Lucas Reed awoke to find himself facing a… issue.
Actually, several problems.
The initial sensation was that his mind felt clouded as if it had been drenched in wine and poor choices. The second was that his heart was racing excessively for someone resting flat on their back still. The third was that his body had evidently been active in some way, during his unconsciousness.
"Mmph…"
A soft shameful noise escaped him while he moved beneath the blankets. His breathing. His face felt scorching as recollections invaded his thoughts unbidden.
Gentle illumination. A recognizable voice uttering his name. Fingers gliding through his hair. Lips, near enough to sense warmth. A mouth pressed against his neck.
'Stop. Stop right now.'
Lucas clenched his eyes tightly. It only intensified the discomfort. His hand jerked under the blanket then halted abruptly as if caught in the act of wrongdoing.
'Nope. Absolutely not. This is illegal behavior.'
He turned onto his side back, onto his back gazing at the ceiling as if it had directly deceived him.
The vision would not disappear.
Her sweater. Her fragrance. The manner in which she leaned closer. How his body responded as if it had anticipated this instant forever.
'WHY is it always the boss?'
He let out a groan and buried his face in the pillow. His ears felt hot. His mind was whirling. His body was doing nothing to assist.
Then the truth struck him like a freight train.
Yesterday was real.
The wine. Her house. The desk. Her lips on his neck.
Lucas rose quickly he almost strained his neck.
'That occurred. I did not make that up. She kissed me.'
His heart began pounding more now gripped by fear rather than the strange things his dream had been causing.
He discarded the blanket. Staggered out of bed making a beeline for the bathroom as if escaping a crime scene. Cold water. Cold water. Sufficiently cold water to jolt his spirit back, into his form.
Once he completed dressing he appeared ordinary more. Hair neatly arranged. Shirt spotless. Face composed. Inside however he was still yelling.
'Behave as usual. Simply attend work. She is merely your supervisor. Nothing occurred.'
He stopped, gazing at his image.
"Something certainly occurred."
Lucas took his bag. Walked away before his mind could protest any more.
…
The workspace appeared precisely as he recalled it.
Radiant lights. The gentle murmur of computers. Colleagues talking softly while acting like they weren't exhausted. It felt reassuring in a familiar manner.
Lucas settled at his desk. Switched on his computer compelling himself to concentrate on the display. Emails. Reports. Figures. Routine matters.
At that moment he sensed it.
That presence.
He glanced upward.
Victoria Hale strolled across the office.
His mind instantly ceased to operate.
She had on a blouse deep and refined with sleeves pushed up slightly to reveal her wrists. Her stance was flawless her strides. Her hair pulled back so that her neck was distinctly visible.
'Why is her expression, like that.'
Lucas sensed warmth surge, to his cheeks before he could prevent it. His eyes gave him away trailing her against his will.
She tilted her head a bit.
Their gazes locked.
Lucas became flustered. Quickly directed his eyes to the keyboard acting as if he were typing something crucial and certainly not just random characters.
Too late.
"Lucas."
Her voice was calm. Smooth. Familiar.
He almost leapt from his seat. "Yes. Good morning. Hello."
What was his reason, for saying all that?
Victoria paused next, to his desk. He sensed her gaze upon him felt the intensity of her focus settling on him in a manner that caused his skin to tingle.
"You appear stressed today " she mentioned casually. "Is anything amiss?"
Her lips lifted slightly as if she was already aware of the response.
'I am perishing.'
"I'm okay " Lucas responded swiftly. "Simply exhausted. It was a night."
Victoria inclined her head. "Oh?"
That lone noise caused his stomach to churn.
"Did you get a night's rest?" she inquired.
Lucas struggled to breathe.
"Yes " he responded without delay. "Quite typical sleep. Exceptionally rejuvenating."
Her eyes squinted a bit entertained. "You're turning red."
"I am not."
"You are."
He placed his hand over his mouth. "It's simply warm inside."
She moved nearer. Not so much as to be noticeable. Merely enough to be risky.
"Is that so?" she inquired quietly.
Lucas's mind deceived him entirely.
"I mean " he murmured, voice faltering "anyone would be, after what happened night."
The silence was instant.
Victoria stood motionless.
Lucas became aware of what he had spoken.
His spirit departed from his body.
The office seemed to have disappeared. All that appeared before him was her face gradually turning rosy her assured demeanor faltering a bit.
"What do you mean by that?" she inquired softly.
'I am dead. I am so dead.'
"I was just kidding " Lucas exclaimed. "Terrible joke. Terrible joke. I didn't intend anything "
Victoria gazed at him silently for an instant.
After that she grinned.
"I understand " she replied. "I realize you were just kidding."
Her gaze remained fixed on him. " So you ought to watch what you say. Someone could interpret it literally."
She leaned closer, to murmur "Ultimately my body belongs to you."
Lucas almost fainted.
Then she stood upright fully collected more. "Concentrate on your documents."
She left as if nothing occurred.
Lucas remained seated his face flushed hands trembling, gazing at his screen without registering any of the words displayed.
'I have to stop.. Relocate.. Take up monastic life.'
Completing his tasks required double the time largely because each time Victoria walked past his heart seemed ready to leap from his chest. When he finally finished for the day he felt utterly drained on every level.
The house had never appeared wonderful!
…
That evening Lucas was, in the kitchen preparing dinner as Stella sat at the table observing him with a piercing gaze.
"You're grinning " she remarked. "That seems suspicious."
"I am not grinning."
"You are definitely grinning."
Lucas almost let the spatula slip. "Stay out of it."
Stella smiled. "Did something occur at work?"
"No."
"You paused. That indicates yes."
He exhaled, mixing the contents of the pan. "It was a day."
"Uh huh " she replied, clearly not convinced. "Yeah right it was."
Lucas remained silent. His expression gave him away once more.
Stella's smile grew broader. "Wow. Big brother is really hooked."
Lucas sighed. "Finish your meal."
She. Grabbed her chopsticks. "Simply remember to return this evening."
"I consistently do."
Lucas looked down at the pan, a small smile slipping through despite himself.