by Reina Torres
Owen heard a strange sound and turned to look at Conor who was laughing at him. “What?”
“I ask you about dressing her and you get this wolfish look on your face. Just make sure that you don’t cross a line with the young lady and you and I won’t have a problem, young man.”
Owen’s look told Conor exactly where he could step off. “I guess I can’t complain about your warning. I said much the same to that other guy, Warden Soffer.”
At Conor’s narrowed look, Owen felt his hackles rise. “He told me he was going to ask her out.”
Conor tilted a look at him. “And what did you do to him?”
Owen grinned. “He still has his teeth, just in case you were worried, but I told him almost the same thing. That he could ask her since she’s a grown woman, but that if he crossed the line, I’d end him.”
His friend laughed. “I knew I liked you, Owen. Give me a call if Blyss needs anything.”
Owen nodded, but made no promises. If she needed anything, it was going to come from him.
Chapter 9
Just like he’d expected, Blyss had a few things to say about staying at his house, but her apartment was up a flight of stairs and she lived alone. Neither of which were points in her favor. The tipping factor that finally got her to listen to reason, his reason, was his assertion that no matter what, he was going to be the one to help her. And as for those stairs? She had enough trouble walking down a flat hallway. Just climbing up into Owen’s truck had about knocked her out.
Just that amount of exertion and the walk she’d done from his front door to the bedroom had been accomplished with grinding teeth and a cold sweat.
She hadn’t even grumbled all that much when he fetched her a glass of water and a couple of pain pills that the doctor had prescribed.
He’d wanted to stay with her while she napped, but she’d chased him out of the room, saying she was just fine.
What he’d come back to a little while later was Blyss leaning on the bathroom counter struggling to breathe.
“Hey,” he was across the room a moment later, turning her so he could look directly into her eyes. “What happened?”
She leaned forward and placed her head on his chest. “Nothing.”
“Oh no,” he gently took her shoulders and leaned back so he could look at her face, “we’re not going there.”
She gave him another hard look, but the tears glistening on her cheeks told him to tread carefully.
“You can tell me, Blyss. Whatever it was that you remember, or whatever it was that woke you up, you can tell me about it. If it scared you, put it on my shoulders.”
He felt her wavering, but then she squared her shoulders and winced from the pain.
“Look at you,” he smiled as he shook his head. “You don’t need to be Wonder Woman. Although, I’d pay to see you in that outfit with the whip.”
A soft chuckle made her groan. “Ow.”
“Sorry, sorry,” he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Do you need to do something in here?”
“Besides drying off my face?” Her head shot up and there was more than a hint of laughter in her eyes. “I can take care of those other things on my own.” She lifted her chin at him. “The last thing I’m going to do is ask your for help to get to the toilet.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. I want to take care of you.”
She thought about it for a moment and lifted her hand. She wrapped it around his forearm and gave him a hesitant smile. “Then help me back into bed, my ribs are killing me.”
God, he could have lived the rest of his life without that reminder.
By the time he eased her down on the edge of the bed he was angry and biting the inside of his cheek, but he was trying to fight it off.
Trying and failing.
When he laid her head on his pillow, she closed her eyes and the image burned itself into his brain. There she was alive, but hurting, when she could have easily died in the river.
“Don’t you scare me again like that, mon rêve.”
Her eyes flickered open and fixed on his face. “What’s that?”
He smiled down at her. “Hmm?”
Blyss tried to lift her hand but winced at the motion. To make it easier for her, he sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hand gently in his.
“What did you say?” She squeezed his hand and sighed. “You call me that from time to time, and I don’t know what it means, but it sounds nice.”
He lifted his free hand and brushed some stray hairs from her forehead. “You think so?”
Her eyes followed him as he moved closer to her, sitting hip to hip on the mattress. “Your father calls you ma vie, sometimes.”
“It’s just what parents call their kids.”
“My life? Is that what it means?”
He nodded and trailed his knuckles against her cheek. “Yeah.”
She was already drifting back off to sleep, and he loved how soft and warm her skin was against his hand. Vastly different from how she’d shivered in the ambulance when they’d pulled her out of the river.
“Owen?”
“Hmm?”
She sighed as he tucked her hair behind her ear and cupped his palm against her cheek. “You didn’t tell me… what…”
He knew she was exhausted. Whatever had woken her up from her nap must have been terrifying to shake her free of the sedative the doctor had prescribed at the hospital. He wanted to talk to her, but that could wait until later when she was rested. He didn’t want her afraid.
Not when she was with him.
“… it means.”
Her whole body relaxed, her head pressing against his palm with a beautiful surrender.
“There’ll be plenty of time to talk later, Blyss.” And there would be. But he knew he owed her an answer. Leaning closer to her, he pressed his cheek against hers, holding her gently between it and his hand.
He rubbed his cheek against hers and felt her breath sigh against his ear.
To be so close to this woman was heaven and still there was so much that he’d left unsaid between them. He just needed her to be ready to hear it, and with her staying there, he was going to get his chance.
“I call you mon rêve,” he whispered into her ear, “because you’re my dream, Blyss. My hope for a future that’s more than just mindless dates and meaningless nights. So, you rest and we’ll talk. We’ll talk and I hope you’ll see that I mean it.”
He stayed there by her side, counting each breath, and counting himself lucky for each and every one.
When he’d seen her, hung up on branches, her head barely above the river, he’d already been terrified, but it was the panic he’d seen in her eyes that had nearly sent him over the edge.
If he ever saw that same terror in her eyes again, he’d kill anyone that got between them.
He’d spent years in the Army. Gone overseas. Seen his share of combat. Spilled more blood than he’d ever care to remember, and spilled his own time and time again, but there was always one thought that kept him fighting on. That was picturing the people he loved.
It had been his mother’s soft silver eyes and kind face, his father’s determination and fierce love, and Blyss Hardy. Her warmth and her gentle nature had always been a siren’s call to him. Sure, there were always plenty of women who wanted him and his touch. They wanted his strength and his skills, but it was always different with Blyss.
She gave from her heart and soul. Given her quiet reassurance. Given her support with just a look, or a touch. He’d seen a depth of emotion in her eyes, even back then. He’d seen friendship and at times something more, but he’d done his best to ignore it.
They were only in Houston until the hurricane was over, and then they were going back to Louisiana. Or that’s what he’d thought. He hadn’t counted on how quickly they’d become attached to Texas and the people that they’d met.
Well, a few people.
For him, just one.
And he’d told h
imself back then that the quiet girl whose family had literally taken his in was just a friend.
Halfway across the world, he didn’t have a reason to lie to himself.
When he’d returned back home, heaven help him, it wasn’t the right time, nor was he in the right mindset to be the kind of man a woman like Blyss needed.
It didn’t stop his heart from wanting her, it certainly didn’t stop the rest of him either, but he could drown that out. Party enough, flirt enough, fuck enough, and you could shut down the want in your heart.
Owen also thought it was a good idea for Blyss too. If she saw him acting a fool, she’d find someone better.
She’d find someone who wasn’t broken inside.
At least that’s what he told himself to make it more palatable and keep himself from feeling like a total ass.
That had all changed over a year before when his mother had passed away.
It had been one of those things that had snuck up on all of them. Marie Mercier was the light of so many lives. She’d been everyone’s cheerleader, everyone’s mom, always there, always a light.
The day she’d collapsed had been the day after Blyss was sworn in as a Game Warden. They’d held a party at the property and his mom had danced the night away.
“You’re thinking of your mom.”
“You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
Owen felt Blyss set her hand on his forearm. “You were thinking too loudly.”
He opened his eyes and looked down into Blyss’ beautiful eyes. “Did you smell the wood burning in my head?”
She didn’t laugh at his humor. Her gaze lowered as her fingers trailed over his skin. He looked down and watched her fingertips tracing the veins under his skin. “I haven’t seen you look that torn up since your mom was sick. I didn’t want you to think you were alone.”
How she could tear him up with just a few words.
“I’m not alone.”
He wasn’t sure if he expected her to say anything, but when she did, he felt her take an even tighter hold of his heart.
“You’ve always got me, Owen. Even when you tried to put all that space between us, I’ve always been here for you.”
Every bit of breath he had in his lungs rushed out and he took her hand in his, lifted it to his mouth and kissed her palm.
“My mom told me, you know.” He looked down and saw the confusion in her eyes. “She told me I was acting like a fool.”
“Your mother worshipped the ground you walked on.” The smooth skin between her brows furrowed, and he had to keep himself from smoothing the pad of his thumb over it.
He grinned at her. “Sure, she did. My mama loved like my papa used to drive, full speed, but she also knew I could be hardheaded. She wanted me to know that she was mad at me because of you.”
“Me?” He felt her hand tense in his and wrapped his hands around hers to comfort the worry he felt trembling through her body.
“Hey, don’t you worry. I deserved it.” Moving closer to her, he leaned forward and braced one hand down on the bed. “She told me I was wasting time with women that didn’t mean anything to me.”
He saw the shock on her face and gave her a grin.
“Mama was sweet, don’t get me wrong, but she also called me on my shit. It was one of the reasons why I loved her so much.”
“She was the sweetest woman I ever knew. I’m so sorry that she’s gone, Owen.”
Heaven help him, but he wanted to lay his head down on Blyss’ chest and hear her heart beating. It was hard enough to lose his mother, but realizing how close he’d come to losing Blyss had nearly gutted him.
“I still have you, right? You’re still here.”
Her smile was so damn gorgeous.
“I’m here because of you, Owen. You found me and got me out of that water. I was just about to give up.”
Hearing the words felt like a stab through the heart.
“Don’t say that. Don’t think that.” His heart was pounding in his chest. “I wasn’t going to stop searching for you. I knew you were out there and I was going to find you.”
Her eyes were filling with tears. “I was trying to hold on,” she turned her face slightly away from him, “but there was so much pain and it was so hard to breathe. I couldn’t help but think that I was going to die alone in the water. Like that man.”
“Look at me.”
He wasn’t sure that she knew that she’d lifted up her chin.
“You stubborn woman.”
Owen leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Shocked, she turned toward him and he caught her lips under his.
He didn’t press for more than the simple touch of his lips to hers, but it was enough. His heart kicked hard against his ribs and when she grabbed onto his forearm blood rushed south like a flood, knocking aside any reservations he had. So, when she tugged on his arm, he leaned closer and brushed another kiss on her lips.
She was drowning again, but it was all good. Blyss felt like she finally knew what her name was about. To have Owen kiss her, not just the bye-bye kind of kiss you give a friend on their cheek, but an honest to goodness kiss against her lips felt like pure joy.
At first when it had just been a little touch, she was afraid she had started dreaming again. But when he pressed his lips against hers, the subtle friction he added to the kiss would have knocked her clear off her feet. But there she was, in his bed, half covered by a man who made her insides turn to jelly.
If he’d wanted more than that kiss, well, all he had to do was say so and she’d let him.
How many times had she lain awake in her bed trying to imagine what it would be like to have his hands on her? His mouth? Or yes, have him inside of her, bringing her to the edge of reason?
She wanted it. Wanted it all with him.
And the few times that she’d gotten close with a man, it had always ended the same way. Early.
She knew nothing would happen right then between them. Goodness knows that Owen had already given her a severe talking to about healing up, but it didn’t stop her heart from wanting to know what it felt like to feel his weight on top of her, pushing her into the mattress.
She felt his lips pull away and she saw him looking down at her. When he didn’t speak, she blurted out the question. “What?”
His smile made her ache. “Can’t I just look at you?”
“Yes… no, not with that smirk of yours.”
She heard his voice rumble out of his throat, and it felt like a physical touch against her skin.
“You make these sexy little noises when I kiss you.”
Her cheeks heated up with shame.
“Don’t you dare.” He cajoled her gently. “Don’t you think for one minute I want you to be ashamed of what you sound like, because I love it.”
She watched him carefully, wondering what else he thought.
“It reminds me of that night when you got drunk. I didn’t want to leave you, but I couldn’t stay with you in bed.”
“You were probably worried I’d get sick on you.” She turned her gaze to the side.
“I was worried that I couldn’t keep my hands off of you.”
She turned and stared at him in shock. “After I told you I didn’t wear anything in bed? It was a lie, you know. I wanted… goodness, I wanted to try… I wanted to feel…”
“And that’s why.”
His voice should be bottled and sold to turn a woman on.
“I didn’t think I could handle the temptation of having you coming on to me. You were drunk, and I wasn’t going to cross that line. You deserve to feel everything when it happens, Blyss. You should have a clear head so you can remember everywhere I touch. Everywhere I kiss.
“And even though I was on that couch outside your bedroom I couldn’t help but hear your moans, and it felt like I could feel you on my hands, taste you in my mouth.”
Blyss groaned. “You heard me? How can you even look at me without laughing, knowing that I was�
��” She bit her lip to keep from saying any more. Sure, she knew the words, but saying them?
“You can say it, Blyss. You can tell me what you did because I was doing it too.”
She looked up at him in shock. “What?”
His grin was positively sinful. “I sat out on that couch, my hand wrapped around my cock, and I gave myself a stroke for every moan I heard from your lips.”
“You did?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Blyss. I wanted you. I would have sold my soul to touch you that night and feel you come apart on my fingers.”
“But I was drunk.”
He nodded. “You were drunk and I want you to remember.”
She understood. At that moment, she would have sold her soul to have him touch her like that. “I’d remember now.”
“There’s no way I’d hurt you, and if I did that now, you’d hurt yourself. So, if you rest up and the doctor says you’re healing up. We’ll talk later.”
She groaned. “I’m going to want more than talking.”
Laughing, he leaned over her and then she felt his lips brush against the shell of her ear. “I think you should tell me what you were doing that night. I think you need to be able to say the words.”
Heaven help her, she wanted to. “I’d sound silly.”
He pressed a kiss on her cheek and then took her mouth in a deeper kiss. “No,” he drew in a breath and kissed her again. “You’d sound so fucking sexy. Now kiss me again.”
He didn’t get another argument from her for hours.
Chapter 10
The troops descended the next day. Well, if you consider a handful of Game Wardens and other Law Enforcement Officers the troops.
And surprisingly, Owen had no issue with the way they took over his living room and kitchen. In fact, after he stood back and invited everyone in, he fit right into the group, even though he’d only met a few of them before. It didn’t take more than a few moments for him to be folded into the group.
From her seat on the armchair, Blyss tried to do whatever she could to make sure that Owen was okay with the invasion of his house. He waved off her concerns every time and without being asked he started to walk out the front door when one of the Texas Rangers asked everyone to settle down.