It was clear from her expression that she was confused.
“If this business plan doesn’t work,” he explained, “then I’ll find somethin’ else. The only thing I know for certain is that I’ll be here.” He held her stare for a moment. “I need to know you trust me when I say that.”
She hesitated, and Stone instantly knew they weren’t on the same page yet. Before he could tell her he’d give her some space to think about it, Stevie leaned forward, cupping his face.
“I trust you, Stone.”
She didn’t. He knew she didn’t. She’d said that as much for his benefit as for her own. He hated that she was trying to convince herself he was telling the truth.
At the same time, he wasn’t willing to upset the balance of what they were building. It took time. He knew that. And he had a lot to atone for. He was willing to commit to making it up to her if it took the next sixty years.
But right now, he was tired. Too tired to fight, too tired to argue, and too tired to defend himself.
He broke eye contact with her and sighed. “I should probably head home. It’s gettin’ late. Y’all have to work tomorrow.”
“Stay,” they said at the same time.
Stevie cut her gaze to Nico. “Jinx, you owe me a cock.”
Stone snorted in disbelief.Thatwas not how the game was played, but he had to give her points for creativity.
Nico’s eyes flashed with lust. “Darlin’, you don’t even have to ask.”
And for a moment—albeit brief—the tension disappeared, and Stone felt at peace.
***
Nico wasn’t sure how they’d gotten ontothis subject.
Not the cock part.Thathe expected because Stevie was the sort of woman who went after what she wanted. Her littlefaux pashadn’t surprised him, which said a lot about how well he knew her. Stevie had a way of shifting the difficult conversations to a topic she was more comfortable with. And sex was one of her go-to’s.
“I think I’m gonna take a bath,” she said now, sitting up straight and stretching. When she put her arms down, she planted her hands on Stone’s broad chest. “But only if you promise to stay.”
Nico felt Stone’s gaze when it swung toward him, so he nodded. “Stay.”
“It’s settled.” Stevie hopped up off the couch. “If I come back to find you gone, I’ll hunt you down and kick your ass.”
Stone held up his hands in surrender. “Don’t wanna risk that.”
She flashed a grin at Nico as she pranced out of the room. Jäger trotted along behind her, content to go wherever she went.
Nico knew how the puppy felt. Being with Stevie was a comfort he’d never expected. One he’d gotten used to over the past several months.
When her footsteps receded down the hall, Stone looked his way.
“I do need an answer.”
Nico had wondered if they would be having this conversation. Not the business one. He honestly wasn’t sure what role he could play in Stone’s plan, but he was willing to pitch in however he needed because they were on the same page when it came to the direction their relationship was going. Forever was his end goal, and as long as Stevie and Stone were moving in the same direction, Nico intended to match their pace. Fast or slow, he didn’t care. As long as he had forever.
But rather than explain it as it pertained to business terms, Nico pounced on a different one. “I love you.”
Stone’s eyes slammed into his face and remained there as the seconds ticked by, the rapid thump of his heart the only sound in the room.
The tension ratcheted, growing taut with every breath. Stone didn’t say anything, but he didn’t look away. Nico wasn’t sure what that meant or what to expect. He wished he could read Stone’s mind, know what he was thinking.
It felt like an hour, but only a few seconds passed when everything came into focus as Stone moved. Nico’s gaze was fixed in portrait mode, blurring out everything in the background except for Stone’s face, the hard line of his jaw, the slight slant of his nose, and the desire that burned brilliantly in his hazel eyes.
Before he knew what was happening, he was flat on his back, Stone laid out over him, half his body covering Nico’s while the other half lay on the cushion beside him.
