My mind ran wild, wishing he would slip my pyjama shorts and panties to the side to sink his fingers deep.

The fleeting fantasy had me whimpering as my walls pulsated from his touch, his presence, his lust-filled voice.

When he sucked on my neck, I was done.

My climax took me over, and I barely registered Owen’s in return as he moaned low and deep in the shell of my ear.

Sated, my eyes began to droop.

Warm lips feathered against my lids. “Up, Lex. I’ve made a damn mess in my pants, and so have you. Let’s clean up and meet in bed. Then, I’ll snuggle the shit out of you.”

I grunted, latching on tighter and refusing to move.

Owen chuckled before he swung me up into his arms. “Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”

I distantly processed some rustling and manoeuvring, and the last thing I remembered was Owen pulling me into his embrace. I could have sworn he said, “I love you.” But that could have been my dreams, wishing it so.

When I finally woke with the sun, my surroundings managed to click back online.

After I dry humped Owen into oblivion, he kept his word and snuggled the shit out of me.

I began the day with the biggest smile on my face.

Chapter 27

OWEN

Liam tended the barbeque as I kept him company outside while the rest of our family hung out indoors.

“I still can’t believe you met the Ethan Harris,” he said. “That guy’s on his way to being a legend.”

“He’s an idiot… like me.”

Liam noted my downcast tone and arched a brow my way. “Trouble in paradise?”

I sighed. It had been over six months since Alexis and I shared our first date, and everything since then had felt like a fucking dream. The boys had since turned four, Phil’s recovery was tracking well, and best of all, I was a regular presence in Alexis’ life again.

However, the past week, I could sense her withdrawing, rebuilding that wall I had so meticulously removed one precious brick at a time.

Her pulling away was subtle. It had me all up in my head. Am I coming on too strong, too forceful?

I rehashed our previous date to Liam to see if he could pick up on anything I’d missed.

After a late-night movie, I drove her home, her palm firmly settled on my thigh—a regular occurrence when we were married. I had interlinked our fingers, giving an appreciative squeeze.

When I parked outside her parents’ place, I lifted the back of her hand to my lips, giving her a light peck.