Page 84 of Owen

“What else do you like?” He throws the small towel into the laundry basket then whips off the one from around his waist, holds it out to the side, and drops it on the floor theatrically. My eyes automatically move to his thick length hanging between his legs. Words get stuck in the back of my throat.

He winks cheekily. “Noted, you like that too.” He crawls up the bed, prowling toward me like an agile cougar, all the while smirking menacingly at me.

“I like that very much.” I suck on my bottom lip and cradle his scruff covered face with my hands. “I could look at you for a lifetime.” Marriage is something I drew a line through after I had Poppy, but since Owen entered my life like his very own unique version of Prince Charming, I could see myself spending the rest of my life with him.

Becoming serious, his eyes gleaming and full of love, he says, “I’ve loved no one the way I love you, Jade.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead then plants more down the length of my nose, his lips finally landing on mine. “I havenothing to offer you. Yet. But I will. I will do everything in my power to provide for you and Poppy.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I say between kisses as he drags the thin bedsheet down between us.

The simmering heat between us burns red hot.

He nips at my lips. “I want to, and I decided I don’t want to work in finance again. I want to retrain to become an outdoor activity instructor.”

Even though I don’t want to, I pull back from our kiss. “You do?” I wrap my legs around his waist and hook my ankles together behind him.

He bobs his head. “Yeah. I’ve been looking into it for the past few days. I love fitness and doing those muddy obstacle courses you love, too. I’m sporty and healthy and love rock climbing, surfing, canoeing, skiing, all of it. I’ve always been naturally good at sports. I’m a good leader, patient, resilient, and I reckon I’d like to do a coaching qualification too. Hit it from both sides; mentally and physically. I could even be a youth leader.” He astonishes me. “I’m far from an Olympian, but I am great at BMXing, mountain biking, and skateboarding, and would love to run stunt classes for kids; oh, and paddleboarding, maybe surfing, too.” His chatter is full of life and excitement.

“You’ve really thought about this,” I state, grinning at him proudly for seriously considering his future.

“I would be the world’s best outdoor activities trainer.”

“The next Bear Grylls.”

“I’d need to invent a wicked nickname like that.” He chuckles.

“No stage names necessary. I like you just the way you are.”

Frown lines deepen his brow as his hand cups my jaw. “You are one in a million, Hotshot. Thank you for accepting me forall that I am, even though I am not the man I used to be. I could have given you the world.”

If his father hadn’t lost it all or stolen it from him.

His money and status mean nothing to me though. I meant it when I told him I only want his heart.

Tilting my head upward, I reach his mouth to kiss him again but pause with my lips dusting his. “I like this man in front of me now. I don’t want the old you. I want this version. I love him.”

“Owen 2.0.” His smile almost splits his face.

“Then we could make thousands of robots just like you. Every woman on planet earth needs an Owen Brodie.” I tighten my legs around him.

“They won’t function properly without a Jade Sommers. Every one of them needs the love of a brilliant woman.”

He’s making me giggle, and I wiggle beneath him, pushing my hips into his.

“You make me want to be a better man.” He groans when I rub my pussy lips against his cock.

“You already are.” I gasp as the head of his cock brushes my clit.

“I wasn’t before.”

“It’s all in the past, Owen. Time to move forward.” Pressing my lips against his, I feel his cock grow hard against my center. I’m desperate for him to make love to me.

“But first I want to be there for you. Until Poppy starts school, I will be the best lover, partner, chef, cleaner, caregiver, and nanny.” He pushes his tongue into my mouth.

Naked flesh pressing against naked flesh; this is how we should always be.

“Not the nanny, her stepdad.” Overwhelmed by his commitment to me, I’ve said what I’ve been thinking about but didn’tmean to say. Letting my secrets spill out between searing kisses. I panic for a second, but I needn’t have worried because the next words out of his mouth settle me.

“If that’s a proposal, I will fucking marry you, Jade Sommers.”

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