Page 24 of Owen

My heart melts when he confesses, “I feel like the luckiest man alive tonight, being here with you, and for you allowing me to see a different side of you, Jade.”

He’s right. I keep my circle tight in romance, friendships, and my career.

So why do I trust someone I barely know?

I hope I don’t live to regret my gut feeling about him, because if Owen discloses our evening together to anyone, especially the press…Gawd, the press. Since I landed this role, being the only female of a high-profile team, they seem to have a thing for me, taking an interest in my romantic life. It got worse after I split up with Michael. The newspapers and gossip mags printing photos of me with celebrities I’ve barely met for a minute on the red carpet or at charity functions, making assumptions about who I’m dating.

Fingers crossed, I’m right to trust Owen, or I will chop off Gregor’s balls and watch him eat them if his cousin turns out to be a snake.

I’m not usually so reckless, but tonight I want to let loose, plus I love sex. It’s been such a long time since someone has made me come, only I don’t want just anyone to do that. I want Owen.

Every cell in my body tells me I can trust him, already caring for him and his sad heart. I want to heal it and make it whole again.

No longer caring if anyone hears me, I moan loudly when he sucks my neck.

Please don’t leave a mark.

“I trust you, Owen. That’s why I am here with you tonight. I haven’t been with anyone since I had Poppy.”

He pulls back, our eyes connecting instantly. I place my hand over his thumping heart. “I trust you.”

He suddenly looks taller and wider, the strength of my words filling him with confidence.

I curl my pointer finger, beckoning him to me before I leisurely lean back on my hands, pushing my exposed chest out.

Screw it. If I am doing this tonight with him, I am doing it all. In the low lighting, he can’t see all my squidgy bits and scars properly, anyway.

When his eyes drop down my body, I pull my legs out of the water and rest my heels on the edge of the pool.

“You are beautiful. I think I’m dreaming.” His desire-filled gaze is hot enough to trigger an uncontrollable blaze.

“I think you have that the wrong way round, Owen. I thinkImight be dreaming.”

A shadow of something flits across his face. What is that?Doubt, pain, suspicion?I don’t know, but I want to find out. I don’t have to wait long. After several seconds, he reveals his insecurities.

“You don’t mean that, Jade. I bet you could have any man you wanted. I’m unemployed, a washed-up finance director, a paper pusher at best, and you”—he shakes his head, retreating, and I think he’s going to jump out of the pool as he takes another step away from me—“you dine with celebrities, meet kings and queens, travel the world, and me, well, I’m just an office worker from a minuscule seaside town on the east coast of Scotland. I’m insignificant. A nobody.”

This poor man. His self-confidence has been shot to smithereens. “I don’t care about celebs and the cities I visit. I don’t care what you do or where you come from either. All I care about is having fun tonight, with you. Not just any man. I wantyou, Owen.” I’m honest with him when I say, “I don’t fool around,ever, and I haven’t been with anyone since Michael and I split up.”

His eyes blow wide with shock, then he confesses, “I haven’t been with anyone for over a year. Not since Skye.”

“Well then…” Feeling a newfound sense of bravado, I drag my pointer finger down between the valley of my cleavage, over the soft swell of my stomach, and down into my soaked-from-the-water-and-how-turned-on-I-am panties, making him gulp audibly. “You had better get over here and end this dry spell for both of us.” I rub my clit in little circles, watching him watch my hand. “I’m so wet for you, Owen. Only you.” I let out a long, low moan, reassuring him it’s only him that turns me on like this.

“Jesus… fucking… Christ.” He lets out a half-grumbled groan, dragging his hands down his face as if he’s torn.

I bite down on my lip and watch his reaction as I insert a finger into my pussy. My mouth drops open as I work it in and out a couple of times, the beginnings of an orgasm taking hold. I’m not going to last if he doesn’t take over soon.

“Do you want to taste me?” I remove my hand from inside my panties before holding my finger out, offering myself to him.

He doesn’t need to be asked twice as he lunges forward, causing the water to splash everywhere as he devours my finger. Sucking, he hums as he licks every drop of my arousal from my skin.

“Fuck me, you taste so fucking good,” he pants, dipping his head to kiss the skin of my knee, moving to my inner thigh as hescatters kisses, dusting his fingertips over my goosebumped skin. “Are you cold?” He looks up at me with concerned eyes.

I shake my head. “No, every touch from you feels like molten heat. Now take off my panties because I am so hot for you, and I need to come.” The need between my thighs takes on a pulse of its own.

His mouth twitches with humor. “You’re so fucking bossy.”

I suppose I am.

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