Free Here for Shaye by Misty Kayn Page A

whispered.
    Shaye moved away and walked the five steps to the
pale green workstation. She took a pen out of her hair and while
scribbling her initials on the shift report said, "Four need manual
counts, and one bone marrow is set up for Dr. Pascal on station
two. She'll be coming in soon. I left preliminary notes."
    Frank rubbed hips with her. She sighed and changed
course, heading for the main microscope station. Dating a coworker
was a mistake she wouldn't repeat again. Their relationship ended
before Shaye decided to pursue an online chat group. It ended when
she told him she was kinky and at his insistence, showed him what
she liked. He laughed at her then but ever since she left him, he
pursued her with rather forceful interest.
    He followed. "What's the rush eh?"
    She glimpsed at her workplace. Most of the second
shift's staff had arrived. "I got places to be," she said softly,
weary of the others who pretended not to listen but heard
everything. "You're late again, please don't make a scene." With
ten percent bleach sprayed on the paper towel, she wiped the scope,
the workstation, and the phone receiver. She removed her latex
gloves and threw them in the bin then hurried to the wall to hang
her lab coat. She should've listened to her friend Dallas when he
told her Frank wasn't the guy for her.
    Although Dallas didn't know about her bedroom
activities, he was right about Frank, and in the end, Shaye turned
to an online group. Munches in the area were scarce and even if she
found a gathering in the Coachella Valley, she wouldn't go. Crowds
made her uneasy. Kinky folks fast uncovered the dark side even when
one veiled it. Online, sheltered behind her computer, she typed
desires she'd have otherwise struggled to reveal.
    Inside the employee lounge, at her metal locker, he
cornered her. "I Googled what you're into and I wanna try."
    "I don't, but thank you. Good luck." Humiliation, as
a part of the scene, was one thing, making fun of her with a collar
on was another. She didn't forgive him, and his laughing at her and
calling her a “doggy" didn't ring like he’d Googled lifestyle at
all.
    "Why not?"
    She turned and faced him. His pale blue eyes, once
serene, were now somehow darker. "One, you made me feel like a
freak and I regret telling you about my life, and two, we work
together. Three, you're late most of the time and I have to cover
for you. I just don't think you're ready to take on a...doggy."
    Near her head, his palm pressed the locker. "I'm
sorry, I said I was sorry, what do you want from me? Jesus, you can
hold a grudge."
    "I don't want anything from you apart from what we
have here. Have a good weekend."
    He gripped her elbow when she tried to leave. "I
found you online."
    She paled. "What?"
    "I know all about the chat rooms, the RPs, and other
shit you've been doing."
    Shaye tugged her arm, swung open the door, and left
in the echo of his, all too familiar, laughter. Scents of cleaning
products hit her nose as she walked like a zombie through the maze
of cold, white basement hallways. In the parking garage, she sat in
her car and tapped the steering wheel. Frank was pushy at work and
he'd found her online. His efforts to get back together troubled
her. What would he say in the group? She picked up her phone and
opened Safari then saw the time on the screen. Damn. She didn't
have time to check and see if he posted anything.
    Shaye inhaled the fresh gardenia scent, sprinkled by
the people at the car wash around the corner, in hopes the pleasant
smell swept away her worries. She tucked the phone between her
legs. The white scrubs didn’t look as sexy as the shorts and
t-shirt she wanted to wear to her big meet. From the locker, she'd
only grabbed her purse. Distracted by her ex, she'd forgotten her
outfit and a swimsuit.
    In the trunk she had more clothes. Hand on the door
handle, she tapped it, thinking she should hurry and get on the
road. She drove out of the dark parking garage straight into the
blinding