Page 49 of Nidev and Lyric

His regret made her stomach churn. She eased her butt onto the bed and lay down. “Is it bad that I love it? Because I do.”

“Yes,” he informed softly. “Itisbad. And it’s bad that I don’t care how bad it is.”

“Maybe it’s not as bad as you’re thinking. You were very careful with me,” she reminded. “I nearly fell asleep waiting.”

“Doo-nie,” he murmured, his hungry tone sending a thrill up her spine. “Yourlyingfrequency turns me on too. But only when you lie to justify my sick appetite.”

“What if I’m lying to justifymysick appetite?”

She smiled when he gave a chuckle. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before.”

“What?” he whispered.

“You just made a sound that resembled a laugh. It was a little pathetic but I’m counting it.”

“You’re the only human on this planet I would make such a pathetic sound for.”

She smiled, flipping onto her back. “Really,” she mumbled.

“Really.”

“I’m under your skin, am I?” she teased.

“Saturated. I’m trying to remember what sleep was like before you.”

She laughed at that. “Am I that much trouble?”

“You have no idea,” he assured.

“So you called me in the middle of the night because you missed me. While I’m sleeping in your bed.”

“And I’m in yours.”

She sucked in a breath then gasped a laugh. “You went tomyapartment?”

“I needed you but couldn’t be with you. Your scent is everywhere here. Then I needed to hear your voice. It… does something to me.”

She lay on her side with the phone. “Well, my gift—”

“Not your gift,” he cut in softly. “Just your voice.”

Her heart hammered as she released a shaky breath. “You… like my voice?”

“I love your voice,” he said, his heat and conviction bringing a huge smile and tears.

“I didn’t know,” she confessed quietly.

“You remind me of something… that changed my life long ago.”

Her heart raced with wonder. “What is it?”

“It’s... kind of a story.”

She smiled more. “Well, I happen to have a moment. The man I’mobsessedwith isn’t here at the moment.”

She held her breath, suddenly curious at the stretch of silence. Her smile slowly melted away at the way he drew in a deep breath.

“I have only one sibling,” he said softly. “A sister. Six years older than me. She was... my mother. My best friend.”

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