Page 89 of Owen

Examining them closer, she asks, “What does the date represent?”

“It’s the day we met,” I answer.

I watch her rubbing her thumb over the cheap gold identity tags. It’s all I could afford from one of those online jewelry stores. When I have the funds, I will replace them with real gold, but for now, gold-plated will have to do.

“Is that coordinates?” she questions.

“It is.”

“For?”

“Cyprus. Where we met. Check out the other sides.”

She flips the two gold tags over, then shakes her head, almost disbelieving. “You had a poppy stamped on the backs of them.”

“You both mean the world to me and now I have you both close to my heart. Even when you’re not physically here. You are here.” I grab the swinging tags, pulling them up on my naked chest to position them where they will rest when I stand up.

Silence stretches between us as her gaze bounces between the tags and me.

Shit, did I fuck up? Too much?

“Owen, these are beautiful.” Her eyes fill with tears. “Since the day we met, you’ve had my heart and head in a spin. It’s all happened so fast, but I love every minute of every single day with you. I don’t know what I would do without you. My heart is yours. I love you so much, Owen. More than you can ever imagine.” Pink creeps into her cheeks. “I hate being away from you when I go away. I’ve not wanted to not go to work before.” She pauses. “Until you. You’ve changed my life.”

“Have I ever told you that you are the best thing to happen to me?” I rub the pad of my thumb across her temple, wiping the salted tears from her skin.

“You are the best thing to ever happen to me.” She repeats the words she’s said multiple times before. With every day that passes, I fall harder for her, and I know I’m going to marry this woman. She’s got me, mind, body, soul, and she owns my fucking heart.

It’s all hers.

She wraps her legs around my hips, pulling me down between her thighs. “Make love to me.” Her lips find mine and when she slides her tongue between the seam of my mouth, I know there is nowhere I would rather be.

With her, it’s heaven.

Whereas before I was in hell.

And I never want to go back there.

However, when the devil calls.

You have to pick up.

And that was something I wasn’t prepared for.

26

JADE

Watching Owen sleep is one of my favorite things to do. He looks so peaceful, the usual crease between his brows smoothed out as if he hasn’t a worry in the world.

I know that’s not true. His past still causes him concern. Although he hasn’t told me, I know it haunts him.

For weeks now, I have watched him scrolling social media as he checks the news for updates on his father’s business affairs. His scowls grew deeper than the Grand Canyon when the police released new information in their investigation. I know he disapproves of the way his father handled his finances. But sometimes I do wonder if he misses home.

If he does, I hope he’d have the decency to tell me.

As I travel around for most of my career, home is where the Air Force send me. For Owen, though, he’s only ever lived in Castleview Cove. It’s part of who he was, and I’m sure that part of him misses it.

Always here for me when I get home from work, here for Poppy, here to provide the best orgasms that feel like they are tearing me apart from the inside out.

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