(Note to the reader: This part and subsequent parts fall closely together. For a better experience, read part one.)
I was so embarrassed.
I thought of just walking out of the building, going home and calling in my resignation from home. But that might magnify my faux pax and make it worse. Rick would still be an employee and subject to the gossip machine.
First things first though, withdraw the share from my word processor file and if I was lucky the story would be removed from further view, unless he copied it to another app.
I also failed to password protect the file as Dee instructed me or Jim wouldn't have been able to read it at all. No harm, no foul.
Then I thought of telling him that the Paul character wasn't modeled after him but even then...
I was fucked.
Now he knew how debauched his coworker could be and after we had expressed our mutual attraction to one another there could only be one of four conclusions he could have.
1) He takes the high road and dismisses my indiscretion as the accident it was or...
2) He's turned on but again takes the high road, teasing me a little but that's it or...
3) Even though we remain colleagues he can never look at me the same way again.
4) He takes it as a standing invitation and fucks the shit out of me in his office...and I let him.
"Can I see you in my office..............Ashley?"
He got right to it "I assume that you didn't mean to send me that story."
"No, you're right, it was a mistake."
"Probably meant for your husband?
"Ah, ya, sure." I was thanking him in my head for creating an excuse he was comfortable with.
"Well it was just a mistake so we can forget it and move on."
(Check)
"Sure, Jim, thanks for understanding."
"You're welcome," he said with a smile on his face, "I have to admit though I got turned on reading it. From now on when we have meetings you may have to strap me to my chair."
(Check)
He laughed and I laughed because he did.
"You know I can't afford to lose you," he said, "so let's forget the incident."
"Yes we should," I said wanting to move it along.
"One more thing though. That story, the characters, they really resemble you and I sort of. That story's stuck in my head and I wonder if now when I see you I'll be thinking of the you in the story."
(Check)
Uh-oh. Only one thing was left on my list and I'd have to think hard before I let that happen. In my fantasies we fucked like jackrabbits but reality was much more complicated.
"To be honest," he said smiling, "I loved reading your erotic story and last night I...I...let myself really enjoy it if you know what I mean."
As if on cue, I felt that tell tale moistness between my legs. His revelation had flipped the switch. Now I fantasized about him jerking off to my story.
"I have a suggestion," he said so seriously I thought we were negotiating a sensitive peace treaty. "I am irresistibly attracted to you and have been for a long time. I can't count the number of days I've spent thinking of you, but I've kept it in check because you're also a great colleague and I didn't want to lose you to impropriety."
"You're not..."
"I'll probably be hauled into HR for saying this, Erica, but I want to rip your panties off right now."
That jammed the conversational brakes on. My response came out before I could edit it...
"And I want...oh wow..." Shut up, I yelled at myself.
"But you're married," he continued, "and we'd never get anything done so here's what I propose. When you finish a story about us, feels like us, I want you to share it with me before anyone else. That way It will be something intimate that we'll have between us without having actual sex. I know it's weird but I can't think of a better way to relieve the pressure. We can at least try it. What do you think?"
What I thought was not what I said. I thought it would just make the two of us more horny than ever. What I said was, "Sure, let's give it a try." On my way out the door I looked back to see him checking out my ass. Oh ya, this was gonna work great.
I went straight to Dee's desk and said only, "Lunch." I didn't have to say it twice. I was racking up restaurant tabs left and right but it was probably cheaper than a therapist.
***
At lunch I told her everything and sat back in my chair, waiting for her to start laughing or scold me or something. Recapping the meeting out loud it seemed absurd, especially the part where I show him everything I write.
"He's a guy," she reminded me, "and they love to jerk off. With this arrangement he gets his fantasy girlfriend to write erotica for him ABOUT THEM. How many guys get that?"
"I know but it's pretty sexy, don't you think?"
"I'm not going to tell you don't do this because I'm your friend not your keeper but if you do I think you can expect to be laying across his desk very soon."
"But it's sexy hot don't you think?"
Wearily she said, "Yes it's hot, Erica. just don't get burned."
***
I was now single minded about the thing, so turned on I was tossing all reason out the window. All I wanted to do was write and soon my phone's word processor went everywhere with me.
In the meantime I published the first part of my story on the website. The responses were swift and, for the most part, positive. One thing I realized quickly was my gender helped to draw attention to my writing. In other words, male readers were inevitably drawn to my work because a woman writing erotica was by nature sexually stimulating. I also noticed a few couples and a several women took an interest.
'Your story was so hot. I would love to be Ashley for a day. Please write more, my boss is a snooze!'
'Really fun read. 5 stars for getting me off!'
'Lovely finale, there must be thousands of women like Ashley out there!
You have to continue this one, please.'