High Stakes

Part Twenty-one

Part 21

SANG:

I stand there with my mouth slightly open, not completely trusting myself to not have just made up the last several seconds. Owen just told me he loves me. Owen. Mr Blackbourne. The epitome of everything I hold dear. He's mine now. I claim him. Dibs. My Owen.

"Sang?" Owen pulls away from me, looking a little nervous. My internal dialog lasted a little too long.

My face feels so hot and I know I have to be blushing so hard I'm nearly purple. My tongue feels like it's too big for my mouth, which is suddenly drier than a freakin' dust bunny.

"Um... I love you too." It comes out in the tiniest of voices.

Thankfully Owen has super vamp hearing, because he breaks into a full-blown smile that sends my heart racing into overdrive.

"Well. Good," Owen clears his throat, then turns back to the wet ingredients he was working on. "I'm glad we cleared that up."

He's glad we cleared that up? Holy crap. Is Owen nervous too? I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Then I realize that we're entirely too far apart.

"Owen," I start, then stop when he turns back to me and pierces me with his molten silver gaze.

"Yes, Sang?" I stop myself from closing my eyes and relishing the way he says my name. That might be a little too weird too fast.

"Could you-- Or, maybe, um. I really want to-- er. Sorry." My blush is back to nearing a radioactive state. Jesus!

Owen grins at me, eyes narrowing slightly as he focuses everything he's got on me. "Yes? You can ask me anything."

I take a deep breath. Screw it. I've got to get it together and put on my big girl pants. I love him. He loves me. Nothing else matters, right?

"I really want to be kissing you right now," I blurt, then clap my hands over my mouth, eyes huge. I like to talk a big game in my head, but I didn't think I'd actually muster the courage. Yes, I've kissed Owen before. But it's different now. We're in love. Which apparently means I blush more than ever and am super embarrassed? C'mon!

Owen pulls my hands away from my mouth and places them up on his shoulders, smiling down at me. "Your wish is my command."

Then his arms are wrapping around me and he's pulling me flush against him. His lips come down on mine and there's something so soft and gentle about it that I sigh, opening to him and his caressing tongue. He explores every bit of me, lovingly, slowly, and I feel completely and totally safe and cherished.

All too soon Owen pulls away, leaving me breathless. I'm pleased to see that he's not unaffected. I mussed his hair and his eyes glitter, and I can hear his heart beating fast.

"Let's finish these cupcakes," he says gruffly, turning once again to the task at hand.

I'm a little confused. I figured the cakes could be scrapped. Kissing was much more fun.

Owen sighs. "Sang, don't start doubting. I just... I need a second."

I nod. But really--not start doubting? That's a lot easier said than done. But I give him time and we work in silence. Once the cakes are put together, Owen slides the pans into the oven for about fifteen minutes.

"So..." I begin, "Can I ask why you needed a second?"

Owen leans his hip against the counter, mirroring my pose so he's facing me. "Do you realize how caught up we get? It's like we're in our own little world, going full throttle, and then it stops. I was being proactive, and stopped while I was still mostly in control."