Forbidden Crush

Emma had been working in accounting for a small manufacturing company for 10 years. Same old thing, day in and day out. Same boring people. It seemed as if the same numbers were crunched constantly, permanent deja vu. The owner decided to make some changes to the business, as if things were going to get more exciting. For Emma, it was just another hurdle to get past before going back to the same routine over and over. With these changes, meant bringing in new people. A new CFO, a new marketing manager and even a consultant. These people were pleasant enough. Except for maybe the consultant. There was something that irked her about him, she couldn't quite figure it out just yet. He seemed a bit conceited, as if everything was about him. Still, something seemed to draw her to him. She was intrigued by him.

Marriage for Emma seemed to have been going nowhere, after being with the same man for 13 years now. Everyone believes she has a picture perfect life. Great husband, two wonderful kids, a great job, a big house. But what they don't know is that things aren't always what they seem. She wasn't sure if she belonged in this life anymore. Things weren't the same as they used to be. Her daughters are basically what keep her going. She loves them more than life itself, which seems to be the only good thing going for her. She wasn't exactly sure if her and her husband were simply growing apart, or if it was just her getting bored with her marriage and wanting more. It didn't help that he never wanted to talk to her about it. Their communication was pretty much void at this point. It's like they just go through the day to day motions, living as roommates, for the most part.

As the days went by, the changes to be made at work were progressing slowly. Most of the employees didn't like change, so they were making it difficult on Ben, the new consultant. He didn't like having to push things if he didn't have to, but it seemed he had no choice for this particular job. He came across as a little... rough around the edges, one could say. He knew most of them didn't like him, but he honestly didn't care, for he was there to do his job and do it right, whether they liked it or not. Ben decided to focus in the accounting department first, which meant he had to work with Emma. She seemed nice enough, yet others had warned him about her. It seems she has a mean streak about her if you cross her in any way. Since he's already been dubbed the bad guy in the office, he figured he had nothing to lose. He loved a good challenge and Emma seemed to be the perfect choice.

Drowning himself in work, Ben's personal life was falling apart at the seams. During the past few months, he'd been fighting for custody of his two daughters. After 14 years of marriage, everything seemed to go wrong. His wife starting seeing someone else, filed for divorce, took all his money and worst of all, took his kids from their comfortable life in Indiana and moved them to California. He was left with nothing. The divorce he could deal with, if she had just told him she didn't love him anymore and decided to share custody. But that would be a perfect world, which didn't seem to exist. The custody battle, on the other hand, was emotionally and financially draining for him. He felt as if he had nobody to talk to, which made it even worse. Still, he would fight for his children, even if it killed him.

Working side by side as the weeks went by, Emma and Ben had their share of tense moments. Their ideas on how things should be done were not exactly the same. One day, Ben decided to break the ice and ask her to lunch. A business lunch, of course. He knew she was married, but felt they both needed some time to get away from work for a bit, no strings attached. Ben felt strangely comfortable with Emma and ended up confiding in her about his life. She seemed to listen intently, hanging on to every word. He's never had anyone listen to him like this before, without judging or trying to give unwanted advice. She even managed to make him laugh, which is something he hadn't done in a very long time. Before long, Emma found herself in the moment, laughing with Ben and telling him things she has never told anyone before. What was it about this guy that made her feel so comfortable? She wasn't sure, but she liked the feeling.

The following evening, Emma received a text message on her business cell phone. It simply read, "Lunch was great. Hope this is the beginning of a new friendship." It was from Ben and it immediately put a smile on her face. She sure needed a friend right now and even if her co-workers didn't agree, Ben was a really nice guy. Besides, being friends would make their work relationship much easier to deal with. Or so she thought.

With a new feeling of hope, Ben put is all into his project at work. Everyone still gave him resistance on the changes at hand. Everyone except for Emma, that is. He was surprised when she asked him to go out for a drink after work one evening. They had gone to lunch a few times, but always told their co-workers it was a business lunch. Their friendship was kept under wraps so that nobody got the wrong impression. Going out for a drink might spread rumors about them. He didn't want it to get back to her husband and the last thing he wanted to do was break up a marriage. Emma insisted it wasn't a big deal and her husband would be okay with them being friends.

Throughout the evening, they talked and drank and danced. Talked some more and drank some more. They had an amazing time. It was great for both of them to let go for a while and just have fun. They'd almost forgotten what it was like to have so much fun. Ben had decided it was time to call it a night. If he didn't, he might get drunk and do something he'd regret. He told Emma this and she understood, said she felt the same way. They hugged each other good night and that hug turned into an alarm inside Emma's head. She officially had an office crush on her co-worker. She couldn't get him out of her mind. Maybe going out was a mistake after all.

The next few days went by and neither of them said a word about their night out. Things seemed to start getting intense at work. Once again, they couldn't see eye to eye on the tasks set before them. Emma got up and shut the door to her office so that she could argue with Ben in private. Who does he think he is, turning things on her as if she doesn't know her own job? Suddenly, he grabs her and kisses her. She wanted to fight it. Oh how, she really wanted to fight it. But she couldn't. That kiss sent sparks flying into the room, everything went silent and all she could think of was what she wanted to do to him. What she's been wanting to do to him for months now.

No words were spoken between them, for they know where this is headed. They know it shouldn't happen, especially right here, right now. But all logic is lost during this moment. The way that it feels to touch each other, they let it consume them. He lifts her up and sits her on the edge of the desk and starts kissing her neck, fumbling to take off her nylons to reveal what was underneath her skirt. At the same time, she struggles with unbuckling his belt and she can feel his erection pressed against her. Just the thought of it makes her moan, but she fights her own voice to keep silent. He slides his hand up her thigh and feels the warmth between her legs. She then takes hold of him, gently caressing, then proceeds to pump him wildly. It is his turn to moan, but she kisses him to silence it. Sliding off of the desk, she gets down on her knees, keeping her eyes on his as she puts a finger to her mouth and quietly says, "Shhh..." She licks to tease him, then pushes him into her mouth, slowly suckling, tasting him. Grabbing the back of her head, he moves his hips to the rhythm. He bites the back of his hand as he's almost brought to climax, then tugs at her head gently to move her back onto the desk. She's ready for him, kissing him passionately, he slides into her with a quick, hard movement as she digs her nails into his back. They bring themselves to a moment of ecstacy as they forget where they are.

As if on cue, her office phone rings and pulls them back into reality. They fumble to compose themselves as Emma answers her phone quickly. Ben leaves the office, obviously feeling flustered. After her phone conversation, Emma straightens up her clothes and sits and thinks. How could she let this happen? What has she done? Her mind flashes back to it and she feels satisfied, almost complete. She shouldn't feel this way, it's wrong to feel this way. She has to tell Ben it can never happen again.

After they talk it over, Ben agrees to never let his emotions overcome him again. Their friendship is strained, so they choose to keep it strictly business from now on. Both of them are pretty good at burying themselves into their work that they actually succeed at it. There are times when Ben seems a little out of it, where his mind goes somewhere else, but he never discusses it with Emma.

A month and a half later, Emma doesn't show up for work. Ben is worried as she never misses work. Just before lunch time, he's surprised to get a text from her that reads, "We need to talk. Meet me for lunch, usual place." He quickly gets up and goes to meet her, thinking she told her husband about the day they had sex. Ben starts to get angry and thinks to himself, "He better not have hurt her." as he drives to the restaurant.

Nothing could have prepared Ben for what he was about to hear. Emma quickly got to the point and told him she missed her period and she just came back from the doctor's office. She's pregnant. Emma is pregnant. With my child, Ben thought to himself. If things weren't complicated enough, this changes everything.