Page 144 of All of Me

“You weren’t supposed to see me until after I was ready!”

“I’ve seen you in less than that, my love. Now tell me what’s wrong?” he asks again.

“I was just thinking about how much we’ve been through,” I tell him, watching his reflection in the vanity mirror as he steps closer to me while I continue to blot my tears away.

As Owen steps behind me, he rests his large hands gently on my shoulders. He leans down, pressing a tender kiss to the side of my neck. He is a grounding, steady force for me. I close my eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of his touch fill me.

“We’ve been through a lot,” he says, his voice low. “But we’ve also made it through it all together. That’s what matters, my love.”

I let out a shaky laugh, dabbing at my eyes with the tissue for what I hope is the last time. “I know. I just… I didn’t realize how hard things would really hit me today. Ten years. It feels like we’ve been together so much longer, but at the same time, it feels like we’ve only just begun. Time is flying by so fast and I need things to slow down.”

Owen chuckles softly, offering a crooked smile that makes my heart flutter as our eyes connect in the mirror. “Well, you’re stuck with me forever, I’m not going anywhere. No matter how fast life moves or where life takes us, I’m here for you. Always.”

“Forever plus one day,” I correct, reminding him of a time when I told him that he has to live forever plus one day so I can live forever and never live a day without him.

I turn in my seat to face him and the movement pulls his hands from my shoulders. He leans in closer, moving his hands to my lips and kissing my forehead as he says, “Yes, baby. Plus one day.”

Looping my arms around his neck, I pull him in closer. As he presses his lips to mine in a passionate kiss, I’m glad I haven’t put my lipstick on yet. He pulls me up from my seat, wrapping my legs around his waist as our kiss deepens.

Another tear falls from my eyes as I think about how grateful I am for this man. He’s been my rock through everything and I cannot imagine where my life would be without him. He pulls back, as if he sensed my tears and wipes it away. “No more tears, baby. Everything is okay. I promise you.”

Our foreheads touch as he studies me for a moment. His deep brown eyes are soft and filled with love. It takes my breath away. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, brushing a stray curl away from my face. “Please don’t cry, Kitty. It breaks my heart to see you shatter.”

He places a kiss on each of my cheeks as he carries me over to the bed and sits down with me now straddling his lap. I stare into his eyes and run my hands over his recently shaved head. I’ve always loved the way his short hair tickles my palms. “You clean up so well, Mr. Klein. It would be a shame if your shirt got wrinkled from us sitting like this.”

“I have other shirts,” he says with a wink, pulling me back in for a kiss. This time, the kiss is hungry, needy, like he’s starved for affection. He’s not. We have sex more than any other couple I know, married or otherwise.

“In that case… maybe you should take this one off,” I suggest.

Owen’s hands glide down my back as I tug gently at his tie, slipping it free and tossing it onto the bed. His eyes darken, a low hum escaping his throat as I begin to unbutton his shirt.

“You’re really going to blame me if this shirt ends up on the floor, aren’t you?” I tease.

His lips curl into that crooked grin I’ve loved for more than a decade. “Not at all, Dollface. I’d say it’s exactly where it belongs.”

I push the shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground as my fingertips trail over his bare chest. His skin is warm beneath my touch, his heartbeat steady and strong. He steps closer, his hands finding my waist, pulling me flush against him.

“You’re still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. “And the fact that you’re mine? It blows me away every single day.”

My breath catches as he brushes his lips along my jaw, down the curve of my neck. Each kiss is deliberate, slow, leaving a searing trail of warmth that makes me shiver.

“Owen…” His name is a whisper on my lips, and I feel his smile against my skin.

“I know, baby,” he murmurs, his hands sliding to my hips. With an effortless motion, he lifts me and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. He turns towards the bed, his touch gentle yet possessive, and lays me down like I’m precious.

His gaze roams over me, the hunger in his eyes tempered by a tenderness that always takes my breath away. He leans down, his weight pressing against me, his lips finding mine again in a kiss that’s deep and unhurried, full of love and years of devotion.

My hands slide over his shoulders, down his back, drawing him closer. The world outside disappears, leaving just the two of us in this moment—no worries, no distractions, just us.

“Ten years,” I whisper as his lips trail down my collarbone. “How did we get here so fast?”

He pauses, his forehead resting against mine, his breathing heavy. “Because time flies when you’re with the love of your life.”

The sincerity in his voice wraps around me, grounding me as much as it sets my heart soaring. I cup his face in my hands, brushing my thumbs over his cheekbones. “Forever plus one day,” I remind him, my voice trembling with emotion.

“Forever plus one day,” he repeats, his lips brushing mine as his hands explore the curves of my body.

For a while, there’s no need for words. Every touch, every kiss speaks volumes, telling the story of a love that’s weathered storms and only grown stronger.

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