Chapter 7: Complication
Long and Jing left the office together, both slightly weary but eager to make progress on the project. The evening air was cooler than expected, a refreshing change from the stuffy meeting room they had been confined to all day. They walked side by side, their footsteps in sync as they headed back to the hotel where they were staying.
Jing glanced at Long, catching a glimpse of his focused expression. She admired his dedication and the way he seemed to thrive under pressure. They had been working together for months, yet tonight felt different. Perhaps it was the way the foreign city lights reflected in his eyes or the quiet comfort of their shared silence, but there was an unspoken connection between them that had slowly been building, like the steady climb of a crescendo in a symphony.
"Should we grab dinner at the hotel restaurant before we dive into the presentation?" Long suggested as they approached the hotel entrance.
"Sounds good," Jing agreed, offering him a smile. "I think we deserve a decent meal after today."
The restaurant was cozy, with soft lighting and an intimate ambiance. They found a corner table, somewhat secluded from the other diners, allowing them to talk freely. As they discussed the project, they also talked about their lives outside of the office in between. After concluding discussions over dinner, they both headed to Long's room to work on the presentation.
As they entered, Jing noticed the king-sized bed in the center of the room, but quickly dismissed the thought, focusing instead on the task at hand. They set up the laptop on the desk, and Jing got to work, her fingers dancing on the keyboard as she created slides and filled them with data. Long stood behind her, his eyes scanning the screen, his hands occasionally reaching over to point at something or adjust the layout. "Here, try this," he said, his voice low and steady, as he guided her through a complex graph. Jing could feel his breath on her neck, his chest almost touching her back, and she couldn't help but feel a warmth spreading through her. She tried to focus on the task, but his proximity was distracting. She could smell his cologne, a subtle scent of sandalwood and citrus, and she found herself taking deeper breaths, trying to inhale more of it.
Hours passed, while completing the presentation, there was an undercurrent of something deeper building as well. Long poured Jing a glass of wine while they both sat on the couch, feeling satisfied with their work.
As they sat on the couch, sipping their wine, the room fell into a comfortable silence. The soft glow of the city lights filtered through the window, casting gentle shadows across the room. Jing relaxed into the plush cushions, her earlier tension slowly melting away. She glanced at Long, who seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the distant skyline.
"Long," Jing began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm really glad we're working on this project together. It's been challenging, but... I feel like we've become a stronger team because of it."
Long turned to her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I feel the same way. You've made this entire process much easier, Jing. I don't think I could have done it without you."
There was a sincerity in his tone that made Jing's heart skip a beat. She could see the honesty in his eyes, the way they softened as he spoke to her. The distance between them seemed to shrink, and Jing suddenly became aware of how close they were sitting. Their knees were almost touching, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
Suddenly, Jing became aware of Long's gaze wandering downwards. She felt a shiver run through her as she realized he was staring at her legs. Her skirt had ridden up when she sat down, revealing more of her fair skin than she had intended. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, but she didn't make any attempt to cover herself. Instead, she held his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. Long's eyes lingered on her legs for a moment longer before he slowly brought his gaze back up to meet hers. There was a new intensity in his eyes, a hunger that made Jing's breath hitch. She saw the desire in his eyes, and it sent a wave of excitement coursing through her.
As Long leaned in closer, his hand gently covering hers, Jing froze. She had never been in this situation before, never had a man look at her with such raw hunger. She didn't know what to do, how to react. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her breaths coming in short gasps, but her body refused to move. Long must have sensed her hesitation, because he paused, his face inches away from hers. "Jing," he whispered, his voice hoarse with desire, "you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can stop right now if you'd like." His thumb gently stroked the back of her hand, a soft, comforting gesture that made Jing's heart flutter. She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, and felt a surge of courage. She didn't want to stop. She wanted to explore this, to explore him. But she was so inexperienced, so unsure of herself.
Jing, not sure how to respond, closed her eyes and tilted her head ever so slightly, seemingly approving of Long's approach. She felt his hand cup her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her skin, and she leaned into his touch, her heart pounding in her chest. Long, pressed his lips softly against hers. Jing, stiffened for a moment before melting into the kiss, her body responding to his touch despite her reservations. As their lips met, Long's other hand found its way to her thigh, his fingers tracing small circles on her soft skin. Jing gasped into his mouth, her body tensing at the sudden contact. Long took advantage of her parted lips, his tongue exploring her mouth, deepening the kiss.