Tough Love
Page 9
Stack knew it had a hell of a lot more to do with her looks, as well as her sweet personality, than anything as mercenary as supposed wealth. Besides, the fact that she neither acted nor lived like the pampered rich made him doubt her claims. Wealth could mean many different things to different people, depending on what they were used to.
She turned her head, studying him. “You sound disgruntled, but I don’t know why. We don’t have the type of relationship where I’d impose on you. We’re...”
“Friends with benefits?”
Lifting her shoulders, she said, “We will be—as long as you don’t change your mind.”
“Not a chance.”
“You look awfully grim for someone about to have sex.”
He flashed a glance her way, saw the teasing glint in her eyes and smiled at her.
“Better.” They were only halfway down the street when she pointed. “There. That’s my driveway. The little yellow house is mine.”
Disbelieving, Stack pulled into the driveway. Electric lanterns at either side of the double front doors lit the area, showing some fall decorations, a cozy wicker chair, and pots of still-thriving, colorful mums. With the headlights of his car, he could make out much of the house. Small, but very tidy. Yellow with white trim, a curving walkway, large entry, and one-car garage. “Nice.” In fact, it looked like something out of a storybook.
“Thank you. I saw it and knew I had to have it.” She reached for the door handle, but he touched her shoulder, staying her.
Getting out and walking around the hood, he opened the door for her—and with each step, he wondered why a woman of means would buy such a small, cozy house instead of something more extravagant.
“Such a gentleman,” she teased, as she went on tiptoe to kiss him.
And just that, such a simple touch, her lips barely brushing his, almost set him off. When she started to retreat, he drew her back, kissing her more firmly, a little longer, a lot deeper. The crisp, cold air swirled around them.
Snuggling closer, she clenched her hands on his shirt.
They were too close to a bed for him to start this in the yard. Shower, treat her burn, then he could and would keep her in bed until neither of them could think straight.
Cupping her face, Stack eased up on the kiss, retreating by small degrees.
Overhead, the moon ducked behind clouds, and the wind kicked up, toying with her hair and making her shiver. Vanity had a lot more skin exposed than he did. Catching the lapels of his jacket that she’d wrapped around herself, he pulled it closed, kissed her soft mouth one more time and stepped away.
“Sorry. I should save that until we’re inside.”
The clouds parted, allowing moonlight to stroke over her face, showing off the slight tilt of her smile and the curiosity in her eyes. “I like kissing you, Stack. I like it a lot.”
“I promise a lot more kissing—all over—but not just yet.”
She sucked in a breath and nodded.
Stack started for the trunk of his car.
“I have a first-aid kit in my house.”
“I know mine has what I need.” He opened the trunk, and saw all the wedding gifts they’d collected for Cannon and Yvette.
Vanity put a hand on his arm. “We could unload later.”
“We could.” Did that mean she wouldn’t be tossing him out the second the sex stopped? Because she’d pretty much hinted at exactly that.
The conversation had replayed in his mind many times in the weeks since it had happened. They’d been together at Rowdy’s bar, sitting close, her tone, her look, her body language all suggestive enough to get his libido racing.
After some teasing banter, she’d hit him up to be her date for the wedding. He’d waffled, until she added a guaranteed follow-up of the carnal variety.
I’m open to using my place—bed and light provided. That way you won’t have to worry about getting rid of me afterward. I promise to toss you out before you can even get nervous about it.
If she still thought to follow through on that promise, she’d be in for a surprise. It was late enough now that even if they stayed at it until dawn, he knew he wouldn’t get his fill.
One way or another, he’d have to talk her into a full day.
Maybe a full week. Or...longer.
“So just leave it all in there for now. If you keep your car locked, it’ll all be safe, right?”
“Right.” He stared down at her, sexual chemistry arcing between them. “You don’t plan to kick me out at sunrise? Because seriously—” he looked up at the sky “—it’s going to be happening soon.”
She turned her head, studying him. “You sound disgruntled, but I don’t know why. We don’t have the type of relationship where I’d impose on you. We’re...”
“Friends with benefits?”
Lifting her shoulders, she said, “We will be—as long as you don’t change your mind.”
“Not a chance.”
“You look awfully grim for someone about to have sex.”
He flashed a glance her way, saw the teasing glint in her eyes and smiled at her.
“Better.” They were only halfway down the street when she pointed. “There. That’s my driveway. The little yellow house is mine.”
Disbelieving, Stack pulled into the driveway. Electric lanterns at either side of the double front doors lit the area, showing some fall decorations, a cozy wicker chair, and pots of still-thriving, colorful mums. With the headlights of his car, he could make out much of the house. Small, but very tidy. Yellow with white trim, a curving walkway, large entry, and one-car garage. “Nice.” In fact, it looked like something out of a storybook.
“Thank you. I saw it and knew I had to have it.” She reached for the door handle, but he touched her shoulder, staying her.
Getting out and walking around the hood, he opened the door for her—and with each step, he wondered why a woman of means would buy such a small, cozy house instead of something more extravagant.
“Such a gentleman,” she teased, as she went on tiptoe to kiss him.
And just that, such a simple touch, her lips barely brushing his, almost set him off. When she started to retreat, he drew her back, kissing her more firmly, a little longer, a lot deeper. The crisp, cold air swirled around them.
Snuggling closer, she clenched her hands on his shirt.
They were too close to a bed for him to start this in the yard. Shower, treat her burn, then he could and would keep her in bed until neither of them could think straight.
Cupping her face, Stack eased up on the kiss, retreating by small degrees.
Overhead, the moon ducked behind clouds, and the wind kicked up, toying with her hair and making her shiver. Vanity had a lot more skin exposed than he did. Catching the lapels of his jacket that she’d wrapped around herself, he pulled it closed, kissed her soft mouth one more time and stepped away.
“Sorry. I should save that until we’re inside.”
The clouds parted, allowing moonlight to stroke over her face, showing off the slight tilt of her smile and the curiosity in her eyes. “I like kissing you, Stack. I like it a lot.”
“I promise a lot more kissing—all over—but not just yet.”
She sucked in a breath and nodded.
Stack started for the trunk of his car.
“I have a first-aid kit in my house.”
“I know mine has what I need.” He opened the trunk, and saw all the wedding gifts they’d collected for Cannon and Yvette.
Vanity put a hand on his arm. “We could unload later.”
“We could.” Did that mean she wouldn’t be tossing him out the second the sex stopped? Because she’d pretty much hinted at exactly that.
The conversation had replayed in his mind many times in the weeks since it had happened. They’d been together at Rowdy’s bar, sitting close, her tone, her look, her body language all suggestive enough to get his libido racing.
After some teasing banter, she’d hit him up to be her date for the wedding. He’d waffled, until she added a guaranteed follow-up of the carnal variety.
I’m open to using my place—bed and light provided. That way you won’t have to worry about getting rid of me afterward. I promise to toss you out before you can even get nervous about it.
If she still thought to follow through on that promise, she’d be in for a surprise. It was late enough now that even if they stayed at it until dawn, he knew he wouldn’t get his fill.
One way or another, he’d have to talk her into a full day.
Maybe a full week. Or...longer.
“So just leave it all in there for now. If you keep your car locked, it’ll all be safe, right?”
“Right.” He stared down at her, sexual chemistry arcing between them. “You don’t plan to kick me out at sunrise? Because seriously—” he looked up at the sky “—it’s going to be happening soon.”
