Time ticked by. Stack assumed she’d fallen back asleep. He was okay with that. Much as he wanted her, holding her was equally nice. He kissed the top of her head over the crooked part in her hair.
As if that roused her, she whispered, “Well, first, there’s this handsome fighter I need to debauch.”
In a million different ways, she amused him. “Debauch, huh?” That sounded intriguing.
“Thoroughly.” She squirmed against his erection, making his breath catch and his muscles tighten. “After we recover from that, I need to make my arrangements for Denver’s fight.”
Luckily, they didn’t have to travel far, just to Columbus. Drivable distance. “You’re staying the night?”
“Yes.” Her hand traveled over his heated skin. “Will you have time to sneak to my room?”
“Count on it.” Usually at a fight, either for himself or a friend, he stayed totally focused until the competition ended. With Vanity there, accessible, he knew that wouldn’t be possible. “I’m sorry I can’t ride up with you.” The fighters would leave for Columbus a few days beforehand. Whenever possible, the organization liked to schedule local talent to greet the fans, autograph memorabilia, mug for pictures, all in all, talk up the sport. Stack wasn’t competing, but before the actual night of the competition he’d take part in all the promo and a few interviews, as would Cannon, Gage and Armie.
Leese would stay behind to keep the rec center running; that was something they took turns doing. Not that Harper, Gage’s wife, couldn’t handle it in their absence. She could probably run Union Terminal without breaking a sweat. But since the rec center’s inception, the guys had made a point of always having at least one of them around...just in case.
“It’s okay,” Vanity mumbled around a yawn. “Cherry and Merissa are going up together, so Yvette will ride with me. Besides, you’ll probably be too busy to even think about me.”
Never that. Hell, he missed her the second he stepped out the door. But admitting it didn’t feel right. Their relationship was still too new, too tentative.
And in the back of his mind, resentment lingered over the way Whitney had burned him. Never again would he take a chance on getting duped like that.
Unaware of his thoughts, Vanity pressed a kiss to his ribs. “After I take care of that, I’m working for Yvette at the shop, and then doing a photo shoot for another department store. But I should be home early.”
Home. He loved the sound of that. Her modest house felt like a real home, especially with Vanity in it. Already his clothes had a place in her closet and dresser. She’d designated a spot in the bathroom for his toothbrush and razor. They took turns cooking and cleaning, depending on who was available.
Without either of them confirming it aloud, they were now living together.
Vanity’s fingertips moved over his chest. “Want me to cook dinner?”
“Or I could take you out for once.”
“Mmm.” She slowly scooted up to nuzzle his neck. “Maybe Rowdy’s? We haven’t been there in forever.”
If less than a week was forever. But the bar was so popular, pretty much everyone enjoyed hanging out there. “Sounds good.” Stack teased a finger along her spine, and lowered his voice suggestively. “Long as we don’t stay too late.”
“Right. Because I’m pretty sure I’ll need to debauch you again tonight.”
Damn, he loved her enthusiasm.
Knowing it’d be a touchy subject for her, he stroked her hair as he asked, “When are the dogs going back to Tabby?”
She rose up to look at him with sleep-heavy eyes. That impossibly long, fair hair fell around them, draping his shoulders, spilling over his chest. He smoothed it back and to one side, then couldn’t help admiring her breasts, mostly squashed against his chest. He could feel her stiffened nipples.
No way to ignore that.
“The dogs will go to your mother’s. You didn’t know that?”
Yesterday his mother had insisted on returning to her own place. He’d stopped in to check on her, and of course he’d run into Vanity there. She’d infiltrated his family with ease, and as often as not, when he saw his mother and sister, they spent half their time talking about her.
His mother wouldn’t stop singing Vanity’s praises, claiming repeatedly that she was “a keeper.” Tabby took a different tact, warning him not to screw up, telling him Vanity was so beautiful, she could have any man she wanted, but she’d chosen him and he should appreciate that.