Chapter 13:

'Why am I here again?' Claire asked Diane for the third time, as she raised her voice so her friend could hear her over the loud music that was playing in the disco.

'It's your birthday Claire, come on…you need to loosen up a bit' Diane teased her friend but Claire couldn't help the eye roll that escaped her. While Claire had always enjoyed spending her weekends out at the disco with her friends, enjoying the music and the time spent together, she had found less time to do so as she grew up, and after having Madison, that time had been reduced to zero. She couldn't remember the last time she was out at a disco to have some really good time, and Claire was pretty sure that that had been long before she had married John, 'Come on Claire…just go grab a drink and enjoy the music. I know you remember how to dance to this music' Diane teased her as she elbowed her friend in a friendly manner.

Claire laughed at that ' Yes I do, but usually I need a man to dance to this kind of music. I can't just dance alone' Claire replied.

'There are plenty of men here' Diane dismissed with a wave of her hand and an eye roll, but Claire shook her head.

'No thank you' she replied with a laugh thinking Diane was being silly.

'Ohhh…I get it…Owen right?' Diane asked and Claire's expression changed as she looked away from her friend now 'Maybe he'll come' Diane told her and Claire looked up at her quickly her mouth falling open.

'You invited Owen?' she asked her surprised.

'Of course I did silly. It's your birthday after all, how can I not invite Owen?' Diane asked her.

'Is he coming?' she couldn't help but ask. She wanted him to come but she wasn't sure he will. Things had been somewhat getting better lately…this past week or so. He wasn't trying to avoid her and Claire found herself hanging around whenever he visited Madison. She had started staying in the kitchen working instead of in her home office and sometimes she would offer him something to drink or eat or just hand him a beer without asking, and Owen even got take away a couple of times or treats such as donuts bringing along her favourite of course. It was like they had been doing unspoken gestures to try and mend things. It started becoming natural, maybe finally they had both realized that things had gotten slightly out of hand and it was time to start fixing things…if not for them, for their daughter. She had been obviously affected by the hostility between the two, even if they had tried their best to act normal around her, but Madison was a smart young girl, and had realized that her parents weren't talking as much. She had asked both of them why they were upset or angry sometimes, or why mummy wasn't talking to daddy or why daddy didn't attend the movie with them. Claire had also sat down to watch Beauty and the Beast with them yesterday and Owen had smiled at her after the shock had worn off. Maybe tonight was actually perfect for them to break through the rest of the wall.

Claire found herself glancing at her watch for the tenth time that night. Her, Diane and a couple of other friends Diane had invited had been at the disco for the last hour and a half and Owen still hadn't come and Claire was beginning to think that maybe she had been reading him wrong and that maybe he wasn't ready for things to move forward between them, after all things had only started to improve somewhat for the last week or so. It was just that Claire was getting anxious now, suddenly wanting for things to be okay between them, now that it seemed there was a light sparkling again.

'Will you stop looking at your watch?' Diane asked her.

'I can't help it' Claire replied with a shrug.

'The night is still young you know' Diane tried to remind her.

'I know it's just that…' when suddenly she caught Owen entering the disco, as their eyes connected and Claire found herself letting out the breath she didn't know she had been holding, as her face lit up and her lips parted slightly, a smile creeping up her face even if she tried her best to control it, her heart skipping a beat.

'From the look on your face I say Owen has just walked in' Diane replied with a huge grin on her face.

'Shut up' Claire replied, hitting her friend playfully as she watched him approach. Diane laughed and walked away leaving Claire alone. She could feel herself getting slightly anxious, pushing her hair behind her ear, as she looked away for a second and then looked back up at him from the side smiling at him.

'Hi' Claire said smiling at him.

'Hey' Owen replied smiling back at her.

'You came' she said smiling even brighter.

'Of course I did' he replied and then he was pushing her hair behind her ear and leaning in to kiss her on her cheek, as she stood frozen not really expecting such affection 'Happy Birthday Claire' he told her, before pulling back and look in her eyes. His green eyes were literally twinkling amidst all the coloured light and darkness at the same time, and he looked absolutely gorgeous. He was taking her breath away. She had to remind herself to keep her hands to herself and take things slow, to not push him away again as she took him in, taking in the blue jeans and grey top he was wearing.

'Thanks' she replied shyly. She could feel herself blushing but thanks to the light inside the disco, Owen couldn't tell 'You emm…you wanna go grab a drink?' she asked him.

'Sure' he replied. He followed her to the bar, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back a couple of times, as they tried to walk past the crowd that was only getting bigger. Claire glanced back to check that he was actually behind her at one point having lost his touch on her back, realizing that he had fallen a couple of steps back, getting caught in the traffic of people passing in different direction. She stopped and waited for him and when he finally reached her, she took his hand in hers, her fingers lacing into hers and continued on their way to the bar.

'What are you having?' he asked her when they finally managed to reach the bar.

'Vodka coke' she replied and Owen raised his eyebrows.

'Vodka coke? You drink vodka?' he asked her surprised.

'Don't look so surprised' she told him hitting him playfully in his chest.

'It's just that I always saw you drink wine' he replied defending himself.

'Yeah well…there's a lot you don't know about me' she replied 'Tonight it's like old times, and that means vodka' she replied and Owen nodded 'What are you having?' she asked him.

'Tequila' he replied.

'Tequila? Seriously?' she asked again as if to double check she heard him correctly.

'Yeah well, there's a lot you don't know about me' he replied and they both laughed at that comment.

'So what now?' he asked her when they finally managed to get their drinks and had reached again the area where Diane and the others were.

'Now? Now we dance' she replied.

'Oh this I gotta see' Owen replied.

'You're in for a big surprise' Owen heard Diane say as he turned to look at her 'Enjoy' Diane told him with a laugh before walking away leaving the two of them alone. Claire rolled her eyes at her friend but laughed while shaking her head.

'What?' Owen asked.

'You'll see' Claire told him, before drinking the remainder of her vodka. Getting rid of the empty glass, she took his hand in hers and guided him towards the wall with the huge windows, not wanting to catch a lot of attention, or feeling like Diane is watching them. She wanted to get away from prying eyes.

As a new song started, Claire started moving along the tune, just slightly before turning to look at him, taking his hand into hers wrapping it around her, while she started rubbing her back against his chest, her ass rubbing against his manhood. Owen closed his eyes as he gasped at the feeling of her body rocking against his. He found himself wrapping his other arm around her, resting the side of his face against hers as they danced along the tune, pulling her further into him. One hand moved down to her side, his fingers digging into the side of her thighs as Claire kept swaying with her ass against his manhood, but one hand was now reaching up, turning around his neck, as her head dropped slightly back resting against his shoulder. They danced together in that manner for the longest time, as Claire swayed down a couple of times, her hand sliding down against his legs, and as she moved up, she rubbed her butt against his erection that was beginning to form in his jeans. She was beginning to drive him insane, trying to keep control of the situation and take things slow while Claire seemed to be hell bent on fucking his brains out. Her arm went up, up around his neck pulling his head a little lower, resting her cheek against and Owen found himself pulling her tighter into him

'Claire' he whispered and she smiled knowing she was having the desired affect on him. It had been way too long since they were this close to each other and Claire missed him and wanted to fix things, and she felt five months have been long enough.

She turned around in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, their lips mere inches away, and Owen thought she was about to kiss him, when her hands started sliding down his chest and Claire started going down, her hands now resting on his hips as she looked up, blinking her eyes ever so slow, that seductive look on her face now, as the confident Claire came out to play, seducing her man. Even in the darkness of the disco, with coloured background lights, she could see his eyes growing bigger and darker, the lust in him definitely surging out. She bit slowly her lower lip as she started dancing her way up again, but this time Owen pulled her in, his hand flat on the centre of her back, her hands flat on his chest.

'Are you enjoying this?' she asked him in his ear, as one hand moved up to cup his head from the back.

'You're driving me crazy' he replied 'You're playing with fire missy' he warned her and Claire chuckled in his ear, biting his earlobe playfully and Owen pressed her body against his, lifting her slightly, pressing her against the windows.

'So you wanna play huh?' he asked her.

'You know it' she replied licking her lips playfully.

She watched him lower his head, pretty sure he was going to close that gap and kiss her, his hand cupping one cheek. She could feel her breath picking up, waiting for him to kiss her, when all of a sudden his lips locked with her neck and Claire couldn't control the moan that escaped her, good thing the music was loud enough that no one could hear her, but Owen sure did, a grin spreading across his face.

'Remember we are in a disco' she tried to remind him, and Owen laughed.

'You want another drink?' he asked her.

'Oh yeah I do' she replied.

Taking her hand in his, Owen walked them towards the bar. While Claire talked with Diane who had come over to talk to her, check on things, to which Claire assured her were moving smoothly, Owen felt a hand slide around his back. He turned around thinking it was Claire but then realized it was someone he didn't even know. This blonde very good looking woman was all of a sudden hitting on him. He immediately removed her hands away from his body and tried to step away telling her he was there with someone not that she seemed to take the hint. Claire had turned around at the same time Owen was stepping away from the woman.

'Do you think he knows her?' Diane asked.

'I don't think so' Claire replied feeling suddenly on alert.

'Well looks like there is nothing to worry about' Diane tried to assure her, taking in her sudden change in posture, as they watched Owen approach them with two glasses in his hands.

'You wanted something to drink?' he asked Diane.

'No it's fine I already have one' she replied raising the glass she was holding in her hand 'I'll leave you two alone' she told them and with that she turned around and left them.

Owen handed Claire her glass and shot back the tequila emptying his glass, 'You okay?' he asked her, taking in the sudden change in air around her, and Owen realized she must have seen that woman hitting on him. She was jealous, he realized and Owen liked that.

'Yeah I am' she replied before lifting the glass to her lips to drink some vodka, which she felt she needed at the moment. She was tempted to just drink it at one go, and stopped at only half of it, feeling like her head was about to start spinning. She felt him lace his long fingers into hers and Claire looked down at their joined hands as Owen directed them to the huge windows again, needing to put some space between them and the group Claire was supposed to be with. It almost felt like they were there just for the number, just to say that there were other people invited and not just him and Diane, but no one seemed to care that Claire was not spending any time with them whatsoever, unless she did so before he arrived.

'So where is Madison?' Owen asked her, as if finally remember that they shared a daughter, he should be concerned about.

'With her nanny. She is keeping her for the night' Claire informed him.

'She is? – that's good' he whispered thinking out loud.

'It is huh?' Claire asked with a sly smile on her face and Owen must have blushed as he looked up like he was caught in something illegal, realizing she must have heard him. Owen just laughed but didn't say anything, instead he pulled her closer to him, turning her around so her back was resting against his chest again and started dancing with her. She felt his hand move up and down her side, as his chin rested on her shoulder. Closing her eyes, enjoying the feel of him against her body, Claire let herself drown in him. Even amongst the many odours around both pleasant and not, Claire could still smell his perfume and his own scent. She opened her eyes to find the blonde lady from earlier drinking and looking in Owen's direction, and Claire was almost tempted to go and punch her in the face but instead she turned around wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on his lips. She almost startled him but Owen parted his lips immediately as if he was expecting her reaction – having noticed the blonde lady staring at him and trying to seduce him from afar – and deepened the kiss, one hand going up to the back of her head, while the other one settled on the small of her back.

'Wow' he said as he rested his forehead against hers.

'You wanna get out of here?' she asked him before swallowing hard and looking in his deep into his eyes.

'You sure?' he asked her, and Claire nodded. He kissed her again, tongue and all, and then took her hand in his and started directing them out towards the exit of the disco.

'I just need to let Diane know we are leaving' she told him.

Once again while Claire was telling Diane that she and Owen were going, leaving Owen alone for a minute, she turned around to find the blonde woman talking to him, or more like throwing herself at him to which Owen grabbed her from her wrists and was trying to stop her.

'He's taken' Claire told her 'Now get lost' Claire told her before stepping between her and Owen. The woman snorted, turned around and walked away while Owen just stood there, half expecting Claire to blow him off and half not, 'Shall we go?'.

oooOOOooo

Claire opened the door just as soon as Owen arrived on his motorcycle. She glanced around to see him hurrying up the stairs to her front door, immediately wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a kiss. He pushed her against the wall, and closed the door with his leg. He felt her grab the hem of his top and push it up until Owen had to break the kiss so she could remove it off his head.

'Are you sure about this Claire?' he asked her again, not wanting her to regret it afterwards.

'I am' she replied 'I won't regret this, if that's what you are worried about' she assured him as if reading his thoughts. He was about to lean in and kiss her again when she stopped him one hand on his cheek 'I never did Owen. I never regretted making love to you. I promise' Claire told him looking straight in his eyes to make sure he could see that she was being honest.

'Neither do I' he replied and with that he leaned down and captured her lips into a kiss again, picking her up in the process. One hand wrapped around her back and another under her knees, while Claire held onto him, they made their way upstairs, into the bedroom. He stopped right next to the bed, letting Claire settle on her feet again. One hand on her hips, the other one stroked her cheek, pushing her hair behind her ear, his eyes were practically talking to her before his mouth did. The way he was looking at her so full of raw emotion and the way his eyes were sparkling, made Claire's heart skip a beat.

'Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?' he asked her and Claire smiled shaking her head slowly 'Well you do…You are…breath taking tonight Claire' Owen told her.

'Well…you don't look so bad yourself' she replied and Owen chuckled, before he leaned down and kissed her, slowly this time, savouring the moment, one hand on her cheek. He loved doing that she noticed, and Claire enjoyed having the feeling of his hand on her face. There was just something about the way he always kissed her. It was like he was pouring his heart out every time. Something about the way his hands move, about the way he touches her, about how he always gives her so much attention to what she needs and how he always makes sure she reaches an orgasm one after the other, without expecting anything back…not that she never gave him anything back, but Claire realized that the few times, they made love, it has always been about her, and well maybe it was time she takes really good care of him.

She heard the zipper of her dress going down at the back, stopping just above her butt, and before she knew it, Owen was sliding the dress down until it pooled around her ankles leaving her in just her black lace matching strapless bra and thong…and the high heels of course.

'Fuck Claire…you're mind blowing' he whispered in awe as he took her in, letting his eyes wonder up and down her body. He found himself taking a minute to let his gaze wonder on her stomach, where she had carried their daughter. Their love making had never been calm and sweet, but always full of raw passion and hunger, that he never took the time to cherish that area.

She felt her cheeks flush at that compliment but took a step towards him anyway, letting her hands slide up and down his bare chest, letting her confidence kick in 'Well Mr Grady…you think this is mind blowing…wait till you find out what I have in mind' she told him as her hands stopped on his belt and started undoing it for him. With his breath caught up in his throat, he watched her undress him until he was standing completely naked in front of her, and without sparing a moment, she went down and took him in her mouth. His eyes closed at the feel of her mouth on him, her tongue twirling around him, his head fell back, while his hand cupped her head on its own command.

'Claire' he groaned as she picked up the pace, sucking him harder and faster.

She let go of him and got up so she could kiss him, pressing her lips against his, as her arms went round his neck. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her body against his, when his fingers graced the strap of her bra. He unhooked it and slid it away, immediately leaving her lips so he could pay some deserved attention to her breasts. She cupped the back of his head, as she watched him losing himself in her breasts. She let him have his way with her breasts for some time until she started turning them around so that he was now standing with his knees against the bed. She pushed him onto the bed, her fingers leaving a temporary red mark on his shoulders, as he fell flat on his back on the bed, surprised. He watched her climb on top of him as she crawled sexily up his body, his hands immediately finding their place of her hips. He thought she was going to kiss him but instead she went for his neck, while still rocking herself against his erection. She heard him curse under his breath as a smile crept up on her face, when she felt his hands cup her ass, as if to direct her properly on top of his tip.

'Not yet' she whispered huskily in his ear 'I'm not done with you just yet'

'Damn woman' he cursed, as he watched her go down on him again, immediately taking him in his mouth. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling she gave him, the pleasure and when she removed her mouth, she wrapped her fingers around him. He could feel himself getting ready to explode but Owen wasn't ready. There was no way he was going to find his release now…today yes but not now. He needed to stop her, so he could take care of her, and get the chance to cherish her body properly, the way she deserved to be cherished. She was moving her hand fast up and down his length and Owen had to literally shove her hand away and take a moment shutting his eyes to try and keep himself from bursting in her hands and embarrass himself.

He heard her chuckle next to his ear, as her hand cupped one cheek, enjoying the feel of his stubble against her palm, startling him a bit not expecting her to be so close, he turned them around so that he was now lying on top of her and crushed his lips hard against hers. She met him with the same amount of raw passion, both his hands cupping her face, as he kissed her hungrily, his tongue battling hers with the same amount of emotion.

She could feel his tip at her centre, ready to slide in, and Claire could feel her stomach turning in knots waiting for that heavenly moment. Thankfully she didn't have to wait that long, as Owen let himself slide inside of her, his erection slipping easily inside thanks to the juices flooding her core. She moaned loudly at the intrusion, her eyes closing momentarily only to open and focus on his emerald orbs, when she felt him pull out again, and to her horror didn't slide back in.

'No no no' she whispered her eyes wide.

'Oh yes' he replied wickedly. It was his turn to torture her some. She groaned in frustration but immediately relaxed when she felt his hand cup her core, massaging the area. He watched her intently, not wanting to miss out on any reactions her beautiful face had to offer as he pushed two fingers inside of her. Claire arched her back, her moans filling the room as Owen worked on her. She felt him move more than she saw him, as her eyes couldn't seem to open, and then she felt his lips on that spot in her neck as he pumped his fingers into her, and Claire almost lost control when Owen removed his fingers out of her. She was about to protest when he claimed her mouth again, her hand cupping his cheek.

She pushed at him turning them around but Owen turned them around once again, letting go of her mouth so he could go down on her. He wanted to taste her, to pleasure her, like he knew she loved, and when the tip of his tongue flicked her bead, she moaned, arched her back and grabbed the sheets.

'Owen' she whispered.

It satisfied him to immense pleasure hearing her utter his name like that, more than he ever imagined anyone could. There is just something about the way that she says it, letting him know how much he is pleasuring her, satisfying her.

She felt his tongue pick up pace, moving up and down her centre, inside of her, and then back out to flick her bead, and as Owen made love to her womanhood, Claire burst in his mouth without any warning and Owen groaned drinking every drop of her, and when she was done, he pulled his mouth away and claimed her mouth, letting her taste herself.

'I need you Owen…I need you so much' she told him as he buried his face in her neck.

At that, he positioned himself, one hand bending her left leg and as he claimed her mouth, he pushed himself inside. She let go of his mouth unable to hold the moan that escaped her mouth as he filled her, her nails breaking the skin on his back. He moved as fast as he could go, needing to find that his own release as well as get Claire to reach her climax again. They had both taken their time this time round, but now, now Owen couldn't wait anymore, and neither could Claire it seemed from all the sounds she was making, grateful Madison was not there. She grabbed his face with both hands and kissed his passionately for a brief moment until he broke the kiss, laced his fingers with hers and pushed her arms above her head, as he pounded hard and fast until both were screaming their release.