He kissed me again, and we fumbled back into the sheets. I yanked at my pants while Owen pulled at his.

We were both panting, hardly having done anything but fully knowing what was coming. I needed his hands on me. I needed the reminder that after all of this, I had someone in my corner.

Owen pinned me against the bed, his hands pressing my hips down, pinning me in place.

I felt his mouth travel down my neck, over my breast. His fingers squeezed my nipples slightly. I felt lightheaded as his mouth kissed my stomach.

He placed his hands on my stomach, and I felt his thumb roll over my belly button. He softly smiled. "In nine months, everything is going to change even more than this."

I felt tears break free.

Our limps were tangled as Owen slid into me, each thrust driving me higher and higher. His mouth softly whispered sweet words as I orgasmed over and over again until I had nothing left in me.

I laid on my back, trying to pull myself together after the seventh orgasm. Owen was lying on his side next to me, his fingers trailing over my belly.

I looked at him, finally feeling like I could sleep. I felt my body sinking into my sheets, taking in the clean smell.

"I love you," I whispered to him. "I never stopped loving you, even when I hated you."

He softly smiled, pulling a hand up and moving some of my hair out of my face. "Are you sure? Or is the cloud your brain is flying on making you say that."

I shook my head. "I did. After tonight, I don't want to lie or have secrets anymore. You left, and it hurt, but I never stopped loving you."

"I'm sorry about lying and not telling you. I wanted to...God, I wanted to tell you so badly. But...I just... I thought your dad was right and that you deserved someone so much better and that you'd find them."

"You are my person," I said, taking his hand. And I don't ever want to lose that. Owen, you've made me so happy. I know we have a lot to figure out, but I want to do that with you."

He pulled me close, holding me against his body.

"Sleep...we can deal with everything else starting tomorrow."

I rested my head against his chest and took a deep breath of his scent.

And then I stiffened. While I was safe and Ayden was going to take care of Logan, that wasn't my entire problem. I still had my folks.

"What's wrong?" Owen asked, looking down at me.

"My parents," I said. "I still have to do something about them."

"We can do that together tomorrow," he said, kissing my forehead.

I swallowed, cuddling into the spot under his neck. I let the feeling of his arms wrapped around me warm my body, and I allowed myself to drift off to sleep.

Chapter 26 - Owen

I held Ashley's hand as she sat nervously next to me. I could understand why. It had been at least two weeks since everything happened, and she hadn't spoken to or seen her folks since then.

We had planned to go the following day, but Ashley couldn't. She was still shaken up by everything and explained that she just needed time.

I squeezed her hand, hoping it would reassure her that I was there for the entire thing. I held her while she cried all week. I'd even contacted her therapists, who she needed to see.

I had gone to Ayden's meeting with her parents earlier this week. Ayden explained how he was disgusted by their behavior and how they should have gone to him instead of to someone else. And just as Harey said, Addy was sick again. It was clear that everything they decided was out of fear. While it angered me and Ayden, we understood.

So, Ayden told them to clean up their act and get their shit together. He told them that for the next year, he was going to be keeping a close eye on them.

"You okay?" I asked once more.

She nodded. "I am… I'm just nervous. I don't know how they are going to act when they get here."