Claire felt Boone's arms wrapped around her. After their heart-to-heart they had spent a very passionate night together, though Claire tried to stifle most of the noise, she had doubted Arcade's first night in the Lucky 38 had been peaceful. She rolled over and looked at his face; the dark stubble, the chiseled jaw. In a wasteland where handsome men were few and far spread, Claire was happy she was spending her time with such a rarity. Slowly Boone's eyes opened, and the chocolate brown iris' of his eyes locked onto the dark green of her own. She smiled lazily at him.
"Did you sleep well?" Claire asked, putting her hand on his bicep.
"Well enough, you?" He responded. Claire laughed inwardly at his "romantic" side, or lack thereof.
"I did." She closed her eyes and kissed the corner of his mouth, she could feel his top lip twitch in response, as if trying to steal a kiss back.
"I don't mean to point it out, but you've opened up a lot since we started...seeing one another." Claire commented.
"I've come to terms with a lot of things. You helped me." Boone's eyes darted from hers, then back.
"I'm not very good at saying what I think. Never have been."
"Maybe it's because I saw a lot of myself in you. A lot of hurt that I didn't want you to feel. I may hide it well but it's there." She said sounding a little solemn. Silently Boone pulled Claire against his body, holding her tight.
"Thank you." He mumbled.
"Don't thank me with words, Boone. You know exactly how I feel about you and you know that all I could ask for is you to be with me." Claire said. The room was silent. Boone had told her that he loved her, so why did he seem hesitant now?
"I want to be good enough for you." He said finally. Claire looked at him in shock.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"You always know what to say and do, me, I'm never sure of myself the way you are. I don't want to let
you down." He was clenching his jaw, though not in anger it had seemed.
"I never said I fell in love with a man who I thought needed to be changed, Boone." Claire began. "I fell in love with you because you're a good person. I know you are. You've made your mistakes like any person has, but you realize them and try to be good. I'm not asking you to pour your heart out..." She tilted her head so her lips ghosted against his, "I just want you to love me the way I love you."
His fingers tangled in her dark blonde hair as he kissed her, his mouth was hot on hers as she rolled on top of him, separating their lips and pressing her forehead against his, looking intently into his eyes.
"We shouldn't do this right now. We have so much to do..." Boone stared up at her and Claire felt his palms slide off her back. He quietly accepted her decision.
"Don't think I'm even close to being finished with you, though." She added, her voice low and sultry. He shifted beneath her. She wanted to check on Arcade before the rag-tag group set out for the day.