With a girl named Felicity…
In my head, I add another verse as I come undone underneath him. A verse I’m not quite ready to share — not yet, anyway. Maybe someday, I will.
Spent my life always the outsider
Till I fell in love…
With a man named Ryder…
I hold him close as we move together, creating our own fireworks while the rest of the world watches the Independence Day display exploding in the sky outside his window. I’m sure it’s beautiful, but I can’t find even the smallest ounce of desire to break eye contact with the man lighting every fuse inside me, setting off a shower of sparks that burn me up.
* * *
“Busted.”
My head whirls around. Lincoln is standing a few feet from me, grinning.
I blush profusely.
It’s morning. I’m wearing one of Ryder’s faded band t-shirts, sitting on the counter with my legs swinging as I eat handfuls of dry cereal straight from the box. I was starving, but Ryder looked too peaceful to wake.
There’s an awkward beat of silence as Lincoln and I stare at each other across the kitchen island. The only thing I can think to do is hold out the box in his direction.
“Want some stale Raisin Bran?”
He laughs. “Nah, I’m good.”
I take another handful, then hop down from the countertop. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to raid your cabinets, but I was hungry.”
Lincoln walks over to the fridge and starts grabbing ingredients for an omelette. His eyes slide to mine. “You eat actual food, or are you strictly a three-month-old cereal kind of girl?”
“I would not say no to eggs.” I grin. “I’m famished.”
“From all the cardio you were doing last night ?” His eyebrows waggle.
“Leave her alone, Linc,” Ryder calls, walking into the kitchen.
Turning to face him, I feel my mouth fill with drool that has nothing to do with the prospect of breakfast. He’s in a pair of low-riding gray sweatpants, his chest bare, his six-pack on full display as he walks across the room to my side. There’s a warm look in his eyes as he bends down to press his lips against mine.
“Good morning.”
“Hi,” I breathe, leaning into the kiss.
“You could’ve woken me.”
“Thought you could use the sleep.” I lift a finger to trace the dark shadows beneath his eyes. “You look tired.”
“It was a long day,” he murmurs.
And an even longer night, I think. The gleam of light in his eyes tells me his thoughts are on the same wavelength. Moving with purpose, he removes the cereal box from my grip, sets it on the counter, and hauls me up against his body.
“Breakfast later.” His lips hit my neck, nuzzling lightly. “There’s something else I’d like to do with you now…”
“Okay,” I breathe, all too on board with that plan. I’m already simmering with anticipation as his lips brush mine.
When Lincoln begins to make fake gagging sounds, Ryder turns and shoves him in the arm.
“Dude! Chill.” Linc rubs his bicep then goes back to making coffee, mumbling under his breath as he shoves a filter into the basket and dumps a few scoops of ground beans inside. “Bastard gets a little action, suddenly can’t take a joke…”