Free Beyond Complicated by Mercy Celeste

nothing to do with work, it's a personal matter. I'm going to take the rest of the day so I can try and deal with this if that's not a problem? No it's nothing to worry about, just something that should have been over a long time ago."
    Seth's face remained impassive while I spoke to Abby. I watched as he rose from the chair and composed his features, becoming a different person.
    His eyes became aloof, his face stony, detached like it had been when he came in. "Is that your lawyer face?" I asked dragging my jacket off the back of my chair and shrugging into it. "Impressive. I'm glad you managed to finish school. I'm happy for you."
    "Yeah, wel, I'l say thank you." He simply shrugged and, opening the door, he held it for me to exit. Intern boy… damn, I should at least learn the kid's name, I thought as I walked past him and his expression of feigned jealousy. Seth didn't stop, he just kept going out of the office and into the lobby. Once in the elevator, he let the mask fal away. We were alone. I could feel him, smel him, everything him, he filed every one of my senses. I wanted him. Would kil to have him.
    I looked everywhere but directly at him.
    When his hands cupped my face I jumped and tried to ease out of his reach but he went with me.
    Pushing me back against the wal where he stared up into my eyes. "I'm going to kiss you."
    "Okay," I replied, my heart missed a beat or two or three. I shouldn't have agreed. But I wanted.
    "Okay."
    He smiled, his eyes sad, his hands on my face, in my hair, everywhere. He touched his lips to mine.
    Softly at first. Then with a little more determination. His tongue grazed mine and I sighed, melting into him.
    Wanting more and seeking more but the lurch of the elevator coming to a stop brought me to my senses.
    Seth as wel, he stepped back suddenly, his eyes wild.
    He touched his lips with the tips of his fingers, and then the mask came back as if it had never been away.
    "Where do you want to go?" I said in the parking garage. The thought of food turned my stomach. The last I'd eaten was Kel's omelet the day before. My stomach simply didn't want to deal with anything besides the acid boiling inside at the moment.
    "I don't know. I thought some place nice, some place we could talk and behave like adults. But…"
    "I'd rather not have anyone overhear what is between us." As much as the idea of being alone with Seth right now pained me. I just couldn't talk to him in a crowded restaurant and I sure as hel didn't want a repeat performance of Friday night.
    "Yeah. That's what I was going to say." He clicked his key fob and an older BMW chirruped for him. "I'm over near the Capital. Your place is closer."
    "Fine," I agreed, trying not to think of Friday night and the things we'd done to each other in my ratty apartment. "I'l meet you there."
    I left him standing beside his car. I assumed he could find my place from this side of town. Didn't realy care if he couldn't. Traffic was light for the middle of a Monday. The drive took me a grand total of fifteen minutes instead of the usual forty-five. There was something to be said for that, I guess. I puled into my spot in front of my apartment and had just climbed out of the car when Seth puled into one of the empty visitor spots beside me.
    "You know that is a seriously bitchin' car." He came over and leaned inside. "I never knew you liked old cars."
    "I got this when I was sixteen. I had it when we lived down near the school."
    "Seriously? I remember a piece of junk with primer and a dent in the trunk. I wondered why you drove that thing when you were making—oh, the kid, yeah, another thing I wanted to talk about."

    "Same kid you've been sleeping with. So I wouldn't cal him a kid." I did not want to talk about Kel. I sure as fuck didn't want to think about his relationship with Seth and what this talk might lead to for them.
    We were upstairs and I had the door open and let him enter as the topic came up. I didn't expect the subject of our