Free A Beautiful Struggle by Lilliana Anderson

siren and would
eat you if you got too close,” I told him, trying to lighten up the mood a bit.
    He laughed a little through his nose, but
stayed fairly serious. “So are you going to tell me what’s been going on with
Elliot?”
    I took a deep breath, not really wanting to
share, but I told him about how we had been training together and that there
were a couple of charged moments between us when we did. I then told him how I
had been confused because of how Elliot was running so hot and cold whenever we
were near people from the office.
    As I finished David looked over my shoulder
and lifted his head upwards to tell me someone was approaching. I turned around
and saw Carmen walking towards us with both Andrew and Elliot.
    “Hi!” she said brightly. “Thanks for
waiting for me, I hate catching the train home by myself this late at night, I
normally go home much earlier than this.” Elliot stood beside her watching me
intently, his eyes dark and serious.
    “No worries,” I said to her trying to
mirror her smile as I tried to ignore Elliot’s gaze as it bore through me. “Do
you need a ride home at all? My car is at the station.”
    “Will you be sober enough to drive home?”
asked Andrew.
    “I’ll be fine,” I assured him, “I only had
a few drinks. It takes an hour and a half to get home at this time of night so
I’ll be well and truly sober by then.”
    “I’d love a ride home, thanks,” Carmen
accepted, reaching up to Andrew and giving him a quick kiss goodbye. I watched
the exchange and realised that Albina was right, the 'no dating' rule doesn’t
really stop anyone at all. However, it could definitely cause problems if the
wrong people knew about you.
    Elliot touched my hand and lifted it toward
him a little, “Can we talk before you go?”
    I nodded and squeezed David’s arm to
reassure him that I was fine before walking a few steps away to talk to Elliot
more privately.
    “Listen about tonight, I’m sorry if I
pushed you or embarrassed you in any way.”
    “You didn’t Elliot, I embarrassed myself.”
    He studied my face for a moment, gauging my
state of mind, before he continued, “Listen, about Beth – there’s nothing going
on with her, there never has been.  I was only talking to her because she’s my
PA. I know she has a thing for me, but I try not to encourage it. Putting my
arm around her tonight was… a lapse in judgement,” he ran his fingers though
his hair causing it to stick up at odd an angle, I curled my hands into fists
as I resisted the urge to reach up and smooth it down for him. He frowned in
thought and continued, “She was flirting with me, and I didn’t want to be a
jerk and just ignore her – so I tried to be friendly – but not too friendly,”
he shook his head and frowned again. “Obviously that’s not what it looked like
though… Listen, I spend time with you because I’m interested in you – I’m not
interested in her; or anyone else.” He reached out and brushed the backs of his
fingers along my cheek, and I once again closed my eyes as his touch sent
pleasure ripples through my body. “I hated seeing you dance with that guy
tonight,” he whispered as he stepped closer to me.
    My head was clouded by his proximity, and I
was finding it hard to breathe, let alone speak. I floundered for my words, “I…
I don’t know if I am ready for this Elliot. I don’t know if I can do this. It’s
all too fast.”
    “Then we’ll take it as slow as you want.
Because, I don’t think I could stay away from you, even if I wanted to,” he
pulled me closer to him and my breath caught as he leaned down and kissed me
slowly. I felt like jelly in his arms as I relaxed against the hard plains of
his body, languishing in the feeling of his mouth on mine. Out of breath, I
felt as though I was trembling as we pulled apart from each other.
    “Give me your phone,” he released me and
held out his hand. I fumbled through my bag and handed it to him, watching as
he