Reluctantly, we break the kiss, and I plant one on her forehead, just because.
“How’s my favorite media empress?” I ask.
“Fighter Films is real.” Her face lights up. “All signed. All official.”
My throat gets tight, which is ridiculous because I’m supposed to be the composed one. “I’m so proud of you it hurts.”
“And our prodigy?”
“Destroyed them all.” I laugh. “A scout from Columbia tried their New York City bullshit, but she’s Princeton material through and through.”
Em crushed it in LA with the rest of the youth women’s Saber team. They’re headed back to San Francisco while I’m here, overnight bag ready, our new normal since Reese and I traded keys last month.
Seventy-two hours, just us. I’ve started to appreciate her obsessive scheduling, especially since tonight’s blocked off forsword appreciation time…which sounds both ridiculous and incredibly hot.
“Like coach, like student.” When she kisses me, it’s all silk and steel and pure Reese. My brain short-circuits. Then she spots the TV, and her eyes narrow. “Is that—”
“Oh, it absolutely fucking is.Heartland Heritage: Extended Cut. Baby Reese in rhinestone cowboy boots is better than finding out about Ramsey’s secret passion for ballroom dancing.” On screen, she’s trying so hard to be country, it’s physically painful not to laugh.
“Changing all my door codes,” she threatens, but she’s trying not to smile. “And I’m burning every copy.”
“Too late, got my contraband.” I grip her hips like they belong in my hands, which they do. “Actually, speaking of contraband…I got you something.”
“For me?”
“Anybody else here?” I wink, grabbing the box from my duffel bag by the couch and settling next to her on her couch.
“What is this?” She stares at me, calculating the weight of the box. “Is it a brick?”
“For Fighter Films.”
She kisses my nose before placing the box on her lap and undoing the ribbon on it.
Reese gasps when she pulls out the dagger. She unsheathes it with perfect form, and my mouth goes dry.
She tests its weight with this casual authority that makes me want to drop to my knees. “Dante…”
“Found it at an auction back in September. The previous owner was some Greek warrior princess, which I thought was perfect for you.”
“You’ve had this since then?” “It’s the most patient I’ve been about anything in my entire life.”
The look she gives me could level cities. Has leveled me, repeatedly. “We have to display it properly.”
“Way ahead of you. Got something set up in the bedroom. For protection. Andotherthings.” The implications make my skin buzz.
Her laugh hits me in the gut. “I love it.”
“Yeah?” I’m desperate for her approval. Always will be.
“Yeah. Not only do I love it, but I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.”
She laughs. “We must be in sync because I also got you something.” She walks over to her purse and pulls out a velvet box. My heart actually skips several beats. “Here you go.”
Inside is a pearl necklace that matches hers. “For me?”
“Ran into Paulie the other day.”
