They drove to the base of the mountain and entered her house. Gasping, she stared at the tossed living room. “They slashed the furniture, but they didn’t do this.”
He motioned for her to stay quiet as he cleared the rooms, noticing the destruction in each of them. Once he determined no one lay in wait, he led her to the bedroom.
“Grab a suitcase. You and the boys won’t leave the mountain until they’re caught,” Owen ordered, gazing out the window.
“Where will you sleep? If I recall correctly, you and Cade shared a room with bunk beds. I doubt either of them fits you,” she asked softly as she took a bag from her closet and pulled several T-shirts, a dress, jeans, shorts, and a swimsuit. When she finished, she walked to her dresser and pulled out several pairs of panties and bras, dumping them into the suitcase. Returning to the bathroom, she grabbed her toiletries and went back to the bedroom.
She grinned as Owen held up a lacey thong. His heart raced at the thought of her in it. “Madam, you wear faded tees and jeans, and I haven’t seen you with makeup since I returned, and yet you have hidden these under your clothes.”
Giggling, she took them from him and placed them inside.
“I don’t remember you wearing those before,” he muttered good-naturedly.
“A girl sometimes needs something to make her feel sexy,” she said. “Surely you found those base bunnies wore them a couple of times.”
“I’m not a monk,” he said honestly. “I never thought to get another chance with you. None of them ever wore those,” he said pointedly.
Leslie pushed Owen until he sat on the edge ofthe bed. “Do you want to see what I have on today?” she asked softly.
Owen gulped. He must’ve misunderstood her. His thumbs hooked into the belt loops of her shorts as he pulled her close. “Great, now I’ll be thinking about this while I’m working with my brothers,” he teased.
Leslie slowly played with the button on her top. “Maybe we need to do something about it. I don’t want you working in pain,” she sympathized as she unbuttoned her blouse.
When she reached the last one, Owen covered her hand. “We agreed to take this slow. I intend to honor my promise to you.”
“You plan on taking another ten years to make up for a mistake you made while young and dumb?” she asked, holding his wrists. “How long do you think it’ll take for me to get past my hurt and pain?”
Staring at her belly button, Owen murmured, “I’m praying for a miracle now.”
“Do you still love me?” she whispered.
“With all my heart. I never stopped. Not once did I ever believe I’d be here,” he confessed as he inhaled her vanilla scent.
“Ten years already feels slow,” she said. “I’ve waited this long for you to find your way back to me, Owen. I went on with my life, but you always kept my heart. I want to feel you again,” she murmured, letting her blouse fall to the floor.
Owen gripped her waist, struggling betweenwanting this moment with her or waiting until he gained her trust.
“Don’t overthink it,” she ordered. “We’re two adults, consenting to have sex.”
Shaking his head, he denied her claim. “No, we’re making love. Unfortunately, I don’t have a condom with me. It’s not like high school. I don’t keep them in my pocket,” he chuckled.
“I have the shot. It keeps my periods regular. Being a single mom doesn’t leave much time for sex. I’m clean,” she said, swiping her tongue over her bottom lip.
“I’m clean,” he said, pressing a kiss to her belly button.
His hands roamed over her bottom as she ran hers through his hair. The moment seemed bittersweet. He rested his forehead on her stomach, feeling like he did the night he walked away. No matter how far he ran or fought, Owen searched for something to numb the pain. Little did he realize Leslie provided the cure. She represented his heart, his home, and his love.
Tugging his shirt off him and tossing it to the floor, she smiled. The warmth of it filled his chest, making him smile back. Rising from the bed, he pulled her into his arms. The years melted away as he eagerly kissed her and nibbled on her neck. She trembled as she fumbled with the button on his pants.
“Leslie,” he murmured her name like a prayer.
“I’m here, Owen. I never left,” she cried.
Cupping her neck, he peered into her eyes with his teary ones.
“I love you, Leslie. Time can’t erase how I feel about you,” he desperately confessed as he unhooked her bra,
“Today starts our future. We can’t heal if you worry about the past. Show me the man you’ve become today,” she murmured against his lips. “I need you, Owen.”
