Page 9 of Calling from the Heart
“Then give it to me now.” He wiped away the one tear that fell.
“Is it because of the baby, though?” Owen leaned into his touch.
“No. And I know you’re going to have to learn to trust me again, like I said. I tried to call. To come see you. And I never could get to you. But I missed you so damn much.”
“I was terrified you’d turn me away. So stupid, but true. I was afraid you’d hate me.”
“No. I couldn’t hate you, baby.” He might have had to freak out and wrap his mind around things and all, but somehow, now, it just didn’t matter. He wanted Owen back, and he wanted their family. “I was protecting myself, and I needed to be open to you.”
Owen reached up to stroke his cheek. “Well, I’m here now. Let’s do the rest of the recriminations later if we have to?”
“That sounds like the best plan.” He needed to love Owen, to explore every change to his compact form.
He stroked the line down Owen’s spine, the heated skin making his toes curl. Lord, he loved that. His fingers knew this, knew the feel of Owen, the spots that made his lover moan.
Owen leaned down, bringing their lips together in a long, slow kiss. It stole his breath, made him dizzy.
He held Owen to him, grabbing that tight ass as Owen climbed into his lap, surprising a laugh out of him. “Well, hello.”
“Hey, stranger. Is this okay? I’m not too heavy?”
“You’re perfect.” Owen’s weight had changed just slightly, but he only knew that because he’d memorized everything about his sweet omega.
“I’m yours. I mean, if you want me.”
“I do. I want you so damn bad.” He took off Owen’s sweater, needing skin.
“Yesterday’s clothes. You still had my toothbrush, though.”
“Mmmhmm. You can borrow anything from my closet. Hell, I still have some of your stuff, though it’s all summer.” Jeb gave Owen a wicked grin. “Not that you need it right now.”
“No. No, I’ll borrow one of your sweatshirts. That’s good enough, right?”
“In a minute. Or five. or twenty.” He nibbled at Owen’s neck, then his collarbone.
“That’s not long enough…” Owen’s head fell back.
“I think it might be a good start.” Jeb nibbled at Owen’s collarbone, which was too sharp. He needed to eat more. He was going to start taking better care of his omega. It was only fair.
But now, that meant loving him into a puddle. He wanted Owen crazy for him. Wild.
He wanted to know that Owen trusted him again, with all the need, the passion, the hunger in that sweet body.
“Jeb.” Owen arched when he licked at one flat little nipple, panting.
“Yes, love. I want to hear your noises, please.”
“Anything you want.”
“Promise?” He was digging, and he knew it. But he was an alpha. He couldn’t help it.
“Yes. I want to be yours. More than anything.”
“Good.” He took another kiss, then lifted Owen up enough to get off those soft pants. “I want that too. The rest is just stuff we iron out.”
Like moving Owen in with him, even if Owen did live on the right side of the bridge to get to work. That didn’t matter, really. Owen’s tiny rented condo wasn’t gonna do.
Owen needed room -- room to do his grading, not that kindergarten teachers did a lot of grading. They didn’t have to do a lot of tests and shit. It really wasn’t a thing, but Jed knew what he meant. Owen needed room to plan and cook and laugh and snuggle and grow.
