BEFORE #2
My mouth fell open, unable to hide my surprise. He didn't give me time to ask what he meant, changing the subject away from my clothing.
It was easy to talk to him, the conversation flowing so naturally between us, despite my misstep in calling him a nickname. The urge to urinate had been nagging in the back of my mind, brought on by the multitude of tequila sodas I’d been given, and I couldn't ignore it any longer.
He’d gone off on a tangent, remembering something he'd seen in a documentary the other day, but I steered the conversation away to something more urgent.
“Elias, do you clean this part of the building, too?” I asked, crossing my legs on the stool.
He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Does that mean you know where the bathroom is?”
He laughed. “Yeah, I can take you to the bathroom.”
My eyes widened. I didn't expect an escort, and I wasn't ready to be anywhere alone with him. “You don't have to do that, you can just point me in the general direction.”
“I gotta go, too, come on.” He looked like he was about to take my hand as he hopped off his stool, his arm reaching toward me for a second, but he thought better of it, and turned away instead.
I didn't turn around to see if anyone saw us leaving the room together, though I imagined if anyone looked over while we were at the bar, the look on my face would be enough to start rumors.
The bathrooms weren't exactly hidden, but they were far enough down a hallway that they were inconvenient. After Elias promised to wait for me, I walked into the women's restroom and stumbled my way into a stall.
I didn't realize how drunk I was until I sat on the toilet. That’s when it always hits. The room spun, and I had to steady myself against the stall wall.
I looked inside my purse for anything useful, something to freshen myself up.
No perfume, no lip gloss, just my phone and wallet.
After fixing my hair in the bathroom mirror and drying the sweat forming on my forehead with a piece of paper towel, I walked out to find Elias waiting for me.
He held up his arm, inviting me to take it.
“Dr. Hayes, I'm here to escort you back to the party.”
I walked up to him, nearly accepting the invitation, but my body wouldn't do the right thing. I stood there, staring at him for so long his face changed to one of concern.
He was so beautiful, and I had him to myself, away from the prying eyes of the party.
My mind went a little hazy when I thought about how he admitted that he came in the hopes I would be here.
His navy button up was snug, and he filled out his chinos in a way I’d never guessed he could.
His typical work attire was more casual, not nearly as form-fitting.
He looked incredible. I couldn't resist myself, not caring about the consequences of what I was about to do.
“Cassie?” He questioned, lowering his arm. I stepped closer to him, his eyes watching me warily, and I pounced.
I didn't ask for permission, I didn't grab his hand or his face, I just kissed him, my arms wrapping around his neck like it was nothing new.
He didn't hesitate either, his hands going right to my waist, resting above my hips.
His lips moved with as much energy as my own, and when my tongue moved from my mouth to his, he let it right in.
Weeks of the tension I felt began to ease, a quarter turn of a valve releasing some pressure between us, something else taking its place.
We backed up into the wall, and Elias pulled me tight against him, his body sandwiched between me and the white drywall. The warmth of him seeped through my dress and I melted, my body nearly flat against him, my left leg situated between his thighs.
His hands roamed over me, tracing the shape of my curves, his thumbs brushing against the sides of my breasts, before reaching down and settling his hands on my rear.
My own hands were in his hair, my fists grabbing handfuls of his loose brown curls, and I lost my balance, staggering without him holding me to him. Our mouths separated for a moment, and I met his gaze as he held on tighter to me, stopping me from teetering too far off balance.
His eyelids were heavy as he looked down at me, a little smile on his lips. Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, he spoke. “I’m not going to lie, that surprised me.” He rested his hand on the side of my neck.
“Was it a welcome surprise?” I asked. I didn’t look away.
“Definitely.”
“Come home with me,” I breathed, the words leaving my lips of their own accord. It wasn’t that I didn’t mean it, because I did, I just wasn’t normally that forward.
Elias glanced to the side, his face having grown contemplative. The fear of rejection pitted itself in my stomach.
“I can’t,” he said, but he didn’t untangle himself from me.
“Oh my god,” I said, ducking my head into his chest. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No, Cassie,” he laughed. “Do you think I’d give you as much attention as I do if I had a girlfriend?”
“I don’t understand,” I mumbled. The urge to run reached my legs, and I tried to gently pry myself away, but he held on, his arms circling me.
“You’re drunk,” he stated.
“Not drunk enough to regret it, if that’s what you’re implying,” I said, looking back up at him.
He shook his head. “You have no idea how badly I want to come home with you.”
“Then do it.”
He leaned down until his lips were against my ear. “The things I could do to you. The things I want to do to you. . .” I shivered. “But you need to fix your hair, and go back and get to know your coworkers, so they don’t know we almost christened the hallway.”
I pulled away, my face flushed.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said, his hand reaching out to touch my pink face. “I’m the one whispering naughty things into your ear.”
“Are you gonna say that it’s not me, but it’s you?” I asked, cursing myself.
“I’m not that cliché ,” he scoffed. “It’s definitely not me, and I don’t think it’s you either. Ask me to come home with you when you aren’t wasted and I’ll probably say yes.”
I looked down at my feet, ashamed. I wasn’t thinking straight, clearly, and my plan backfired. Work was going to be awkward for the rest of my life. Even if he wasn’t dismissing me outright, it was still humiliating.
“I’m going to go home now,” he said. He messed with my hair, putting the pieces back where they belonged. “Like I said, I only came to see you.”
“And I guess I’m going back in there,” I muttered.
“I’ll see you Monday, pretty girl.” He kissed my cheek gently, and disappeared down the hallway.