Idolatry

During the day Win tried to ignore the electricity leaping between them but Cole didn’t. Whenever she was within reach he would draw her to him. Win wished she could just reach out and touch him in the same way but she couldn’t do it. 

At one point she was standing next to him showing him a report.  He was sitting in his chair pulled up to his desk. She could feel his eyes on her as she showed him the final draft. Straightening when she had finished her explanation, Cole’s eyes moved to the report. Win looked down at the back of his neck. His dark hair just skimmed his collar and she longed to push her fingers into the silky strands. 

Cole must have sensed her regard as he turned his head and searched her eyes. “What?” he said.

“Nothing” she said shaking her head and looking away.

“No, it’s not nothing” he said as if reading her mind and when her eyes came back to meet his, his gaze locked on hers.

“I want to touch you” she admitted in a voice that was not much above a whisper.

“So do it” he said “I want that too.”

“It feels wrong” she said.

“It doesn’t feel wrong to me” he coaxed. “Please?” he added after a pause.

Win lifted her hand and slowly moved it forward placing it on the back of his neck before lifting his hair and scrapping her nails across his scalp.

Cole turned his head back around so he was facing away from her and she felt a shiver pass through him. “I want you to touch me whenever you feel like it Win” he said.

“I’ll try” she said. 

Over the next couple of days Win got better at touching him voluntarily. She was still a little unsure of what was happening between them but she didn’t have the will to stop it now, not even to save herself. Each evening they would have dinner together after work and on Saturday night they went back to her place after they’d eaten. It was the first time they had been alone together except for in the office. After she had let them in they sat down on her couch together. Before long they were kissing and for the first time it went beyond that as hands began to wander.

Idolatry

Win’s breath evaporated. She moved her head closer. He didn’t move.

In one last little forward movement her lips were on his. Now she closed her eyes and Cole took the lead.

A couple of hours later Cole dropped her back at her car and they said goodnight. Win went to bed but slept little that night.

The next day Win was having trouble believing it was real. Had she dreamt it all? She was a bundle of nerves as made her way to the office. Would Cole just pretend nothing had happened? She was sure he must have come to his senses by now.

At eight Cole walked into the office and smiled at her. However instead of just stopping next to her desk he sat his brief case on the timber surface and walked around to her side. He then clasped her hand and pulling her to her feet, folded his arms around her and lowered his head.

Win kissed him back but she did not make a move to touch him. After a moment Cole stopped and releasing her, lifted her arms and placed them around his neck. “Human, remember” he said and then pulling her to him again went back to kissing her. 

As they kissed Win’s arms tightened around his neck. But when he eased back she released him, her hands sliding down his arms before slipping away. She still didn’t feel comfortable touching him. 

“I dreamt about you last night” he said.

Win looked away. She didn’t know what to say to that. She couldn’t tell him she had been dreaming of him for two years.

“Can we have dinner tonight?” he said.

Unable to tell him no even if she wanted to, which she didn’t, she just nodded.

He smiled, “good, now let’s get to work.

Idolatry

Win sighed and hot colour filled her face. It was so embarrassing. “It’s just that you’re up here” she said holding her free hand above her head “and I’m down here” she continued lowering her hand to table level. “You’re gorgeous and you date models. I’m nothing like that.”

“I think you’re gorgeous” he said with a smile.

Heat washed over Win and she closed her eyes.

 “I’m just a man” he said, “nothing more, nothing less. I have flaws just like everyone else.”

“I’m yet to see them” she said opening her eyes but without looking at him.

“Win” he said prompting her to look up.

She lifted her head and met his gaze. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I don’t know what you’re thinking but I’m as human as you are.”

 She didn’t respond because she didn’t really believe it. He’d been up on the pedestal she placed him on too long.

“I want to prove it to you” he said.

She gave him a wary look.

“Touch me” he said.

“I can’t” she said.

“Yes you can” he said. “I’m just skin and bone.”

Win took a deep breath.

“Please?” he said.

“Where?” she asked, trying to buy some time.  She wasn’t sure she could do this. Her heart was already pounding so hard her chest hurt.

“Anywhere” he said. “Just reach out and touch me.”

Holding her breath, after a moment Win lifted her hand.

“Go ahead” he coaxed when she paused.

Moving hesitantly she reached towards him. With the lightest stroke she touched his chest. She could feel his warm skin beneath his shirt. Before she could moved away Cole flattened her hand over his heart and placed his hand over it, holding it there.

“Feel that?” he said as his heart hammered against her hand. “I’m definitely human.”

Win gave him a worried look and then looked away.

Cole was still holding her hand against his chest. “Do you believe me now?”

“Maybe” she admitted but she wasn’t sure she did.

He smiled and lowering her hand but still holding it he leaned towards her. He stopped short of making contact however. Looking into her eyes, inches from his own he said “kiss me Win.”

Idolatry

Cole and Win didn’t talk during the drive which only took a few minutes. Cole led her into the bar and finding a quiet table by the window sat down on a low couch next to her. His arm sat along the low back of the couch behind her shoulders.

A waiter came and took their order and when he’d left Cole’s hand settled on her shoulder. Startled, Win nearly jumped out of her skin.

Cole smiled “why are you so nervous?” he said.

Win took a deep breath and without meeting his eyes, she said “because you’re you.”

“What does that mean?” he said his other arm reaching across her and picking up one of her hands.

Win looked down at their linked hands. While his fingers curled around hers, her fingers stuck straight out. She tried to relax them but she couldn’t.

Removing his other arm he folded her fingers over his and then draped his arm back behind her. “Are you afraid of me Win?” he said.

“Yes, no, sort of” she admitted.

“Why?” he said.

Win felt ridiculous. How could she explain that he was like an idol and she felt like she was doing something wrong by being with him?

“I don’t know” she lied.

He studied her in silence for a minute and then said “I think you do and I think you need to tell me.”

Win bit her lip and closed her eyes. “I don’t know how to explain it” she said.

“Try” he said.

Going Home

Part 129

Later after showering and getting dressed in track suit pants but not bothering with a top Josh strode into the kitchen to make Grace some breakfast. Setting two places at the table he sat a small box in the middle of the place mat in Grace’s spot. Then returning to the kitchen he looked up as he heard Grace come out of the bedroom. He said “hey can you get the paper?”

Smiling Grace said “sure” and changed direction, moving toward the front door.

As she returned Josh had breakfast ready and walking ahead of her he crossed the room to the table. Then motioning for Grace to sit down he put the plates on the table and watched as Grace noticed the box.

As Grace took a seat she stared at the small box on the table and looked up at Josh.

Smiling he said “Happy Birthday.”

Returning his smile Grace picked up the box and opened the lid. Then the smile dropping from her face Grace looked back at Josh.