Page 8 of Calling from the Heart
So first, he needed to make amends for the whole “never settling down” thing. It was bullshit, was what it was. And he wanted Owen. Permanently.
That wasn’t about the baby, although that had sped up his timeline, hadn’t it? It was about Owen.
And thank God for Andrea and her nosiness.
He rubbed Owen’s belly, and Owen made a happy sound, leaning his whole self into Jeb.
The baby kicked his palm, the sensation utterly wild.
Owen grinned up at him. “Nuts, huh?”
“Yes.” He was awed.
“The first time I felt it, I was in school, teaching.”
“Did you freak out?” He petted, kissing the top of Owen’s head.
“God, yes. I mean, I knew I was pregnant, but…that made it so much more real.”
“I bet.” He was awed by the movement. That was their baby. “A little girl.”
“Yes. She is. Ours.”
“She is.” And they were going to do this together. But he could go slow. He was going to be the alpha Owen needed.
“Thank you,” Owen said softly.
“For what?”
“For not being super mad. I was just freaked out.”
“I have no doubt you’ll freak out fifty more times at least,” he teased. He knew they still had a lot to wade through. He was just so happy to have Owen with him.
“Today. Possibly more.” Owen lifted his face, begging a kiss.
“Mmmhmm.” He gave and took the kiss he wanted, lips and tongue teasing Owen’s. Oh, he remembered that taste, the way Owen’s tongue felt against his.
He moaned, sliding Owen around to face him more fully, pressing them together. Owen straddled him, pushing right into his arms.
“Love.” He stroked that fine, lean back.
“I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” He kissed Owen to keep from talking too much. He didn’t want to compete or devolve into accusations. They could talk any time.
They needed this now.
He slid one hand up behind Owen’s head, holding him there for more of the slow, drugging kisses, the heat flaring between them..
“Want you…” Owen’s eyes were open, the man staring into him.
“I want you too, baby. But we can just cuddle. I don’t want to rush you.” His hard, insistent cock wanted to rush. So did his need to make Owen his again. But his remaining sliver of rational thought said he needed Owen to trust him.
“I’m not going to get any more pregnant, Jeb. I promise.”
Jeb hooted. “I know that, baby. But I want you to trust me. I want you to be all in when we make love again.”
Owen’s smile was sweet and belied the tears that made his eyes shimmer. “You’re good to me. I wish…I wish you’d wanted forever. I would have given it to you in a heartbeat.”
