She looked at the clock. Six already, she thought. Crap. And I've got at least another two hours worth of work to do. Hell - and tomorrow was Saturday. Guess I'll be working tomorrow, too. Damn her for asking me to do this at the last minute. She began to type furiously again.
She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear him come up behind her. He cleared his throat and she jumped. She swiveled her chair around to face him. God, he looked good.
"Shit, you scared me. I thought everyone had left."
"We're it, I think."
"What're you doing here still?"
"I came in late, and you know how Worthless is about being tardy."
"Ah, doing penance?"
"I know she'll check my activity log and see what time I signed off."
"She's such a bitch."
"Yeah, she is. So are you up for a break?"
She rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess, but just a short one. I have to get this finished and I was supposed to be meeting Alex for dinner at seven-thirty."
"Come on, I'll buy you a coke."
She locked her terminal and met him in the break room, where he had a cold diet coke waiting for her.
"You're the best."
"I know. Want something to eat? I've got some fruit." He rummaged around in the frig. "Yep, grapes, pineapple, and strawberries. I had to work through lunch, you know - making up for having to go to the freakin' dentist." He tossed her a Tupperwear container. "Nice catch, Red."
"Sounds great. The fruit, I mean. I worked through lunch, and I hadn't realized how hungry I am." She opened the lid halfway and popped a piece of pineapple in her mouth. "Ohmygod this is good. Thank you so much."
"Let's go sit in the conference room. I think the TV's still in there from the meeting this afternoon - we could catch a few minutes of the news."
She followed him into the dark conference room and heard the door close behind her. She fumbled for the light but his hand stopped her.
"Don't."
"But -"
"Shh..." His face was only centimeters from hers, and she could feel his warm breath on her lips. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she focused on his eyes, trying to ignore the warmth that was growing in her pelvis.
"What do you want?" she whispered, taking a step back.
"You know what I want." He stepped closer.
"Tell me," she breathed. She took another step back and found her back against the door.
"The same as you." One step brought him to her again. This time she felt his shirt against her breasts.
"But -"
He waited, one finger lazily tracing a curl that had escaped from her upswept hairstyle.
"Yes?" He asked.
"What about -" her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure she wanted to voice all the reasons this was so very wrong.
"Nothing matters if we both want it to happen." He ran his finger along the outline of her jaw.
"The risks -"
"Nothing is without risk," he whispered in her ear, and she was suddenly aware of the clean, masculine scent of him.
"I-"
"What?" His mouth was almost on hers. If she moved, even a fraction of an inch, she would be kissing him. A tantalizing thought, yes, but wrong. So very wrong.
"Why didn't you try anything the other night?" She asked, hoping to buy some time while she made up her mind about participating in what was very obviously on his mind. The other night they had been the last ones to leave happy hour, both of them very tipsy. When he hugged her goodbye, he had looked at her in a way that she could tell he wanted to kiss her, and she had wanted him to, but then the moment passed and they walked in opposite directions to their respective cars.
He laughed softly, startling her. "I might ask you the same question."
"You know I couldn't."
"Did you want me to?" He ran his finger down between her breasts, so gentle and light was his touch it felt like a tiny drop of water sliding along her peach mountain of flesh.
"Yes." He wasn't one for games, and she felt compelled to be honest with him.
"Do you want me to now?"
She hesitated.
"Answer me, " he whispered, as he traced the edge of her bra with his finger.
"Yes." Her voice was barely audible - more of a breath than a word.
He pulled her hair loose from the pins that held it secure, scattering pins all over the floor.
"You have the most incredibly beautiful hair, Red."
Then he wound his fingers through the hair at the base of her neck and pulled her to him with a firm hand. Slowly, ever so slowly, he traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his tongue, teasing her. Her lips parted, granting him access, which he took full advantage of, laying claim to her mouth with his.
As though they had a life of their own, her arms reached up around him, pulling him to her as she dropped the container of fruit behind him.
Suddenly he pulled away, leaving her breathless and panting, to stand a few inches away from her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"You need to ask?" he said, as he straightened his shirt.
She was silent for a moment, unsure of what he was getting at, but not wanting to appear naïve and stupid. She thought quickly, and then spoke. "Was I too loud?"
He held her gaze for a moment before answering slowly. "No. No, that's not it at all."
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what I did wrong."
"I know," he said simply.
"Can you please tell me?" She was beginning to panic now, the warm heat of desire quickly being replaced by the cold chill of fear.
"Give me your hands." He held out his hand to her as he walked back to stand close to her again. She put her hands in his, and he quickly pinned them above her head, holding them there against the door. He pressed his body up against hers, pinning her tightly, and began to thrust up against her pelvis, rubbing his pubic bone against her clit. He kissed her like a man possessed, plundering her mouth, bruising her lips against his teeth. She moaned, a deep, primal moan, which came out of the depths of her being. His leg forced her thighs apart and he positioned himself tightly against her between her legs.
"You may not move," he whispered into her ear. "You wanted it, and I'm going to give it to you." He paused, then added, "At my discretion."
She closed her eyes, processing the words he just spoke.
