Then Lu and I decided to test out the PS4 to figure out why our guys loved video games. We ended up playing
Grand Theft Auto
until two a.m.

I spent Sunday at McJock Central for football and Meat-topia. I’d baked three different desserts—which Mase almost singlehandedly devoured. Despite the killer brisket, Anton seemed as preoccupied as I was. When my dad called Sunday night to recap the weekend games, I avoided talking to him. I hadn’t told him about Boone returning to base and I feared I’d blurt out the PCE offer just to gauge whether DPM would fight to keep me—that might make my decision easier.

Or harder.

Monday morning I was dragging ass. Even Griff from legal mentioned I looked tired.

Yes, I’m tired, dammit. I stayed up too late having phone sex with my kinky boyfriend.

Totally worth it though.

Friday afternoon, Lu
plopped next to me on the couch. She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed. “I miss Raj.”

As much as I missed Boone…I realized I’d missed Lu too. She and Raj were shacked up at his sister’s place, so last weekend was the first time just the two of us had hung out in ages. I missed heckling our favorite crappy TV shows. She hadn’t updated me in weeks on how far she’d gotten with her senior design project. And she had no idea that I was considering taking a new turn in my career.

I loved her, but I couldn’t chance confiding in her about the fulltime PCE offer. If she slipped up and told Raj, and Raj told Boone, Boone would go…
what the ever lovin’ fuck?
Because I still hadn’t said a freakin’ word about it to him.

The timing had been off, especially after he’d dealt with his dad’s stuff. Then he’d gotten recalled to base. After nearly two weeks apart…bringing it up this weekend wasn’t a priority. With limited time together, banging the headboard held more appeal than talking.

“What are you fretting about?” Lu asked.

“If my dress for this gala thingy is too slut-tastic.”

Lu lifted her head and batted her lashes at me. “Skanky-ass ho. Have you been shopping at the stripper’s discount store without me again?”

“You’re the skanky-ass-ho.” I shoved her with my shoulder. “I’m serious. I do not want to embarrass Sergeant West, slithering in wearing the latest in ho-bag fashion or looking as if an Amish stylist chose my frock.”

“Which dress are you talking about?”

“The backless blue beaded one.”

Disbelief distorted Lu’s face. “Sierra McKay. You haven’t been
shopping
? You actually thought you’d
recycle
a dress from college? Dude. This is Boone, the man you’re in love with. He deserves to see you in a dress that’ll bring him to his damn knees.”

“Omigod. You’re right. What am I going to do? I leave tomorrow!”

Lu popped to her feet and grabbed my hand, jerking me off the couch. “Get your purse. We will get this fashion crisis handled tonight.”

I’d over-packed for
one and a half days in Killeen, Texas.

I didn’t have to bring Boone muffins and cookies. But I’d baked plenty this week.

So I paced in the room, wondering why I’d chosen a hotel without a mini-bar and stopping at the window every time as if I could see him pull up. From the sixth floor.

Hurry up and get here, Boone
. I was about to climb out of my skin. I’d never had a case of nerves like this.

Four hours had passed since I’d arrived. Boone’s meetings didn’t allow him to pick me up from the airport. Hailing a cab to his place wasn’t an option because he lived on base and I didn’t have an escort or a pass to get on a secure military installation.

Boone had texted me ten times—a new record for him. It ripped at his manhood that he couldn’t fetch me from the airport. To kill time, I scrolled back through our text exchange.

B-Dub:
U here?

Me:
I just got your text. I landed fifteen minutes ago and I’m waiting for my bag.

B-Dub:
It kills me not to be there. I’m sorry

Me:
I know. I’m fine. Just take care of your stuff.

B-Dub:
I luv u

Me:
Back atcha.

Then half an hour later

B-Dub:
Hotel ok?

Me:
It’s good.

B-Dub:
Be there at six-thirty

Me:
I’ll be ready
will we have time for a quickie first?