This was the third time this week Mia had to sit in this damn conference room and listen to her team drone on about things that didn't matter. The walls were covered in posters from ancient advertising campaigns and the lack of windows made it seem tiny and oppressive. The only good thing about this room was when the door was closed, the lights were off, and the projector was in wait mode. The blue light made it seem like you were inside a relaxing aquarium and could daydream about anything.
But on and on the meeting ran, going well past the hour it was scheduled for. She had stopped listening ages ago and found herself staring at her coworker Ian's hands as he rolled a pen back and forth between them. His fingers were long and elegant and her mind drifted to what he could do with them if he wanted.
Thinking about him seemed to be her default activity when her mind wandered off. Something about his energy was intoxicating to her in an almost embarrassing way. He was unusual, both reserved and easy-going. Creative and serious. Somehow casual intellectual conversations had turned into physical attraction so strong it was sometimes hard for her to be around him.
They had been tiptoeing a line between friendship and flirting for months now but he never made a move. She didn’t know what to do about the situation. He had to be aware of his effect on her by now, but she was lucky no one else in their building seemed to notice her discomfort. Getting involved with a coworker is a great way to land yourself in HR.
She was called out of her daydream about Ian's hands on her body by someone standing up. The meeting was over and people were leaving. Finally.
"I am going to keep the room for a bit," She said to her boss as they all left the room. It was lunchtime so everyone was leaving the building anyway. No one would need this room and she could get some work done if her mind would refocus.
Ian stood up and went to leave too, smiling at her as he came by her chair. Sometimes talking to him was as easy as breathing, but sometimes it made her want to bang her head on a wall out of confusion. She couldn't handle a mental tap dance right now.
Avoiding his gaze, she groaned internally and dropped her head on to the table.
"Can you turn off the light off on your way out?"
The light flicked off leaving her in her favorite blue glow. She heard the door close softly. She let out a frustrated sigh.
"Rough day?"
He hadn't left. He was standing right behind her chair bathed in the blue light of the idle projector. It highlighted his five o'clock shadow and made him look both approachable and mysterious at the same time. She found herself staring and couldn’t think of anything clever to say. It didn't look like he was planning on going anywhere.
She ended up giving an exasperated laugh, "Yeah, these meetings are too long and I was having trouble concentrating."
"True. Anything I can do to help you concentrate?"
A grin spread across his face in an almost evil way.
"Oh please, I think we both know you are part of the distraction."
He had caught her staring at him more than once so she knew it was true. He might give mixed signals, but she didn’t see the point in hiding how she felt.
This was not going to be productive. Knowing she wasn't going to be able to relax in here she stood up to leave. With her back to the table and him in front of the door, she didn't make it far. He stepped closer so that he was right in front of her, blocking her exit.
"I'd say I'm sorry, but I am really not."
As he said it, he reached up and ran his fingers lightly over her bare arm from shoulder to wrist. She shivered and felt like electric energy moved up her entire arm and into her body. She had to close her eyes for a minute and nearly stopped breathing.
"Hmm. I like that I can make you shiver."
He looked like a cat who had caught a bird. Damn it. She hated this power he had to stop her in her tracks. It was such an insult to her character. She tried to give her best tough face, but she only half believed herself as she said, "I wish you wouldn't do that."
"Do you really?" He asked as he moved both hands down both her arms this time, gently pressing his nails into her skin. A tiny moan crossed her lips. "Ha, that is delightful."
She sat abruptly on the edge of the table before her knees gave out. Her hands came up and caught him by the elbows before he could move back out of her reach like he always did. She gently drew her nails down the inside of his arms making him shudder instead. Briefly, she was the satisfied cat.
This was the worst part. He would tease her, or she him, but they both stopped before either of them were really satisfied. It was just an elaborate game of one-upping each other. Just as she suspected, he started to draw back before she could do more. She could feel the frustration building inside of her and the anger settling in. It was a game without a winner and didn't think she could take it anymore.