A Collection of Thoughts

3) Eight Letters

"We can't do this."

He breathes, inhales her scent. It's heady and intoxicating - a mixture of jasmine flowers, rose petals and her - and he knows that if he doesn't stop, he won't be able to walk away. Not this time.

"I know."

Her bottom lip trembles; so deliciously tempting and he has to close his eyes to keep from taking that oh so minute step forward.

"We can't."

It's weak, her denial. They both know that they can't. He's married, she's his employee. This is wrong and foolish and he can't remember the other reasons that demanded that he keep away from her anymore.

"But..." he says. His eyes flicker to hers and take hold. The look lasts a moment but it's one filled with impossible futures and cruel fates and destinies that intertwined much too late. The pain that he's become so familiar with thuds through his chest when reality crashes in on him.

They can never be, ever, but dear god almighty, how easy would it be to just...

"I think you should go," she tells him suddenly. Her feet take her a step back and involuntarily, he follows with a step of his own. "Wait, please."

Her breath hitches and she blinks at him. He's standing so close. All she has to do is brush her fingers across his chest and -

"We can't." She's telling herself this, this time. Her dark head bows and she's trembling all over now. He wants to reach out, everything about him is telling him to reach out, but he can't. He won't. He shouldn't.

"I should leave."

She nods quickly. He stands there a moment longer, revelling in her closeness, the warmth that radiates off her golden skin, the beauty that is truly just her and then does the hardest thing that he's ever had to do. He turns and walks away.

It's only until the door closes behind him, separating man and woman once more that they dare mutter the words that cling like velcro to their lips. Three words, eight letters, forever.