He shook his head emphatically. “No. Joe was an ass for a long time, and I just didn’t want to deal with him anymore. He kept trying to get me to help him run the company, and I don’t want that.”
“What do you want?”
His glance made me melt. “You, sweetheart. And to make movies and videos. That’s it.” His other hand brushed over my knee. “Your turn. T
ell me what you want.”
Nodding, I tried to appear calm. “I want us to be together, but I’m afraid I’m not exciting enough to chase. I’m not going to hold your interest if you don’t need to pursue me.”
“You have more than my interest, sweetheart. You have my entire heart. Everything that happened with other relationships is years in the past. I’m a different person now, and this man is completely in love with you.”
I froze, surprised that he wasn’t going to back off.
“Brynn, please, may I kiss you before I lose my mind?”
I’d barely nodded before our lips touched. Pulling me onto his lap, he held me close, his mouth warm on mine as my hands slid around his shoulders.
“I’m nowhere near perfect,” he murmured, unzipping the back of my dress so that he could rub my back. “But I’m going to try very hard to be the absolute best for you.”
“Even when I yell at you?”
“Yes,” he said with that grin that made my thighs press together. “I want you to yell at me. Whisper to me. Share anything and everything. Just never stop talking to me, okay?”
I nodded as he kissed me so hard my breath became ragged. When he finally pulled away, placing his forehead to mine, I felt reborn.
“I’m going to prove myself to you every day, sweetheart,” he said softly, sitting up and taking a box from his pocket. “You’re mine now, but I’m still going to work hard to deserve you.”
Owen placed a dark velvet rectangle in my hand, and I was instantly relieved that it was too large to be a ring box. Lifting the lid, I saw a delicate chain that held a small round locket. He took it out, opening it with his thumbnail to show me a still photo from when we were dancing at the bowling alley.
On the other side was a pink glittery heart that read, “Brynn and Owen.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, but I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“I was thinking that we could change out the photos monthly,” he said matter-of-factly, as he studied my eyes intently. “I want to take photos of us together all the time, and we could change the colors of the heart every season, maybe.”
He fastened the chain around my neck, as my fingers fluttered at the small golden circle against my throat.
“I’m never going to change my mind about you, Brynn,” he said softly. “But we can take our time if you’d like. We don’t have to rush into anything. Just stay with me, and be my girlfriend. Please?”
Nodding, I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Just don’t change your life for me,” I said, spitting the words out quickly. “I don’t want to be responsible for any major life changes. I don’t want you to do anything because of me, then regret it later.”
“Deal. I’ll just find tons of work at your company so that we can collaborate all the time. How’s that?”
I answered him by leaning in to glide my lips seductively against his.
“Is that a yes?” he murmured. I nodded quickly.
“I think I like it when you express yourself through touch instead of words,” he whispered. “Tell me more.”
Unbuttoning his shirt, I placed my hands on the center of his chest, staring into those deep eyes that made me tingle with infatuation.
“I’m hearing you say that my body belongs to you,” he said softly. “Yes, it does.”
Leaning in closer, I kissed along his collarbone, loving the shudder that ran through him. His hands slid up to cup my breasts through my thin t-shirt, his thumbs flicking over my nipples until I gasped softly.
“I’m hearing you say that you need me to kiss you everywhere,” he murmured.
Kissing up the side of his neck, I whispered in his ear, “I need you to make love to me.”