Page 21 of Forever Bite

OWEN

Owen thought that he was asking a very stupid question just as he said it. Of course, there was a shitload on her mind. Her entire world had just been turned upside down, and he was asking her what was up like they were rollerblading by the lake.

She rubbed her face, looking beautiful, yet exhausted. “My entire life has been uprooted,” she said. “I worked so hard to start a life in the human world, and now it’s all gone. All gone because of you.”

A beat of silence sat between them. Owen had no clue how to respond to her, fearing that he would initiate an argument. And he wasn’t any good at arguments, especially with people he truly cared about.

He fiddled with his fingers on the table, letting the silence hang a bit longer. When he knew she wasn’t going to speak, he blurted out the first thing that came into his mind. “I’m sorry,” he said mournfully. “I’m sorry I fucked everything up for you.”

Owen became ever more puzzled when a large, adorable smile grew on her tasty lips. He frowned at her, holding his hands out on the table with open palms.

“It was incredible, Owen,” she whispered. “The sex, I mean, of course, jeesh. But I also mean being with you.”

Owen felt his cheeks get hot and tried to hide the smirk growing on his face. She grinned back at him, then bit down on her lower lip. Owen would truly consider taking her right then and there on the kitchen table if his brother wasn't around.

“So, you like being with me, eh?” he said, still smirking.

She leaned forward, her breasts sitting on the table like a shelf. “Of course, I do,” she said. “I am falling for you. That’s the problem, isn’t it?”

Owen felt his face continue to flush as he looked at her stunning emerald eyes. If he could, he would swim in them forever. “I suppose it is,” he said quietly.

Owen wasn’t completely sure how he was feeling. He didn’t want to give her any false promises, but he also wanted to stay around her. She made him feel things he had never once felt.

He’d been with lots of women sexually, but none of them fell into any other category beyond the carnal. Even after only having been with Reika one fun night, he knew there was something different. Something cosmic.

He had to do something for her, so he reached out his hand and held it on the table. Reika looked at it like he was offering her a dead fish. When he wiggled his fingers, she smiled and placed her hand on his, and he held it softly. Their fixation on one another never wavered, and it made Owen feel like he had finally found paradise.

“I will stay here with you in the cabin, and we can figure this out,” he said. “I will help you protect yourself. Not that you need it, of course.”

Reika watched him speak, an expression of admiration growing on her lips. Owen felt like he might as well be naked, her look so penetrating.

“Okay,” she said softly, then directed her head toward the door. “What about them? Three of them know where we are now. Do you think you can trust them?”

Owen nodded without hesitation. “Mateo is genuine,” Owen said. “I would trust him with my life. And I’m sure if he brought those two men with him that he would trust them with his, too.”

Reika was looking a little unsure, so Owen stood, giving her hand a final squeeze. “I will speak to them and get back to you, okay?”

Reika nodded, then leaned back in the chair. Just before Owen was about to leave, she called to him. “Owen?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you ask them to bring a few more cans of peaches?”

Owen shot a finger gun in her direction, which made her giggle in a very cute way. When he walked out the door, Owen wondered what the hell was wrong with him.

Mateo was standing watch outside the truck. He nodded at his brother and approached just outside the front door.

“Everything okay?” Mateo asked.

“Peachy,” Owen replied, smiling to himself. “I’m thinking I can stay here with her for a few days before we get everything sorted. But then there’s the case of those fellows.”

Owen directed his gaze in the direction of the truck. Mateo looked at the men who were on high alert, each looking in the opposite direction.

“You can trust them,” Mateo said. “I wouldn’t bring anyone who would just snitch like that.”

Owen gave his brother a hug, then clapped him on his back. He thanked him deeply for what he had done, risking his own name and safety within their pack.

“It’s what brothers do,” he replied.

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