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Office Romances don't work...do they? (Nightstalker x Candi)

Chris listened intently to her words, absorbing each and every one as the elevator continued its downward descent. Just as it neared the bottom with his breath fully back and heart beating normally he spoke in a soft tone. "Claire I would like you to move in with me or we could look at buying a house together. A pool would be a good place to spend an afternoon do you not think as well as lazy evenings instead of inside all the time."
 
It took a moment for her to absorb everything he'd just thrown her way. He wanted her to live with him...He wanted to be with her where she could be happy living inside and outside. He wanted her to live with him. She was utterly stunned. The elevator dinged and she stayed rooted to the spot as the doors opened again. "I...I'd need to give it some thought," she stammered. "It's a big decision to make, and I want to make absolutely sure it's what I want...but are you sure you'd want me to live with you? So soon?" she asked. Claire understood why he'd want to be close to her, but what if he missed having his own space? Things were moving so quickly. Impulse told her to say yes--what downside could there possibly be to living with him? Caution learned from previous relationships told her that impulse often meant being reckless.
 
Chris heard the stammered out response and listened to her words intently. His body moving slightly closer to hers, one hand lightly sliding around her waist as his eyes looked directly into hers. He knew what he had asked was a monumental question and so soon, what she must be thinking of him. His words softly spoken as he held the elevator open for her. "Claire yes indeed a very big decision to make. One that needs time on your behalf to answer and you will have it. For now shall we just take your car home or mine"
 
Relieved that he wasn't going to try to pressure her, Claire nodded and came close to him, walking along to their parked cars. "Hmmm, I think I want to take mine. You've been driving a lot lately," she added. It was intended to be a nice way of returning the favor, but now she seemed unsure. His question had put her out of sorts, but the one thing she could do was focus on driving. "Thank you for giving me time, Chris."
 
Chris smiled as they walked along, hearing her words he stopped at his car briefly took out the two overnight bags and softly kissed one of her cheeks. His words softly spoken. "Claire I would do anything for you. This is the least of them."
 
Claire smiled at him and blushed a little, getting into her car. She unlocked the door for him and drove them to her apartment once he was in. Should she give up her apartment? It was a convenience--but she could sublet it. After all it was a fairly desirable apartment. She could try for a little while, couldn't she? "Well, we're here," she said when she parked. What should she do? This plagued her mind as she walked up the stairs with him. Once they were inside, she wondered if she could give it up. "Food's still in the fridge. Heat up whatever you want. I need to get a shower and change quickly." That said, she was off into the bathroom, stripping as she went.
 
Chris stayed silent from the time he got in the car all the way to her apartment. Putting his bags down he entered the kitchen and heated up some of the food. Enough for both of them along with taking out two bottles of water. Placing them down on the table he took a seat and rested his head in his hands as he wondered if everything had begun to fall apart.
 
Claire took a longer shower than she'd meant to, the pause coming from her deep thinking. When she came out, however, she was clean and clear-headed. The smell of Chinese food made her perk up a bit. She took a quick detour into her room to put on a nice pinstripe shirt and a pleated skirt that was a bit shorter than her usual affair, but still appropriate. She slipped on a pair of heals and squirted on some perfume before she came back to him feeling much better. She'd made her decision.

"Mmm, looks good," she said with a smile. "Sorry I took so long. I kind of spaced out in the shower."
 
Chris had been meaning to change his clothes and take a quick shower himself to freshen, the aromas of the food wafted up from the table hitting his nostrils slowly. Barely hearing her words he looked up from where his head had been in his hands, moved back from the table and taking one of his bags stood and left for the bathroom. Closing and locking the door behind himself he could only hope that she had not noticed the tears down his cheeks. In a matter of minutes he had felt the whole of his world come crumbling down around his ears. Stripping and throwing his clothes over the small rack behind the door he stepped under the shower, turning it on and letting the warm water hit his body. Lathering up fully he stepped out and dried off all but his hair. Feeling a little better he changed into a white shirt leaving the top two buttons undone along with a tight pair of black denim jeans. Putting his older clothes into the smaller compartment he unlocked and opened the bathroom door then stepped out into the hallway.
 
Confused and worried about Chris, Claire watched after him. She had noticed that he'd been crying--or at least it seemed like that was the case. Frowning, she decided to just let him work through it for the moment. However, after a wonton was in her stomach, she thought differently and walked to the door of her bathroom, knocking on the frame. She didn't move aside the curtain. "Hey, are you alright?" she asked, wondering if he would answer her after all.
 
Chris had left the bathroom quietly, placing his bag down just inside the door of the smaller spare room. Hearing her footsteps in the hallway he peeked out and watched her enter the bathroom. Moving quietly he was soon behind her and lightly placed a hand around her waist softly kissing one of her cheeks, his words whispered. "Better for having you back in my arms, love and need you so much but feel I am losing you."
 
She jumped a little when he put his arms around her. Immediately, she relaxed, however. Claire listened to him carefully, frowning as she absorbed what he'd told her. He was afraid of losing her. "Why would you think that?" she asked, slowly turning around in his arms. "I was just surprised earlier, that's all. You're not losing me," she said, putting her arms around him. "Where you afraid I would leave you?"
 
Chris listened to her words as she turned around in his arms, holding her close his eyes showed concern and some fear, his smile a little sad as his lips brushed against her cheeks. His words whispered as he guided them out of the bathroom. "Yes I am very afraid that you are wanting me out of your life."
 
She frowned and let him kiss her, running her hands through his damp hair. "Oh, that's not it at all. It's just that nobody's ever wanted so much from me before. It's not a bad thing--I'm just not used to it. And it was an awful lot to think about." She smiled softly and kissed his lips softly. "I don't want you to go. I just found you. I want to stay with you, no matter where I am."
 
Chris listened to her words, his hands moving from her back to her waist. His lips softly touching hers for the briefest of seconds. The whole purpose of the visit almost forgotten until he heard his stomach growling. His eyes sparkled a little as they met hers. "Claire the time is yours but for now we should eat so we can return to work unless you do not wish to, after all you are the boss."
 
She chuckled and shook her head. "As much as I do love you, we really shouldn't make a habit of skipping out on the rest of our work day. You can have me for the rest of the night after we're done though." She smiled at him and kissed his nose. "For now, though, let's eat. You can tell me more about why you think I want you out of my life while we're munching away at Chinese."
 
Chris smiled at her words, feeling a little better he walked with her back to the lounge sitting down and picking up some of his food. Eyes meeting hers as he began to softly speak. "Claire I felt that maybe asking that question had been unfair of me, that you still wanted some independence that would only be gotten by living apart. Maybe it is too much of me to ask you to live with me."
 
She smiled and ate some of her lo mein as she listened. "I'll admit that independence is nice, but I've had that since I started college. It's been a good ten years since then. I'm getting closer to thirty than I care to admit," she said with a little laugh. "Besides, living here is lonely. I don't want to be all by myself. I've decided to sublet my apartment for a little while. That way, I can live with you for a bit and see if I like it enough to stay longer." She put down her fork and stared into his eyes. "It may not seem like much, but I at least want to try.
 
Chris listened intently to her words, his eyes meeting hers as he smiled and reached across to lightly take her hand in his, squeezing it gently he spoke. "Claire yes I know and this is good news but I will understand if you need more time. Possibly even sleeping on it might help."
 
She smiled and shook her head. "I know how much this means to you. If I felt that I was rushed into making the decision, I wouldn't have made it yet. If you want me to take another night to think it over, I will, but I'm pretty firm in my plans." Claire squeezed his hand and then let it go. "Now let's eat up. We need to get back to work. If we do enough today, at our meeting tomorrow we'll have a surprise announcement from management." Of course, she was referring to herself, since she was management. If everyone was on the money with their work, she would give them all license to work at home for the rest of the day.
 
Chris smiled at the combination of her words and the squeeze, his hand returning to the food. Part of him was a little unsettled by the management decision. Had he done enough to help there or would he be punished in some way. Eating his food he was soon finished and moving his chair back only slightly he stood up and softly kissed her cheek as he took the cutlery across to the kitchen.
 
She smiled and kissed his cheek as she finished up. "You're such a sweetheart. Thank you for staying with me." She got up and glanced at her watch. "Alright, let's get to work." Her voice was full of cheers and she looked very happy as she took up her curse and his hand, getting ready to leave.
 
Chris grinned as she grabbed his hand, drawing her body closer to his he softly kissed the nape of her neck his breath hot as his whispered words were spoken. "Claire there is nowhere else I would rather be than with you always and please never forget it."
 
She shivered and kissed him softly. "I won't forget. Just as long as you promise you won't think that I'm trying to push you away." Claire held onto him and lead him back out to her car.
 
Chris felt her shiver and smiled at her words, his hand lightly tracing down her back for a few seconds. Getting in the passenger side he spoke. "Claire I do know we all still need a little independence or alone time. It is part of our nature to need that."
 
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