Chapter 4: The next morning…

Claire heard her phone alarm beeping from across the room in her purse and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was 6 a.m. – her normal wake-up time. As she roused herself, she smiled. Owen was now spooning her, his strong arms wrapped tightly around her, his nose nuzzled in the back of her hair. "A girl could get used to this," Claire thought to herself. Her phone beeped about five times then went silent. She knew she needed to turn it off or the way she had it set it would keep going off about every 15 minutes until she did. She gently tried to untangle herself from Owen's grasped, but he just clung to her tighter – like a boa constrictor trying to keep it's prey in place. She tried again to free herself when Owen said sleepily, "No, stay here."

"I need to get my phone," Claire responded. "It will just keep going off. Besides, I've got to get going. I have a meeting at 8."

"And, she's back," Owen said laughing kissing the back of her neck. Claire playfully swatted him.

"As much as I'd like to stay in bed with you all day Mr. Grady, I have work to do."

"Come on," he said in a begging tone. "20 more minutes please." He added a bit of pouting to the last word.

"My phone's going off again in about 10 – that's all you get," she responded sternly.

"I'll take it," he said now fully awake, and reached back to turn her face back towards him so he could kiss her good morning. "Screw morning breath," Claire thought to herself and gladly kissed him back. He pretty quickly slid his hands down her body to her underwear tugging at them and said, "Take these off."

"Owen," she argued against his lips. 10 minutes."

"I only need 10 minutes," he said smugly. Claire just laughed and reached down to help shed her underwear as she felt him doing the same with his boxers, kicking them toward the bottom of the bed. She started to turn to face him, but he gently held her in place and said into her ear, "No." She immediately understood and just nodded her head. She scooted back against him. "Mmmm," he said into her ear snaking his hand underneath her t-shirt (which was actually his) and running his fingers across her chest as she moaned. He paused for a moment to reach over her toward the nightstand and pulled a condom from behind the clock.

"I was wondering how you were going to manage that," she whispered laughing.

"You're not the only one who is prepared missy," he said smiling. "I tucked that baby back there before we went to sleep – just in case." She just laughed and said, "Good thinking."

Owen knew his window was drawing to a close. He rolled on the condom, and then went back to the task at hand. He put his hand back under Claire's shirt but pretty quickly moved lower. Just as she began writhing as he caressed her between her legs, he gently slipped into her from behind. "Oh god," she cooed letting out a deep breath. As promised, Owen kept to his time frame. He brought Claire to release within a few minutes and soon followed with a groan pulling her close.

"You have know idea what you do to me," he whispered in her ear as they caught their breath.

"Yes, I do," she responded. "Cause you do it to me too."

Right about then Claire's phone went off for the second time, and they both knew the moment was over. Claire looked at Owen hopefully, and he reluctantly released her from his grasp. "Go ahead," he said laughing and kissed the tip of her nose. She hopped up quickly and dashed across the room to grab her phone and turn off the alarm. She quickly glanced at her email – 140 unread messages. "Geez," she thought to herself, but then quickly followed up in her own mind as she looked back at Owen with, "Who cares, it was worth it."

She retrieved her clothes from the floor, and then popped into the restroom. She emerged fully clothed again so she could go back to her own room and shower and change into work clothes. Owen had gotten out of bed and was now dressed in a fresh t-shirt and athletic shorts. He was sitting on the couch lacing up his running shoes. "Might as well go to the gym since I'm up this early," he said smiling. "My first meeting today isn't until 9. I'll walk you to your room first." Claire laughed.

"What a gentleman," she said playfully. He grinned – would she ever get tired of seeing that. "Probably not," she thought to herself. They took the elevator up one floor, and Owen dropped Claire off outside her room. It was only about 6:30, so the halls were still empty.

"Thank you for a lovely evening, Mr. Grady," Claire said in a flirting tone.

"You bet," he said then captured her lips in a goodbye kiss. It quickly turned hungry, and he pushed her back against the door. She wrapped her arms around his neck rather than pushing him away, but knowing she would scold him if he kept her from getting ready for work, he broke their passionate kiss and followed up with a more chaste peck. "I hope you have a great day," he said sweetly. Then more playfully added. "Happy to help you relax anytime."

"I just might take up on that," Claire said smiling and gave him one more kiss before turning quickly and heading into her room. She knew she was in danger of either dragging him in there with her or letting him have his way with her in the hall if she didn't get away quickly. He laughed and knocked on the now closed door.

"Go away, Owen," she said smiling to herself.

"Fine," he called through the door. "I'll miss you," he added seriously and sweetly.

She couldn't resist opening the door again just a crack to see his grinning face. "I'll miss you too," she said and gave him one more quick kiss before softly shutting the door.

She got ready for work feeling better than she had in a long time. She was going to a find a way to continue having more of a personal and professional balance. Spending time with Owen was not just fun, it helped ground her, and she felt like she could think more clearly now.

Owen strode off to the gym feeling victorious. He was already plotting ways of getting Claire alone again as soon as possible.