Fiona Reynolds (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} moonflowerfi) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} 20somethings,@ 2022-06-03 17:09:00 |
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Entry tags: | c: casper wood, c: fiona reynolds, d: 2028 06, ~ complete, Ω: rp |
RP: Workplace Flirtation
Who: Casper & Fiona (mentions of others)
What: After a Carnival Committee meeting, Casper and Fiona steal a moment
When: 3 June 2028
Where: The Fawley Foundation offices
Warnings: Smooching!
Completion Status: Complete
Casper had done his best to focus on the updates from Rebecca Ollerton about the July Carnival. And from Holly Shingleton on the fundraising efforts and Shingleton Holdings' planning progress. But Fiona was sitting across the table from him, and it took a lot of effort to keep a goofy smile off of his face just from seeing her.
They had seen each other a few times since their first night together. And every time they got together, he felt a bit more secure in her trust in him. He still felt terrible about what had happened to her, and still had to remind himself that in the end, it had been for the best that she had ended up at home with him instead of someone else. But still. The mixed feelings lingered.
When the meeting wrapped up, Casper did some lingering of his own. He packed his notebook slowly, stopped to drink the last bits of his tea and then offered to pick up after the others. It was the Foundation's offices after all, only right someone from Fawley be the one to clean up.
And then, after goodbyes with the others, it was just the two of them in the small conference room. The conference room in the middle of the building, with no windows, built almost like a small classroom instead of a place of business. He looked in her direction and gave her a smile. "Funny seeing you here..." he said, sounding somewhat shy.
It had been nearly a month since that fateful night at Sanguine, and Fiona was still anxious about her previous fears and timidness to flood back in and make seeing Casper impossible. It hadn't, though, and she was beginning to think it was possible she'd actually healed enough to give this thing with Casper a real shot. He was sweet and gorgeous and so incredibly thoughtful and tender with her that it was difficult to imagine herself bolting from a relationship with him like she'd done with Jaime.
Not that she'd allowed herself to dig into the messy unresolved feelings surrounding her breaking up with Jaime and fleeing to Paris for three months. Perhaps it was because things with Casper felt casual and on the surface, like they wouldn't automatically be on the fast track toward marriage and a family. Though, did that bode well for her and Casper? If she couldn't easily envision that sort of future with him?
The thoughts kept circling throughout the meeting, with him sitting across from her and sending those adorable, affectionate smiles her way. When the meeting ended, she spoke casually with Becca for a few minutes before her friend had to leave to make it to another commitment, and before she knew it, it was just her and Casper left. She smiled at him, tugging the baby pink sleeveless blouse down over her heather gray slacks as she crossed the room to him.
"Oh, I don't know, it seems like such a pleasant coincidence that we're the last two left." Despite having had a few dates together, just movies and cuddling with a bit of snogging, over the last few weeks, they hadn't really reached the point of PDA, and she hesitated to reach out to him now, even though they were technically alone. The office wasn't exactly private; anyone could walk in at any moment! But she did want to lean into him and give him a kiss, the conflict seeming to shine in her eyes.
"Mmm," he murmured, "very pleasant." His ever-present goofy smile made its way back to his face, and he reached a hand out to hers, softly taking it in his grasp. "You look lovely today," he said, his voice low, unsure if she was comfortable with the thought of him complimenting her - holding her hand as he was - in the office.
"It was very difficult to concentrate on the event updates," he admitted with a slight blush.
"Thank you," she murmured, dutifully ignoring her pink-tinged cheeks. If she pretended she wasn't blushing, then he wouldn't notice it either, right?
Fiona took another small step toward him, her fingers twining with his, and she pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she looked up at him. "Oh, was it for you as well? You kept smiling at me. I have a feeling we were equally distracted." No one had seemed to notice, though, which was a good thing. She'd just got this job; the last thing she needed was for her superiors to question her dedication to it due to a workplace romance.
Not that that thought made her want to snog him any less.
When she blushed, he couldn't help but think how utterly beautiful she looked. He loved how delicate Fiona seemed, and yet he knew there was strength and resolve inside her that burned bright. He liked both sides of her, he found. He looked down at their hands, connected as they were, and he grinned again.
"Oh, it was," he confirmed. "In fact, it's terribly difficult to see you looking so lovely, across the table as you were, and not just stand, come to you, and kiss you." By the time he finished, his gaze had moved from their hands to her eyes.
Her eyes met his, and the look in them paired with his words had her breath catching in her throat. Her body leaned in toward his almost without her permission. "I thought about kissing you, too. But it would have been dreadfully unprofessional to interrupt the meeting with it!"
Fiona glanced around, her expression going a bit impish as she peeked back at him. "I think we're alone now, though," she pointed out, her voice barely above a whisper, her stomach fluttering at how naughty it would be to steal a few kisses at work.
Casper laughed and nodded and said, "I suppose it would be, yes," and couldn't help but notice the way she came just the smallest bit closer to him. Could her trust in him extend to this? To kissing her at the office?
When she continued, he too looked around and then nodded again. "I think we are." And he decided that the only way for him to find out if she trusted him with this, was to take the moment to the logical conclusion.
He moved forward himself, closing the small gap between them, and kissed her lightly just at the side of her mouth. A chaste thing, really, but testing the waters. When she didn't pull away from him, he lifted his free hand to tilt her chin up and captured her lips in a more sure gesture, kissing her solidly.
For a moment, Fiona wasn't sure if he would take advantage of the moment. But then he moved in close, and her heart stuttered in her chest, her lips parting on a soft sigh. And when his fingers touched her chin, guiding her head to angle more toward his, her eyelids fluttered closed. Her lips moved against his, her body turning to follow the movement of her head, one hand sliding to the middle of his back.
Casper let go of her hand to wrap his arm lightly around her waist, pulling her closer to him even as he continued to kiss her. It wasn't an entirely inappropriate kiss - if you discounted the location - but it wasn't entirely innocent, either.
Her body against his, even at the office, brought back vivid memories of their first night together. It happened every time they kissed. He could still hear her voice in his head, telling him how to please her, directing him to give her orgasm after orgasm. The memory of her voice, of what she'd said, made him whimper into her mouth now.
There was something about him, about those still vivid memories of their first night together, that lit her body on fire and made her yearn in a way she hadn't believed possible for far too long. She hadn't drummed up the courage to do more than snog him again yet, but the way he kissed her, those sounds she seemed to draw from him made her wish she could overcome her anxieties and fully indulge in him again.
Her other hand came up to press against his chest, trailing up to curl her fingers over his shoulder. Teeth snagged his lower lip, nibbling and tugging just a bit as warmth and desire spread through her. A gasp slipped out as she pulled back, wide eyes meeting his, as she realized what she'd just done.
"I can't decide if that will help get us through the day or if it'll make the distraction worse," she said, her expression going bashful again.
Casper's lips seemed to chase hers as she pulled away from him, and her gasp mixed with his sigh. He smiled shyly at her tone. "I'm glad we'll have the chance to find out. Maybe getting some of the tension out of our systems will be just what we need." Or will end up with me walking around desperate to keep my dick soft until I can get home... he thought to himself. His hands settled at her hips as he sized her up.
"Have you been terribly tense, then?" she asked with a note of teasing that covered up the sudden burst of anxiety that roared up in her. Was she making him tense and uncomfortable by holding back? But she didn't want to feel pressured to revisit sex. Even if a part of her wanted it more than she'd thought possible. But it wouldn't be the same as that first night; how could it when she wasn't on whatever drugs had been slipped into her drink?
Oh, but how she wished she were the sort of adventurous spirit that would cast locking and silencing charms on the room and let him take her right there on the conference table. Her cheeks flushed as she imagined it for just a moment. "Is there anything I can do to help with that?" she found herself asking, her voice a nervous whisper that somehow still carried a note of flirtation.
Shaking his head, Casper sighed in a fun, feux-exasperated way. "Only because I have to see the most beautiful witch in the world throughout the day and can't just kiss her silly every single time." He laughed at himself.
Oh Merlin, that whisper. It sent a thrill right down to his toes, and he coughed lightly to cover his body's response. He couldn't help but lick his lips, though, and the way his voice became just a little bit needier in his reply. "There is so much you can do, only you can do." He took a steadying breath. "Like that breathy little moan you do when we're really properly snogging. That always helps." He smiled. There was so much more she could do - he knew what she was capable of! But he also knew she wanted to take things slow, and he could be supportive of that, even if there were times that it physically hurt to do so!
It might have been hyperbole, and it probably shouldn't have flattered her so much, but Fiona couldn't seem to help it. Perhaps it was because she'd grown up seeing her dad flirt with her mum like that; he still flirted with her mum that way. "Maybe you should keep a tally and make up for it when we're alone," she suggested teasingly, though she was surprised at how much that thought didn't bother her.
"Oh does it? Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind." Though she probably shouldn't think about it too much, else she might get in her own way. "Do you have plans tonight?" Was it presumptive to suggest doing something together? She wasn't sure she was ready to speed things up, but this whole thing was making her want a good snog on his couch.
Casper's eyebrows rose and he made a face, "Oooh, I do like that idea," he said, going with it. He liked when Fiona was flirty, it soothed the voice in his head that liked to harangue him about the circumstances of their first night together.
"Please do," he breathed, he loved that little sound she made. All the little sounds she made, come to think of it. He loved the ones she made when they kissed, when she giggled. And in the time since that first night together, he hadn't been able to get any of those noises out of his head at all. Shaking his head he said, "I don't." Was she asking him out? Or testing to waters to see if he had plans with someone else? "Do you?" He asked, hoping she didn't think he'd been seeing anyone else. They may be taking things slower than he wanted - though he wouldn't push her to speed things up or make her feel guilt over it - but he wasn't seeking out other options.
Fiona chewed on her lower lip for a moment, the flirtatious retort on the tip of her tongue though nerves held her back. It was silly to be nervous. He'd done nothing to make her so. In fact, he'd done everything he could to put her at ease, to make sure she knew she was in control over how quickly things progressed between them, and she appreciated that more than she could say.
"I didn't, but I think I do now," she finally said, peeking up at him through her eyelashes. "Dinner and a movie? Your place? I'll bring dessert," she promised hopefully.
He waited, giving her a moment to decide which way she wanted to go with this conversation. His face split out in a bright grin when she answered, though, and he nodded. "That sounds like plans I'd love to make time for," he said, his tone making it obvious he wouldn't be anywhere else. "You'll bring dessert? What's your favorite?" He wondered of that had been an innuendo on her part, and his tone was just a tinge darker, more wanting, than the innocent question itself warranted.
He was so good at making her feel special, and if he wasn't so bloody sincere in it, she might worry it was a manipulation. She'd married an extremely manipulative man, though, and had fought like hell to overcome that, and she rather thought she'd be able to spot the warning signs now. Casper had none. "Ooh, hmm, strawberry shortcake. Strawberries are in season now, and my mum just gave me a batch from her garden. I'll even whip us up a bit of homemade whipped cream to put on top," she said, mostly unaware of the potential to read innuendo in the words.
Casper choked a little bit, but covered it with a cough. "Whipped cream on top," he repeated. Nodding, he gave a smile, trying to fix his little slip up. "Your mum grows strawberries? That sounds delicious." It may have been a cover up in the moment, but he did mean it. It was pretty cool that her mother grew berries, and that she knew how to bake, and it did sound delicious.
"How does Ethiopian sound for dinner? There's a nice little family-owned spot in a neighborhood just a couple of streets over, I can pick up some for us?"
Her eyes widened at his initial reaction. Had she said something shocking? It wasn't like it was a surprise; they'd been talking about dessert, after all. And yet, the way he repeated the words back to her had her cheeks flushing. Oh. Thankfully, he fixated on something else, and she didn't have to try to stumble through the unintentional innuendo.
"My mum has the greenest thumbs. If she hadn't loved flying more, she probably would have become a renowned herbalogist. Now that she's retired, she tends to the greenhouses full time," she explained. "It's kind of a family business." And if she hadn't been able to find footing in a job she could love in the social services, she probably would have escaped to the greenhouses full time, as well.
"I can't say as I've tried Ethiopian before, but I'm willing to give it a go," she answered. She did love having her favorites, but she could push herself out of that comfort zone to try new cuisine. And it sounds as if he was familiar enough with it. "What time are you off?" She wasn't sure if the fair project was keeping him working later hours.
"6-ish," he answered simply. He tended to work his extra hours in the morning after his run or time at the gym. "The only rule to know for Ethiopian... no utensils. It's only its most delicious when eaten with your hands." He knew it might be considered strange to her, but there truly was no better way to eat the rich stews and pillowy bread.
"Are you game?" Casper always did her best not to push her, but he truly didn't know if this would be outside any of her boundaries. Most of the boundaries he knew were centered upon their... relationship, of sorts.
That was a bit strange, but Fiona supposed she could roll with it. And wouldn't it be disrespectful to the culture to not even try eating their cuisine in an authentic manner? "Of course I am," she said. She slid her arms around him again, leaning up for another kiss. "I'm off at five, so that will give me plenty of time. Six-thirty, then? Or would it be better to aim for seven?" she asked, though she wondered a moment later if that sort of scheduling might annoy him.
"Dessert-bringer gets to set the time," he said, after leaning happily into her kiss. His arms came to embrace her lightly, mirroring her movement. "Which works best for the magic in the kitchen?" He couldn't help it, one hand came up to tuck a free strand of lovely blonde hair behind her ear. His gaze turned tender for the moment, but then he came to his senses again and gave her another of his usual smiles. "I can have dinner ready for whenever."
"Hmm, six-thirty it is, then." Because it already felt too far away, and she knew it wouldn't take her long to whip up dessert once she was home. Especially with the way he was looking at her, as if she were the most precious thing he'd ever held. It made her feel safe and secure and like maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to get in over her head just a bit with him.
Not that she thought she had much choice in the matter. He was quickly becoming one of her favorite people.
"Mmm, we should probably both get back to work," she said with a sigh, her lips pouting slightly. It wouldn't be very professional to skive off the rest of the day to start their date early, even if a part of her thought that was a fantastic idea.
"Oh thank goodness," he said with a big happy sigh, "I was worried you'd make me wait till 7," he said laughing, and then kissed the tip of her nose. "But yeah, we probably should." This time his sigh was more sincere. He wanted to just scoop her up and away with her for the rest of the day! But he knew she was right.
"You are definitely the far more conscientious of us two," he let her go from his loose embrace with a look that was only slightly puppy-dog. Casper was proud of his restraint in that!
"I'll see you at my flat at half six, then?" He asked with a nod.
Her smile turned just a bit silly and infatuated at the kiss to the tip of her nose. It was such a little thing, but she loved it. "Well someone had to learn to be the good influence, and my brothers certainly weren't going to do so," she said lightly, intentionally shifting the tone of their conversation if only because she worried they might prevaricate long enough for someone to come check on them. Even though she wasn't worried about people at work finding out they were… dating? The language might not be clear, but she knew they were seeing one another, and it was something she wanted to keep private for at least a little bit longer.
"You will," she confirmed. She took a few steps away, making sure she had everything she needed before she would make her way back to her desk. Before leaving, though, and making sure that she was far enough away that he couldn't touch her, she added, "I'll be there with the whipped cream." Before giving him a chance to respond, heart racing, she slipped out of the conference room and moved quickly through the building back to her work area. She truly could not wait for tonight.
Casper left Diagon Alley and swung left to the next neighborhood over, stopping in to Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant, picking up veggie sambusa, lamb wot (maybe his favorite stew in the world), and loads of injera, the bread they would use to scoop up the stew and sop up the leftovers. The injera was his favorite part.
He arrived home, set the food on the kitchen counter with a warming spell, took off his tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his oxford, and toed off his shoes in his bedroom. Back in the kitchen, he unpacked the paper bag of take away and got the stew spooned into two large bowls. He lay the sambusa on a shared plate and the injera on a small platter. All still under warming spells, of course.
He started up his WeVee and searched through to find his movies app, figuring she might like to choose.
And then he poured himself a glass of dark, fragrant red wine, and waited.
Anticipation and nerves thrummed through Fiona the rest of the day, distracting her enough that it took great effort to focus on her work. It wasn't often she left at five o'clock on the dot, but she found herself watching the clock obsessively. As soon as it was five, she left. Once home, she whipped up a batch of whipped cream, putting everything together in the fridge, before heading upstairs to take a quick shower.
After her shower, she magically dried her hair, twisting her locks up into a messy bun with tendrils falling out in a way she hoped looked unintentional. She put on a pair of soft, cotton shorts and a camisole, tugging on a thin, slouchy sweater over it. Sliding a pair of sandals on, she headed back down to get the dessert and then apparated to Casper's place. She appeared just inside his front door, the polite place to apparate to even if one was expected.
When she saw him sitting on the couch already, she felt her stomach flip-flop all over again, and she smiled warmly at him. "I brought dessert, as promised," she said by way of greeting, holding up the bag for him to see before slipping out of her sandals and walking across the room to him.
Casper stood as she approached him. "Let me put it in the fridge," he said as he reached for the bag. "Get comfortable," he invited her, as he made his way across the flat and back into the kitchen. Shouting from the other room he asked her, "Can I get you anything to drink? I picked out a nice bottle of wine, it's airing already." He wasn't sure of her tastes in wine, now that he thought of it. But he'd chosen a nice mid-bodied Pinot Noir, something most people could enjoy with a good meal. "I have water and tea, too," he offered over his shoulder as he looked through the fridge.
Fiona handed the bag to him, disappointing herself for not indulging the whim to hold the bag hostage until he greeted her with a kiss. It would take a little more time, she supposed, for her to feel comfortable and natural with those sorts of impulses.
"Wine sounds lovely," she said as she went to sit on the couch next to where he'd been sitting when she arrived.
When he returned with their drinks, she took her glass and sipped the wine just for a taste. She picked a movie almost at random, not particularly fussed about what they watched. Dinner was an experience, but true to her word, Fiona ate the food the way he'd indicated was culturally appropriate, humming at the way the flavors mingled in her mouth. When they were finished, she went to wash her hands and freshen up, and when she returned, she curled up against him on the couch.
Whatever might happen next between them, she fully intended to treasure this feeling of comfort and safety and excitement that always seemed to wrap around her when she was around him.
They had seen each other a few times since their first night together. And every time they got together, he felt a bit more secure in her trust in him. He still felt terrible about what had happened to her, and still had to remind himself that in the end, it had been for the best that she had ended up at home with him instead of someone else. But still. The mixed feelings lingered.
When the meeting wrapped up, Casper did some lingering of his own. He packed his notebook slowly, stopped to drink the last bits of his tea and then offered to pick up after the others. It was the Foundation's offices after all, only right someone from Fawley be the one to clean up.
And then, after goodbyes with the others, it was just the two of them in the small conference room. The conference room in the middle of the building, with no windows, built almost like a small classroom instead of a place of business. He looked in her direction and gave her a smile. "Funny seeing you here..." he said, sounding somewhat shy.
It had been nearly a month since that fateful night at Sanguine, and Fiona was still anxious about her previous fears and timidness to flood back in and make seeing Casper impossible. It hadn't, though, and she was beginning to think it was possible she'd actually healed enough to give this thing with Casper a real shot. He was sweet and gorgeous and so incredibly thoughtful and tender with her that it was difficult to imagine herself bolting from a relationship with him like she'd done with Jaime.
Not that she'd allowed herself to dig into the messy unresolved feelings surrounding her breaking up with Jaime and fleeing to Paris for three months. Perhaps it was because things with Casper felt casual and on the surface, like they wouldn't automatically be on the fast track toward marriage and a family. Though, did that bode well for her and Casper? If she couldn't easily envision that sort of future with him?
The thoughts kept circling throughout the meeting, with him sitting across from her and sending those adorable, affectionate smiles her way. When the meeting ended, she spoke casually with Becca for a few minutes before her friend had to leave to make it to another commitment, and before she knew it, it was just her and Casper left. She smiled at him, tugging the baby pink sleeveless blouse down over her heather gray slacks as she crossed the room to him.
"Oh, I don't know, it seems like such a pleasant coincidence that we're the last two left." Despite having had a few dates together, just movies and cuddling with a bit of snogging, over the last few weeks, they hadn't really reached the point of PDA, and she hesitated to reach out to him now, even though they were technically alone. The office wasn't exactly private; anyone could walk in at any moment! But she did want to lean into him and give him a kiss, the conflict seeming to shine in her eyes.
"Mmm," he murmured, "very pleasant." His ever-present goofy smile made its way back to his face, and he reached a hand out to hers, softly taking it in his grasp. "You look lovely today," he said, his voice low, unsure if she was comfortable with the thought of him complimenting her - holding her hand as he was - in the office.
"It was very difficult to concentrate on the event updates," he admitted with a slight blush.
"Thank you," she murmured, dutifully ignoring her pink-tinged cheeks. If she pretended she wasn't blushing, then he wouldn't notice it either, right?
Fiona took another small step toward him, her fingers twining with his, and she pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she looked up at him. "Oh, was it for you as well? You kept smiling at me. I have a feeling we were equally distracted." No one had seemed to notice, though, which was a good thing. She'd just got this job; the last thing she needed was for her superiors to question her dedication to it due to a workplace romance.
Not that that thought made her want to snog him any less.
When she blushed, he couldn't help but think how utterly beautiful she looked. He loved how delicate Fiona seemed, and yet he knew there was strength and resolve inside her that burned bright. He liked both sides of her, he found. He looked down at their hands, connected as they were, and he grinned again.
"Oh, it was," he confirmed. "In fact, it's terribly difficult to see you looking so lovely, across the table as you were, and not just stand, come to you, and kiss you." By the time he finished, his gaze had moved from their hands to her eyes.
Her eyes met his, and the look in them paired with his words had her breath catching in her throat. Her body leaned in toward his almost without her permission. "I thought about kissing you, too. But it would have been dreadfully unprofessional to interrupt the meeting with it!"
Fiona glanced around, her expression going a bit impish as she peeked back at him. "I think we're alone now, though," she pointed out, her voice barely above a whisper, her stomach fluttering at how naughty it would be to steal a few kisses at work.
Casper laughed and nodded and said, "I suppose it would be, yes," and couldn't help but notice the way she came just the smallest bit closer to him. Could her trust in him extend to this? To kissing her at the office?
When she continued, he too looked around and then nodded again. "I think we are." And he decided that the only way for him to find out if she trusted him with this, was to take the moment to the logical conclusion.
He moved forward himself, closing the small gap between them, and kissed her lightly just at the side of her mouth. A chaste thing, really, but testing the waters. When she didn't pull away from him, he lifted his free hand to tilt her chin up and captured her lips in a more sure gesture, kissing her solidly.
For a moment, Fiona wasn't sure if he would take advantage of the moment. But then he moved in close, and her heart stuttered in her chest, her lips parting on a soft sigh. And when his fingers touched her chin, guiding her head to angle more toward his, her eyelids fluttered closed. Her lips moved against his, her body turning to follow the movement of her head, one hand sliding to the middle of his back.
Casper let go of her hand to wrap his arm lightly around her waist, pulling her closer to him even as he continued to kiss her. It wasn't an entirely inappropriate kiss - if you discounted the location - but it wasn't entirely innocent, either.
Her body against his, even at the office, brought back vivid memories of their first night together. It happened every time they kissed. He could still hear her voice in his head, telling him how to please her, directing him to give her orgasm after orgasm. The memory of her voice, of what she'd said, made him whimper into her mouth now.
There was something about him, about those still vivid memories of their first night together, that lit her body on fire and made her yearn in a way she hadn't believed possible for far too long. She hadn't drummed up the courage to do more than snog him again yet, but the way he kissed her, those sounds she seemed to draw from him made her wish she could overcome her anxieties and fully indulge in him again.
Her other hand came up to press against his chest, trailing up to curl her fingers over his shoulder. Teeth snagged his lower lip, nibbling and tugging just a bit as warmth and desire spread through her. A gasp slipped out as she pulled back, wide eyes meeting his, as she realized what she'd just done.
"I can't decide if that will help get us through the day or if it'll make the distraction worse," she said, her expression going bashful again.
Casper's lips seemed to chase hers as she pulled away from him, and her gasp mixed with his sigh. He smiled shyly at her tone. "I'm glad we'll have the chance to find out. Maybe getting some of the tension out of our systems will be just what we need." Or will end up with me walking around desperate to keep my dick soft until I can get home... he thought to himself. His hands settled at her hips as he sized her up.
"Have you been terribly tense, then?" she asked with a note of teasing that covered up the sudden burst of anxiety that roared up in her. Was she making him tense and uncomfortable by holding back? But she didn't want to feel pressured to revisit sex. Even if a part of her wanted it more than she'd thought possible. But it wouldn't be the same as that first night; how could it when she wasn't on whatever drugs had been slipped into her drink?
Oh, but how she wished she were the sort of adventurous spirit that would cast locking and silencing charms on the room and let him take her right there on the conference table. Her cheeks flushed as she imagined it for just a moment. "Is there anything I can do to help with that?" she found herself asking, her voice a nervous whisper that somehow still carried a note of flirtation.
Shaking his head, Casper sighed in a fun, feux-exasperated way. "Only because I have to see the most beautiful witch in the world throughout the day and can't just kiss her silly every single time." He laughed at himself.
Oh Merlin, that whisper. It sent a thrill right down to his toes, and he coughed lightly to cover his body's response. He couldn't help but lick his lips, though, and the way his voice became just a little bit needier in his reply. "There is so much you can do, only you can do." He took a steadying breath. "Like that breathy little moan you do when we're really properly snogging. That always helps." He smiled. There was so much more she could do - he knew what she was capable of! But he also knew she wanted to take things slow, and he could be supportive of that, even if there were times that it physically hurt to do so!
It might have been hyperbole, and it probably shouldn't have flattered her so much, but Fiona couldn't seem to help it. Perhaps it was because she'd grown up seeing her dad flirt with her mum like that; he still flirted with her mum that way. "Maybe you should keep a tally and make up for it when we're alone," she suggested teasingly, though she was surprised at how much that thought didn't bother her.
"Oh does it? Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind." Though she probably shouldn't think about it too much, else she might get in her own way. "Do you have plans tonight?" Was it presumptive to suggest doing something together? She wasn't sure she was ready to speed things up, but this whole thing was making her want a good snog on his couch.
Casper's eyebrows rose and he made a face, "Oooh, I do like that idea," he said, going with it. He liked when Fiona was flirty, it soothed the voice in his head that liked to harangue him about the circumstances of their first night together.
"Please do," he breathed, he loved that little sound she made. All the little sounds she made, come to think of it. He loved the ones she made when they kissed, when she giggled. And in the time since that first night together, he hadn't been able to get any of those noises out of his head at all. Shaking his head he said, "I don't." Was she asking him out? Or testing to waters to see if he had plans with someone else? "Do you?" He asked, hoping she didn't think he'd been seeing anyone else. They may be taking things slower than he wanted - though he wouldn't push her to speed things up or make her feel guilt over it - but he wasn't seeking out other options.
Fiona chewed on her lower lip for a moment, the flirtatious retort on the tip of her tongue though nerves held her back. It was silly to be nervous. He'd done nothing to make her so. In fact, he'd done everything he could to put her at ease, to make sure she knew she was in control over how quickly things progressed between them, and she appreciated that more than she could say.
"I didn't, but I think I do now," she finally said, peeking up at him through her eyelashes. "Dinner and a movie? Your place? I'll bring dessert," she promised hopefully.
He waited, giving her a moment to decide which way she wanted to go with this conversation. His face split out in a bright grin when she answered, though, and he nodded. "That sounds like plans I'd love to make time for," he said, his tone making it obvious he wouldn't be anywhere else. "You'll bring dessert? What's your favorite?" He wondered of that had been an innuendo on her part, and his tone was just a tinge darker, more wanting, than the innocent question itself warranted.
He was so good at making her feel special, and if he wasn't so bloody sincere in it, she might worry it was a manipulation. She'd married an extremely manipulative man, though, and had fought like hell to overcome that, and she rather thought she'd be able to spot the warning signs now. Casper had none. "Ooh, hmm, strawberry shortcake. Strawberries are in season now, and my mum just gave me a batch from her garden. I'll even whip us up a bit of homemade whipped cream to put on top," she said, mostly unaware of the potential to read innuendo in the words.
Casper choked a little bit, but covered it with a cough. "Whipped cream on top," he repeated. Nodding, he gave a smile, trying to fix his little slip up. "Your mum grows strawberries? That sounds delicious." It may have been a cover up in the moment, but he did mean it. It was pretty cool that her mother grew berries, and that she knew how to bake, and it did sound delicious.
"How does Ethiopian sound for dinner? There's a nice little family-owned spot in a neighborhood just a couple of streets over, I can pick up some for us?"
Her eyes widened at his initial reaction. Had she said something shocking? It wasn't like it was a surprise; they'd been talking about dessert, after all. And yet, the way he repeated the words back to her had her cheeks flushing. Oh. Thankfully, he fixated on something else, and she didn't have to try to stumble through the unintentional innuendo.
"My mum has the greenest thumbs. If she hadn't loved flying more, she probably would have become a renowned herbalogist. Now that she's retired, she tends to the greenhouses full time," she explained. "It's kind of a family business." And if she hadn't been able to find footing in a job she could love in the social services, she probably would have escaped to the greenhouses full time, as well.
"I can't say as I've tried Ethiopian before, but I'm willing to give it a go," she answered. She did love having her favorites, but she could push herself out of that comfort zone to try new cuisine. And it sounds as if he was familiar enough with it. "What time are you off?" She wasn't sure if the fair project was keeping him working later hours.
"6-ish," he answered simply. He tended to work his extra hours in the morning after his run or time at the gym. "The only rule to know for Ethiopian... no utensils. It's only its most delicious when eaten with your hands." He knew it might be considered strange to her, but there truly was no better way to eat the rich stews and pillowy bread.
"Are you game?" Casper always did her best not to push her, but he truly didn't know if this would be outside any of her boundaries. Most of the boundaries he knew were centered upon their... relationship, of sorts.
That was a bit strange, but Fiona supposed she could roll with it. And wouldn't it be disrespectful to the culture to not even try eating their cuisine in an authentic manner? "Of course I am," she said. She slid her arms around him again, leaning up for another kiss. "I'm off at five, so that will give me plenty of time. Six-thirty, then? Or would it be better to aim for seven?" she asked, though she wondered a moment later if that sort of scheduling might annoy him.
"Dessert-bringer gets to set the time," he said, after leaning happily into her kiss. His arms came to embrace her lightly, mirroring her movement. "Which works best for the magic in the kitchen?" He couldn't help it, one hand came up to tuck a free strand of lovely blonde hair behind her ear. His gaze turned tender for the moment, but then he came to his senses again and gave her another of his usual smiles. "I can have dinner ready for whenever."
"Hmm, six-thirty it is, then." Because it already felt too far away, and she knew it wouldn't take her long to whip up dessert once she was home. Especially with the way he was looking at her, as if she were the most precious thing he'd ever held. It made her feel safe and secure and like maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to get in over her head just a bit with him.
Not that she thought she had much choice in the matter. He was quickly becoming one of her favorite people.
"Mmm, we should probably both get back to work," she said with a sigh, her lips pouting slightly. It wouldn't be very professional to skive off the rest of the day to start their date early, even if a part of her thought that was a fantastic idea.
"Oh thank goodness," he said with a big happy sigh, "I was worried you'd make me wait till 7," he said laughing, and then kissed the tip of her nose. "But yeah, we probably should." This time his sigh was more sincere. He wanted to just scoop her up and away with her for the rest of the day! But he knew she was right.
"You are definitely the far more conscientious of us two," he let her go from his loose embrace with a look that was only slightly puppy-dog. Casper was proud of his restraint in that!
"I'll see you at my flat at half six, then?" He asked with a nod.
Her smile turned just a bit silly and infatuated at the kiss to the tip of her nose. It was such a little thing, but she loved it. "Well someone had to learn to be the good influence, and my brothers certainly weren't going to do so," she said lightly, intentionally shifting the tone of their conversation if only because she worried they might prevaricate long enough for someone to come check on them. Even though she wasn't worried about people at work finding out they were… dating? The language might not be clear, but she knew they were seeing one another, and it was something she wanted to keep private for at least a little bit longer.
"You will," she confirmed. She took a few steps away, making sure she had everything she needed before she would make her way back to her desk. Before leaving, though, and making sure that she was far enough away that he couldn't touch her, she added, "I'll be there with the whipped cream." Before giving him a chance to respond, heart racing, she slipped out of the conference room and moved quickly through the building back to her work area. She truly could not wait for tonight.
Casper left Diagon Alley and swung left to the next neighborhood over, stopping in to Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant, picking up veggie sambusa, lamb wot (maybe his favorite stew in the world), and loads of injera, the bread they would use to scoop up the stew and sop up the leftovers. The injera was his favorite part.
He arrived home, set the food on the kitchen counter with a warming spell, took off his tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his oxford, and toed off his shoes in his bedroom. Back in the kitchen, he unpacked the paper bag of take away and got the stew spooned into two large bowls. He lay the sambusa on a shared plate and the injera on a small platter. All still under warming spells, of course.
He started up his WeVee and searched through to find his movies app, figuring she might like to choose.
And then he poured himself a glass of dark, fragrant red wine, and waited.
Anticipation and nerves thrummed through Fiona the rest of the day, distracting her enough that it took great effort to focus on her work. It wasn't often she left at five o'clock on the dot, but she found herself watching the clock obsessively. As soon as it was five, she left. Once home, she whipped up a batch of whipped cream, putting everything together in the fridge, before heading upstairs to take a quick shower.
After her shower, she magically dried her hair, twisting her locks up into a messy bun with tendrils falling out in a way she hoped looked unintentional. She put on a pair of soft, cotton shorts and a camisole, tugging on a thin, slouchy sweater over it. Sliding a pair of sandals on, she headed back down to get the dessert and then apparated to Casper's place. She appeared just inside his front door, the polite place to apparate to even if one was expected.
When she saw him sitting on the couch already, she felt her stomach flip-flop all over again, and she smiled warmly at him. "I brought dessert, as promised," she said by way of greeting, holding up the bag for him to see before slipping out of her sandals and walking across the room to him.
Casper stood as she approached him. "Let me put it in the fridge," he said as he reached for the bag. "Get comfortable," he invited her, as he made his way across the flat and back into the kitchen. Shouting from the other room he asked her, "Can I get you anything to drink? I picked out a nice bottle of wine, it's airing already." He wasn't sure of her tastes in wine, now that he thought of it. But he'd chosen a nice mid-bodied Pinot Noir, something most people could enjoy with a good meal. "I have water and tea, too," he offered over his shoulder as he looked through the fridge.
Fiona handed the bag to him, disappointing herself for not indulging the whim to hold the bag hostage until he greeted her with a kiss. It would take a little more time, she supposed, for her to feel comfortable and natural with those sorts of impulses.
"Wine sounds lovely," she said as she went to sit on the couch next to where he'd been sitting when she arrived.
When he returned with their drinks, she took her glass and sipped the wine just for a taste. She picked a movie almost at random, not particularly fussed about what they watched. Dinner was an experience, but true to her word, Fiona ate the food the way he'd indicated was culturally appropriate, humming at the way the flavors mingled in her mouth. When they were finished, she went to wash her hands and freshen up, and when she returned, she curled up against him on the couch.
Whatever might happen next between them, she fully intended to treasure this feeling of comfort and safety and excitement that always seemed to wrap around her when she was around him.