Chapter Twelve | Skylar

Having left Calgary, I was on the last leg of my flight home. The past week had been filled with mixed emotions. Every night when I spoke with Chad, I kept something from him. I hadn’t told him that Owen was in love with me. It wasn’t like us to keep secrets.

I felt incredibly guilty.

I leaned my head back against the headrest. We were descending. There were two reasons I might be keeping this information to myself. One … it was a private matter between Owen and me. And two, the most likely reason … I was worried Chad would insist I stop seeing Owen. The possibility was keeping me from honouring years-long open communication with my husband.

It was a few minutes past 10 pm when I emerged into the arrivals area. I chuckled as I caught sight of Owen waving furiously at me and moving toward where I’d be able to join him.

He was laughing as he flung his arms around my neck. I dropped my carry-on bag with a thunk and cradled his face. Our lips met with so much more meaning than ever before.

For the next two nights, I’d come home to Owen.

I was reluctant to part from his lips.

"You didn’t need to meet me," I whispered as we took a breath. "I have my car here."

"Couldn't wait." Owen grinned at me. "I wanted to see you the second you were home. "

I brushed my thumb across his bottom lip, my hands still on his face. "I have no arguments against a welcome like that." I took his mouth again. I didn't care that we were in public.

"Disgusting," I heard someone remark as they walked past us.

Owen exploded in response, sputtering laughter, and hugged me tighter, then sighed, exhilarated. He was adorable. Being in love suited him.

"Am I leaving my car here?" I asked.

"Will that mess you up for the weekend?"

"No, I'll figure it out."

I retrieved my bag and put my arm around Owen's waist as we headed for the door to outside. I never checked any baggage. I had everything I needed at both locations of my life. The only things in my carry-on bag were some toiletries and enough clothes to last me while at Owen's.

"Nice car," I said as I climbed into the passenger seat of Owen's expensive beast.

"My latest lease. I have to live up to my client's expectations."

"Fussy clients."

Owen snorted. "Isn't that the truth."

I reached for Owen's hand once we were on the highway headed from Sidney to Victoria. It was late so there wasn't much traffic. The last ferry had already dumped its load of vehicles onto the roadways. They were long gone. It was a nice connection—holding hands.

"How was your week?" I asked.

"Not as busy as I'd like it to be. A few new listings, but no sales."

Chad had said the same about his sales, but for the next two nights, I was Owen's. I wouldn't bring Chad into this conversation. I'd refrain from talking about him at all if I could.

I would be entirely focused on Owen .

"What about you?" he asked.

I sighed. "We're not working on anything exciting. Just some blood pressure medication."

"That's important, though … right?"

"Not really. There are so many on the market already. Not sure why we're bothering."

"You're not feeling it anymore, are you? Your work."

"I haven't been fully engaged for a while now."

"What do you think you'd like to do instead?"

I played with his fingers. "Maybe teach."

"University?"

"That would be ideal, but I haven't done much research on the logistics of getting into something like that. It's just a thought." A pervasive thought. Being away from home for those few days each week made less and less sense as time went by. Now, I had Owen to consider as well.

Thirty minutes later, walking into Owen's house, I could detect the remnant scent of cooking. Owen dealt with my coat and boots, then tugged me toward the kitchen. He motioned for me to take a seat on a stool at the island then went to the fridge and opened it.

With an expression of pride, he set a plate of food in front of me. He'd worked hard on the presentation of the mushroom and rice-filled lettuce wraps, creating a pinwheel with them.

I smiled at him. "You made these for me?"

"Do they look all right?"

"They look fabulous." I was going to trust that Owen had done his research and that these were fully vegan. I lifted one and took a bite. "Mm." I wiped my lips. "So good."

Owen's chest swelling was visible. So was the joyous grin on his face. This was so worth the argument I knew would be coming with my dad for cutting back my hours.

I didn't care.

My heart wasn't in research anymore. It was elsewhere .

I pulled Owen to me, tucking him between my thighs. My heart was finding a new place right here with Owen. I played my thumbs over his hipbones as he leaned down and kissed me.

I touched his thigh. "Let me finish these." I motioned toward the lettuce wraps. "I haven't eaten anything since lunch. Then I want to have a shower. You can join me if you'd like."

Owen swayed back and forth between my thighs; his eyes alight. He ran his fingers through my hair. "I would like that very much. Should I get it ready for you?"

I cupped his face in one hand. "You can put a condom and lube into your shower stall." I drew his face to me for another kiss before patting his ass to set him in motion.

This was monumental, staying overnight at Owen's. I wanted to make sure Owen knew how precious this experience was to me. How much I'd been looking forward to it.

I finished the food and put the plate in the dishwasher. It was full and set to be started, a dishwasher pod was already in the dispenser, so I turned it on.

Owen had the shower running but was sitting in the chair in his bedroom in the nude, his legs crossed, scrolling through his phone. I chewed on my bottom lip as I approached him.

He looked so cute sitting there, the screen illuminating his freckles.

"Is that phone more interesting than me?' I asked when he didn't look up.

In a move straight out of a comedy sketch, Owen bent his arm at the wrist and dropped his phone onto the hardwood floor. "What phone?"

I stepped closer. "I'd like you to undress me."

Owen surged to his feet. "Guide me."

"Glasses first."

Owen's slender fingers removed my black designer frames. He set them on his dresser .

"My shirt next." I'd worn a black t-shirt with an embroidered black heart at its centre. There was enough sheen on the thread that it was visible in the right light.

He stripped it off over my head, folded it, and set it beside my glasses.

"My slacks." I hadn't worn a skirt today. Instead, I was wearing black, high-wasted, nearly sheer pants. The only darkened portion of the material was in the shape of booty shorts.

Owen was nimble as he unbuttoned them and unlatched the hooks holding them closed. I rested my hand on his shoulder as he helped me step out of them. Once folded, they joined the rest of my outfit. He melted against my hand as I held his face. "My underwear and socks next."

He crouched, removed my socks, folded them, and set them beside my foot.

Stroking my thighs, he tipped forward and came to rest on his knees.

I ran my fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of his thick waves as he nuzzled my material-covered cock with his lips, then kissed and licked my balls through my underwear.

I closed my eyes.

So good.

I gripped the back of his head, jutted my hips forward, and forced his face harder against me until I could sense I occupied the forefront of his consciousness. As he moaned, he relaxed, going to that place of blissful surrender, his breath hot on my flesh.

"Take off my underwear then stand."

It took Owen's brain a second to register what I had asked.

Quick hands removed them then he was on his feet.

"I'll follow you," I said. Owen's bathroom was opulent and spacious. The shower was at the back of the room. It was floor-to-ceiling marble tiles, and large enough to fit more than two people.

He stepped around the glass enclosure. As requested, a condom and lube were on the floor out of reach of the water. "That was a nice surprise today, you meeting me at the airport."

"I was anxious to see you."

"Mm." I turned Owen away from me and pressed his chest to the wall. I wrapped my arms around his waist, caressed his abs and pecs, then stepped closer, and kissed the base of his neck.

I'd positioned us out of the water for now.

"I've been looking forward to seeing you." I hugged him to me as I dragged my lips up to the back of his ear. "Spending the night with you wrapped in my arms." A delicate kiss.

Owen whimpered and dipped, his knees nearly betraying him.

"Hold steady." I thrust my thigh between his ass cheeks and leaned in. "I have you."

"I need you to fuck me," Owen whined as he gripped the tiles with both his hands. He quivered. If his fingernails could penetrate marble, they would have dug a trench.

"I'll get there, bunny."

I squatted, keeping my hand on the base of his back. I kept my hand there to support him as I reached for the condom. I replaced my hand with my shoulder once I had the condom ready to be opened. A simple rip and I was rolling it on. I lifted the bottle of lube and returned to my place along his neck with my lips. "Gonna play with your ass first."

Owen moved one of his hands from the wall, reached behind him, and grabbed the back of my neck in one frantic movement. He looked over his shoulder at me. "No. I need you now . "

I hummed, pleased, enchanted by his plea. I pooled multiple dollops of lube in my hand and took a moment to briefly feed some into his hole, then coated my cock.

I pressed my chest to his back to hold him in place and circled his hole with my aching cockhead. Tonight's plan had been to be gentle with him. I wouldn't be changing my mind.

Slow.

I eased into him, pausing at intervals to let him adjust. I wrapped my arms around his chest once I was fully inside him and nuzzled the side of his neck.

"I'm going to move slow and easy because I want to feel every vibration of your body. Every sigh and gasp. Each breath. I want to know I'm making you feel good."

"You always make me feel good."

I kissed his earlobe. "You mean the world to me, Owen."

Owen sucked in a gasp. "I love you."

"Those words from your lips make my heart sing." My chest tightened.

Sweet Owen.

I drew my hips back and thrust into him. Having sex with someone who was in love with you was a huge responsibility. Their hearts were tender. Every word held meaning. The lightest of touches sparked significance. I kept nibbling at his neck as I rocked slowly into him.

I shut my eyes, immersing myself in the sounds I was coaxing from Owen's body.

My Owen.

Fuck.

Too soon.

I panted hard against his skin. I clung tighter to him. I'd missed him so much while I was in Toronto. I'd had moments of not being able to calm my racing heart. Found myself struggling to draw the simplest breath once he was occupying my mind. I sucked in a gasp of air .

I'd fallen in love with Owen Bradley.

And I didn't dare tell him until I spoke with Chad.

Once we'd climaxed, and shampooed and washed one another, Owen and I curled up in his bed. My arms around him felt meant to be. I blinked as tears gathered in my eyes.

I loved two men.

My existence had never felt so precarious.

The February wind was vicious and icy cold as it swept off the sea. Island View Park on the way to Sidney was one of our favourite spots to go for a walk. The path was flat and took us for a twenty-minute walk along the stony beach with views of islands in the distance.

Chad and I walked arm in arm, bundled up with toques, gloves, and heavy winter jackets. Practically, the only time we ever wore them. Other than when we went to Mount Washington for some time away from the city. I didn't partake in winter sports, but Chad liked to snowboard.

"I have something I need to tell you," I started.

Chad brought us to a stop and turned to face me. "I suspect I know why."

I stroked his cheek. "I love you so much. You fill my heart each time I think of you."

"I love you too." He tugged on my sleeve. "What do you need to tell me?"

I exhaled a long breath. "Owen and I are in love."

"Oh." Chad looked down at his feet. "I thought that might be it."

"He's said it, but I haven't told him yet because I needed to talk to you first."

"Can we go back to the picnic tables and talk?"

"Sure." We were silent as we returned to the seating areas near the parking lot. Chad took a seat straddling the bench seating. I sat behind him and pulled him into his arms .

He leaned back against me.

I kissed the side of his toque where his ear would be.

"Chad … it would be agonizing, but just say the word and I won't tell him. I'll back away."

Chad's chest expanded and deflated a few times before he spoke.

"No, I've never seen you happier. I don't think it's because I'm not enough for you. I know that you love me and that we're solid. That I'm your forever. Your love is so big, I'm not surprised you fell in love again. Tell Owen again and again that you love him. Let him bathe in your love."

My heart fluttered as I listened to his words. This man was so incredible, it made every part of my body ache I was so full of love for him. "You're sure."

"Yes, and you don't need to check in with me anymore. All green lights for wherever this love takes you. Enjoy him. Just always come home to me in the morning each Friday."

I hugged him tighter. "Always."

"Can we get out of this cold and go back to the car now?"

I laughed softly. "Yes, let's get out of here. Go grab something to eat."

By next Thursday, I was going for another walk. This time at Thetis Lake. This time with Owen. The wooded path circled the lake, featuring curves and hills, and lots of roots to step over.

My boyfriend and I were holding hands as we huffed up one of the hills.

We chatted about everyday things as we walked, getting to know one another even better. The words I wanted to speak to him were rattling around in my mind the entire time.

I needed the timing to be just right. Telling Owen I was in love with him would change everything about our relationship. We'd be moving into seeing a future together .

I wasn't sure what that would look like. I knew how I wanted it to look. All three of us sharing a house. All three of us in love. All three of us committing to spending our lives together.

I took a deep breath as we arrived back at Owen's house, and he flicked on the gas fireplace.

"Do you want to warm up in the hot tub," he asked.

"That sounds like a fantastic idea."

Without any hesitation, Owen stripped off his clothes and then tossed them on the couch. Seeing as how this was the preferred procedure, I undressed as well.

Nude, we ran across the patio, cold air whipping around us, and slipped laughing into the hot water once Owen managed to wrestle the cover off the tub. The hot water felt glorious.

I sat back against one side, my arms outstretched. Owen floated toward me and straddled my hips, our soft cocks billowing against each other. He removed my glasses and sat them on the edge then raked his fingers into my hair. He descended on my mouth and proceeded to devour it.

I drifted my hands down his back and placed them on his ass and caressed each succulent cheek. Owen moaned into my mouth and rocked his hips, his stiffening shaft stroking mine. His hand dipped beneath the water and took us both within his clasped fingers, tugging.

"So good, bunny," I whispered once he let me up to breathe.

"I love it when you call me that."

I lifted my hands to his shoulder. He was sitting higher than me. His exposed skin was freezing cold. "Maybe we should consider warming up in front of the fire instead."

"I can get on board with that." Owen climbed off me and scrambled out of the hot tub. He was back in the living room before me. He'd retrieved a massive furry rug from somewhere.

"That's not real fur, is it?"

"Of course not. Completely synthetic." He spread the rug on the floor in front of the fire and then laid on it. He had the cheekiest grin on his face as he started stroking his dick.

"You're incorrigible." As I suspected, Owen loved to fuck. We'd had sex when we arrived back at the house from the airport last night. Then we had a bit of a marathon this morning. I'd suggested we needed to get out and partake in some fresh air for a few minutes.

He'd pouted, making me crack up.

The scene Owen had set was very romantic. My heart thundered in my chest as I joined him on the warm rug. It felt good on my cool wet skin. Owen rolled me onto my back and pinned me.

"You can have anything you want from me," he said.

I smoothed a strand of damp hair off his forehead. "You are giving me everything I want."

Owen smiled. "Good."

Looking around, I didn't see any supplies. "We appear to be without condoms."

He ground his hard cock against mine. "We'll make do." He pulled back and thrust his hips then clung to my shoulders and kissed me as he undulated his body, rubbing his shaft on mine.

I hadn't partaken in frottage in forever. I placed my hands on his waist, riding each advance and retreat. I separated my legs and wrapped them around his thighs. He increased his pace.

"Fuck." I tipped my head back away from his lips, eyes closed, then reminded myself he was above me. I looked up at him. His warm brown eyes were filled with fire and love .

If he asked, I would have let him fuck me. I traced his lips with my fingers. It wasn't often I would be open to bottoming, but it did happen. But only ever with Chad.

Until now.

"You're so beautiful," I said.

Owen's eyes turned misty, but he didn't slow his hips. He dug in and rubbed our cocks together furiously until we both spilled into the space between us, grunting and swearing.

He kissed my lips. Then my chin. Then my chest. He was travelling downward. I trembled and thrust my hips up. He paused atop our combined release and dragged a finger through it.

Lifting his face to look at me, Owen put that finger in his mouth and sucked on it.

"Yes, bunny. Clean it all up for me."

He dragged his tongue through the sticky cum on my stomach. It tickled but I held steady, watching as he cleaned every remnant off my skin. I touched his chin and brought him back to my lips. The taste sent me reeling. He was everything I'd imagined he'd become sexually.

I rolled him onto his back and kissed him, then pulled away.

"Owen." I must have looked anxious because he stroked my cheek, his eyes hooded with concern. "I have something I need to share with you."

"What is it?"

"Nothing bad." I held his face in both hands. He was the most perfect creature. I loved him so much. The words came easily. "Owen … bunny, I've fallen in love with you."

Owen blinked up at me, then tears streaked down his cheeks. "Are you sure?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Last week you said not yet . "

"You moved fast when you stole my heart." I smiled down at him.

"You love me."

"I do."

Owen clutched my biceps. "I love you too."

This is real.

My soul felt so full I thought I might lose it to the universe. "I want more with you."

Owen's brow dipped. "What would that look like?"

"Come here." I sank into the furry rug and pulled him into my arms. He rested his head on my chest. The weight of it brought home the significance of where I wanted my love for Owen to go.

As I held him, Owen stroked my wedding band.

It would always be there.

"I'd like you and Chad to figure things out between you," I said. "It would be better if the two got along. Or even more, if you both want. I won't interfere. You're attracted to one another."

Owen played with my shoulder, his fingers dancing across it.

"You can explore or not with him," I added. "It's up to the two of you."

"Are you sure you want this?"

"Only if you do."

Owen squirmed in my arms. "I'm not finished thinking it through. For now, I'd be willing to try getting along better with him. That's all I can give you right now. I'll consider the rest."

That's the most I could ask for. Even if they only became friends, that would make our three-man relationship so much more special. I kissed his head and hugged him.

"I love you, Owen."

Those words felt monumental on my tongue.