AU 2 - Lab Partners
Today was the day they had been waiting for the last two years. The day their lives could change irrevocably. That was the first thought that popped into his mind when he woke up and the feeling it evoked was so overwhelming that he, instinctively, tightened his hold on her, wrapping her close in his embrace.
It was still soon and he wished he could have her like this all day; soft, warm, naked and utterly his. Both of them secluded from the world and the future. For a moment, the idea of leaving everything behind and start from scratch sounded perfect.
But no. He couldn't do that to her. She deserved this opportunity to succeed and thrive after a long, hard road.
The beginnings of her professional career were full obstacles and difficulties. Her fellow scientists looked with suspicion on a woman -younger in many cases- excelling them in their fields. A few of them even complained to the Dean's Board at Melbourne University, furious about how relevant her works were turning into.
Unlike them, Doctor Lucien Blake found himself immediately attracted to her intellect and ambition and soon started sharing his theories with her and suggest to team up. She was reluctant at first. After years of disdain and neglect she had build a thick wall around her to protect herself. But soon he proved her wrong with his enthusiasm, intelligence and genuine admiration.
In a few months the Beazley-Blake partnership turned out to be one of the most prolific the University of Melbourne had seen in the last decades, making prosperous advances in many fields.
Love came without a warning, seeping through endless days at the library, experiments at the laboratory, spontaneous picnic lunches by the Botanical Gardens and visits to the theatre where she would perform and the clubs where he would play.
Nothing changed and yet their worlds' axis shifted forever. Hands could be held, lips and bodies could be kissed and words of affection could be breathed. They had found each other.
That morning they would meet the University General Board and had been said that representatives of the Ministries of Health and Science would be there too. The results of their exhaustive research were promising and the Australian Government was eager to put them into practice.
If everything went well the possibilities for them were endless and each of them as exciting as the next; universities in the USA and Europe, the best R&D companies in the world... even the Nobel Prize was on the horizon!
He pulled her closer and kissed her bare shoulder blade. He couldn't care less about all of that. She would make the decision for the both of them and he would follow her anywhere.
They had spent the night as many times before. It had been pouring rain all day so they had to cancel their plans to go out and have dinner. Instead, they stayed at his apartment and ate supper's leftovers surrounded by their books and notes. Later they took a bath together and as they kept sharing theories, opinions and ideas for the next day, his hands wandered underwater and found the soft and swollen wetness of her, and her lips anchored themselves upon his powerful neck.
They made love softly and gently, laughing to forget about the stress that the next day would bring. Arms and legs wrapped around each other, her breasts pressed against his chest and their hearts beating at the same time.
"I don't want to go" she muffled against the pillow. He chuckled and turned her around gently so he could see her sleepy face.
"Too late for that Doctor Beazley" he said kissing her first on the tip of her nose, then on her forehead and finally on her lips.
"'Lateness is a relative concept' Isn't it what you always say Doctor Blake?" she retorted, her eyes flashing with mocked defiance.
"Mmm... I don't seem to remember that" he replied cheekily and smoothly rolled her beneath him. She sighed and caressed his back while he busied himself kissing her neck and between her breasts.
"I'm serious Lucien. We could... we could pack our bags and leave. You... you always said you wanted to take a gap year and make a road trip across the United States. We could do that"
He looked at her and found her eyes scared and teary.
"My darling Jean" he whispered cradling her face "This is your moment and I couldn't be more proud of you. Every day, you've been an example to follow and I've learnt more from you than from those old professors. We don't need to prove them anything today but think about the lives we can save if they open that door for us. The world needs you Jeannie"
She smiled bashfully as she reached out to run her fingers through his messy blond curls and he resumed his trail of kisses downwards.
"And I need you Lucien"