Page 48 of The Lyrics of Love

Nash caught the rich scent of coffee and saw the small dining table set with plates and silverware.

“Have a seat. I hope you like hazelnut.”

“I do,” he told her, taking a place as she brought a steaming mug toward him.

She placed creamer and sugar on the table and he doctored his coffee while she brewed herself a cup in the Keurig. He opened the box and Rylie came over, leaning low and sniffing.

“Ah, a sugar high—just from smelling. And cinnamon.” Her eyes took in what lay in the box. “Ainsley must’ve have told you what I like. All my favorites are here.”

“She told me you enjoy cinnamon. So do I.”

Nash pulled her into his lap, taking a long minute to kiss her. He released her and pushed her to her feet. “Needed to see what you tasted like before the bear claw,” he teased.

She brought her own mug of coffee to the table and sat, removing the bear claw and placing it on her plate.

“This was nice of you to do,” she said. “I was going to make breakfast for you. But this sure beats cereal and toast.”

He took a bite of a glazed donut. “I had an ulterior motive,” he admitted. “My stomach was growling. I didn’t want it to scare you off. I also thought I could use a little sustenance before our workout.”

Color bloomed on her cheeks as she chewed. She took a sip of coffee. “I was—”

“Don’t tell me you were teasing. Because I wasn’t.” He reached and took a lock of her hair, winding it around his fingers, pulling her near enough to give her a soft kiss. “I definitely wasn’t. While you slept like a rock, I spent half the night awake. Thinking about you.”

Rylie bit her lip. “You did?”

“I sure did, darlin.’ Finish up that bear claw—because we’ve got some exploring to do.”

She laughed, a sound that would stay with him when they were apart.

Nash inhaled his donut and also a cinnamon twist. He finished his coffee and went to the sink with his plate and cup, rinsing them and placing them in her dishwasher.

“That is sexy,” Rylie proclaimed. “A man who cleans up after himself.”

“I’ll do you one better.” He picked up her dirty dishes and did the same.

By now, her smile was brilliant.

Taking his hand, she led him into the bedroom and turned, slowly unknotting the belt. She parted the robe.

Nothing was underneath it.

Nash’s mouth went dry.

Rylie wriggled out of it. “Let’s see how fast we can get you out of those clothes.”

“Set a timer,” he told her. “I may break a land speed record.”

She laughed heartily as he threw off his clothes, capturing her in his arms for a long, drugging kiss. They fell back onto the unmade bed. Where last night had been more a slow discovery, now was a frenzy of limbs and heat. Nash barely got the condom on before she was guiding him inside her.

Their mouths fused together, bound by heat and desire, as he moved inside her. He came as she did, his cry hoarse, hers a loud moan. He collapsed onto her, thinking this had been as good as last night. Different but fully satisfying.

Nash nuzzled her neck and thrust his body so that they quickly traded places, Rylie now on top.

“That was amazing,” she told him. “You are amazing.”

“You are, too,” he said sincerely, knowing their two couplings had been unique to anything he had ever experienced. He knew why.

Because he was emotionally invested in her. In them.

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