Page 106 of Truly, Madly, Deeply

Colin laughed. “You’re a violent little thing before you’ve had your coffee, aren’t you? Good to know.”

“’m not little,” she said, not bothering to refute the violent part.

He threw her weapon of choice down to the floor and slipped beneath the sheets until they were eye to eye. “Littler than me, shrimp.”

“I like you, McCrory, but you’re hardly Shaquille O’Neal.”

“Ouch, you really are grouchy before you’ve had your coffee.” He grinned. “And I am a perfectly average five foot nine.”

“You’re five eight,” she argued. “I saw it on your driver’s license when the bartender carded you that night we went out with your sister.”

That startled a laugh from him. “Snoop.”

“It was right in front of me.”

“Uh-huh.” He kissed her nose again, earning a giggle this time. “I see, caffeine and kisses are the way to your heart in the morning. Good to know.”

“Caffeine’s better.”

He flopped onto his back and mimed shoving a dagger into his heart, really hamming it up, tongue lolling from the corner of his mouth and everything. She giggled harder.

“You’re lethal to a man’s ego.” He rolled back over and grinned, the epitome of a morning person. Either that, or he was just like this after he got laid. She required more evidence, a larger sample of mornings spent with him to draw a conclusion. “If kisses won’t do the trick, what do you say to coffee and pancakes?”

She’d never say no to coffee and pancakes. If she were one day to be held hostage and could only tweet in code for help, she’d definitely say something like I hate pancakes and coffee and kisses from Colin McCrory.

“With maple syrup?”

“Obviously.”

“Well, if there’s maple syrup, I suppose I could be convinced.” She kicked off the covers.

“Hold on.” He rested a hand on her now bare hip—she’d borrowed a shirt to sleep in, but pants weren’t something she ever wore to bed—keeping her from sitting. “Don’t I at least get a good morning kiss?”

She screwed up her face. “I have morning breath.”

“So do I. Besides”—his hand drifted, cupping her ass and dragging her closer until they were chest to chest and she was tucked against him—“you kissed me with a mouthful of my come last night. I think we’re past the point of being worried about morning breath.”

She buried her face against his shoulder, hiding her blush. “Colin.”

“Grumpy and bashful in the mornings?” He laughed. “Any other personalities I need to know about?” He laughed harder. “Hey, you’ve got Sleepy and Sneezy covered, too, don’t you?”

She burrowed deeper into his shoulder. “Careful, Snow White, or I’ll be the one calling you princess from now on.”

“Nah, obviously I’m Happy.” Colin tapped her on the ass. “Let’s go get some coffee in you, hm, Grumpy?”

“Wait.” She grabbed his arm before he could roll out of bed. “If you really don’t have a problem with morning breath...”

He rolled his eyes and reached for her chin, tipping her face up so he could press a soft, sweet kiss against her mouth.

“Good morning.” He smiled against her lips. “You sleep well?”

“The sleep I got was great.”

“Note to self.” Colin threw his legs over the side of the bed. “Don’t wake Truly up before...”

“Ten?”

“That’s half the day,” he argued, making his way across the room dressed in only his briefs. He opened the top drawer of his dresser and pulled out a pair of sweats.

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