Page 26 of Owen (Blue Team #1)

Mere feet separated me and Nat. A very wary Nat. The longer I took her in the faster the pieces clicked together until the puzzle was solved and the picture was complete. A picture I liked a fuckuva lot, therefore, I was done ignoring what was growing between us.

It was a damn miracle I’d managed it as long as I had. But the day had come, and there would be no more denying what I knew. Natasha was mine—I knew it, I felt it, and I allowed that feeling to take hold and settle deep.

It was time.

No more fucking around.

“Come ’ere, Nat,” I called.

Our gazes remained glued as she made her way to me, and when she was within reach I hooked her around her middle and pulled her closer.

She let out a squeak and her hands landed on my chest to brace her fall.

I waited a moment and let the rightness of her pressed close wash over me.

This, right here, was where she was meant to be.

In my arms, out in the open, and I needed her to know that.

“What’s wrong?”

Those beautiful green eyes tipped up, and since the decision had been made to move forward I no longer had to keep myself in check so I didn’t. I lifted my hand, cupped her cheek, let my thumb glide over the corner of her mouth.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“What’s happening?”

“You know what’s happening.”

For someone who was a master at poker, when she wasn’t at a table she was shit at hiding her reactions. A hundred emotions played across her beautiful face until she decided on uncertainty.

“I don’t think I do,” she whispered.

“Things have changed.”

Natasha’s hands fisted my tee and her gaze dropped to my throat.

I waited a beat for her to gather herself, then my thumb did another glide, this time over her lips and I couldn’t wait for another opportunity to have my mouth on hers.

This time not in a frenzy, I’d take my time and enjoy every inch of her.

“Owen.” I heard the wobble in her voice and when she lifted her eyes they were watery, open, vulnerable.

Beautiful.

Straight-up unmasked beauty.

“Trust me.”

“But—”

“Baby, trust me.”

I heard the guys moving around the room preparing their exit.

I’d made my statement, I’d done it in front of them so there was no mistaking my intentions.

I wanted to give that to Nat. She needed to know what we’d started wasn’t a secret.

We were not going to continue to sneak around, and unwittingly that was what I’d been doing. I’d been a coward and a fool.

No more.

I waited for the back door to click shut before I dropped my lips to her forehead and repeated, “Baby, trust me. ”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Do you know what you feel?”

Nat nodded, the motion causing the wetness that had gathered to spill over.

I watched the tears leak from the corners of her eyes and it dawned on me—throughout the months I’d seen her cry once.

Not when she was tied to a chair, beaten and bloody.

But not after I took her home and cleaned her up.

Not when Wilco found her and she was scared out of her head.

Only when the woman she thought was her best friend died in front of her did she shed a tear.

Other than that, not once, no matter what life had thrown at her, had I seen her cry.

But she was crying now.

“How about for now, you just go with what you feel and trust me with the rest.”

Her tiny fists tightened and stretched the material as she held on. That was all I needed, for her to hold on and trust me.

“I’m too scared.”

“Take what you need, Nat. Take it and trust me to protect it.”

“Don’t.” That one syllable sounded ragged, painful, like she’d spoken it through shards of glass.

“Baby, that dreamland you’re living in, it isn’t a fantasy.

It’s your life. Straight-up you told me you needed it, you wanted it, and you were taking it.

Something else—I was wrong. What happened the other day, it changed everything between us.

Every. Thing. And don’t twist that into this being about sex, what changed has nothing to do with me finally getting my mouth between your legs and everything to do with me having to acknowledge I cannot control what I feel for you.

I tried, Nat, I held back for months. Every day I fought the allure of you.

The best and worst part of my day was coming home to you.

Knowing you’d be there to greet me, knowing I couldn’t have you. ”

Her forehead hit my chest and she shook her head.

“You can hide all you want but you can’t deny the truth.”

“You don’t know what the truth is,” she mumbled against my chest.

“I do know and I’m done pretending we don’t—”

“You do not know the truth.” Nat punctuated her statement by jerking my tee and pressing her forehead deeper.

“Then tell me, what’s the truth?”

Slowly Nat’s hands unwrapped but she didn’t take them off my chest when her head came up a fraction. She rolled up to her toes and her lips grazed my neck before she stopped to whisper in my ear, “The truth is, I fell in love with you when you carried me to an SUV.”

I felt the muscles in my neck get tight. Then I found I was struggling to breathe.

“The truth is,” she continued, still whispering, “I fell more every day. And every day I wondered if I was falling in love with the man who saved my life or just plain falling. Then I realized I wasn’t falling, I was there, in love with a man who happened to save my life, a good man who deserves more than I could ever give him. ”

Jesus Christ .

“The truth is, I want to trust you. I want it so bad I can taste it. But the fact remains you deserve better than me.”

Nat started to move away but before she could get far my fingers dove into her hair and I guided her face to my neck and held her there.

Her body was tense, mine frozen solid but I still felt it.

Nat’s choppy breath fanning over my skin, the rapid beat of her heart pounding against my chest, the slight tremor of her frame.

I felt it all, liked what I felt, and let it cut through the residual fear.

Nat wasn’t Naomi, she wasn’t anyone but herself.

She was strong and fragile. Hardened by life but still soft.

“How about you let me decide what I deserve?” I suggested .

“Owen—”

“You love me?”

If it was possible Nat’s body strung tighter.

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes and let that sink in, enjoying the feel of her in my arms even if she was stiff.

“Then trust me. That’s all you have to do. No more shielding. No more hiding. No more pretending. I swear, baby, I’ll guard your heart. I will not hurt you. Live this with me, live it real, and let’s see where it goes.”

Natasha nodded and my hand slid out of her hair down to the back of her neck and I gave her a squeeze.

“Is that a yes?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

Thank fuck.

Before I could express my gratitude I heard a throat clear and my eyes snapped open to find Myles standing across the room.

“Sorry to interrupt but I got Tex and Cruz on the line and they have some questions.”

It must be said my boss didn’t fuck around.

Normally this was a quality I admired, but right then with my woman in my arms after she’d admitted she loved me and had since we’d met and she’d agreed to take a chance on us, I wasn’t in the mood to appreciate anything about Zane Lewis.

I was in the mood to take my woman upstairs and show her exactly how happy she’d made me.

Now that was going to be delayed but what’s more, Nat had gone positively wired. She wasn’t trembling, she was shaking.

“Nat, baby, look at me.” She shook her head and burrowed closer. “You have nothing to be afraid of.”

“I knew.”

“Say again? ”

“I knew. I didn’t come forward. That makes me an accessory.”

Fuck.

My eyes shot to Myles and he gave me a sharp shake of his head.

“You’re covered, Nat. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

She didn’t move, not a muscle. Didn’t take a breath. Didn’t twitch. Didn’t act like she’d heard me at all.

“Baby, I need you to trust me about this, too. We’ve got your back. You’re covered, I promise.”

That did it. She pulled her face from my neck and lifted her red-rimmed eyes to mine.

Good goddamn, I wasn’t sure if I was elated she was staring at me with unashamed love or if I wanted to turn away from the blatant fear. And how in the fuck could both of those shine so bright?

“Natasha.” That was all I got out before my throat clogged. I didn’t give the first fuck if Myles heard it, didn’t care if he saw. I dropped my forehead to hers. “Swear it, promise. You and me we got this, baby. Just stick with me, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Christ.

Strong.

“Okay.” I lifted my head, straightened, and tucked Nat to my side, giving her no choice but to wrap her arm around me or have it smooshed between us. She did just that and hooked her fingers into a belt loop.

I let that wash over me, too. Only then did I turn us to face Myles.

He took in our position and dipped his chin.

“Got it,” he mumbled, knowing exactly what I was communicating.

My shit was fully sorted. Everything had changed.

Natasha wasn’t a job, she wasn’t the woman I was harboring, she wasn’t the woman we were trying to get clear of the Pollaski filth.

She was simply mine. And because of that, she was theirs and the protection they’d offered had now shifted into something more.

Myles bent his head, swiped his finger over the screen of his phone, then said, “Tex? Cruz? I’m back.”

Both men gave muttered “here” before Tex asked, “You got Owen with you?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“Is Sarah with you?”

I heard Nat’s swift inhale and I pulled her closer.

“Natasha,” I corrected. “For all intents and purposes, Sarah Pollaski is dead.”

“Copy that,” Tex returned then amended, “Natasha there?”

When she remained quiet I gave her a squeeze and she squeaked, “I’m here.”

“Mind if we ask you some questions?”

A beat of silence ensued and I reckoned Nat was gathering up her courage. I knew she’d best the feat, she always did, so I remained still and let her work through what she needed and a second later I felt her straighten.

“No, I don’t mind. I’ll help any way I can.” Nat’s voice rang out sure and strong.

Indeed, Sarah Pollaski was dead.