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This is my first attempt at a story, having been a member here and appreciating the other stories for some time... hope it is enjoyed. Any constructive feedback is incredibly welcomed :)
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Glancing in the mirror, I licked my lips and ran both my hands through my short cropped hair in a vague attempt to make it looked passably styled. Sure, I liked it messy, but today it was just a state. Sneering at myself in the mirror as always I fled the toilets and hurtled down the three flights of stairs to my next call. I worked as a Second Line IT technician and the service agreements we were given to respond to calls meant heavy workloads and little rest, despite how moronic half the queries could be. Other days were more challenging and today, with one of our main servers down, was one of them. It was a relief, I suppose. It meant I had almost gone an entire day without thinking about 'it'.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not some mentally secluded social alien. The stories you hear about the 'stereotypical geek' are largely fabricated, notwithstanding the fact that this year I've actually managed to develop a tan... I don't seem to have problems attracting anyone either. At 5" 7 I have an athletic build that cognitively challenged people would be inclined to call butch. I have pert little 34B breasts that are never going to take anyone's eyes out, but hey, at least they're small enough to avoid gravity for a good while yet. I am 28 years old, and six months fresh out of my latest long-term failure that some people would have called a relationship. My name is Keara Corvale, and I am utterly, utterly hopeless with men.
Which is why I had my current problem. I wasn't so sure any more that men were my answer. And there was a woman at work who I sorely wanted to put that question to the test.
I had been sure for a long time that I was bi-curious at the very least. But the curious nature in a person that is naturally very shy isn't going to be prevalent, and I had always pushed my fantasies and suspicions to the back of my mind, instead opting for the comfort of a simple heterosexual relationship. But after the disaster of my last one, ending up in A&E after losing an argument at the end of his fist, enough was enough. I had packed up and moved in with friends until finding a cosy flat near the office. I had thrown myself into my work, revelling in the long hours that could be inherent with the job, keeping me away from the tedium of dating again and keeping my thoughts to the back of my mind. But then at an IT seminar for new staff, I had looked up as she walked through the door, and she immediately threw my reasonably dull expectations of life into disarray.
I hadn't paid any attention to her credentials. She was just another person to listen to as they whined about the poor standards of IT provision compared to their last company. Besides which, our company's IT standards are excellent, I would just like to point that out now. The trainer hadn't earmarked her as anything special. But he really, really should have.
She was wearing black pin trousers, wide-legged, so I couldn't tell the shape of her underneath. But they did hug her hips, which swayed with obvious seduction as she strode across the room to her seat. She had a crisp tailored white blouse tucked into the top hem, the tightness of it emphasising her beautifully shaped breasts. My eyes held at them -- I just couldn't help it -- before taking in the rest of her. She was wearing a blood-red neckerchief which complemented her darkly tanned skin, and had to be tucked delicately in between those beautiful breasts. I couldn't tell if her tan was natural or boosted through hours on the sunbed. Her lips were thin, and she held a tight smile at the edges which could have been sinister or sarcastic, probably depending on her mood. Her cheeks were flush with colour, and she had light makeup on that emphasised the luscious green of her eyes. Even after the shameful way I had lingered on her breasts, there was certainly no way I could tear my gaze off those beautiful eyes. Like big jewels in their own right, if she had looked at me right at that moment, I wouldn't have known what to do...
... and she did look at me. And I just blushed and looked away hurriedly, like some pathetic schoolgirl, trying to ignore the involuntary heat building between my legs. What a loser. It had been four months since that seminar, and Cathrin Beck had been doing neither my heart rate nor blood pressure any good since. Every time I saw her, either for a service call, or even just walking past in the corridor, she'd grin at me, and I could do nothing but smile, and blush. I managed conversations, mainly about work... but she had to be able to tell something was up. I must have looked absolutely ridiculous.
The call I was attending now was her, hence my impromptu visit to the toilet for a check in the mirror. Despite being a physical wreck whenever I was near her, I could at least attempt to look respectable. But I was failing this time, obviously. I buzzed myself into the floor and tried to walk smoothly over to her office. Smiling I tried very hard not to make eye contact.
"Hi Cathrin, I'm just responding to your call up to IT. I understand you've got some issues with your printer?"
"Hi Keara, yes, it just stopped working yesterday. I really needed it up and running, but you know how it is, I just got the secretary to do all my printing. Could you be a darling and take a look?"
Blushing furiously, I ducked out of her line of site to her printer, which was on a return to the left of her desk. She was wearing a dark green skirt which was knee length, but rode up to her mid-thigh when she sat down. I hate that I have begun noticing these things, and start examining the printer so I can make my escape before embarrassing myself. Trying not to let my breathing accelerate, I briefly caught the scent of DKNY, and my senses were immediately set off.
She started humming, and I couldn't help but turn around for a glance, almost following my nose. She had crossed her legs and was hunched over some paperwork with her elbows on the desk, tapping her pen on her left temple. It seemed so quirky, I couldn't help but smile before turning back to the printer. Thankfully for my sanity, the rising temperature on my cheeks and the rising heat in my groin, it was a quick fix. I was about to run out the door when she called me back.
"Keara -- sorry, you must be so busy. Can I ask you a favour at all?"
Yes, I thought, god yes, please, anything!
"I have a PC at home..." (Ah yes, I forgot. I'm a geek.) "it's been running really slowly, and it's buried into the desk and I haven't got the first clue how to untangle it -- my ex hooked it all up originally. Do you think you'd have time to come over and take a look at it? If you don't mind, that is.... A few other people have mentioned you've helped them out before. I'll pay you, of course."
She was completely correct -- I had helped out a few people with moonlighting calls on their ailing PCs. Most people didn't bring them into the office as they didn't want the rest of the IT department seeing their nefarious surfing habits. I was one of the more diplomatic members of the team. And usually declined any offer of payment at the end of the job.
"Sure Cathrin, no problem. When's convenient for you?"
"Whenever, really." she tapped the pen against her temple again, and looked up at me with those stunning green fuck-me eyes. Despite myself, I gulped, grinning inwardly like an awkward teenager. My heart fluttered, and my pelvis felt like doing backflips. "Are you busy tomorrow night at all?"
I wasn't, and even if I had been, I would have cleared my calendar. "Sure, no problem. I'll meet you out front after work?"