Chapter 12:

Owen was staring at the photo Claire sent him two days ago as he grabbed the bottle of beer from the table in front of him and shot down the liquid in the bottle. Seeing Madison all upset because she was missing him was breaking him in ways he didn't even know it was possible. When Claire had texted him again for the millionth time, he didn't open the message. He wasn't in the mood to see what she wanted this time round, but today he decided he needed to know what she wanted. The fact that in the last two days she hadn't texted him or tried to reach him again, bothered him. Even if he was still mad at her, he still missed her and he still wanted her, and not seeing her was not helping him in any particular way. He was still upset and felt miserable most of the times, and now that he knew how upset Madison was, made him feel even worse.

'There you are' Barry told him as he joined him in the balcony with a bottle of beer of his own 'What's with the look?' Barry asked, and Owen turned the phone around and showed him the photo Claire had sent 'Well what did you expect? You haven't seen her since the wedding' Barry told him.

'I was just trying to stay away from Claire' Owen replied.

'Since when?' Barry asked. He still had no idea what had happened between the two of them, Owen still refusing to talk to him about it.

'Since she rejected me' Owen spat out before downing the remainder of his beer.

'She rejected you? What happened?' Barry asked him.

'She doesn't want to be with me' Owen replied shortly.

'Somehow I doubt that is true' Barry told him 'She was worried sick about you. She even came to the Zoo to check if you're there' Barry informed him.

'When?' Owen asked surprised.

'Before you reached out to me' Barry replied.

'Well she's not worried anymore. She hasn't texted or called or anything these last two days' Owen replied.

'Maybe she figured you need some space' Barry replied.

'Maybe' Owen agreed as his mind started to wander. Maybe it was time he got his act together.

oooOOOooo

Claire was folding laundry while watching television. It was still eight o'clock in the evening and Madison was already asleep, since she had school the next day. Folding her clothes, Claire frowned at how upset she had been lately. Her school teacher had even talked to her about Madison's change in attitude and behaviour, and she had even mentioned that she was not mingling with her classmates or participating in class, and Claire was starting to worry more than she already had been. Ever since Owen walked away from them, Claire had found it hard but Madison had seemed to have taken it the worse, and Claire couldn't blame her poor kid. She couldn't understand why her daddy hadn't come to see her or spoke to her over the phone or anything. All she wanted was her daddy.

She found her eyes settling on the picture that was sitting on one of the shelves in the living room. She let the skirt she had in her hands drop back onto the pile of clothes which were still waiting to be folded, and made her way towards the picture. Picking out the frame, she let her fingers trace the picture. They looked so happy all three of them during that picnic, so much so, that Claire found herself smiling at the memory. Why won't he come back? She couldn't understand why he was acting this way really. She didn't tell him that she doesn't want him or anything of the sort. All she told him was that she needed time. She wanted time to pass…the appropriate time to pass from his wedding date to Jessica to when they start dating again, so things won't look as bad. She felt bad enough for Jessica, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her even more, even if they weren't talking. Claire knew if Jessica found out that her and Owen were already dating she would be furious with her, and Claire couldn't blame her. The knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts, Claire put the frame back in its place and went to open the door.

'Owen' she gasped in surprise 'Finally' she said 'Where the hell have you been?' she asked him not bothering to hide the fact that she was angry at him.

'Nice to see you too Claire' Owen replied sarcastically as he slipped his hands in his pockets to which Claire gave him a look.

'Get in' she told him stepping out of the way. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily as he walked past her, his perfume filling her senses while bracing herself for the inevitable argument she knew they were about to have. She closed the door and turned to look at him, placing her hands on her hips. She could see that he was looking upstairs 'You're late. She's asleep' she told him and Owen turned to look at her.

'I'm sorry I missed her' he said.

'Are you? Do you know how upset she has been these last two weeks? Do you have any idea how many times I had to wipe her tears away because you weren't here to kiss her to sleep? Do you know that her teacher at school informed me that she is not participating and mingling with the other kids like she used to? Do you know how worried I have been for both you and her?' she asked him exasperated.

'I'm sorry Claire…I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It's just that when you rejected me…'

'I didn't reject you Owen. I just told you that I need some time…that's all' Claire told him. He looked away at that though, and Claire watched him walk into the kitchen. Taking a deep long breath once again, she followed him.

'Why can't you understand that?' she asked him.

'Because I want to be with you. Fuck…Claire' he cursed as he ran a hand through his hair, before he pushed himself away from the table and made his way into the living room.

'And I want to be with you too' Claire replied 'I just want the appropriate time to pass until we can be together' she tried to explain.

'And five years are not enough?' he asked her as he turned around, closed the distance there was between them and cupped her face with both hands, resting his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She could feel his breath on her face, his scent, the feel of his hands on her face, his lips so close to hers, it was taking everything within her to hold back and not close that little distance that remained. She watched him lean further in and then felt her hands touch his chest and the words coming out of her mouth.

'I can't…we can't do this…not yet' she told him her lips trembling as she closed her eyes and looked down. He closed his eyes and then felt her step away from him…once again.

'And I can't do this Claire. I can't be around you and not being able to touch you or hold you or kiss you. I can't do this anymore' he told her as he went to walk past her when she grabbed his arm making him stop.

'Owen please' she pleaded.

'Claire I…'

'Daddy' they heard Madison say and they both turned around to see the little girl running towards him. He went down on one knee as he watched his daughter running towards him, wrapping her little arms around his neck, he lifted her up and held her tight 'I missed you daddy' she told him.

'I missed you too princess' he replied as he hugged her tight before pulling slightly away so he could look in her gorgeous eyes. He really did miss her even though he didn't really bother to try and see her. He just needed some time away to try and sort out his messed up life.

'You came back' she told him happily as she hugged him again.

'I did…what are you doing up so late princess?' he asked her.

'Talk to you' she replied in her sweet young voice.

'What do you say if I tuck you back into bed and stay until you fall back asleep?' Owen asked her and Madison nodded happily. Owen was about to walk up the stairs, not daring to glance back at Claire, when Madison stopped him 'Coming mummy?' she asked her and Owen froze but still didn't look back.

Claire seemed to have sensed his tension as she watched his muscles flex, noticing how he was avoiding eye contact 'How about we let daddy tuck you in tonight so you two can have some time alone?' Claire asked her.

'Okay' Madison replied and Owen relaxed just a bit before he headed up the stairs. Claire stood there watching them until she couldn't see them anymore. She sighed heavily, running a hand through her short red hair before she turned around and walked into the kitchen, grabbing a wine glass and pouring some red wine in it.

She had been so relieved when she opened the door and found him standing there but at the same time she had been angry at him for abandoning their daughter and for letting her worry. He could have texted her and simply told her that he just needed some time to think things through, but instead he chose to stay away and stay silent. She could understand him needing some time especially after he had taken it so bad the fact that she didn't want to jump into a relationship with him, she couldn't understand though why it was so difficult. It was not like she was telling him that she didn't want him, because only God knows had bad she does, how much she wants to have his hands roam all over her body. She shivered at the thought, grabbed the glass of wine and shot it down.

Claire was drinking her third glass of wine when she heard Owen coming down the stairs. She turned to look at him and Owen stopped on the spot to look at her. He could see she was drinking and could also see that she was slightly tipsy. He wanted to stay there, be with her, take care of her, drink some wine with her but just looking at her was tearing him apart, so he looked away and made his way towards the main door, but Claire beat him to it, blocking the only way out.

'You're getting drunk' he told her, almost warning her, but Claire couldn't care less so she just shrugged before lifting the glass and drank some more wine.

'Then stay' she told him.

'I can't' he replied.

'Why? Because I won't let you get in my pants so we can't just hang out and talk?' she asked him. Owen winced at that statement. It wasn't that, not really. This wasn't about sex although God knows that was part of it. It was just too painful to be so close to her and not being able to touch her or hold her…anything! Caress her cheek or kiss her on the top of her head. Anything!

'That is not it, now move so I can go' he replied. He could smell her vanilla scent mixed with her own particular scent that was only Claire. It was driving him crazy, and Claire was slightly drunk and she was swaying at times getting too close to his face, invading his personal space unknowingly, and it was taking all that he had to not just grab her face and crush his lips hard against her. To feel her body pressed against him and the door… Owen closed his eyes and tried to remember how to breathe, to regain some form of control.

'No' she replied firmly stomping her feet just like Madison does when she gets upset at something, and Owen almost laughed at the resemblance he could see in Claire at that moment, almost taking all his resolve away.

He was tempted to push her away but he didn't want to hurt her so he refrained from doing so instead 'Fuck Claire! What do you want from me?' he asked her as he ran a hand down his face.

'I want you to understand why I am doing this. I need you to understand and know that I want you damn it…so fuckin much (and now it was becoming quite obvious that the wine was starting to talk for both Owen and Claire, but she couldn't seem to shut her mouth), that it is driving me crazy trying to keep you at arms' length when all I wanna do is be with you and hold you, kiss you and tell you how much I love you' and as soon as those three words were out of her mouth, it was to hell with staying away, as Owen grabbed her face in both hands and crushed his lips hard against hers.

She moaned against his mouth, immediately wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers sliding in his hair as she parted her lips and Owen's tongue slid inside to meet hers. She could feel his body press against hers, her breasts flat against his chest, as he deepened the kiss, kissing her hungrily, when suddenly he let go of her face and hoisted her up, her legs immediately going round his hips.

He let go of her lips only to trail his lips down her jaw, down to the side of her neck, devouring the sensitive area there. He still recalled it from five years ago, the pleasure she particularly took in having him kiss her there, and five years later still nothing has changed in that area, as his name escaped her mouth as soon as she felt him kiss her there. With one hand still holding the empty wine glass and the other cupping his head, she let her head drop back making more room for him to work on, enjoying the feel of his lips on her, as he started moving towards the centre of her neck.

'Owen' she whimpered feeling a shudder run through her body, which Owen felt as her body shook in his arms.

'Jesus Claire' he groaned.

'God you're good…so good' she went on, driving him completely insane, completely ignoring the fact that they were making out against the front door which happened to be right in front of the stairs to which Madison could easily come down and get an eyeful, the little girl last on his thoughts at the moment. All he could think about was how God damn much he wanted Claire, how much he wanted to touch her in unknown places and in familiar ones as well. He wanted to tear the clothes off her and fuck her senseless but this was already more than she had been saying she wanted but when suddenly she moaned and whispered how much she wanted him, Owen lost any track of sense he still had in him and the next thing he knew he sat her on her feet again, slid his hand inside the tiny shorts she was wearing and her panties and pushed his finger inside of her, while his tongue was still dancing with hers, and Claire was definitely not protesting or trying to stop him or push him away. Instead she was lifting one leg and wrap it around him, her hand was holding onto him, and the moans and whimpers that were escaping her mouth only encouraged him to keep going.

'God I want you…I can't stand this' he mumbled his thoughts out loud, and suddenly Claire was fisting his hair and guiding him down, and what the hell was she doing? What the hell were they doing right in front of the stairs? But it was so erotic and exciting, and Claire was enjoying the danger of this so much she couldn't seem to stop herself or Owen for that matter, and the wine was definitely wasn't helping and when his mouth found her core and one leg was suddenly wrapped around his neck all sense of coherent thoughts vanished into thin air.

She was about to scream at the feeling when something kept her mouth shut and Claire realized it was Owen's finger. She found herself sucking on it before her climax suddenly tore through her body and Claire let of him, letting a silent 'O' out as she enjoyed the ripples of her release. She watched him get up, his hands cupping her face as his dark eyes locked with hers momentarily like he was asking some sort of permission right before he released himself and then he was lifting her up and as she wrapped her legs around him, he pushed himself inside her heavenly body and Claire couldn't contain the whimper that escaped her mouth as he filled her. The sound of his growling having their own affects as Owen started pounding hard and fast into her, only he was too aroused to drag this on, and before he knew it, he was shooting his load and Claire held onto him letting her own release rip through her body.

'Shit' he suddenly cursed 'Are you…?' he started asking realizing he had no idea if he was supposed to let himself release inside of her or not, but Claire seemed to understand what he was asking and nodded.

'It's fine' she whispered, before she crushed her lips against his again.

This time though, Owen pulled out and walked them into the kitchen, with Claire in his arms, her legs still wrapped around him. He sat her on the countertop right next to the bottle of wine. She was about to reach for it when he grabbed it before her and gulped a heavy shot down before giving her the bottle. He watched her drink and as soon she sat the bottle back down on the counter, Owen was sliding his hand into her hair, pulling her down to kiss her again. His free hand found its way under her t-shirt cupping one breast, and he started massaging it for her, before he lifted her t-shirt and took her nipple into his mouth. She watched him pamper her breasts, enjoying himself, lost in her body and Claire wrapped her arms around his head holding him in place.

There was something so fuckin raw and sexy about all of this, and Claire was enjoying every minute of it even though a voice at the back of her mind was telling her she shouldn't be, but at the moment Claire couldn't seem to give a damn, consequences be damned. She would deal with them later…

And five months later she was still trying to deal with the consequences of that night. Owen had all but rushed out of her place as soon as the round of love making in the kitchen had ended after he had apologized profusely. She had tried to stop him but he was out of the door and off on his motorcycle which he apparently had recently bought, so fast, Claire could barely register what had just happened. What the hell have they done? Again!

She had been telling him that she didn't want to do this, that she wanted to wait until she felt the appropriate time had passed and then she had blurted out that she loved him and the next thing she knew Owen was kissing her and her body ended up between him and the door, and just like that they were fucking the hell out of each other. To say that it had been a struggle to not think about what happened every time her eyes landed on the door or the kitchen counter, was an understatement. Every single time she let her eyes take in that spot, a flashback of that night would pop up in her head leaving her longing for Owen more than ever before. So much for keeping control of the situation. Control had been tossed out of the door the minute those words were out of her mouth and yet Owen had never uttered them back. Why the hell that she tell him that she loves him? How could she let that happen? She couldn't really blame him for having the reaction he did after that, and Claire knew that every single word or sound that came after that only encouraged him to keep going, and yet five months later, they were still strangers.

Not a word since unless it regarded Madison, but since that night, Owen had done everything he could possibly do to avoid her and so did Claire for that matter. He would pick his daughter up in the morning and drive her to school or take her out but Claire wouldn't join, and the times when he had stayed over to spend time with Madison, Claire had opted to stay in her office and work. It seemed the further away they keep from each other, the less chance a repeat would happen, and so far it had worked, even though their eyes seemed to speak volumes every time they happen to lock on each other. The longing in each other's eyes was so obvious, they could hardly keep eye contact for thirty seconds, until it would become too much to handle.

Owen had cursed himself for losing control that night but then again what was a man supposed to do when the woman he has longed for, for the last five years finally tells you that she loves you. He had been so intoxicated with her scent at that moment, he couldn't think clearly and had acted on impulse, just like it is naturally for him to do, just like he had when he practically ran out of her house afterwards. Why didn't he stick around and talked or tried to text her or something? Instead, he had almost felt ashamed of his actions, and now was not sure how Claire felt about him. All he could see in her eyes nowadays was sadness. Sometimes, it crosses his mind that maybe she longed for him, but he wasn't sure and he was definitely not about to ask her or try and get close to her. Every time they seem to drink or get too close, they ended up making love, because that is what it was. It was not just sex. He could still recall how Claire had referred to them making love as sex, and Owen couldn't help but wince at the memory. It was more than that…so much more, and now that she had told him that she loves him, it was even more so more than just sex, because even he loved her, even if he never told her that night.

He wanted to make things right. He wanted to start talking at least…just normal talk. He wanted to try and mend things, fix the situation they are in. It had dragged on for too long and Owen missed her. He missed her company apart from everything else of course, he wasn't even going to go there tonight, not when he knew her birthday was round the corner.

Diane had just informed him about that and invited him to Claire's birthday party which apparently she was in charge of. He had hesitated at first, not wanting to ruin Claire's day, but Diane had insisted or rather ordered him to attend. She lectured him how this was an opportunity to fix things and maybe start finding their way towards each other again…finally. He didn't confirm his attendance but he had assured her he would think about it. Maybe attending her birthday party was exactly the opportunity they needed to get things going again.