28. Benni

"Why doI have to have Spartan stay with me? I can handle a gun as well as any man on this mountain. He's too hot for his own good, but he loves Amy. Sure, he held her and played with her before he found out she was his, but now I can see the love in his eye every time he looks at her."

"Benni, what if that crazy-ass Robert Knight isn't dead, and his obsession with you leads him to snatch Amy? I saw this guy"s eyes; he's fucking crazy. With Spartan around, he wouldn't dare come near. Plus, you love him, and he's not made a secret of how you make his body ache with wanting you. Take him up on the offer. Sneak into his room and indulge in some passionate lovemaking."

"What's gotten into you? When did you start talking like Rebel? Sometimes, I lie in bed for hours, yearning to be with Spartan."

"Then do something. If I can feign memory loss to be with Ghost and to convince him that we had to rush to get married, then surely you can walk into Spartan's room naked."

"That's how Amy came about. I seduced Spartan, and he was angry," Benni explained.

"That's because you were a virgin. You are no longer a virgin, so go for it."

"Allison, it"s not that easy. I'm a mother now. I can't engage in wild sex under the same roof as my daughter," I said, unable to suppress a giggle.

"Are you kidding? How do you think Jaz and Marcus have their babies, or Viper and Bailey? They just put a quilt between their bed and the wall and go for it. I can go on if you want more names."

"No, I'm just nervous. You know how Spartan affects me. He's so handsome and commanding, and when he smiles, I want to take my panties off. But I've only had sex that one night. What if I'm not good at it?"

"I know the feeling. I felt the same way, but once we were both naked, it all came back to me," Allison said, grinning.

"I'll see how tonight goes."

"Why don't you stroll through the house with a towel? You can run through the living area when Spartan is watching the television and acting like you need something from the dryer."

"Dang, girl. Is this the kind of stuff our Doctor always has brewing in her mind?" I watched as Allison's face flushed bright red.

"When Ghost used to join my brothers for poker night, I had countless schemes like these in mind. Once, I feigned ignorance of his presence, dashed out back, and leaped into the pool in a skimpy bathing suit I bought for just that occasion. I strolled into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of iced tea. Then Ryan ruined it by telling me to cover up. I was twenty-seven, for heaven"s sake."

I erupted into laughter. "The things we women have to do for love. I'm thrilled you and Ghost are together again. I haven't seen you this happy in a long time."

"I haven't been this happy in years," Allison said.

"I think I'm going to buy myself a skimpy bikini and parade around in it."

"You don't have a pool," Allison pointed out.

"But you do. Amy and I will come over and swim with you, and Spartan will follow us."

"Call me when you get it, and I'll invite you for a barbecue. You can lay out by the pool and let Spartan drool."

"I can hardly wait! I'm going shopping today. I can already picture Spartan following me around in the swimsuit department. Oh, I'm also hitting up the lingerie section. By the end of the day he'll be ready to tear off my clothes," I said, chuckling at the look on Allison's face. She was the one blushing.