Page 209 of In at the Deep End

Matt chuckled. “The only thing I need is to be in your bed.”

He laughed. “You’re not wasting any time.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m going to wear you out, but not right now.” Matt’s hand was gentle on his face. “I need you to hold me, kiss me, and tell me you love me, for long enough that I forget every second of the past few weeks.”

Owen stilled. “But I don’t want you to forget. Ever.”

Matt smiled. “Okay, then I won’t. But I still need to be naked in your arms.”

Which was exactly where Owen wanted him.

They lay curled up together beneath the sheets, Matt’s head resting against Owen’s chest, one hand spread over his stomach. Owen had an arm around him, his fingers moving occasionally along Matt’s back in a slow, absent rhythm.

Matt could have stayed quiet all night, except for two things. They needed to eat, and more importantly, Matt needed to talk.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

Owen’s hand stilled. “That sounds ominous.”

“It isn’t. Well, not exactly. My dad knows about you. He knows I love you.”

He’d expected some sign of shock. There was nothing.

“How?”

Matt lifted his head. “I told him.”

“When was this?”

“Yesterday. I called him from the station while I was waiting for Eric.”

“What did he say?”

“I think he knew before I said it.” Matt settled back against him. “I was trying to explain how I felt without actually saying who it was. But he knew it was you.”

Owen closed his eyes. “And then?”

“I told him the truth. That I love you.” Matt propped himself up on his elbow, peering at Owen’s face. “You’re taking this way calmer than I thought you would.”

He cleared his throat. “Your dad came to see me after we got back from the island.” He took a breath. “He asked me if I was sleeping with you.”

Matt blinked. “That’s one hell of an opening question. And did you tell him?”

“He’d already seen enough that I didn’t have to.”

He sat up. “Did this conversation have anything to do with you making decisions I knew nothing about?” Because it was beginning to sound as if Dad knew a lot more than he’d let on.

Owen hesitated. “I don’t want to make excuses for him.”

Matt’s heart sank. “I’m not asking you to.”

He stared at the ceiling. “He was frightened. About you, me, what might happen to you if this became serious.”

Matt gave a quiet sigh. “I see. He mentioned the age difference, didn’t he?” When Owen didn’t reply, Matt took his hand. “Look, I need to know what’s waiting for us when we get home.”

“He said things about the future, it’s true. He wanted me to think about whether I could give you the life you deserved.”

Oh Dad.