Catherine Young was a distraction. A very welcome, very
tempting
distraction. Regina watched her enter the conference room and hid her smile behind her coffee cup. The petite woman would undoubtedly try to go unnoticed during the meeting, but the flash of red that clung to her hips made her stand out amongst the sea of grey and black suits. Of course, Regina had always found it easy to spot Cat in a crowd. Her ash blonde hair, warm eyes, and noticeable curves gave her a girl-next-door look that led some of her coworkers to underestimate her. Regina knew better. She knew that underlying Cat's demure, eager-to-please temperament was a sharp, competent mind.
As if sensing she was being watched, Cat looked up to meet Regina's gaze and held it for a moment before turning away. There was just enough boldness in her eyes to tell Regina that she wasn't quite as passive as she seemed to be, despite what her body language might suggest. That wasn't much of a surprise. Regina had already noted a hint of resistance in her. Although she'd worn the skirt, it wasn't
exactly
red, per se, but rather a deep burgundy - a shade dark enough to carry the slightest intimation of brown. There was no doubt that Cat's choice was deliberate and that hers was a calculated sort of obedience. Cat had worn the skirt. She had even waited for Regina to come for her rather than seek her out. But she would not mindlessly submit.
Regina realized she was staring and turned her focus on the stack of pamphlets on the table. Rick waved at the screen behind him as he explained to the sales department why the pamphlets would be useless unless they swapped the generic color scheme for something bolder. She probably should have at least tried to pay more attention to her partner, but she already knew the ins and outs of his argument. Besides, he needed more experience taking the lead on large projects like this one.
The remainder of the meeting passed in a blur of stolen glances and feigned interest. Regina swallowed her impatience and tried to remember that Cat was as good as hers. Unfortunately, her thoughts inevitably took an even more distracting turn and she found herself wondering what sorts of sounds Cat made in bed. Was she a screamer? Would she moan softly, or cry out in short, sharp yelps? Maybe she made those throaty whimpers that sometimes rose into a desperate whine. Regina smoothed a crease in her slacks. Yes, whimpering would be very nice.
Regina's mind meandered deeper down a path that was most definitely not safe for work. By the time the meeting concluded, Regina was almost hoping Cat would stay behind so she could fuck her right there in the conference room.
Almost.
Chairs slid back and thunked together as most of the room stood and shuffled out the door. Cat cast a glance at Regina when she reached the door, hesitating for a moment before turning to the left - away from the bathroom. Regina finished off the last of her coffee as Cat disappeared from view. She waited until the room was empty, then reached for her phone. She had a reservation to make.
//
Regina fanned herself with the quarterly report. The evening sun cast long shadows across her office and created a dramatic backdrop, but it also made the room uncomfortably warm. Rather than draw the blinds, she chose to let the sunlight spill in and instead shed her blazer. It was growing late and the building was already half empty. She could afford to relax a little. She draped her blazer across the back of the old leather couch that dominated the far corner of her office. It wasn't quite her style, but neither were the decanter and glasses that sat on a nearby accent table. They had belonged to the office's previous occupant and Regina decided to keep them when she discovered how quickly potential clients relaxed and let down their guard after having a drink or two.
A persistent beeping caught her attention and she paused to check the clock. Two minutes to six. Punctual. Regina answered her phone with a smile. "Yes?"
"
Ms. Stark, your six o'clock is here.
"
"Thank you, Maria. Please tell her to come in. We might be a while, so don't worry about waiting around," she said.
"
Sure thing, Ms. Stark
."
Regina plucked a glass from the table and reached for the decanter. The door to her office cracked open as the first drops of amber liquid splashed into the glass. "Would you like a drink, Ms. Young?" she asked without turning around.
The muffled sound of hesitant footsteps stopped and the door swung shut. Regina could almost hear Cat debating with herself. Should she project more confidence and take the drink right away? Maybe that would make her seem too eager. What if she politely refused Regina's offer? Would that backfire on her? Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she shouldn't have worn the skirt...
"I'd like that. Thank you."
Regina smiled and turned to hand the glass to Cat before pouring another for herself. She used the opportunity to get a better reading on on the other woman as she reached for the drink. The blonde shifted her weight from one foot to the other, though there was no sign she wanted to leave. Her back and shoulders remained upright and straight even as her head tilted shyly downward. The hands that took the glass was steady despite the nervous energy that rolled off of her in waves. Cat was anxious and perhaps even a little scared. But she had also come of her own free will and if the flush creeping up her pale cheeks was any indication, Cat
wanted
