Tough Love

by Lori Foster

  Lazily opening her eyes, she found Stack watching her, blue eyes like live flames as he continued to gently ride her.

  “Me waiting,” he explained low, “until you finished. Now that was sweet.”

  She started to laugh, but he increased the tempo, rocking the bed with his urgency, and when he put his head back, shoulders straining, she watched him and concentrated on not speaking.

  I love you.

  The words burned in her brain, begging to be free. But more quickly than anything else could, they would drive him away when she didn’t even know yet if she’d have more than the moment.

  As his big body stopped shaking and he gradually slumped down against her, she stroked his now damp back, relishing the total connection.

  Total for her—because she really had no idea what Stack felt. For him, it could be no more than any other hookup. Satisfying, but never enough to really hook him.

  Sonorous breathing filled the room—hers and his.

  Content with his weight over her, his rich scent enveloping her, Vanity hugged him. Minutes passed.

  When he lifted his head to look at her, his crooked smile and mussed hair charmed her.

  Tracing the line of his jaw, she asked, “What?”

  “You.” He nudged against her, making her aware of the creamy wetness between her legs. “This.”

  “What about me,” she asked, then rolled her hips. “What about this?”

  His eyes darkened. “That happened too fast.” Taking her bottom lip in his teeth, he lightly tugged, licked and ended with a kiss. “I need more.”

  Her heart rejoiced, and tears tried to sting her eyes.

  She blinked them away and joked, “I blame you,” then watched his eyebrow arch at the accusation. “If you weren’t so freaking sexy, I could have held out longer.”

  The corners of his mouth tipped up. “If that’s how we’re calling it, then I need to point out this body of yours.” He kissed her shoulder. “And your face.” His firm lips teased over her cheek. “And yeah—that smile right there.” He licked her mouth, then sank in for a toe-curling kiss. “I’m only human, you know.”

  Vanity couldn’t have rid herself of the silly smile if her life depended on it. “Oh, really?”

  He nodded, all slow and serious. “Smokin’ hot, darlin’.” Then, without even a hint of a smile, he whispered, “You breathe, and I want you. Laid out naked under me, making those mewling little sounds—”

  “Hey!” She went to swat him, but he caught her wrists.

  “—and holding on to me so tight...” He lifted her hands to his shoulders. “Yeah. I didn’t stand a chance.”

  Obligingly, she curled her arms around his neck. “I don’t make weak sounds.”

  “You make honest, real sounds, and I get off on it.” His hand went down to her hip. “How do you want to do this?”

  “This?”

  “I loved feeling you and only you.”

  Love. Hearing that particular word from him sucked all the oxygen from her lungs, making her mute.

  “But now we need to tidy up before I talk you into round two.”

  Yes, yes, yes. Expression composed, she asked casually, “Round two, huh?”

  His slow nod made her shiver. “Might turn into round three, or even round four.” He stroked down her side, over her hip, to her thigh. “What do you say?”

  “I like the way you think.”

  “No convincing?”

  “Hey, you’re still naked. I’m one hundred percent convinced.” She kissed his chin. “Let me up, and I’ll take care of things, then be right back.”

  “I have a better idea.” He eased away, and as he separated from her he drifted a hand down her thigh, then rolled from the bed. “Stay put.” Gaze shuttered, he looked her over, and his voice went husky. “Just like that works. I’ll see to you, then check on the dogs, then I’ll see if I can get you mewling again.”

  Dodging the pillow she threw at him, he laughed as he headed into the bathroom. Enjoying the view as muscles played over his back and his taut tush, Vanity dropped back to the bed with a happy sigh. Life, at the moment, was almost too wonderful for words.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  AN HOUR OR so later, with Vanity tucked close to his side, Stack contemplated his next move. It was late. The dogs, brought in earlier, were now snuffling at the closed bedroom door. He was starved, so Vanity had to be, too.

  But this was nice. Vanity close, her arm across him, her lips occasionally brushing his ribs. The thought of driving home to his own bed didn’t appeal, so he hesitated to disturb the moment.

  When her slender thigh moved over his, he lifted his head enough to look down at her.

  Her eyes, still sated, a little dazed, stared into his. With uncharacteristic shyness, she said softly, “You need to make the first move.”

  “We’re here, now, because you already did.”

  She lowered her gaze and hugged him more tightly, a direct contrast to her whispered, “And I’m glad I was so brazen.”

  “Me, too.”

  “But I meant you have to make a move...to leave.”

  There it was. The thing he didn’t want to hear. He trailed his fingertips over her hip to her waist. “You want me to go?”

  “No.”

  No? Turning slightly to face her, he waited.

  “I want to keep on looking at you and touching you and smelling you—”

  Teasing her, he asked, “You’re saying I smell?”

  She had gotten him sweaty. Got her a little sweaty, too. He liked it. When Vanity said, “Mmm,” with her nose to his chest, he knew she liked it, as well.

  Nuzzling against him, she deeply inhaled. “You smell so indescribably good that it’s revving my motor all over again.”

  Idly, he cupped her firm breast. She wasn’t overly endowed, but neither would he call her small. So often the word that best described her was perfect. “That’s supposed to convince me to go?”

  “That’s to make you understand that in this, I won’t be the strong one.” Slowly she lifted her face until her gaze melted into his. “And if you stay, I might get stuck on you.”

  Though the statement made his heart kick and he automatically snuggled her closer, Stack wasn’t at all sure how he felt about that. No, he wasn’t ready to call it quits. But neither was he ready to commit just because he’d had the best sex of his life.

  Control, he reminded himself. He would be the one deciding things, and they’d both enjoy themselves because of it.

  He’d just about decided on what to say, but she beat him to the punch.

  Eyes big and soft, she whispered, “Or you could get stuck on me. Either is possible.”

  The truth of that narrowed his eyes.

  Hugging him, her voice wistful, Vanity said, “So be strong, Stack. Go now before I give into temptation, climb on board and steal all your options.”

  Climb on board? He breathed faster, his cock twitched, and damned if he didn’t get hard again. “I’ll go—after you give in.” He helped her over him to sit on his abs. “After you climb on board.” Hands on her hips, he lifted her so she could settle on to his already straining erection again. “That’s the option I choose.”

  * * *

  A FEW HOURS before sunrise, Stack awoke. He spooned Vanity, her petite, sweetly curved body fitting perfectly against his. He had one arm under her head, the other wrapped over her waist, then bent so he could hold her breast.

  He surrounded her and liked it.

  No surprise that he had morning wood. Throughout the night, she’d gotten him there again and again.

  Over and over he’d taken her bareback, nothing between them, and damn, it felt like heaven. They’d taken a short break to care for the dogs, then another to grab sandwiches since neither of them had eaten.

  Then they’d gone back to bed. He should have been satisfied, and instead every fiber of his being was only more sensitized to the sight of her smile, the sound of her quickened breathing, the h
eated scent of her sweet body.

  The dogs, both snoring on the floor at the side of the bed, continued to sleep. But now, with his dick twitching against her perfect ass, Vanity wiggled and sighed her way awake.

  “Stack?” she asked in a sleep rough voice that made him want to cuddle her, kiss her—and fuck her breathless.

  He settled on caressing her breast. “Did you think maybe I traded places with some other dude during the night?”

  “Mmm.” Her hand stroked his forearm. “Just thought I might be dreaming.”

  He wanted her again. But he also had a boatload of shit to get done before he headed to the rec center. One thought tumbled after another, and at the risk of spooking her, he asked, “You free later today?”

  To his disappointment, she shook her head. “Sadly, no.”

  Far as brush-offs went, it wasn’t the worst. But damn, he needed more time. “I could try to convince you.”

  She freed herself from his embrace, sat up on a hip and put her arms up to stretch.

  Long, tangled blond hair hung down her narrow back, the tips just kissing the top of her sexy ass. Sleek muscles shifted in her shoulders and thighs. She was toned, not bulky, with a surfer’s body. The remainder of a light tan seemed more pronounced against the paler skin of her breasts and heart-shaped bottom.

  That stirred him, too. Seeing parts of Vanity Baker that even the sun hadn’t seen.

  Her movements woke Maggie and Norwood, and after they did their own stretching, they whined to go out.

  “I’ll get them.” In a unique form of torture, she walked around her bedroom beautifully naked, collecting mocha-colored sheer lace panties, a shirt...and nothing else.

  Before she left the room, she turned back to him. “I can put on coffee.”

  “That’d be nice.” He usually didn’t indulge, but it’d give him a few minutes to talk her into extending their time together. With only a corner of the sheet covering him, he folded his arms behind his head. “Thanks.”

  One hand resting on Maggie’s head, she studied him. A little more breathless, she asked, “You drink it? I wasn’t sure.”

  Hmm. Maybe he should have kicked the sheet aside completely. She did seem to enjoy his body. “I will today.”

  Her gaze jumped to his. “Will what?”

  Smiling, he scratched his stomach, and saw her gaze track his hand in fascination. “Drink a cup of coffee with you.”

  “Oh. Right.” Face flushed, she said, “Come on, Norwood. Let’s go.” In a rush, she fled the room.

  Grinning, Stack took his time getting out of the bed. The pale yellow sheets were soft, and the pillow he lifted to his face smelled like Vanity, the scent rich and stirring.

  And that, he knew, wasn’t going to help him get the ol’ John Henry to behave.

  He made use of the connected bathroom and her mouthwash but didn’t worry about shaving. He’d have to head home to shower and change before he went to the rec center anyway. He pulled on his boxers and went to look for her.

  The hall bathroom door was closed as he passed it, so he went on to the kitchen. The dogs were still out, sniffing every blade of grass and running reconnaissance around the yard. The coffeemaker had just finished spitting and hissing when Vanity reappeared. She paused uncertainly in the doorway.

  Her face looked dewy from a quick wash. She’d taken the time to braid her long hair, and it hung over her shoulder alongside her right breast.

  Against the cold tile floor, her toes curled.

  Abs tightening at the sight of her, Stack accepted the truth—walking away would be tough.

  Going back to treating her like one of the gang would be worse.

  Like...maybe impossible.

  He held out a hand, and she hurriedly stepped forward to take it. Drawing her in, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and kissed her good morning. “Even now, you look sexy.”

  “That’s what I was going to say to you.” Her fingers edged over the waistband of his boxers. “You can’t expect me to be coherent if this is all you wear.”

  “Look who’s talking.” He dropped his hand to her sexy butt and gently squeezed.

  She bit her bottom lip, stared up at him, and suddenly hugged him tight.

  Not sure what had brought that on, Stack kissed her temple. “You okay?”

  “I wish I wasn’t busy all today.” She straightened her arms, pushing back to see his face. “Were you going to ask to see me again? Or... Oh, God. Were you just making conversation?”

  Insecurity didn’t fit her well. “What do you think?”

  She took the question seriously, then relaxed. “I think we were so good together that you want a repeat.”

  “Right in one.” He turned to the cabinets. “Where are your mugs?”

  Stepping around him, she went on tiptoe and got down two.

  His gaze on her long legs and bottom, Stack smiled. “For a show like this, I’d drink coffee every morning.”

  She flashed him a smile. “Cream or sugar?”

  “Black is good.” Caffeine wasn’t really in his menu plan. No reason to really blow it.

  “Me, too.”

  Another surprise. He’d figured her for a cream-and-sugar type. Ms. Baker was one revelation after another. The one last night, though, wanting sex without a condom...that had been a biggie. Even now, he could feel the heat of her, how she’d clasped his cock, the sweet wetness as her excitement escalated.

  “Damn.”

  While filling the mugs, she peeked at him over her shoulder. “What?”

  “Sex stuff.” He nodded at her body. “Just remembering.”

  She sighed. “Me, too.”

  He waited until they were both seated before he verbally circled back around to seeing her again. “What are you doing later?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Mostly working.”

  That didn’t sound like too much of a barrier. He knew she helped out Yvette by working some hours at the resale shop, especially now, with Yvette a newlywed. “When do you finish up?”

  “I’m taking Yvette’s shift from eight to two. Then I have an hour to grab food and run some errands before I have to...be at my other job.”

  Other job? And why did she look away before saying that? She appeared...well, not guilty so much as evasive. “Two jobs?”

  She swallowed her coffee, fidgeted and murmured something low.

  “What’s that?”

  Huffing, she set her coffee aside. “Three jobs. Officially, that is. But I usually only work about twenty hours for Yvette. The other jobs...” She shrugged. “They vary.”

  “Three.” Once again she’d taken him by surprise. Hadn’t she claimed to be rich? Why would a woman her age, with supposed unlimited means, bog herself down like that? “Want to tell me why?”

  “I like helping Yvette. She’s my best friend. Like a sister, even.”

  While thinking it through, he nodded, accepting that. “She and Cannon deserve a week off.”

  “You and some of the others are filling in for Cannon?”

  “Where we can.”

  “That’s so—”

  To keep her from calling him sweet again, he interrupted. “And the other jobs? What are they, anyway?”

  Heat warmed her cheeks. Just then the dogs demanded to be let back in, so she was off the hook—temporarily—while they refilled the water and food dishes and took a few minutes to show the dogs some love.

  It was nice, how easily Vanity accepted them, including wet paws, shedding fur and sloppy dog kisses. She took genuine pleasure in them, and it showed. In return, the dogs adored her.

  When they went off to nap in the rays of the rising sun, he pulled Vanity into his lap. She started to kiss him, but he forestalled that by saying, “Jobs.”

  “It’s boring stuff.” She rubbed the backs of her knuckles over his bristly jaw, creating a rasp in the quiet morning. “I like you all macho like this.”

  “Beard shadow is macho?”

  “Mmm.” She
traced his lips with one fingertip. “You’re macho. And sexy. And—”

  “And you’re dodging,” he interrupted before he caved, laid her on the table and took those boner-inspiring panties off her. “I have to wonder why.”

  Pretending to crumple in frustration, she fell back and left Stack to catch her. Which he laughingly did.

  Then, to secure his hold, he rearranged her so that she straddled his lap. Nice. Enjoying the sight of her slender thighs opened around him, cushioned by his hairier legs, he almost got sidetracked.

  “I’m trying to seduce you, and you want to talk about my work.”

  That brought him back around. “Tell me about the jobs, and then you can seduce me.”

  She perked up. “Seriously? Do we have time?”

  A glance at the wall clock showed he’d be cutting it close. “For a quickie, maybe. But only if you quit stalling.”

  That must’ve been incentive enough because she blew out a breath and said, “Fine. But it’s not a big deal, so don’t make it into one, okay?”

  “I’m not committing until I know what we’re talking about.”

  Her mouth twisted to the side. Still hesitant, she admitted, “I model.”

  Yeah, he hadn’t seen that coming, but given her looks and style, he should have. “You model.” Why did she look so grave about it?

  Nodding, she defended herself, saying, “It’s harder than you think.”

  “Never said it wasn’t.” Though he really had no clue. He had a hundred questions but started with, “Where?” If she’d be flying off and leaving him, he wanted to know.

  No, wait. He didn’t like how that concern sounded, even to himself. They weren’t an item, so she wouldn’t be leaving him. Just...leaving.

  Shit. He hated that thought.

  “Just local stuff.”

  Stack released a tense breath. “Local, huh?”

  She slid off his lap and went to her kitchen countertop, then returned with a few mailers for stores at the mall. “This one is for fragrance.”

  The shot showed Vanity’s shoulder and face in profile with lots of shadows, and she had this secret little smile. A dude was behind her, his nose in her hair. Well, fuck. Who would even see the small perfume bottle on the dresser in the background?