Keeping it secret, chapter 2.
The next day, Ben dressed up extra nicely for the possibility that he might run into Leslie. Who was he kidding? As long as he had functioning legs, he would find a way to run into her. He had seen her just 6 hours earlier, but he already missed her terribly.
He decided to get her some breakfast on the way there, giving him a solid excuse to see her first thing without raising suspicions. On the way in, he dropped his briefcase in his office and made it to Leslie's in record time. Thankfully, she was there before everyone else. He could always count on Leslie to be there to be the first one in, and last one out.
She didn't notice him at first. She seemed to be focusing on an email. He knocked lightly on the door frame and she looked up with a smile. That smile made him melt every time. He was pretty sure he had his most idiotic smile on his face right then. Nevertheless, he wasn't about to let this opportunity to kiss Leslie good morning go un-kissed. Looking around to make sure no one was coming, he made his way straight to her, set the waffles down on her desk, bent down, and brought his lips to hers.
"Good morning, Ms. Knope" in between kisses. "I hope you slept well" pulling back a little and smiling at her.
"Ben, you brought me breakfast? That's so sweet! Those better be waffles!" She kissed him one last time and pushed him back towards the chair by her desk. She then went for the waffle box, eyes like those of a child opening her first Christmas present.
" Only the best for my special secret lady friend" He smiled and picked up a small piece of waffle.
Later that day, Ben and Leslie had been in 2 meeting together. He felt it was unbearable now to sit in the same room with her without wanting to reach out and touch her. Whenever she would make eye contact with him, he was thrown off his train of thought and would fumble through what he was saying. She then would give him a meaningful look that said "pull yourself together or you'll give us away".
He was sitting in his office frustrated, running a hand through his face and thinking this secret thing was going to ruin his career, and not in the "budget sex scandal" kind of way but in the "I can't concentrate on my job because all I want to do is make out with my secret girlfriend" way.
It was almost lunch time and he hadn't had the opportunity to ask Leslie to go to lunch with him. Even if he did, wherever they went, they'd have to keep up appearances. Pawnee was small enough that most people knew who they were, and they couldn't be out in public doing the things he would like to be doing with her.
Suddenly he got an email, and felt a rush of nervousness mixed with bliss hit him when he realized it was from Leslie:
"Ben, I need to discuss the maintenance budget for Arrowhead park with you asap. Lunch? Meet me out in the parking lot in 5 minutes.
Thanks,
Leslie"
He was so happy he couldn't hide the huge smile that took over his face and that refused to subside. Even Chris looked at him, puzzled, and asked what wonderful news would have made Ben smile so big. "Nothing," he said, "Just figured out how to fix this spreadsheet, that's all. I'm heading out to lunch. Be back in an hour or so", he hurried to get his jacket and walk out the door before Chris had a chance to ask anything else.
Ben arrived at the parking lot with 3 minutes to spare. While he waited for Leslie to show up, he tried to stand up in a casual and relaxed manner. It felt forced though, so he started pacing back and forth with his hands in his pockets. He wondered if and when the butterflies in his stomach would ever go away when it came to Leslie.
A few minutes later he saw Leslie's car approaching at a faster than acceptable speed for that parking lot. He was a bit concerned she might miss him but her wheels screeched and she came to an abrupt stop. He was startled and confused, but she didn't give him enough time to deliberate. As the window came down she yelled:
"Get in, fast! Before anyone sees you!"
He did as he was told, but thought mention that other people were more likely to take notice if she's driving like a maniac and yelling at him to get in as opposed to acting natural. Then he thought better of it and kept that opinion to himself. He didn't want to insult her driving or methods, not when he'd finally had the guts to start something with her the previous night.
Taking off like they were fleeing a crime scene, she found the nearest drive through hot dog place and ordered them both the lunch special. Ben insisted that he pay. It took a bit of convincing, but she gave in after the 3rd time he gave her a serious look and said her name sternly.
As soon as they had their hot dogs, fries and drinks, she took off again.
"Where are we going?" He asked.
"You'll see" She smiled.
She soon pulled into a deserted alley behind a fenced baseball field. She drove them until the alley turned into a gravel road that seemed to lead to the middle of nowhere. Leslie drove off the gravel path and parked under a large shaded tree.
"Eat your hot dog!" She insisted while opening her paper bag to retrieve hers.
They ate in silence, admiring the view of the old tree and the open field beyond it. He was a bit too nervous to eat the entire hot dog, so he had half and then grazed on some fries while he waited for her to finish eating.
"This is really nice, Leslie, thanks for bringing me here." He reached over and smoothed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
She didn't say anything. Smiling a bit, she put her food down in the bag, then put the bag on the dashboard. She unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed over to the passenger seat, straddling Ben and looking down at him.
Ben smiled as he sucked in a deep breath and looked back at her, mesmerized. "Wow, Ok!"
"Shut up and kiss me, Ben Wyatt, we don't have much time."
He really didn't need any more of an invitation. His back sprung away from the seat as he reached up towards her lips. At the same time his arms wrapped around her back and crushed her to him.
At this, she moaned and kissed him harder. He responded with a moan of his own as she ran her hands down his back and nibbled on his ear. Ben couldn't believe his luck. Leslie Knope was practically devouring him in her car, at lunch time. He felt like a teenager again: the good teenage years, before he decided to run for mayor and ruin his town.
After a few minutes of such over-active writhing and close contact, things became so heated that they both needed to take a break for air. Leslie opened the window, pulled her hair up and fanned herself. The outside air was chilly but that didn't seem to bother her. Ben was just content to sit back and gaze at the curves of her exposed neck. He lazily ran his fingers gently up and down the sides of her waist and breathed a deep, long sight.
"You are so incredibly sexy, Leslie." Ben had a crooked smile on his face as he said this. Leslie couldn't resist it and bent down to kiss him again. He felt her left hand reaching beside him on between the passenger seat and the door. Suddenly the back of his seat clicked backwards, he was horizontal and Leslie was on top of him.
This lunch break was turning out to be the best lunch break of Ben's life. He wished he could stay there forever, but he knew it was time to start heading back.
In between kisses, he was able to get out the words: "I hate to say this, but we need to head back soon".
She pulled herself up a bit and made a face at him. "Ben, you're such a spoil sport!" and continued to kiss his neck.
"Um, I know. I'm no fun." He ran his hands up and down her back and kissed her deeply, tongue seeking out tongue and binding to her completely. After that kiss, they were both silent and dazed for a while. Leslie snuggled into Ben, her head nestled in the crook of his neck. Their eyes closed, they could have easily fallen asleep in that position if they'd given themselves time to cool off.
Leslie's watch beeped at the turn of the hour. That startled her into action. She quickly climbed off of Ben, straightened her clothing and hair, and started the car. "You have exactly 5 minutes to cool off and make yourself presentable, Benjamin Wyatt!"
He laughed and asked "When can I see you again?"
"Hmm, I don't know, maybe a coffee break later?"