Page 76 of All of Me

When did this happen?! How did this happen?! Did you cry? Did HE cry?

Taylor:

If you don’t send me pictures in the next five minutes, I’m driving over there.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud, my fingers flying across the screen to calm her down.

Me:

It happened last night. He did it in the backyard with the Polaroid camera. And yes, I cried. It was perfect.

When I turn around, Owen’s awake, his eyes soft and full of love.

“Morning,” he murmurs, his voice rough and low, like the slow rumble of thunder on a summer day.

“Morning,” I whisper back, the warmth of his body drawing me closer. The faint scent of his cologne lingers in the air, mingling with the soft freshness of the morning. The scent feels like home now.

His hand finds mine, his fingers warm and steady as his thumb brushes over the ring. He lingers there, his touch reverent, like he’s still processing the sight of it. “You’ve been up for a while,” he teases, his tone light but full of familiar warmth that makes me feel seen.

“Just a little,” I admit, grinning despite myself. My cheeks flush as I glance at him, my voice dipping. “I may have texted Taylor and Brooke.”

He laughs softly, the sound low and rough in his chest, sending shivers down my spine. He leans over, pressing a kiss to my forehead, the simple gesture so tender it makes my breath catch. “Of course, you did,” he says, his lips curving into a sleepy smile.

“I couldn’t wait,” I say, my voice barely more than a whisper as I shift closer to him. My fingers toy with the edge of the blanket, the weight of everything hitting me all over again. “I still can’t believe this is real.”

His hand tightens around mine, his grip firm and reassuring. “It’s real,” he says, his voice certain. His fingers thread through mine, grounding me in a way only he can. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

The words settle deep in my chest, their warmth spreading outward like the rays of the morning sun. I let out a shaky breath, resting my head against his shoulder. His heartbeat is steady under my cheek, a quiet rhythm that syncs with mine, anchoring me in this moment.

For a while, we stay like this, wrapped in the stillness of the morning. Then his hand moves, sliding up my arm in a slow, deliberate motion that sends sparks racing along my skin.

I tilt my head to look at him, and the look in his eyes steals my breath. There’s heat there now, mingling with love, a slow-burning intensity that makes my pulse quicken.

“Callie,” he murmurs, his voice dropping lower, rougher, like gravel smoothed by the weight of emotion. His fingers brush against my cheek, trailing down to my jaw as he tilts my face toward his.

My heart pounds, my skin buzzing with anticipation. The warmth of his touch spreads through me, melting away every ounce of restraint I thought I had.

I lean into him, my lips finding his in a soft kiss that quickly deepens. It’s like rediscovering something I thought I already knew, but finding it layered with more depth, more passion, more meaning. His hand slips to the small of my back, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us.

The world narrows to just us—the press of his body against mine, the warmth of his hands as they trace lazy paths over my skin. Every touch, every kiss feels like a promise, a reminder that we’re building something unshakable together.

I run my fingers through his hair, savoring the way he sighs against my lips, the sound low and full of want. His hands drift lower, his touch firm and sure, and I feel myself sinking deeper into the moment, into him.

“Owen,” I whisper, his name a plea, a promise, a confession all at once.

“Callie,” he murmurs back, his voice thick with emotion as his forehead rests against mine. His breath brushes my lips, warm and steady. “You’re everything to me. Always.”

His hands move slowly, reverently, as if every inch of me deserves to be cherished. His lips find the curve of my jaw, trailing soft kisses that ignite a fire in my chest. My body responds instinctively, arching into him as his hands explore familiar territory with a tenderness that feels brand new.

The air between us is charged with unspoken words and uncontainable need. My hands slide down his back, feeling the strength in every muscle, the tension in his frame as he holds himself back just enough to make me feel like I’m the only thing that matters.

“God, I love you,” I murmur, the words spilling out without thought.

His breath catches, his lips pausing against my collarbone. He leans back to look at me, his eyes dark and full of sincerity, awe. “I love you too, Callie,” he says, his voice rough.

The rest of the world fades away, leaving just us in the soft glow of the morning. His touch, his words, his presence all wrap around me like a cocoon, safe and warm and unshakably certain.

His lips find mine again, softer this time, as though he’s savoring every second. His hand slides along my side, his touch sending goosebumps trailing across my skin. There’s no rush, no urgency, just the quiet, unspoken understanding that this moment is ours, that everything else can wait.

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