Guilty as Sin - chapter 14 (Patreon)

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-------- Guilty as Sin ---------

Chapter Fourteen

Charlotte leaned back in her chair and did a little spin as soon as she ended her call. For frivolity’s sake, honestly, which was abnormal for her, but – why not?

She caught Sutton’s eye across the desk as she completed her spin, and she felt herself smile at the bright look reflected on Sutton’s face. She only felt the slightest bit embarrassed at being caught in her little twirl, but let it go for the most part.

Why should she feel embarrassed being caught by Sutton, who was always telling her she should take a little more time to “celebrate the wins” rather than dive headfirst into focusing on her next project.

“I take it that call went well?” Sutton asked, indulgently, as she walked to the side of Charlotte’s desk and perched there.

It was something relatively new that she’d started doing in the last couple of weeks. She didn’t do it when they were sitting down to have a lengthy work conversation, only when she was popping into Charlotte’s office for a quick comment or catch up.

And there was something about it that Charlotte absolutely loved.

The ease? The casualness?

The way Sutton’s legs looked about a mile long? The way her breasts were just barely above eye-level?

Bad Charlotte.

She knew those thoughts were wrong, but she’d gotten better at… accepting them. Sutton was attractive; that wasn’t going to ever change. Charlotte was going to be attracted to her; she couldn’t foresee that changing, either.

But Charlotte did foresee the future with Sutton, having a long and productive relationship. So, she simply had to make peace with this attraction.

And maybe it wasn’t so wrong. As long as nothing ever happened, what was the harm in noticing? As far as Charlotte was concerned, that dance in her apartment had been the ultimate test.

Sutton had looked so fucking hot. They were alone. They were in one another’s orbit…

And nothing happened. Charlotte made sure nothing happened. So, as far as she was convinced, they were unstoppable now.

She leaned back in her chair, looking up into Sutton’s eyes. “The call went very well. In fact, I’ll be wrapping up work at – dare I say – a reasonable time this evening.”

The smile that bloomed over Sutton’s face was even bigger, brighter, and fuller now, and it just lit up that little ping inside of Charlotte. She’d already been pleased, but that look… she felt it from the inside out.

“You’re amazing,” Sutton said, softly.

Yes, she felt that warmth emanate from her chest outward. “Given that I’ll now have time tonight, do you finally want to try that restaurant we pass on the way to work every morning? The one that opened a couple of weeks ago?”

Sutton froze, that smile on her face dipping into a wince. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think… um, Piper from Senator Goddart’s office? Is organizing another happy hour tonight and asked if I wanted to go.”

Charlotte hated this feeling in the pit of her stomach, the one that landed heavily and disappointingly. Still, she did a much better job keeping the smile on her face than Sutton had. “Oh, that’s great. It’s vital to make connections like that.”

Sutton had gone to a handful of the assistant happy hours in the last several weeks, and it was great to network. Both socially and professionally, at every level. And the better connections Sutton had on the Hill, the better connections Charlotte had.

Still, Sutton continued to frown, and she shook her head. “No, I’d only made those plans because I’d assumed you’d have that meeting later tonight, before Ms. Michaels pivoted.” She gestured to the call Charlotte had just finished. “There’s no need for you to have dinner by yourself when I only had backup plans.”

It was only because of how much that appealed to her that she doubled down. “Sutton, I have had dinner by myself hundreds of times,” she assured. “More often than not, actually.”

Until she’d started working with Sutton, she’d had dinner alone almost every night.

“Well, I want to try the restaurant, too,” Sutton insisted, frowning at her. “We’ve theorized about it every day while they’ve been building it. Both of us,” she gestured between them, “Have made our guesses.”

The restaurant in question didn’t have a menu online, and was being opened by a prestigious group that had multiple other restaurants in the area, all with different – interesting and varied – fusion combinations. When Sutton had pointed out the new construction to her as they’d driven by, they’d started their little guessing game.

And… okay, she supposed it would be better to try it with Sutton. At the very least, even if she didn’t enjoy the food, she knew she’d like the company.

She acquiesced. “Fine, I will hold off on the new place and order in tonight. You and I can try it next time.”

Sutton rolled her lips and looked, for a moment, like she was about to push to cancel her other plans. Her backup plans. Because Charlotte was the top-priority plan.

The way that sent a little flutter through her was also bad – very bad – and she nodded, firmly, before Sutton could insist on them spending the evening together. “I hope you get a lot of fun gossip at the happy hour.”

Sutton nodded back at her, before she rolled her shoulders and her waterfall of hair – down today, which was rare, and Charlotte tried not to get caught up in staring at it – over her shoulder, before she let out a lofty sigh. It was a little playful, a little knowing, and entirely charming. “Oh, I’m sure I will. We’ll have some good conversation fodder for the trip back to New York tomorrow.”

They exchanged mirroring grins, and she felt the response of it skitter down her spine.

She did enjoy when Sutton went on these happy hour outings, because she came back with amazing stories to share. The assistants really did hear and see everything, and…

And Charlotte had never had something like this, before.

This kind of relationship where they turned to one another and exchanged stories and gossip and downloaded conversations in hushed tones. The ones in which it felt like she and Sutton were entering their own special little world, despite talking about things that didn’t really matter. Little scandals and silly updates, things Charlotte normally wouldn’t have cared about.

But she enjoyed it with Sutton.

At the sound of a throat clearing in her doorway, the way their gazes were locked together broke apart. She couldn’t help the rush of disappointment, much as she wished she could.

They both turned their attention to see her grandmother, standing in the entry to Charlotte’s office.

At once, Sutton slid from Charlotte’s desk and onto her feet, nearly tripping over herself in her haste to do so.

“President Thompson! I didn’t know you were coming here today?” Without any pause for a response, the words continued to fall out of Sutton’s mouth. “It’s so nice to meet you, officially. I’ve heard… I mean, I know so much about you, of course. But, from Charlotte, I mean – I apologize,” she cut herself off, deeply red in the face.

God, Charlotte felt so fucking endeared. She could feel it, this adoration that settled inside of her. There was something so intoxicating about Sutton’s earnestness, and it got her every single time. Maybe even more in this moment.

It was obvious that her grandmother did not. She gave Sutton a small, barely there, polite smile.

“Ms. Spencer. I’ve heard a bit about you, as well. Good to meet you.” Perfunctory, to the point – very much her grandmother, as she offered her hand.

Sutton basically jumped to take the offering, giving her a firm shake, before releasing her. Even in this moment, where she was clearly surprised, she gave an excellent, professional handshake. Charlotte loved that, and she knew that her grandmother would also appreciate it.

Sutton glanced back at Charlotte over her shoulder. “I’ll be out at my desk. Let me know if you need anything.” She turned back to Elizabeth. “Either of you, of course, ma’am.”

“Mhmm,” Elizabeth hummed out, skirting around Sutton in a motion that clearly told Sutton it was time for her to go.

Charlotte rolled her eyes at her grandmother, even as she looked back at Sutton. “Thank you.”

As soon as Sutton stepped out of the doorway – literally the moment she was gone – her grandmother sharply closed the door.

She then turned to Charlotte, her eyes narrowed and speculative. “That’s your assistant? The one you’ve been raving about?”

Immediately defensive, Charlotte frowned back at her. “She’s a wonderful assistant. Is it really such a negative to you that she thinks you’re incredible?”

Elizabeth didn’t say anything else as she took another few steps, and smoothly sat in the chair opposite Charlotte’s desk. She didn’t take her eyes off of Charlotte, not for a single second. That hard, penetrating stare remained on her.

And Charlotte stared back, tilting her jaw up. But… it was difficult. Her stomach tied in knots at the look in her grandmother’s eyes, that warm, soft, easy feeling with Sutton replaced in an instant.

Finally, Charlotte relented. “All right, then, let’s hear what it is you have to say.”

She expected a scoff or a dismissal or even her grandmother to volley a somewhat disparaging comment about Sutton’s rambling.

But she hadn’t anticipated the screaming silence that fell over them for several more piercing, stomach-churning moments.

She did not appreciate it.

“Charlotte,” her grandmother’s voice was quiet and solemn when she finally spoke. “No.”

Narrowing her eyes, she parroted back, “No? No… what?”

Elizabeth arched both eyebrows up at her, looking at Charlotte in a way she typically didn’t. As if Charlotte was someone else. Someone stupid, foolish.

She hated it. Hated it so much, it made her feel sick.

“How long do you think I was standing at your door?”

Not expecting that, either, Charlotte blinking back at her in confusion.

Luckily, her grandmother wasn’t actually looking for a response. “I was there for over a minute, and neither of you noticed. How is that, hmm?”

Charlotte’s nerves jumped, tangling together unpleasantly. “We were having a conversation, and this drop-in of yours wasn’t planned.”

Her grandmother narrowed her eyes back at her. “You wanted to have dinner with her tonight. You wanted her to insist on canceling her backup plans.”

Those knots in her stomach grew so big, they felt more like anchors. Charlotte was nearly choked with them, as she quietly refuted, “If you were listening, I told her to keep her plans tonight.”

Elizabeth’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Are you intentionally being difficult with me? Or are you being difficult with yourself?”

Right there, Charlotte felt immediately poleaxed, the breath robbed from her lungs.

“She’s my friend,” she evenly defended, her hands tightening on the arms of her desk chair. “You were the one that told me about trusting your assistant. The fact that yours was your best friend.”

“There is a friend, and there is this,” she gestured at Charlotte.

And if anyone could see through Charlotte, it was the woman right here.

“No,” Elizabeth stated again, definitively.

Charlotte, for once, found herself at a loss. She felt… guilty. Even so, though, she didn’t completely back down.

There were very few times in her life that she argued with her, because why would she? To Charlotte, Elizabeth’s word, opinion, and approval were like gold.

But – “I am not doing anything wrong,” she stated, firmly.

And she would stand by that to anyone, even her all-seeing, all-knowing grandmother.

“I believe that,” her grandmother agreed, thankfully, and a tiny bit of Charlotte was able to un-tense.

Only for a second, though, because her grandmother continued, “But if you think I can’t see it? If you think I, out of all people, can’t see those feelings written all over your face when you looked after that Spencer girl? You have a serious problem.”

“I don’t.”

“Don’t be stubborn with me; I thought we’d just gotten beyond that.”

“Then don’t reprimand me like a child when I haven’t done anything wrong,” the strength of her words shocked both of them, rocking through the room.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken such a firm stance with her grandmother, but… she meant it. She had to mean it, because she’d never employed so much self-control and restraint in her fucking life as she was when it came to Sutton.

All of the long hours in the office together, the car rides where they sat so close and she could smell Sutton’s subtle but enticing perfume. When they’d danced together. Being in her D.C. apartment together in the evenings and the morning, seeing Sutton walk out of the guest room and longing – just for a few seconds, before Charlotte could cut it off – to be in that room with her.

And not just sexually, but… but to see Sutton right when she was waking up, before she got ready and walked out into the living room.

She wanted to see Sutton in those ways that she’d never cared about with anyone else.

Charlotte was well aware that was a problem, and she didn’t need to be told no by her grandmother, like she was a dog that needed to be shamed.

How dare she be reprimanded when she was doing everything she possibly could to be appropriate?

She employed physical boundaries whenever she felt Sutton was leaning in too close – which was so fucking frequently. Charlotte wanted to lean in every damn time, and she didn’t. She re-directed conversations when necessary, even, before they could take a turn for the inappropriate.

She encouraged Sutton to go out to these happy hours instead of having dinner together! Even though she was pretty damn sure that Piper from Goddart’s office had a little crush on Sutton.

Did Charlotte enjoy doing any of those things? Of course the fuck not. But she did them, every damn time.

So, she stood her ground, and she stared back at her grandmother, her jaw set in a hard edge.

After a few seconds, there was a softness – an understanding that Charlotte both loved and hated – that worked into her grandmother’s expression.

“I’m not intending to reprimand you,” she said, which was Elizabeth Thompson’s form of apology.

Charlotte nodded in acceptance, relaxing minutely.

But her grandmother’s eyes were still intent and focused, boring into hers. “But I do need to make myself crystal clear – I can see the way you are thinking about her. I doubt other people can see it, people that don’t know you like I do. And…”

There was a searching look in Elizabeth’s eyes, the same hue as Charlotte’s, and she didn’t know what she was looking for. She usually could understand her grandmother perfectly, even without words, and this… she didn’t like this.

“It’s not your fault, Charlotte. Developing a,” she frowned, then cleared her throat, “Feeling for someone you work so closely with, someone you feel in line with. It’s happened many, many times in this world we’re in. And the fallout always comes. For some, it’s swift. Inconsequential.”

She let that hang in the air, disdain coloring her tone. And Charlotte knew it was at the double-standard. She knew it was because of the many times the men in power were able to squirm out of their dirty deeds, and continue their successful paths.

“So, while it might be natural, and while it might not be your fault, it is your responsibility to manage intelligently. And if you go down that road, you will be playing a very dangerous game, Charlotte. In which the fallout might not be as swift and inconsequential.”

“I know that,” she murmured, feeling choked by the words. “I know.”

She knew that it was bad in every possible way. She was not only a closeted lesbian, but Sutton was her assistant. She was her subordinate. Charlotte knew that.

She knew it, and she… she really hated it, whenever she let herself get bogged down in the minutiae of it. So, she did her best not to.

“Okay, then,” Elizabeth’s voice was quiet, but final. She’d said her peace.

Charlotte had never been so thankful for her grandmother to stop talking in her life.

“Now. Let’s go for an afternoon tea? Something refreshing and relaxing,” her grandmother stated, as if wiping the slate clean, even though, under her words, there was something soothing.

Charlotte would take it.

***

It was after one in the morning.

She couldn’t sleep.

Her stomach was tied in knots.

Her grandmother’s comments and the look on her face were haunting Charlotte every time she was close to dozing off.

… so was the fact that Sutton had been out at the happy hour for so long, she hadn’t returned by the time Charlotte had retired to her room for the night.

Happy “hour” Charlotte’s ass.

She hadn’t tried the new restaurant. Not even to prove a point to herself – and internally, also to her grandmother – because she couldn’t stand even the idea of the disappointed, crestfallen expression she knew would be on Sutton’s face when she found out. Even though she knew Sutton would try to deny it.

And she’d eaten dinner alone. Something that had never bothered her, because it was her norm for most nights. But it had stopped being the norm especially when she was in D.C., because if she wasn’t at an event or with colleagues, she was with Sutton.

Sutton had stolen this… this peace from her, the one she’d always had when it came to her relatively solitary life. She was a thief that snuck in with soft smiles and surprising humor and the most unexpected ability to make Charlotte open up to her.

And to avoid stewing in that, she’d gone to bed early, intent on sleeping through these awful feelings that were swamping her.

Only to be plagued by Sutton in her dreams, as well, whenever she was able to catch a snippet of rest.

There was no reprieve. Charlotte, the ultimate martyr, couldn’t even say she wanted a reprieve. Because she had no plans of changing her relationship with Sutton in any way.

It felt so good, all of it. Even when it felt like torture.

But now, she was wet and aching and wanting after these dreams. She was getting to a point of desperation that she’d reached for her phone multiple times to use the anonymous and verified dating app she’d reluctantly downloaded earlier, only to drop her hand every time.

What, she was going to invite someone over and fuck them, while Sutton was sleeping in the other room?

It didn’t sound terrible, honestly, because Charlotte could really do with a good fuck. She could really stand to end the longest dry spell she’d ever experienced in her adulthood.

But she knew, intrinsically, that she would picture Sutton. She knew it.

And she knew that she would regret it after because of that. Because she wouldn’t feel fully satisfied, without it being Sutton.

Huffing out an irate breath, Charlotte kicked off her blankets and sat up. She needed to clear her mind, and she needed to do it while getting some space.

Fifteen minutes later, she’d changed into one of her matching leggings/sports bra outfits, tossed her hair up, and was on her way down to the gym located in the basement of her apartment complex. One of the reasons she’d chosen this specific complex was the amenities.

The biggest reason, of course, was proximity to work. But second to that, amenities.

Even if she didn’t frequently have time to take advantage of everything available, she appreciated having access. Like to the gym, which was fully equipped, cleaned very regularly, and was always empty.

Well, it was always empty whenever Charlotte had found herself in here, at least. Mostly because it was always late at night, when she couldn’t shut her brain off. At the perfect time to avoid the after-work crowd, as well as the before-work early risers.

She walked in, fully intent to go right to the back of the room, where they had a great area for yoga set-up.

Only to stop short, barely avoiding tripping over her own feet, right in the doorway.

Tonight, she wasn’t alone.

She wasn’t alone at all.

Because there, on the treadmill, was Sutton.

She was already mid-run. Her long, red hair was pulled into a ponytail that hung down her back, swaying with every stride.

And all she wore was a light blue sports bra and the shortest pair of running shorts known to humankind. Maybe that wasn’t technically true, but the length of Sutton’s legs made it seem true, because they were so, so long and toned and on perfect display.

Charlotte’s throat was dry. Parched. Like she’d never had a sip of water in her life, and she’d never truly known the definition of the word “thirsty” before this moment.

Sutton did a double-take at the doorway when she realized she wasn’t alone. She stumbled mid-step, but managed to right her stride before she tripped. Which was incredibly impressive to Charlotte, because she’d never before thought about Sutton’s physical prowess, but right now she absolutely was.

Sutton quickly braced herself on the sides of the treadmill and did a graceful little hop so she was standing on the edges, as she blinked at Charlotte, her mouth slightly open in surprise. “I – hi! I didn’t realize… I didn’t know you used the gym?”

Charlotte managed to take in a deep breath and keep her eyes focused on Sutton’s face. Which didn’t help too much because she was flushed and her breathing was a little heavier and –

She cleared her throat, arching Sutton a look. “I didn’t know you did.”

A little sheepishly, Sutton shrugged. “I don’t always. Just, sometimes. I really like to run,” she explained, lightly tapping her fingers against the treadmill. “I didn’t know – am I not allowed to? The key codes you gave me for the building let me in, but I know I don’t actually live here–”

Charlotte waved her hand. “Don’t be silly, of course you’re allowed.”

A small, relieved smile played on Sutton’s lips, even if she still looked not completely normal. “Okay. Um. Good.”

Charlotte nodded back, debating if she should give this up and go back to the apartment. Only, she actually couldn’t, because how would that look? What possible explanation could she give Sutton for having gotten completely ready, come down to the gym, and then… decided not to do anything, that wouldn’t raise a million questions?

Heaving a breath, she grit her jaw and decided to stay the course. She could do this. She’d go to the back of the room and focus on herself.

Which was easier said than done, she found, over the next thirty minutes.

There was no escape.

Physically, even if she was able to not look in Sutton’s direction, there were mirrors everywhere. She was well and truly inescapable.

Which meant Charlotte – in any position, other than when she was facing downwards – had a view of her. And the view was… spectacular.

Better than anything Charlotte would have cooked up in her imagination, which she spent months actively trying not to do.

Sutton had perfect form. In every single way she could mean that.

The way her back, ass, and shoulders looked… her hands literally tingled to touch. All of that soft, exposed skin – god. And her legs, her fucking legs –

The only salvation Charlotte could try to find was mental.

And she tried. She tried so very, very hard.

Tried to focus on anything other than Sutton. Tried to think about yoga. About work. About the last book she’d read. About her future.

That was the biggest thing – she tried to think about the future. Her future was unfolding in front of her, she was at the very start of the career she’d dreamed of building for her entire life, and she just had to keep her eyes on the prize.

And not on Sutton Spencer. Her assistant with the most incredible ass, who was only feet away from her.

The most alarming thing was even that didn’t work. Not the way she wished, not in any lasting way.

Yoga typically was able to calm her, at least a little bit. If she was unable to sleep, it cleared her mind.

But the second she was done with her typical routine, when she could book it back upstairs and feign normalcy, she was ready.

After she’d wiped everything she’d touched down and rolled up her mat – keeping her attention focused on herself and only herself – she turned back to the front of the room, already speaking, “All right, that’s it for me. I’m going back upstairs.”

“Me, too,” Sutton said. “Good timing.”

She couldn’t stop herself from looking over at Sutton. And instantly regretted it, as she watched Sutton finish a stretch where she dropped down low to the floor and –

She looked away, pursing her lips and staring at the door as she searched inside for control.

“I can finish my cool down upstairs,” Sutton continued, slightly out of breath still, as she walked toward Charlotte.

Even though she’d normally wait until Sutton was next to her before she walked out the door and toward the elevator… she just couldn’t. She couldn’t, and it was appalling, but she just fucking wanted so badly.

So badly, her hands were trembling from it.

She jammed her index finger into the button for the elevator, so grateful when it opened immediately. Perfect; they’d only be alone together for a minute, tops.

Charlotte needed that. Because her entire body was on high alert.

She’d never in her life been so wet when finishing yoga. But she was soaked. Uncomfortably, undeniably dripping arousal.

And the woman who was tying her up in knots so tight she thought she would explode stood shoulder to shoulder with her in the elevator.

So close that when Charlotte took a deep breath, their arms brushed.

There was a light sheen of sweat over Sutton’s body, which – in this moment – only made her even sexier to Charlotte. Because all she could do was think… that would be the same after sex.

A little sweaty, in the good way. Her cheeks flushed and glowing. Breathing coming back to normal.

She kept her eyes forward, focusing on the same breathing she’d done during yoga.

She just needed to get back to her apartment.

No, she just needed to get to her room, in her apartment. Where she could definitively shut Sutton out and lock the door. And until then, she wasn’t going to look at Sutton.

She wasn’t even going to breathe in her direction. She couldn’t take the chance of inhaling around her right now.

Charlotte had never before been a woman on the edge. Never in her fucking life. And right now, in an elevator, with her assistant, would not be her downfall.

She was practically vibrating with the tension coursing through her, and –

“Did we just stop?” She asked, more to herself than to Sutton, the alarm pounding through her.

No. No. No. This couldn’t happen.

“I think so,” Sutton answered, uncertainly. Quietly. Her voice a little raspy.

They definitely had. The building was built within the last few years, so the elevators ran smoothly; the stop had been somewhat subtle. But numbers displaying what floor they were on were no longer moving, and the doors were definitely not opening.

“They were doing maintenance on the elevators earlier today, it was in your email,” Sutton said, frowning, “But the building maintenance team also sent out an email this afternoon saying everything was in working order. I’d check, but my phone was dead when I came back, so I left it on the charger when I went down to the gym.”

“Well, obviously, the elevator is not back to working order,” she muttered, sharply.

She stepped forward, taking a much-needed breather from Sutton, and the Call button. With so much force, her thumb was sore. That was a good thing, though. Something to focus on other than the need pulsing through her body.

The response from the speaker was, thankfully, quick.

“We are already aware of the issue and working promptly to resolve it,” a man informed her.

Charlotte curled one of her hands into a tight fist. Normally, she wasn’t so quick to frustration, but now, of all the times in her life for something like this to fucking happen…

“Is there an ETA on that?” She asked, proud of herself for managing to sound polite, and not like she was a woman driven to the edge of her sanity.

“It should be within the next few minutes. The system is rebooting, and then it will be back in working order. My sincerest condolences… who am I speaking to?”

“Charlotte Thompson.”

Even though the man’s tone had already been kind, there was certainly more concern in it than before when he said, “Oh, Congresswoman Thompson! Yes, we will have you back to your home shortly. So, so sorry for the inconvenience.”

She glanced up to the camera in the corner of the elevator, waving at it. “Can you see me?”

Shouldn’t they be able to know who was in here?

“My apologies, again. The video and audio in the elevators was also being updated today. The cameras will be fully working again tomorrow. But, rest assured, when you press the call button, I’ll be able to communicate here.”

She kept her finger jammed onto it. “Great. Thank you,” she grit out.

“So much for “optimum security,”” she muttered, tightly folding her arms around herself.

It was going to be okay.

She was not going to turn around and defile her assistant in an elevator. Charlotte was better than that. She had more control than that. It was going to be fine –

Sutton’s hand was soft and warm on her back – her bare back – as she stepped in close to Charlotte. “Are you okay? I didn’t know you were claustrophobic.”

Oh god. Oh god.

It was a simple, casual touch on her back, something that was intended to be comforting. Charlotte felt it in her fucking clit. Did nerve-endings from your back typically work like that? That wasn’t right.

But she felt it. She felt it, and she throbbed, and sucked in a breath. But there was nowhere to go; she was boxed in with the panel to her right and the elevator wall in front of her, and Sutton everywhere else.

She was going to die in here.

“I’m usually not,” she managed back, and she hardly recognized her own voice. Tight and hoarse, lower than normal.

Sutton rubbed her hand in a small circle, and – no.

Charlotte arched away from her, and spun around to put her back against the wall.

Maybe being face to face with Sutton right now was stupid, but it felt even crazier to look away from her. To not have a visual on whatever Sutton was doing.

She thought Sutton’s hand would drop away, but it didn’t.

It slid with Charlotte, so Sutton was then touching her waist.

Her nipples were so hard. Did Sutton notice? She hoped with everything she had – every logical thought left in her mind, at least – that she didn’t.

But Sutton’s gaze seemed locked on Charlotte’s face, her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

“It’s going to be okay. I mean, this apartment is state of the art; the elevator is going to be working any second now.”

“Not soon enough.” The words slipped from Charlotte’s mouth by accident. She meant them, but definitely not in any way Sutton might believe.

Sutton, who frowned in concern down at her. The sweetest expression on her face, and her lips looked so…

Charlotte blew out a long, deep exhale, tightening every muscle in her body, like she was bracing for impact.

“Let’s just… talk, then. We’ll pass the time.” Sutton stroked her thumb over Charlotte’s hip and she shivered.

Charlotte hummed, mostly because she didn’t trust herself to say anything else.

“I’ve done yoga a bit, but never in a serious way. Usually just at home to stretch. Nothing like what you were, um, doing,” Sutton stumbled slightly over her words. She shook her head slightly, before she continued, “How long have you practiced yoga? You looked really… flexible.”

Charlotte stared up at Sutton, this heat inside of her burning even brighter. Why would she say that? It’s not like Charlotte would say to Sutton how long have you been a runner, because your ass looks impossibly tight.

Eyebrows furrowing, she reached back and grabbed the cool, metal bar on the elevator wall. Gripping tightly, to force herself not to touch Sutton. She knew, inexplicably, that it would be the end.

If she allowed herself to touch Sutton right now, while they were both essentially half-dressed, it would all be over.

The elevator lurched to life in a manner that was far less smooth than the stop. Sutton’s hand tightened on her hip, and she stumbled forward closer to Charlotte. Right into Charlotte.

Their bare stomachs pressed together, their chests, and Charlotte heard the strangled moan that escaped her throat before she could bite it off completely.

“Sorry, I…” Sutton trailed off, her voice barely a whisper, as she blinked down at Charlotte.

Her pupils were blown and her breath was so hot against Charlotte’s lips, and she gripped the bar tighter. So fucking tight, it hurt, biting into her palms.

It would be so easy.

It would be so fucking easy.

Sutton wanted her. It was no surprise to Charlotte, but it wasn’t something she let herself think about. But she couldn’t not think about it right now, when the desire was etched into Sutton’s face only inches from her own.

Sutton was aroused and wanting, and far worse at hiding it than Charlotte was.

Their breathing mingled, and Sutton breathed out, “Charlotte…”

Just her name, but it also wasn’t. It felt so loaded, so much unspoken into that single word, heavy with the aching of this need that pulsed through them.

Charlotte was light-headed with it, and everything inside of her was screaming, and –

And the elevator doors pinged open, the chilly air-conditioned air from the hallway flooding into the elevator, and it snapped her back to reality.

Just in time, really, allowing her to grab at the very end of the tether to her sanity.

Sutton was her assistant. And Charlotte was a closeted lesbian politician. And she needed to fucking remember that.

No, her grandmother’s voice from earlier snapped through her mind, firmly.

“I can’t,” she stated, staring up into Sutton’s eyes, and the words scraped against her throat as they came out. It pained her to say, but they both needed to hear it.

With all of the strength she had, she maneuvered out from being held between Sutton and the wall. And she didn’t pause to wait for Sutton at all as she walked out of the elevator and into the hallway, heading toward her apartment.

Because she feared if she took one more look at her, she’d break. And that break could cost her everything.

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spoiler prevention

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