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“Monday?” I rasped, looking over at him. “After the shows are over for the week. You could come to my place again that evening.”

“Okay,” he breathed immediately with an emphatic nod. “Okay, yeah. Cool. That’s… Monday. Shweet. Um, want me to… bring anything?”

I huffed a tiny laugh. “Like what?”

He flushed. “I don’t know. I just meant… ooh, I could get some of that caramel apple vodka and some cream soda. So you can try it.”

I gave him a wry smile. “Probably shouldn’t drink, given what we’ll be doing.”

“Oh, right. Yeah. Of course.” His brow wrinkled as he gnawed on his lower lip, then sheepishly admitted, “I don’t actually have anything I can bring. You know, like… sex stuff. I don’t have any, um, toys or anything.”

My belly tightened as I watched him—watched that delicate flush spread down his neck. Suddenly, I was picturing Larkin on his knees in front of me, mewling out those little moans around my cock as he sucked me eagerly and bounced on a dildo suctioned to the floor. Maybe with a vibrator strapped to his dick.

I doubted he’d last even a few minutes.

I doubted I would either.

“I have toys,” I murmured darkly. “But I don’t think we’ll need them yet.”

We could work up to that. There was still plenty we could do before we got to the point of adding accessories. Whatever kept him coming back for as long as possible.

Larkin was giving me that perky, wide-eyed look, and I could tell he was desperate to know what toys I owned. Maybe he was even picturing me using them. Fuck, I hoped so. I knew he had to at least find me physically attractive—he got too fucking hard for me for that to be in doubt. But was any part of him attracted to me as a person? To Seb, the werewolf who did crossword puzzles and didn’t say much and was comfortable with a quiet life, not a wild one that involved partying with wrestlers and staying out late and trying new experiences?

I wanted him to want me back so much that it physically hurt. But I was a realist. I’d be too boring for Larkin. He’d get restless with me, and there was nothing wrong with that. There was nothing wrong with him wanting more from life than I could offer.

The door opened, both of us snapping our heads toward it. Holt walked in carrying Cora, whose tongue was lolling out as she panted merrily. When she did that, it almost looked like she was smiling maniacally and her eyes drifted outward. My mouth twitched as I stood up to take her.

I liked dogs. I wanted one someday. But I’d always pictured getting one once I was settled in the committed relationship that I knew wasn’t going to end. Adding to the family we’d already created. A little pup, me and…

“Everything good?” Larkin asked Holt, standing up and making his way over. He gave me a tiny smile as he reached out and stroked Cora’s little dome head, standing perhaps a touch closer than necessary.

“All fine.” Holt smiled, still looking relaxed, which was rare. Usually he came back complaining about at least one of the wrestlers being “a bratty pain in the ass.”

“Are we heading to the box now?” Larkin was still standing close, studiously watching Cora as he fussed over her, laughing a little when her long tongue emerged to try and lick his wrist. He jerked his hand away, and it briefly landed on my bicep. I heard his breath catch before he slowly lowered it to his side and took a tiny step back.

“Not yet. Just want to get a few things done first.” Holt headed for his office, then paused. “Did the merch shipment come in?”

“Yep. This afternoon.”

“Great.” Holt was eyeing Larkin like he didn’t really know what to do with an assistant who’d actually done his work. “I guess just… chill out until the show starts, then.”

“I’ll take Cora for her walk.” Larkin reached for her, so I handed her over. Then his eyes darted up to meet mine as he flushed. “I mean, unless you wanted to…?”

“Go ahead.”

He hesitated as Holt vanished into his office and shut the door behind him, then quickly licked his lips and shrugged. “You could come with. If you want.”

I opened my mouth to say yes. Spend more time with Larkin, just the two of us? Of course I wanted to. But then I realised that Ludo would already be upstairs, working entry in the front lobby. I was a little worried that he’d be able to… tell if he saw me with Larkin.

“It’s okay.” I tried to make it sound like he’d be doing me a favour to let me tag along with him, because I absolutely did not want Larkin to think I didn’t want to hang out with him. “You have your routine with her. I’ll just slow it down.”

“She likes you,” he protested, then grinned at me. “She can sense a kindred spirit, I bet.”

Chuckling, I sat back down on the couch and picked up my crossword book. “I’ll wait here.”

“Are you really coming to watch the show tonight?” he asked hopefully, not moving.

I nodded, giving him a tiny smile. “Sure. Been a while since I watched the wrestling.”