“Guess I’ll have to keep trying then.” He presses another kiss to my forehead, then my nose, making me laugh. God, he’s goofy. “How about this? I promise to tell you I love you at least ten times today. Minimum.”
“Ten times? That’s ambitious.”
“Twelve if you win me a prize at the dart game.” His grin turns playful. “Fifteen if you beat Knox again at ski ball.”
The mention of Knox’s name pulls me back to reality, that boulder in my stomach gaining another pound or two. Owen must feel me tense because his arms tighten around me.
“Hey,” he murmurs against my temple. “It’ll be okay. We’re going to have fun today. Just you and me and some greasy, overpriced theme park food.”
“And Knox,” I add quietly. “And his girlfriend.”
“Ella. That’s her name,” he corrects, still keeping the same annoying but consistent optimism in his tone. “But mostly just us.”
“And later with your parents…Just dinner, right?” I ask again, even though I already know the answer.
“Only if you’re up for it. If you’re not, we can grab slices of pizza and come back here to watch a movie.”
He steps back to finish putting away the ingredients while I get up to wash my plate. “That sounds amazing. I think I’m already not up for it.”
He shakes his head, closing the fridge and spinning around to face me with a grin. “Honestly…you’re right. Maybe we should skip Wonder World altogether.”
“And miss the chance to hear you scream like a little baby on that new coaster? Never.”
“That’s not very nice.” His eyes light up with mischief as he stalks toward me. I back away, laughing.
“Owen. Don’t?—”
He chases me from the kitchen into the bedroom, catching me easily and slinging me over his shoulder. “Say sorry.”
In between a fit of laughter and squirming huffs, I manage, “Sorry you cry on roller coasters.”
He spanks my ass and I can practically hear the grin in his voice. “You’re going to get it now.”
“Oh no, what are you going to do?” I tease, out of breath. “Tickle me? Force me to eat more burned pancakes?”
“Hey! They weren’t burned. Just well done.”
“Okay, buddy.”
My back flops onto the soft mattress, my nightshirt bunches up my thighs, and Owen hovers over me.
He looks so happy. And so damn handsome. His hair is still damp from his shower, a wayward wave dangles forward, intentionally messy, in the Owen style. A beam of morning light catches the hint of gold in his eyes, and for a moment, I forget about Knox. I forget about the looming dinner with his parents. I forget about everything except the man smiling down at me like I’m his entire world.
“Hi,” he murmurs, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
“Hello. Fancy meeting you here, on our bed.”
He laughs and runs a knuckle down my cheek. “Still thinking about skipping today?”
I reach up, threading my fingers through his hair and pulling him down until his lips are almost touching mine, his length pressing into me. “Ask me again in five minutes.”
He smiles against my mouth. “Five minutes, huh? You really think that’s all I need?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
His laugh is soft and warm as he kisses me, slow and deep, like we have all the time in the world. Five minutes becomesan hour, our hands tangled in hair, slowly undressing, my hips grinding against him, seeking the pleasure I desperately need.
It’s lazy, and sloppy, and perfect.
