MIA ROLLED OVER AND BLINKED, THEN REACHED HER arm out for Nathan.

His side of the bed was empty. And cold.

She frowned, then reached for her phone.

Okay, it was seven a.m. and way too early to get up. She looked over at the bathroom door, but it was open and the bathroom was dark, so he wasn’t in there. Did he get up and leave already?

No. Nathan wouldn’t do that without waking her up to say good-bye. At least she didn’t think he would. It wasn’t like they’d spent the night together a lot.

She got out of bed and saw his clothes from last night laid over the chair.

Okay, he was still here. Somewhere.

She slid into a tank top and a pair of shorts, then started downstairs. The smell of coffee hit her halfway down. She kept coffee around for guests, but normally she brewed tea. When she turned the corner at the landing, Nathan was there, leaning against her kitchen island while he drank a cup of coffee.

Wearing just his boxer briefs.

She had to gape for a moment at the picture he presented. Wide shoulders, broad back, muscled thighs. She was fully awake now, for sure. If only a nearly naked beefcake like this could present himself in her kitchen every morning, it would be the best wake-up call ever.

She made her way into the kitchen. Nathan turned his head and leveled his thousand-watt smile on her.

“Morning.”

“Good morning. You’re up early.”

“I got plenty of sleep. You’re the one who’s up early. I thought you might want to sleep in.”

“I’m good, but thanks.” She filled her teapot with water, then set it on the stove and went to grab a cup and the tea diffuser.

“Thanks for taking me in last night.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you had fun at your party.”

He laid his cup on the counter and tugged her against him. “I was surprised as hell. And I had a great time. Thank you.”

He was rubbing her back, and she had to admit it felt good to be pressed against his warm body. And when he grasped the nape of her neck and pulled her forward for a kiss, she didn’t resist.

This was what she’d wanted last night—a continuation of what they’d started in the coat closet. She raised up on her toes to get closer, to run her hands over all the glorious, exposed muscle of his arms and shoulders. He responded by cupping her butt and drawing her against his now-hard cock.

Her sex was now sharply awake and ready for him.

Until the teapot whistled. She pulled back. “Sorry.”

He gave her a look that was all raw hunger and need. “Turn it off.”

She flipped the burner knob to off, then went back to Nathan, who drew her against him.

“I’m hard and I need to be inside of you,” he said. “You sleeping naked in the bed next to me when I got up this morning? That was torture. I wanted to wake you up and fuck you.”

She lifted her gaze to his. “Why didn’t you?”

He bent and took her bottom lip between his teeth, teasing her before kissing her again, more deeply this time. She moaned against his mouth, flicking her tongue against his.

He pulled his mouth from hers. “Because you needed to sleep. But now you’re awake and we started something last night that we didn’t get to finish.”

She smoothed her hands over his chest, using the pads of her thumb to roll over his nipples, and was rewarded with his sharp intake of breath.

“I agree. I’m ready for you.”

He flipped her around so she was facing the island, then slid his hand inside her shorts. She quivered at his touch, a hot fire of need sparking inside of her.

She tilted her head back and rested it against his collarbone, arching her hips forward to meet his questing fingers.

“You’re wet,” he whispered against her ear.

“I need to come. You make me so hot, Nathan.”

He slid a finger inside of her, using his hand to massage her clit. With his other hand he reached under her tank top to massage her breasts and nipples. She could already feel herself falling, her body quivering in response to the magic his hand and fingers aroused within her. She felt as if she was floating on a cloud of delicious sensations, and before she knew what was happening, she was climaxing with a loud cry.

Nathan pressed his fingers in and out of her while she rode out her orgasm, leaving her spent and taking in deep breaths. He kissed the back of her neck.

“Stay like this. I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared up the stairs and was back in a hurry with a condom in his hand. He drew her shorts down, then his boxer briefs, and put the condom on. He spread her legs and put his arm around her, shielding her body from the kitchen island.

“You ready for me?” he asked, teasing her pussy with the head of his cock.

She gripped the edge of the counter. “Yes.”

He slid inside of her with one thrust, then stilled. Her skin broke out in chill bumps, every nerve ending feeling the intense pleasure of his cock swelling inside of her. It was the sweetest sensation, and she reached down to rub her clit, making her sex quiver with powerful quakes.

“Oh, fuck yeah,” he said. “I feel that.”

He withdrew, then drove into her again, this time with more force, grasping her hips as he powered into her over and over while she strummed her clit with frenzied strokes.

Her body tightened around him as she spiraled toward orgasm again.

“Yeah,” he said, reaching up to cup her breast, to tease and pluck her nipples. “Take me with you. Come on my cock, Mia.”

His words were a dark whisper of promise, his voice deep and husky and telling of his own need. She pushed her hips toward him and lost herself in the sensations that wrapped around her, in the musky scent of Nathan and her own sex mingling together, in the way his warm breath caressed her, the way he kissed and nibbled on her neck.

When she came, it was with an unintelligible cry and mix of words. Nathan bucked against her and dug his fingers into her hips, only adding to the wild pleasure that sent her toppling into a deeper, more penetrating orgasm. And when Nathan wrapped both arms around her and shuddered against her, she felt that connection to him while they both rocketed into oblivion.

Sometime a few minutes later she came out of the fog. She was still bent over the island and Nathan was draped over her back.

“We’re sweaty,” she said.

“Yeah.” He disengaged from her and she turned to face him.

“I need tea. But I need a shower first. Want to join me?”

“Definitely. Let me grab a pair of shorts and a T-shirt from my car first.”

She arched a brow and looked at him. “You’re naked.”

He laughed. “I’m going to grab my pants from upstairs.”

“Good call. I’m not posting bail for your indecent exposure.”

She went upstairs and started the shower, and got in once the water was hot. Nathan joined her a couple of minutes later. They both washed and rinsed, then got out and dried off.

Mia dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and Nathan put on the clothes he’d grabbed from his car. She headed downstairs to start the tea brewing process all over again and Nathan poured himself another cup of coffee.

“That was one hell of a great start to the day,” he said as he took a swallow of coffee.

Her tea finally ready, she grabbed a seat at the island. “Yes, I’m fully awake now. And you told Jamal last night you were going to show up at the gym bright and early and mentioned something about kicking his butt.”

He pulled up a bar stool and sat next to her. “I did? Huh. Guess I’ll be late.”

She thought for sure he’d want to run right out of there considering how competitive he was. “I guess so.”

“What are your plans for today?” he asked.

“Catching up on work stuff.”

“I could make you breakfast. Are you hungry?”

“Actually I am. I’ll help you cook.”

“Sounds good.”

They worked side by side and made spinach, artichoke and tomato omelets. She poured juice and they sat at the island and ate. Mia picked up her phone and scanned social media.

She frowned when she saw the pictures.

“A photographer snuck into the birthday party last night.”

Nathan swallowed. “Yeah?”

“Yes. Look.”

She slid her phone across to him. “There are pictures from the party. And we did not invite photographers.”

He looked at the photos, then passed her phone back to her. “They got some good shots. You should grab those.”

“Nathan. This is serious.”

“Why?”

“How did a paparazzo even know about the party?”

He downed the last of his coffee, then got up to make another cup. “Come on, Mia. That many people there? Plus my parents, Tyler, Gavin, other teammates. It was bound to attract some attention.”

She rubbed her temple and read the article on the sports news site about the party. It was fairly innocuous, but still, it irked her that someone had been at the party sneaking pictures and she hadn’t even noticed. “I . . . guess.”

She did a search using Nathan’s name and “birthday party.” More articles and photos came up. She found one of the two of them together, his arm slung around her. She chewed on her lower lip as she read the article, this one on a sports gossip site. “Here’s one questioning whether or not I’m gunning to be your new girlfriend. Ugh.”

“You’re going to have to tune all that out, Mia.”

She couldn’t believe he’d even suggest that. “It’s hard to tune that out. I’m trying to build a business, and part of my business is not ‘gunning to be Nathan Riley’s new girlfriend.’ ”

He brought his cup to the island and sat next to her, then reached over to grasp her hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry. To me it’s all fluff and no one pays attention to it. I’ll try to keep a closer eye out in the future.”

“Thank you. I will, too.”

They sat in silence for a while and Mia searched more sites but didn’t find anything on the party, which she supposed was a good thing. She decided to set her worry aside, at least for now.

“So now your birthday is over and the next thing up is training camp. Are you excited?”

He scooped up a forkful of omelet and slid it between his lips. He nodded, swallowed and said, “Yeah.”

That didn’t seem enthusiastic.

“Nervous about leading the team?”

“Sort of. I mean, it’s a big fucking deal, ya know? I know they’re looking to me to walk onto the field and be Mick Riley. Only I’m not.”

She laid her hand on his forearm. “I don’t think anyone is expecting you to be anything like your dad, Nathan. And if the team didn’t feel you had the skills at quarterback to lead the team, then they wouldn’t have made you the starter.”

He let out a sigh. “I guess. It’ll be fine, I’m sure. I’m just anxious to get started.”

“I’m sure you are. And I’ll bet all this anxiety you’re having is fear of the unknown. You had so much confidence in Texas, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“That’s because you knew what you were doing. This is no different. As soon as you take the reins on the offense, you’ll get back in your groove.”

He leaned back on the bar stool. “This is different. It’s the pros. A lot more eyes on me.”

She understood his anxiety more than he knew. “When I had the idea to start up this company, in theory and as long as it was in my head, it was fine. The reality of it is so much different, because you’re right. Everyone’s watching to see if you fail.”

He rubbed her back. “I’ve never known anyone more determined to succeed than you. You have the skills and the knowledge and the background, Mia. You’ll make a go of your business, and you’ll be the best at it.”

She hadn’t been fishing for compliments, but his certainty about her abilities sure felt good. “Thanks for your confidence in me. I feel the same way about you, Nathan. You’ve got this.”

He swept his hand up her back and into her hair. “Then I guess we’re both going to kick some ass, aren’t we?”

She gave him a smile. “Hell yes we are.”

He brushed his lips across hers, lingering for a few seconds and making her breath catch before he pulled back to take a swallow of coffee.

“So . . . about last night.”

She tilted her head. “What about last night?”

“In the car on the way to the party. I thought you were texting a guy.”

“Oh.” Her lips curved. “I wasn’t. I was texting your mom.”

“Yeah. Well, when I thought you had a date, I didn’t like it.”

She tried to fight the smile. “Okay.”

“So I’d like you to be with me, Mia. Just me. Try me out for a while. I know you’ll like me.”

She laughed. “I’m not seeing anyone else, Nathan, and have no intention of doing so. And I already like you.”

“Good. And ditto. I’m not seeing anyone else, either. And this is different from what we were before. Now we’re dating. In a relationship. Ya know?”

His broad grin made her melt. “Yes. I know. We’ll try it out for size and see how it goes.”

So now they were officially in a relationship. Which was weird since they’d been friends for years. She mentally crossed her fingers, hoping this worked out between them without ruining what they had.