I saw a little flicker in Boone when I said Marty’s name, like he was cataloguing it and saving it for later. “What do you mean?”
I bit my lip then let the words out. “He convinced me to move in and marry him and that he’d support me while I focused on my career.”
“I thought–” Boone’s face darkened. “Then he did the opposite, he crushed your career.”
It felt alarming to hear what happened described that way, but the tears that immediately sprang to my eyes said Boone was right–Marty had crushed my career.
But I had to admit my part in it, too. I gave a miserable shrug. “Yes. He thought I was flirting with everyone, like Joe. That if a guy like him called me doll, then I must’ve fucked him. That when I sang, they clapped only because I was dressed in slutty clothes. He said so many things that broke me, but I was the one who let him manipulate me into believing all of it. That our marriage took precedence.”
Boone shook his massive head. “No. Don’t blame yourself for his asshole manipulation. His only goal should’ve been to see you succeed. But instead it was to lock you up and cage you–” Boone trailed off, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Fuck. I came on way too strong this morning. I behaved just like your asshole ex.” He rubbed his beard. “No wonder you needed space.”
One of the walls I’d erected against Boone crumbled to the ground in that instant. He finally understood. He didn’t gaslight me into thinking what he wanted was right.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel–” he cut himself off again. “Yeah, I made you feel like a possession, didn’t I?”
I sent him a relieved smile. “Well, you did keep calling me yours.”
He didn’t answer, but I could somehow feel the intensity of how much he truly did believe I was his. But I guessed the fact that he knew by my scent that I was “the one” for him made that clear.
“Remember, baby, while I said you’re mine, I’m also yours. You get that?”
I never thought about flipping it around. Could I call Boone mine, too? Could I be just as possessive of him as he was of me? The idea of any woman in this bar setting their horny gaze on my man… okay, I kinda understood more.
But how did it work, exactly?
“What happens if your mate doesn’t feel the same way?” I asked.
I saw a world of pain in his gaze. He rested his hands on my hips, his fingers holding fast, like he was afraid I’d run off. His throat worked. “I promised you I’d take no for an answer.” His voice rasped out like a croak.
Oh, sweet man. “I’m not saying no,” I reassured him. “I was just wondering how it works. Like, does a” –I dropped my voice to a whisper– “she-wolf ever say no?”
Boone’s large hands squeezed my ass, pulling me closer on his lap. “Well, there’s a strong biological urge. She couldn’t deny that. But yeah, I mean, sometimes it doesn’t work out.” He looked like he was holding something back. Something I wouldn’t like.
“Is there divorce?”
He nodded, still looking like he didn’t want to tell me. “Yeah. I mean, it’s not divorce like humans do, but a separation nonetheless. It’s not common, but it can happen. It can be hard because a male’s instinct is going to be to protect her, even if she doesn’t want that protection.”
Hmm. That sounded a little stalker-like. It also sounded a lot like Boone and me.
“Baby, I understand now I came on too strong,” he repeated. “I’m probably gonna keep coming on too strong. That’s just the way I am. But you need to know that you have sovereignty. You say no, I stop. Period. You say give me space, I give you space. Whatever you need to feel comfortable. But I promise you this–I will never, ever stand in the way of your career. I will never whine and bitch that you’re not giving me enough when you shine so fucking bright. All I want is the honor of being your man. I wanna be the guy who makes you happy, keeps you safe, and keeps you screaming all night.”
Everything in me turned to hot liquid at his words.
Marty never said anything like that to me. If he had, I wouldn’t have believed him. But I believed Boone.
Suddenly, I was totally over karaoke.
“Well.” I scooched in tighter over his lap, feeling the bulge of his cock through his jeans. “Let’s get started on that third part, shall we?”
15
BOONE
* * *
I groaned at the sensation of Summer rocking her sweet pelvis over my dick. I wasn’t going to make it all the way to my home. I wasn’t even going to make it to her home. I needed to taste my girl now. Right here at Cody’s was going to have to do.
I stood up, keeping her legs wrapped around my waist.
