Ch 10
I take turns around the lab, peering at the various instruments in an attempt to look busy while the others on Team Flash wrap up the case with Hartley. My heart beats faster as I wait for the others to filter out until I am finally alone with Wells. I tell myself I'm imagining the heavy sexual tension coiled between us.
"You're mad," he says.
I shrug. "Your confession today is a lot to take in. But more than that, I am still hung up on how you…you chastise me for taking risks, but you also throw yourself into harm's way."
"Would you believe that there was part of me that blames myself…that wanted me to suffer for my failure?"
"I would. But I would ask that masochistic part of you to recognize that you've already suffered plenty. And there are people in your life who are saddened by your suffering."
He smiles ruefully at that. "You're right. But with Hartley put away…hopefully things will be easier from now on. And admittedly, I do feel better with the truth off of my chest. I was ashamed of it, and it is the right thing to do to own up to my mistake. I didn't like having a secret from you."
I bite my lip at his words. Vulnerable is so sexy on him.
"I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed working with you. I've seen you work with your gift for a while now. But seeing you flex your professional expertise was equally special."
"You really know how to flatter a woman, huh? Should I be suspicious of how skilled you seem at that?" I tease.
He stands slowly, easing himself upright, and then reaches his hands out to rub my upper arms. "I suppose I can't object if you are. But perhaps I only seem skilled because you're so easy to compliment. I mean every word I speak to you." I savor his words and the depth of the affection shining in his eyes as he gazes at me. "Have you been considering my job offer?"
"I want to. You must know I want to spend more time with you – and the others," I add as an afterthought. "But…" I hesitate. If he's just having fun with me, thinking of this as a dalliance with a woman half his age who meant nothing more than a warm body to hold, it's stupid to get on his payroll.
"But our situation is complicated enough without you also being an employee of STAR Labs."
"One of your employees," I specify. If we're going to talk about it, we might as well talk about it.
"Yes. An employee of mine." His eyes search my face, and his hands start holding me tighter. "But that also means we'd have more time to train your gift. You could help on more cases; help keep Barry safe while he's in the field. And if you joined the team, I would never let my personal feelings jeopardize your livelihood. I could pay your year's salary in advance if that would make you feel more secure."
"You don't have to get me on payroll to spend more time with me, Harrison."
He chuckles at that, moving ever closer to me. "I'd certainly hope not. But you have to agree that you'd have more time to train and help on cases without your current job."
"You're right," I concede. But privately I wonder how much more training I would get done if I joined his team. Or if we'd find ourselves distracted with more pleasurable activities.
"And I'll admit I'm desperate to spend more time with you." I blush at his words, his open affection. One of his hands moves up to cup the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair. His other hand has caressed down my torso, my waist, to rest on my hip. Maybe I should feel intimidated by this imposing man's naked desire for me, but I ache for his touch.
As much as I want to let him sweep me off my feet, my better sense keeps intruding. I bite my lip, trying to keep my breathing steady enough to think clearly. "Do you seduce many of your future employees?" I know my heart is in danger of falling completely for this man – a man I know so little about. Before I abandon caution, I need to better understand how he sees me.
"No. I avoid mixing business and pleasure. Typically. I've tried not to allow you to be the exception to that. I've fought against my feelings for you, tried to control myself. But here we are." He leans his lips closer to mine, but he stops short of kissing me. "Mika, I want you. If I only get to have you after hours, so be it. But I so desperately want to have you."
His words drive my need to a new fever pitch, and I drag him closer to me, smashing my lips to his. He responds in-kind, activating to grope and press my body against his.
"I need you," he moans. "I need you now." I feel his erection press against me insistently. And I don't want to deny this man anything.
"Let's go to your place," I whisper, breathless.
"Too far, I can't wait that long to feel you. What about yours?"
I hesitate for a moment, suddenly self-conscious. "It's not nearly as nice as yours. And a little messy."
"I don't care about that. I want to hold you; I want to make love to you in your bed."
His words threaten to leave me shaking with need. "Then let's go."
Lying in his arms as we come down from our orgasmic highs, I nuzzle closer to Harrison's bare chest. There's a bit of surrealism in the afterglow. Did I really just bed Harrison Wells? Harrison proved as adept a lover as he is at everything else he sets his mind to. I can't remember the last time I was fucked so thoroughly. Yet I didn't feel used. I was worried after he had my body fully, he'd turn cold and discard me. Instead, I am resting against his chest, our limbs entwined.
Without meaning to, I start drifting to sleep in his arms. I'm surprised how comfortable I feel being naked with him in my bed. It just feels right.
Until I feel him start moving away, the loss of his body heat awakening me. In my drowsy state, I search the sheets for him before I realize he's already out of the bed and redressing.
"You can't stay?" I ask, hating how whiny I sound. I shouldn't have expected him to spend the night.
"Sadly, no. I don't want to risk running into any of your neighbors in the hallway tomorrow morning. I have the feeling that would hit the tabloids."
"You're right. That wouldn't be good PR – though you don't need me to tell you that."
He laughs as he pulls me into his arms for a tender goodbye kiss. "I had a fabulous evening. Maybe next time I can have you over for dinner at my place."
"I'd like that," I answer breathlessly, my mind consumed with the fact that he wants a 'next time.'
"I'll see you soon," he says in farewell, before our kisses can become too involved as I try to encourage him to return to bed with me. He sees himself out since the door locks automatically, and I drift back to sleep, my limbs still heavy from our lovemaking.
Normally after such intense and raucous lovemaking, I would sleep soundly. But I toss and turn through the night. When I awake in the grey light of dawn, my mind is cluttered. I haven't been diligent about keeping my dream journal, so I'm left with just an impression of a nightmare. Still, I write down every detail I can remember.
I was pinned to the wall, frozen. Someone stood before me, someone with a force so powerful I was helpless to resist. A flash of lightning – so Barry was there. But more than anything: overwhelming despair and hopelessness.
In fact, the lingering emotion from the dream is so powerful, it leaves me chilled well into the morning. It chases away what should be residual ecstasy from my time with Harrison last night. And I can't shake the intense impression it left, leaving me worried it be more than just a dream. Considering everything the STAR labs team has faced lately, I can't dismiss that this might be a warning of something even more ominous to come.
During my morning break, I call up Harrison to warn him. But when he answers, for a moment all of my worries fade away.
"Hey, there. I was just thinking of you," his velvety voice caresses me through the phone.
"Oh, really? I hope good things."
"Extremely good. And very, very distracting. I think I miss you already." My heart beats faster, a blush creeping up my face. "Do you want to come by the lab tonight? We're having a pizza party to celebrate Barry clocking a new record speed."
"Mmm, I don't know if I'll be able to keep my hands to myself the next time I see you, even if it is in front of company."
He chuckles, and it sends a shiver of anticipation down my skin. "Then I suppose we'll have to postpone reuniting until we have a more private opportunity."
"Shame. And while I appreciate the invitation, that's actually not why I called."
"Oh?" I sense a hint of trepidation on his end, and a tension that is more significant than just sexual longing.
"I had a nightmare last night. I'm not sure what it means, but I think it must be a warning of some sort. I can't shake the anxiety it inspired."
His tone shifts immediately to the analytical scientist. "Tell me everything you remember."
I recite the details, struggling to articulate the dread I felt. He hums thoughtfully when I conclude.
"I agree it sounds more significant than the odd nightmare. But I can't determine if it's something to do with a meta or a more innocuous issue."
"I'm worried it means that the Reverse Flash is going to make another appearance."
"Why would you think that?" he asks, his tone sharper than I'd expected. A sign of his own anxieties about facing the evil speedster again, I assume.
"It just…he's the most dangerous meta we've encountered yet. We haven't heard anything from him since Christmas…if he's out to get you, or Barry, it seems like only a matter of time until he returns. Maybe that's happening sooner than we'd hoped. That or we're going to meet an even more dangerous foe."
"I see. Perhaps. I'll let the team know we all need to be more alert, just in case. Thanks for telling me."
"Of course."
"And since you can't make it tonight," he says, his tone languid and sensual once more, "I insist on having you over for dinner tomorrow."
"I can't wait." And the conversation does succeed in finally chasing away my anxieties, replacing them with butterflies.