Page 99 of Staying for You

To get my point across, I barged into his bedroom one morning and straddled him, waking him up with my mouth, kissing every inch of skin I could before he stopped me with his hands around my biceps. He stared up into my eyes, my blue clashing with his hazel, and whatever he saw in my blue made him grin that lazy, cute grin I damn near fell in love with at first sight and he pulled my head down to meet his lips.

We came together hard and fast that first time we found each other again. Clothes getting ripped off and tossed in every corner of his bedroom. He made me climb up his body, straddle his face and then he reminded me how good he is between my legs. How magical his tongue is, especially when he combines it with the use of his thumb on my clit or thumb and finger pinching my nipple. He knows how to work my body and what I love most.

And now, it’s been a month. We know what we both want. My house is on the market in Tennessee and has several showings happening this week. My family might still live there, but my home is in Northern Minnesota. It has been since the day I walked into that McDonald’s three months ago.

“I was thinking we’d put some steaks on the grill tonight. Celebrate my cast coming off in a few hours. Sound good?”

“Sounds delicious.” And I’m hoping, that after tonight when he gets full use of both legs back, we’ll be able to have some more fun. Though, I can’t say as though either of us have been deprived of anything, either.

“Sawyer’s coming out. Said he’d bring some salad.”

I laugh as I scrub my scalp. “Of course he did. Man is too healthy for his own good. I’d love to see him eat some ice cream just once.”

Owen chuckles and waits while I rinse my hair. “He also offered to bring that Reese’s peanut butter cup pie you and Helen were telling us about. I guess he watched how to make it after you two wouldn’t stop going on and on about it.”

I stop what I’m doing and push open the shower door.

“He made it?”

He grins, trying not to laugh. “He did.”

I’m standing in front of him, mouth gaping open and completely naked. He can’t join me because his cast isn’t covered right now and the way his eyes are heating tells me that fact pisses him off. He watches as water slides down my wet, naked body and suddenly I’m wet in other places. Again. Especially since he’s only in his black boxers and I can see all those ridges on his stomach I love to run my tongue over, the bulge of his biceps as his hands grip the countertop behind him, and the strength of his thighs that are crossed over each other.

I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Owen. Sexiest man I’ve ever seen.Bestman I’ve ever known right next to my father. He’s everything I could ask for in a man and every single day I send up my thanks for him.

“Because of…”

He raises his eyes from where he was focused on my breasts. Grins at being caught. “Helen? I’m not sure.”

We have our theories. That they have a thing for each other. But neither will fess up to that. Plus, with Helen being pregnant with another man’s kid, a man who Sawyer is in the process of helping put away for a very, very long time, things are a bit complicated on that front. And, she’s fifteen years younger than him. There’s a lot against them if they decide to pursue anything.

“Hmm.” I shut the door, finish my shower, and turn off the water then begin drying off. I wrap the towel around me and knot it in place then step out of the shower. Going through the routine of brushing out my wet hair and applying lotion, Owen watches me. He has since the first morning I woke up here after I returned. And I’ve woken up in his bed every morning since.

We never discussed living together.

It just happened.

And I’m so happy, sometimes I feel like I could burst.

“I love you,” he says quietly from his place against the counter.

“I love you, too.”

He grins and I grin back. I keep applying lotion and he keeps watching me.

And I hope to wake up every morning for the rest of my life in the exact same way. Well, all except his cast.

Extended Epilogue

Owen

Everything’s ready to go.It’s planned out perfectly.

The fire on the sandy beach is burning bright. Chairs set up around the fire ring, aimed in the direction of the fire so we can settle in after the big event. Cuddle in close and relax. Hold each other.

It’s late August and the mosquitos have finally given up their heavy pursuit against the human skin, giving us a few glorious weeks to spend our evenings outdoors without four layers of bug spray coating our skin.

Walking back to the lodge to collect Cami, I look to the cabin where Helen is still staying. I noticed Sawyer’s enormous pickup parked in front of her cabin earlier today and when I get a glance inside through the screened in porch, I see his large frame holding her tiny baby boy. He’s been a constant in her life since the day she arrived and even though they swear they’re just friends, I wonder what will come of it.

---