Trying to Throw my Arms Around the World

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“You must think I’ve lost my mind,” Lucy said. I had gone to her house at dusk after negotiating for some time alone in the afternoon.

“I think you’re very brave.”

She stood idly in her kitchen, not knowing where to turn. “It’s not as if I have a choice in the matter.” She seemed to have come to her senses somewhat, which, frankly, was a relief after she had inadvertently called me ‘darling’ earlier that day. 

“You could have gone for self-protection.” Despite not always making the best decisions when it came to romance, Lucy was far from a push-over, and she was hardly stupid either. “But instead—”

“I opened my arms to you like the sucker I am.” Her face broke into a smile, her eyes lighting up again. Her happiness was borderline infectious.

Holding her gaze, I shook my head. “You took a chance. And not only that, but you walked away from the incredible hulk.” I paced over to her, suddenly overwhelmed by a desire to touch her. “That’s about as brave as it gets.” I squeezed her hands in mine. “And the most romantic action anyone has ever undertaken for me.” I found the skin of her neck with my lips and was fairly certain that it was exactly Lucy’s bravery that would end up killing me in the long run — I’d never done well with too much love. But for the time being, I was more than happy with her exaggerated displays of affection. For once, I preferred it over the constant battles Claire had put me through in the course of our affair, and long after. I welcomed it after the hesitant start to my relationship with Lou and its dramatic demise. I wanted things to just be easy for a change.

“If you break my heart, I will fire you,” she whispered in my ear. “I’ll give your job to Annabelle.”

“The first bit I can live with, the second is completely unacceptable.” I felt her lips stretch wide against the skin of my cheek. “She’s nosy enough, but far too blond.”

“You shouldn’t talk about your co-workers like that, especially not to your boss.”

“Maybe not, but tell me, boss, what’s the policy on shagging subordinates?”

Lucy pulled my jumper over my head. “It is completely…” Then tugged at the button of my jeans. “…and utterly…” Finally, she snapped my bra open. “…frowned upon.”

“Millie knew and I didn’t tell her,” I said. “The boys, except for Tim maybe, are oblivious to vibes of romance in the office, but Annabelle is smart.” I turned on my side in Lucy’s couch, almost slipping off, and looked at her. “One smouldering look is all it takes.”

“I’ll come clean. I’ll inform the board.” She said it as if it was the most natural thing in the world, as if it wasn’t grounds for being sacked. It was bad enough that I was taking advantage of her feelings for me, I wasn’t going to be responsible for her being fired as well.

“Now I really do think you’ve lost your mind.”

“What do you suggest?” 

“It has to be a secret, Lucy. It’s the only option. For both our sakes.” I tucked some strands of hair behind her ear. “You can’t so much as smile at me in a more than professional manner.” I let my fingers drift across her cheek to her chin. “And absolutely no touching in the office.”

“Well how the fuck am I going to manage that?” She grabbed my hand and pulled it towards her so I fell flat on my back. In no time she was on top of me. Clearly she had taken some lessons from Joan.

“Just think of it as foreplay.”

She spread my legs with her knee and locked her eyes on mine. “You know I’m not the biggest fan of that.” And just like that, she was inside.

To be continued…