Page 40 of Redemption Ridge Vol II

Owen lifted his head up and stared into his eyes. “Did I hurt you?”

Tyler shook his head because the magic of the moment temporarily rendered him mute. “Beautiful,” he whispered.

Owen dropped a kiss on his lips, then carefully eased free from his ass to collapse on the bed beside him. “You might not be saying that tomorrow,” he teased. “At least it’s light chores and no riding in the saddle.”

Tyler trailed a finger over Owen’s sweaty chest. “I’m going to ride your saddle.”

Owen captured his hand and tugged him so they lay facing each other. “Or you could fuck me.”

Tyler pushed up so he could see the clock. “It’s tomorrow in an hour.”

Owen pulled him back down and tucked Tyler’s head under his chin. “Going to need a little more recovery time than that. And we should probably clean up.” Owen released a contented sigh and held Tyler closer. “But this feels so nice.”

Tyler wiggled free and headed into the bathroom. He wet the washcloth with hot water and returned to the bed. Owen was already fast asleep, so Tyler gently cleaned him up before taking care of his own needs. He turned everything off and climbed into bed, wincing a few times from his tender ass.

“So worth it,” he whispered into the dark. He didn’t just mean sex either. No price would be too steep for the future he wanted with Owen.

“Hey,” Tyler said softly from the passenger seat.

It was the first word either of them had spoken in over an hour. Owen loved their comfortable silences, but this stretch of quiet was anything but peaceful. Doubt and second thoughts kept his brain in a constant tailspin. Owen didn’t worry about introducing Tyler to his mom, but he dreaded doing so in a place that held so many negative memories for him. Visits to Trinidad, Colorado, reminded Owen of how far he’d come, yet he couldn’t help asking, “But for how long?”

Owen glanced over and smiled. “Hey.”

“I won’t ask if you’re okay,” Tyler said. “You’re so rigid, the slightest breeze would snap you in half.”

Owen hadn’t been aware of his tension until Tyler mentioned it. He ached from his jaw to tailbone and from his shoulders to the fingers white-knuckling the steering wheel. Owen exhaled a long breath and forced himself to relax. His fingers tingled as the blood flowed through them unrestrained again. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for feeling the way you do,” Tyler said. “But maybe sharing your burdens with me will help you.”

Owen opened his mouth to deflect and delay until he recalled his commitment to be open and honest. “I’m not okay, and I’m wondering if this was a big mistake.” Realizing how that sounded, Owen reached for Tyler’s hand. “Not about introducing you to my mom. I want her to meet you.” He puffed up his cheeks and exhaled. “I just have so many demons in my hometown.”

Tyler brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of Owen’s. “Then we’ll exorcise them together.”

“Just like that?” Owen asked.

“I imagine it won’t be easy, but you won’t do it alone.” Tyler’s answer brought an immediate smile to Owen’s face. “If you’re not ready, maybe we could find a place to stay nearby so I can meet your mom in a neutral location.”

Owen had thought about that already, but his mom really had her heart set on them staying with her. And if he were honest, it was beyond time for him to make peace with his birth city. How much of Owen’s attitude was earned from negative experiences in Trinidad, and how much of it was his uncle’s influence? Howie had a bad habit of assigning blame to everyone and everything instead of owning up to his mistakes. “No,” Owen said. “I want to do this now, and I want to do it with you.”

“Is there someplace we can stop for salt and candles?”

Owen laughed, and the rest of his tension melted. “You’ve been watching too much Supernatural.”

“Not lately,” Tyler pointed out. “We haven’t turned on the television since the wedding.”

A montage of their nightly carnal exploits played in Owen’s head. Tyler had cast aside his shyness as effortlessly as a snake sheds its skin, and his growth was a thing of beauty. Owen loved watching Tyler explore his sexuality as much as he loved being an active participant in the journey. Ty was eager to try new positions and not afraid to tell Owen what he wanted and where he wanted it. The memories made him squirm a little, and Owen became aware of the delicious ache in his ass. Tyler loved to top just as much as he loved to bottom, and they took turns—sometimes in the same session to prolong their pleasure.

“And a new tension fills the truck,” Tyler teased.

Owen looked over at him with a smile. “Much preferred over the pity party for one.”

“Knock it off,” Tyler admonished. “I love you now, and I will still love you when we roll back out of town, no matter what you say or how you process your emotions. Let’s just get that straight right now. I’d rather you crack yourself wide open to let the ugly out so you can heal. Don’t sugarcoat it because you don’t think I can handle you at your worst. If that were the case, I wouldn’t deserve you at your best.”

Owen raised a brow but kept his gaze on the road. “Where’d you get that?”

“I’ve been listening to an audiobook on grieving and healing. Hope suggested it.”

Finley had continued their separation during work assignments, and Owen had noticed Tyler wore his earbuds more frequently. Tyler’s aversion to Hope was another pendulum swing. He’d suggested a visit to her store where before he avoided it at all costs. Tyler had wanted to buy a gift for Owen’s mom, and he’d struck up a conversation with Hope about the various services her wellness center offered.