This is my continuation of Lurker's story 'A Man Alone' - one possibility of what might have occurred after Oscar & Jaime left the office.
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We make the drive in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts, and park in front of my apartment building. It is automatically understood that Jaime will come upstairs for awhile; I put my arm around her as I guide her through the massive doors and across the marble lobby to the elevator bay. There are others in the elevator with us; she slips her hand inside of mine as we stand silently, watching the car climb the numbered floors.
As I stand next to this young woman, I can't help but think of the effect she has had on my life. My love for her at times overwhelms me; just being in her presence fills me with a joy I never thought possible. Although we've always skirted the issue of physical intimacy, our relationship is nonetheless as deep and committed as any married couple. I shudder to think how empty my life would be had I never met her.
We speak for the first time since leaving the OSI as I close my apartment door behind us; with a smile Jaime accepts my offer of a glass of wine. As I open a bottle she lights the fireplace and settles herself on the sofa. I join her, sinking deep into the cushions and putting my feet up on the coffee table. It feels good to be home. Jaime nestles into the space beneath my outstretched arm, and I begin to feel the stresses of the day melt away. We sit quietly for a long while, watching the fire, each enjoying the closeness of the other.
Feeling her eyes upon me, I turn my head to find her gazing up at me; returning her gaze I smile slightly and lean towards her, kissing her lips tentatively. She responds willingly, and for a moment we give in to the feelings that have been between us for so long. I pull her close as our kisses grow longer and more intense.
After a minute I pull away, kissing her softly on the cheek. What is it that prevents me from pursuing this woman that I've come to care for so deeply? Perhaps I will never know. We resume watching the fire, Jaime's head resting contentedly on my chest.
Her breathing tells me that she has fallen asleep. Gently so as not to wake her, I lift her into my arms and carry her to my bed. She stirs briefly as I remove her shoes but quickly settles back into slumber. In the soft moonlight she looks like an angel, and I feel drawn to her like no other woman before. I kiss her lightly on the forehead and head back to the sofa for the night.
Jaime: I wake in the night and struggle to get my bearings in the darkness; after a moment I recognize that I am in Oscar's bedroom. I turn and reach for him but find the bed empty; it is then that I realize that I am still fully dressed. Padding out to the living room I discover Oscar asleep on the sofa. The couch is deep; I snuggle next to him and slip my arm around his waist. Within minutes I am back asleep.
The morning light wakes me, and I smile upon realizing that I have company. I lay there listening to Jaime's rhythmic breathing as gradually she begins to stir. My glance is rewarded with a sleepy smile and quiet "Good morning".
"Good morning" I reply softly as I return her smile. I slip from the sofa to fetch coffee from the kitchen, Jaime's with a scoop of cocoa, just as she likes it. Perhaps one day we will act on our feelings for each other; perhaps not. What we have works for us right now, and I am thankful that, at this moment at least, I am no longer a man alone.