"mommy! I want daddy!" Winter cried in the backseat.
"We're going to see him soon!" I said to her.
Owen and I had ended up separating after a year of loving together in LA. Owen tried to convince me to move with him into his trailer and travel, but I thought it was nonsense to take winter away from all her family.
He resided in his trailer about 3 hours into the mountainside of California. I would drop winter off to stay with him Thursday to Sunday and I had her Sunday to Wednesday.
It was difficult for everyone. You were still in love with him but struggled with communication. After giving birth to winter i had postpartum depression and Owen had a hard time connecting with me. I pushed him away and he slowly stepped back.
Pulling into an open field, Owen was outside fixing his bike. I suddenly had deja Vu from the first night I met him. I felt teary eyed remembering that memory.
Winters squeal of seeing Owen snapped me out of my thoughts and I quickly wiped my tears. I got out of the car and then took Winter out. She wiggled out of my hands and ran into the hands of her father's. He laughed and spun her around before placing butterfly kisses all over her face.
My heart felt somewhat warm.
I pulled out her duffel bag and walked over.
"Winter, think I should give mommy a kiss?" He asked she smiled and nodded.
I smiled at her and tucked some hair behind her ear.
"Hi Owen" I said softly as he placed a kiss on my cheek.
"Stay with us" he tried.
I put my sunglasses on so he wouldn't see my internal struggle. I looked at the trailer.
"I have to get back. I have a conference to present at tomorrow with Ian" I said. He huffed.
"Winter loves it here. She gets to be outside, we visit waterfalls, go hiking, she knows how to fish! Tell me what two year old knows how to do that?" He said as he put her down so she could walk around.
"And what do we do when she needs to go to school? Move from town to town, school to school because you can't commit to settling down somewhere?" I snapped back quietly.
He sighed.
"I don't want to fight with you" he said
"Then you need to choose. Either be with us, come back to LA or live in my van. I'm tired of dropping her off like this. She needs more stable structure" I said.
"I need to choose? You've already chosen that a year ago!" He exclaimed watching Winter play in a sandbox he built for her.
"Owen last year was hard on me and you weren't there when I needed you" I reminded
"Are you serious? You want to fight about this again? I tried to be there for you. YOU never would open up to me. I tried everything to get you to show me some emotion. " He shot back.
"And then you stopped!" I snapped back.
"How much can I take too, Julissa? I miss you! I miss the woman, the fierce woman who I fell in love with 3 years ago" he confessed as a few tears fell down my cheek. He reached out and wiped the tears and kept his hands cupping my cheek. I closed my eyes and put my hand on his. I missed him too, but my heart had been so cold from the postpartum that it was hard to open up again.
"I have to go back" I said softly taking his hand off my face.
He studied me and I felt self conscious.
"Drive safe. I love you" he said.
"I love you too" I managed to get out. I looked at winter and walked over to her.
"Mommy is going, I'll see you in 3 sleeps" I said gently to her, kneeling to place a kiss on her head.
"Noo! Mommy stay!" She whined.
"i love you girly" I said hugging her tight.
"Winter, come look at some new bait I got" Owen said, to distract her from my departure. It worked. I watched as she ran to him.
I slowly backed away got in my car and drove. The entire drive back I cried.
Owen brought her back Sunday afternoon. He said that he was going to be traveling to Utah for a bit and wanted me and winter to come. I refused, not wanting to love in a trailer.
It was a hard, long conversation. It ended with him saying goodbye, and a harder goodbye with Winter. She didn't understand she wasn't going to see her father for a long time.
That long time was a long time indeed. Owen moved around in Utah, but tried to FaceTime Winter everyday. However that slowly began to stop. An ultimate decision was made. It was heartbreaking but we decided to go separate ways. The decision was more on my end because I couldn't bear missing Owen.
While all this was going on, Claire and Jakob got engaged and co founded the dinosaur protection group in San Fran. Jakob tried to get me involved, but I kept refusing, wanting to steer clear of controversy. All you knew was that the volcano on the island became active and they were predicting an extinction.
A few times Dr. Ian Malcolm and I went in front of the US Senate to testify that the extinction should occur as it did millions of years ago. But that's as far as i went in that controversy.
It was early September, I had just dropped Winter off at a pre-school. I then proceeded to grab a coffee at the nearby Starbucks and to finish up writing a new research article. I sat down in my usual spot and began typing away. Suddenly a figure sat across from me. It was Claire.
I looked at her confused.
"Morning Julissa" she said with a smile.
"Hi Claire" I said back closing my laptop.
"I need my help" she said.
I sighed.
"Claire, I'm not-i can't join-"
"It's not about the organization. It's about Blue" she said. My heart skipped a beat.
"What?" I asked
"Blue is alive" Claire said.
"What are you getting at Claire?" I snapped starting to get angry that she was bringing up old painful memories.
" Lockwood estates contacted me and they want to save the dinosaurs. They have a sanctuary island that they can move the animals to" she explained. I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my coffee.
"And what has it to do with me?" I asked
"I need you. Blue trusts you. She'll smell us a mile and and a half away and we'll never get her. The island is going to blow up, don't you care for her?" Claire pleaded.
"I can't get involved again. Look at all the shit that's happened since" I mumbled.
Claire sighed.
"Blue saved our lives 3 years ago, and we can't just leave her, stranded. She has feelings. I know you know that and I know you love her. You named Winter after her" Claire said softly.
I looked out the window. Claire was right.
"So this is just an extraction op? No games?" I asked.
"I just need you to get Blue" she said.
I thought about it and I could see Claire holding her breath.
"I'll do it,but I can't guarantee I can get her. I'm not her alpha" I said, thinking about Owen.
"That's where I need you too" She said with a painful smile.
I looked at her realizing she wants Owen on board too.
"Good luck finding him" I muttered
"We did. He's back in California. On the outskirts of the redwoods, in Orick" she said passing me a note with coordinates.
My eyes went wide.
"We haven't spoken in almost a year Claire and you want me to convince him to go on an extraction op to an island that nearly killed us?" I asked bewildered.
"Yes" she said simply.
"You go!" I said pushing the note back to her.
She sighed.
"You and Owen are meant to be. Stop being a stubborn bitch. You both have a kid. Grow up and forgive each other" she snapped. I looked at her shocked.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her braveness.
"He's angry with me" I confessed.
"I know you miss him. And he misses you. Go get him" she said pushing the note back to me.
"At least do it for Blue" she added as she got up.
"The plan to the island leaves tomorrow morning. I hope to see at least both of you." she said before walking out.
I sighed and opened up my computer. I had a folder with pictures of Blue, Owen, Barry, and fun times at the paddock.
I decided to push my pride aside and drive 4 hours up to find Owen. On the way I called Claire and Jakob to let them know. Jakob was staying back to keep the organization running so he volunteered to pick up and watch Winter. I drive home quickly and packed. I changed into a pair of skinny jeans, a white v neck, and brown ankle boots. I felt a little anxious to see Owen. I let my long hair down with beachy waves and did natural looking makeup. I drove to Orick and followed the coordinates. I ended up pulling into an open field with a view of the redwoods. My heart was pounding as I saw Owen on a ladder building the infrastructure to what looked like a cabin. His trusty trailer was on the side. He was singing to himself as i quietly approached him.
"Hey Owen!" I said a bit loudly. But he didn't stop or hear.
"Owen!!" I shouted again.
"Oh boy" I heard him mumble as he slung the hammer he was using into his tool.belt. he turned and looked at me. My breath hitched. He looked so rugged, so handsome.
It had been a year since he saw Julissa. He missed her but he was also bitter. He missed Winter even more. When he laid eyes on Julissa his heart jumped. She was beautiful and he realized how much he missed her.
"Back for more huh?" Owen asked
"Can I buy you a beer?" I asked. Definitely needed liquid courage.
"Did you bring some or do we have to go somewhere?" He asked with a smirk. I tried to hide a smile that was forming.
"I'll wait in the car" I said. I watched as he got off of his ladder, run into his trailer and then emerge from it 5 minutes later a bit cleaned up. He hurried over and got in the passengers side.
"There is a lock bar down this road, in about a mile" said and it stayed silent until we got to the bar.
We got inside and sat at a booth. We ordered beer.
"So how's it been since I left?" He asked.
"Wait since you left?" I questioned.
'yeah, I left you" he said with a straight face. I couldn't help but laugh.
He just started at me as I laughed.
"Seriously, I can't believe you think you left me" I got out after laughing.
"let's replay that conversation from a year and a half ago you said wanna go ahead and live in your van like a bum Owen and I said okay" he simply said.
"So how is that you leaving me?" I asked
"Because I left. I. Left. You." He said.
"You left because, I told you to" I corrected
"And I left. Because you didn't want to live in a van on the side of a road, remember?" He mocked
"I did not say that! I said I didn't want to live, mind you with our baby daughter, in a van!" I explained.
"She loves the outdoors" Owen said.
"You are so stubborn" I said.
"Well look at you know, selling a best selling book" he said.
"At least I tried to move on, Owen. You can't just run away from everything" I said back to him
"So what, you're dating an accountant now? Insurance actuary" he asked. I rolled my eyes and looked at my beer. I hadn't move on from him.
"your skin looks nice" he said, making me look at him slightly blushing at the compliment.
"Is he a dermatologist?"Owen asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Owen, sto-"
"Does he check for moles, how about that little one you have hidden right behind your left ear" he said. I shook my head.
"Stop, this is not why we are here" I said
"Yeah I know. Claire called me. Rescue op. Save the dinosaurs from an island that's about to explode. What can go wrong. " He said.
"I'm going" I said.
His mood changed and suddenly got serious.
"Don't!" He snapped
"I don't have a choice" I sighed
"Of course you have a choice!" Owen replied
"I can't sit around knowing these animals, animals we worked with are about to die" I said
"And here I thought you were for mass extinction" he replied taking a sip of beer.
"Blue is alive" I stated. Owen nearly choked on his beer.
"Jesus Christ, Julissa" he coughed.
"You raised her Owen, for God sake, we named our kid after her! You spent years of your life working with her. You're just going to let her die? " I said.
He looked conflicted for a moment.
"Well yeah" he said
"Come on, you're a better man you think you are" I said softly.
"You should write fortune cookies"he said sarcastically but with a straight face.
I sighed.
"Forget it, Owen. There's a charter flight leaving tomorrow morning. You're on the manifest. I just wanted to let you know" I sighed tossing a few bucks on the table for our beers. He grabbed my hand before I could leave and the touch was electric. Like the first time we had met.
"Stay with me tonight. Stay with me and I'll come" he offered.
I looked into his green eyes and saw the hurt in his eyes. I sighed and nodded.
Getting back to the trailer, I walked in a memories rushed back. He had all the pictures I had sent him of Winter on a wall and I looked at them..
"I miss her" Owen said, leaning against the counter.
I closed my eyes, trying to stop the tears. My back was facing him and I wiped my eyes.
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry" he said softly, turning me around.
"It's my fault Owen. My fault" I cried as he pulled me into his chest.
"We just messed up that's all." He said resting his chin on my head.
"She misses you so bad" I admitted as he rubbed my back
We stayed like that for a few more minutes. I pulled away and rubbed my face. He pulled me back and he clasped his hands on my lower back.
"Are you okay?" His voice is gentle and i nodded, not sure if it is the truth or not. Owen's hand snuck under my shirt and he pulled me a little closer. He looked at me intently and I bit my lower lip. His gaze darted at my mouth, before he focused on me again.
Then it happened.
Our mouths seemed to gravitate towards each other - i did not know who initiated the kiss. I just knew that one moment owen and I were staring at each other, the next our lips were moving hungrily and hands were grasping desperately.
Owen began walking me back towards the bed, and gently laid me down, not breaking the kiss. His hands snuck further up under my shirt. My hands moved over his arms and back, not knowing where to touch him first. Owen's kiss is greedy and one of his hands cupped my breast under my shirt. I felt Owen smile into the kiss at my slight intake of breath. My hands grasped the hemline of his shirt and started moving it upwards. He broke the kiss before i got the chance to slide it up completely. Owen took my hands instead. He moved my arms upwards, until they were raised over my head. He had my hands pinned down on the pillow and my body covered with his own so I could not really move.
"Is this a good idea?"
His eyes pierced into mine and his voice was low. I was a bit taken back by the fact that he was the one trying to be rational. I knew what he meant though. Our given situation is far from easy and both of us were scarred from everything that happened. My answer sounded breathless. "I don't know."
"If we don't stop now…" Owen muttered while a slight smirk appeared on his face. I saw a glimpse of the teasing, flirtatious Owen I had fallen in love with before all hell broke loose. It made my heart flutter and i shivered at the promise his words entail.
"Owen, I…"
His eyes met mine and I could see it in his eyes: he wanted – needed– this as much as I did, so I gave in to my urges and kissed him again. From there, things spiraled out of control. Within seconds, shirts were discarded and hands and mouths were exploring.
Owen started kissing a trail from my neck downwards. Almost immediately, he captured my right nipple between his lips. my eyes fluttered shut and I pressed my head into the pillow when his tongue swirled around my nipple. With his left hand, he gave my other breast the same treatment. my hands settled on Owen's back and my nails dig into his skin when he gently bit down on the already hardened nipple. He placed a gentle kiss on it, soothing the assaulted skin, before moving his mouth to my other breast. I heard myself moan his name out loud and Owen groaned in response.
Owen broke the kiss, his mouth moving from my cheek to my neck until he found that sensitive part of my neck making me tense up.
"Relax." He teased, before his mouth closed over the already red part of my skin. Movements of my own hand became less steady. My breathing was ragged, but i Tangled my hand with the hair on the base of his skull to pull Owen's mouth to mine. I did not get a chance to deepen the kiss. Owen only briefly kissed my lips, before pulling back. His eyes are hooded with lust as he looked down on me
"Ready for more?"
You whimper at loss of his kiss and he dove back in.
His hands started another journey over my body until they reached my upper legs. Owen grabbed the back of my thighs and situated my legs around his own body. He smirked at me as he entered
Finally, he is inside me.
"Oh God." I breathed out
He started moving slowly and I hooked my ankles together so I could meet his every thrust.
For a minute or so, i relished in having Owen so close to me. However, my body started demanding more. "Owen…" His name comes out somewhere between a moan and a beg.
"What?" His fingers tangle with mine, keeping me from touching him and he smirked down at me.
I knew what he wanted from me, but I did not want to give him the satisfaction of literally begging for him. Yet. my eyes locked with his and his smirk widened. He captured my lips with his own, but he did not allow me to deepen the kiss – he pulled away again before i had the chance. His movements stayed deliberately slow. He lets go of one of my hands to cup my breast and i finally give in. "Please."
"That's it." He groaned. The tone of his voice made me shiver and his increased movements made it difficult for me to breathe. I was about to kiss him, when he suddenly stopped moving.
"What?" breathed out
Owen smirked at the annoyance in my voice. "Come on" Owen's voice is several octaves lower than it was a few minutes before. "Move over."
Before I fully comprehended what he meant, he had me flipped over. Owen say up and he pulled me closer. I wrapped my legs around him and Owen pulled me down on him gently. I moaned blissfully as I felt him inside me again. Owen dug his fingers into my skin as he guided the movements of my hips. Soon, i had found a synchronic pace.
"Just like that." Owen urged me on. I wanted to reply, but I was not able to string a whole, coherent sentence together. I tightened my muscles around him, making Owen groan out loud. When I did it again, a curse left his mouth. "Fuck."
A shiver ran through my body. At least I was able to make him lose his mind just like he did to me. I licked my lips before moving my mouth to his neck. I kissed the skin and Owen's grip on my hips became almost painful, his fingers digging into my flesh forcefully. His thrusts became a little faster and more shallow. I made him gasp when I raked the skin of his neck with my teeth before biting his shoulder softly. His fingers tangled with my hair and he pulled my head back a little roughly, making me look at him.
"Slow down." His voice is ragged.
I nodded. At least I thought I did. I had a hard time controlling my own body and I increased the pace of my hips slamming against his. My name came out of Owen's mouth in a low growl. He pulled my face towards his with the hand still tangled in my hair, catching my mouth in a fierce kiss. It sent my body into overdrive and the waves slam into me relentlessly.
Feeling myself tighten around him made Owen fall over the edge himself. His body goes taut for a second before he groans my name and his body shook with his orgasm. His fingers grasped my hair painfully but i was too far gone to feel it. I gasped for air. My lungs screamed for oxygen, but when Owen smirked at me, his eyes hooded with lust, i captured his lips in a slow, lazy kiss. I moaned into his mouth as Owen moved slightly. He was still inside of me and my body was still so sensitive.
Owen is the one who broke the kiss. He ran his fingers through my hair before his knuckles brushed my cheek gently. He moved around the bed a bit and he chuckled at my whimper as he slipped out of me. He lied down and pulled me against him until I was lying on his chest. I grabbed the sheet to cover the two of us as I tried to catch my breath. Owen absentmindedly played with a strand of my hair. When my breathing was back to normal, I looked up at him. "Well, that was..." I began
Owen did not say anything. Instead, he brushed a kiss against my forehead. I smiled softly and buried my face in the crook of his neck. I would have to talk about things later, but right now i just wanted to enjoy the feeling of him against me.