Two Dreams Ch. 01

***

Shasta understood her role better. With her degree in Elementary education this would allow her to be in a school again, making a difference with children. She had left teaching after only 5 years.

Kristal then let the discussion begin, handling questions first and then moving into a brainstorming session, writing down all ideas. David was quiet and nobody noticed that he was mostly listening. Shasta mentioned some of her ideas ranging from getting some workers at the Daytolla Elementary School full time to build relationships and supervise clean up, to providing a list of book titles on the topic which could provide lacking expertise. The room was a buzz and as the ideas stopped flowing, Krystal discussed the practicality of ideas and ideas were crossed off the board and other ideas were discussed more in depth.

Kristal agreed that part of the team should be on hand to manage the inner workings from the site, and quickly chose David and Shasta for their expertise. She asked the members of the group that wouldn’t be part of the team to leave and thanked them for their time. Seven remained, and she wanted them to meet first thing the next morning for a meeting to choose a direction. She also reminded them that they were invited to their traditional opening night dinner if they didn’t already have plans, they could gather at the parking garage to leave.

***

David was astounded and excited. He couldn’t have planned it better himself. It would be a perfect way to get to know Shasta without committing too far or even asking her out on a date. As curious as he was he also didn’t want to commit to anything even though his body seemed ready to.

***

Shasta stared at Kristal even after she had stopped talking as the impact of her words sunk in. This man whom she was just starting to notice was going to be her partner for the next two months? It made logical sense that she would pair them together but the timing was just too strange as she considered her thinking about ways to get to know David better. Was it all coincidence?

She remembered the man of whom she was thinking was sitting beside her and she turned to him.

Their eyes meet as they had twice earlier that day with expectancy, he was smiling, and she followed suit. She was starting to make a fool of herself over this good looking guy that she knew was out of her reach. She needed to protect her feelings but she wasn’t doing such a great job. She reached out her hand and said "Howdy Partner," and when he responded in turn she didn’t think he was reading her lustful thoughts that grew. She felt his firm handshake and wondered what he’d do if she took his hand and placed it on her leg. He looked really good today. She grabbed her papers hurriedly and turned to leave the table.

***

David’s opposing thoughts blurred in his mind. The first was to take her hand and kiss it, then to kiss it again. Then to kiss her wrist and to keep kissing up her arm and not stop till he reached those lips. Those lips he dreamed about just hours ago. The second thought was to just play it cool and keep letting fate work. Fate had done better than anything he could have imagined. He would let it work, and just watched her body move as she left the table. He pretended to work until time to meet for dinner. To keep his hands busy and away from touching himself, he typed up the story of his dream on his computer.

***

She relaxed as she got to her desk and again let her mind shift to the dream. It scared her again and as she realized she wasn’t going to forget it with David around and she thought maybe typing it up in story form would help her to see it as a story. She started writing about her arrival at the wooden house and the feeling of her rising with the house to a place of safety. She had run from a man who she sensed was dangerous. Maybe this project was going to hold some dangers and while it seemed exciting this moment maybe in the future she would want to run away.

She remembered her reasons for leaving teaching and her old fears. Maybe they weren’t so old after all. David had given her the route to safety and she wrote the words describing how the safety had enfolded her. Maybe he was going to hold the key to making this project work even though she was the one with more expertise. The feeling was more than just providing the route to safety, he had also provided her with safety; in his presence. She wrote her last sentence realizing that if she let her budding feelings grow for David she wouldn’t be safe. It was past time to leave.

***

Shasta was the last to arrive and David waited for her with the others. Two others had left in another vehicle to reserve the larger table that would be needed. They climbed in and Shasta walked up as they were closing the door and she took the last empty seat next to him. With fate already working for him throughout the day he was sure it would again put them together. But he was obviously relying to much on fate becase as they sat at their table at a favorite restaurant across town, she was on the other end of the long table. Kristal was wise and knew that this relaxed time together as a team would help bind them for the rest of the project when they’d need to work well together.

The evening was comfortable and they all talked and enjoyed the evening. He thought he could single her out and ask her to play pool, and just as he decided to ask she stood and went with a friend to the bar and order more drinks. She not only ordered drinks but got caught up in a conversation with her friend and another man at the bar. They were gone for a long time. He kept glancing over to see when she would return. The realization hit him that Shasta was out of his league. She probably got all the attention she needed and more and why should she even think of him that way. He was discouraged.

***

Shasta knew that after her lustful thoughts for David all day she’d have to stay away from him in this social setting. Work she could handle, but seeing him look so good in his buttoned green shirt in a casual setting like this would make her want more from him. It was better to stay far away. She was glad to go to the bar when her friend wanted to chat personally, and when she saw David’s eyes follow them, she knew it was just because of her friend, and so she enjoyed her evening despite wanting to be with David.

***

Back at the table it wasn’t long until Kristal stood up and announced that anyone who wanted to stay longer would need to get their own ride back to work. Their friend who had ridden with Kristal over to the restaurant offered to ride back with them so Kristal could drive home and not stop at work. They slowly gathered at the door and as they walked to the van she was surprised David walked beside her and chatted with her. David and Shasta were the last to reach the van and the others had already realized there was one seat short.

The others had piled in so the driver decided that Shasta would have to sit on David’s lap for the ride. She blushed and joked that she might squash David if she tried, but David insisted that it was OK. She tried to sit down gracefully but it wasn’t possible. The driver joked that since Shasta didn’t have a seat belt David would need to put his arms around her to hold onto her. She was sitting sideways on his lap, and felt his arms wrap around her waist. She tried to get comfortable and didn’t know what to do with her hands. They were so close to each other and she felt his breath on her skin.

She relaxed when the conversation turned away from them, and she lifted her hand and put it around his shoulder, brushing his skin on his neck with her fingers. She started enjoying the feeling of his arms around her waist.

***

His dream had come true literally. Here she was sitting on his lap. His arms were around here. He could smell some light perfume. He knew even if it ended here it would be a special day that had surpassed his expectations. Her arm was around his shoulder and her thumb was moving against his shoulder. His desire for her was growing and he pulled her closer. He took one of his hands and placed it on top of her hand that was laying on her leg. He hoped he could blame it on the alcohol if she asked him about his reaction later but he wanted to touch her skin even if it wasn’t in the intimate places that his imagination was running to. She didn’t push away his hand but instead looked at him and asked if he would mind if she laid her head on his shoulder as she was tired. He quickly allowed her, but then realized she might feel or even hear the increased rate of his heart.

***

She was starting to get swept up in the moment and the emotion that she was holding onto from her dream. This was the safety she felt in her dream, what she was feeling now in his arms. She was sure he held the same power to hurt her but she didn’t think on it and sighed deeply enjoying the moment. She yawned trying to make a show of her tiredness so he wouldn’t think it abnormal for her to ask to lean on him. At the same time her own heart rate was increasing.

***

He thought she had probably fallen asleep against him, he could feel her breathing had slowed and hoped she wouldn’t remember if he stroked her back slowly feeling his own desire growing. She shifted and it felt as if she were cuddling into him like she would a pillow. Her movement moved her against his own growing heat and he let out a small sigh. He wished he could watch her sleep.

**Would he be surprised to see her big smile? Her mind became even more alert upon hearing his sigh. Was she really having an effect on him? She decided to try shifting again this time more purposely. Did she feel an erection below her? She almost let out a giggle.

Did she dare to do what her lust was telling her to do? She moved ever so slowly to still appear asleep. She moved so her arm was no longer supporting her head on his shoulder but now sliding under his arm behind his back. She had a choice now to stop there and appear to be comfortable or to awaken more sensations in both of them than she had felt in a long time. She felt almost as if she should ask permission, but she went ahead realizing she was holding her breath. She felt his back rubbing lightly, waiting for him to stiffen and push her away. He didn’t, so she reached lower, slowly pulling his shirt out of his pants giving room for her warm fingers to slip under and brush his skin. They turned a corner on the road and as she slid against him to get comfortable again she could feel that her pussy was quite wet.

***

David kept up some small talk with others in the van for a while. When he thought Shasta fell asleep, he signaled to the others to keep it down and they kept talking in the background. Then she started moving against him, then she was stroking his shirt, then she was stroking his skin in the middle of a van full of people. He had know she was beautiful, smart, creative, and a friend, but now... Now he knew she was all those things plus sexy, passionate and daring.

His hand moved on hers so his thumb was underneath and he could rub her hand without others seeing. He tried to speak in a volume that no one else would hear, hoping his words would not scare her away, "So hot." He looked out the window and could tell they were almost back to work. He needed to give her a signal that he wanted her later that night and she could choose to follow through. He thought she’d want to when he felt her slide her hand out from under his and put hers on top. Now his hand lay on the soft skin of her leg. His fingers wanted to touch her all over but he limited himself to stroking the soft place on her leg she had opened to him.

***

She now started to recognize mutual pleasure when she heard him whisper to her. Was it possible she was giving pleasure to this good looking man. She had assumed from his many friends he would also have as many dates. Well maybe any guy would get turned on and could want her for one night, even David. Should she trust her dream or her instincts?

While contemplating she heard him whisper, "We’re almost there, if you give me your cell phone I’ll program my number in and you can reach me any time." She sat up to stretch and yawn as if just waking up. She didn’t dare look into his face for fear she’d lean over and kiss him. The spell was broken for the moment and the others noticed she was awake and they teased her. She got her cell phone out and entered his name, and handed it to him for his number. She’d have to decide quickly what to do.

They arrived at the parking garage. He gracefully lifted her out of the van, carrying and then steadying her as she stood. His questioning eyes looked at her. As the others were also exiting the van she thanked David loudly but then whispered, "Let’s talk." She turned and walked in the direction of her vehicle.

***

David’s erection had lessened when when the bright lights of the parking garage filled the van. They came to a stop and he finished punching in his phone number. He lifted her out and wanted to carry her home but gently placed her down still holding onto her casually. He had made his move, now it was time for hers. If she did make a move could he handle the consequences? They were both tipsy and since they had to work together as partners for the next months or years. Would this really be right to follow his lust? She was obviously ready for a night of passion but did he want just one night or did he want time to explore this relationship.

He was sure her passion extended past what he’d tasted tonight and she was beautiful and a good friend to boot. He could lose all that plus any future if he gave in to impulses tonight. He didn’t know what her words, "Let’s talk," meant but as his mind cleared part of him wished for more time to get to know her before taking a chance on sex ruining a good friendship and working relationship. He watched her walk away and he got his cell phone out of his pocket and held it in his hand. She turned around and he lifted his cell phone in a wave certain she’d call any moment.

***

Shasta now regretted at least some of her boldness. He had obviously lifted his cell phone to her to show he was waiting for her call and he was surely expecting her to tell him where her car was parked so they could drive somewhere to continue what she had started. She wanted him, and sitting in her car with no one around she lifted her skirt played with herself, feeling a lot of wetness, stirring it up. She was already swollen and hot and just touching her skin made her moan. Even as her finger started working she knew David would be so much more fulfilling.

More than that she knew she didn’t want just a one night stand with David. Maybe she could just not call? No, maybe she could just call and explain that she had a headache and was going home. She didn’t think he would call her back. No, they needed to talk but maybe staying on cell phones would be better than seeing him in person. She would call him and just tell him how she was feeling and be honest.

***

David sat in his car alone and very lonely. He had just gotten the biggest sexual rush and after trying to hide it all day he couldn’t any more. She had been tipsy and probably wasn’t even aware of how turned on she made him, and maybe she flirted like this with all the guys she knew. She didn’t have a flirtatious reputation at work. He was half glad he wouldn’t have to ask her about the flirtation and confront the reality of what life would be like tomorrow. The longer he waited for the call the more it sank into his brain that the phone wasn’t going to ring.

He was so worked up his body couldn’t wait until he got home. He had unzipped when entering the car to relieve the pressure. Now he laid his seat back. Images of her flitted through his mind, the reality so much clearer and better than the dream. He needed relief and just undoing his pants wouldn't do... slowly his pants wiggled down his hips. He stroked and rubbed himself imagining first her ass rubbing on him like she had, her stroking his back (OOPS, he’d forgotten to tuck in his shirt after getting out of the van, had anyone noticed?) He remembered her smooth leg, her waist, her smell. He was quickly to the point where he had been several times during the day and also quickly surpassed it. His hand pleasing himself but picturing only one woman who had brought him to the place of this pleasure. He wanted to get home and enjoy a longer session in the comfort of his bed or shower and so didn’t slow his action and moaned Shasta’s name as he grabbed a napkin and came in his car.

It was long and pleasing and he was surprised at his intensity. He was about to start his engine when the phone rang, he hesitantly picked it up knowing it would be Shasta and knowing that his head was clear enough now to be honest with her and not act on his lust. Shasta jumped into the conversation speaking fast, so fast he couldn’t keep up. She explained that she was sorry for flirting with him. Well, he thought, at least she had called. He had to give her credit for making a phone call just to say sorry when not calling would have blown him off as well and been easier for her.

***

Shasta was almost on the verge of tears when she got through with her apology, surprising even herself how badly she wanted to be with David on this night. She was talking too fast and stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. David surprised her by responding, "I’m not sorry you did."

Before he could say anything further she jumped into her practiced spiel. She was very attracted to David but had never been one for a one night stand and that’s what this would be if they didn’t really know each other. To add to that they’d have to face each other at work the next day. She again spoke too quickly and repeated herself a couple times. She sighed and finished her teary speech by saying, "David, we haven’t even been on a date and I don’t even do that very often, I only gave in to my lust for you because of a dream I had, and I don’t want you thinking I’m someone who can’t resist calling you and is going to jump at the chance to be in your bed no matter how good looking you are."

She had said it all, all she had planned and plenty more. Now she was getting a headache. Oh, how would they ever work together for the next month? She’d have to ask to be transferred off the team after this fool she made of herself.

***

David listened, shocked, and when she started repeating her points, he started hearing the sadness in her voice as well. He thought she was brushing him off, but instead she was saying the same thing he had been thinking, not the way he would have said it, but he was pretty sure of her message. He would have to ask her later about her dream, but first he needed to clarify his view. Even now a question was forming in his mind. She stopped talking and he heard a sniffle.

He waited a few more seconds to be sure she was really finished before saying, "Shasta, you have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. Your words mirrored my thoughts exactly. I had this dream and so I’ve been watching by you all day and tonight you captivated me. But there’s no way I’d give up more of what we started today, for one night of fulfilling my lust and have you hate me tomorrow."

He had hoped his words would have made her feel better but instead he heard her sniffles turn to crying while he spoke. He continued anyway, "It would have been hard to say that to your face because I want you beside me tonight in my bed because you are beautiful and sexy. So although your spell is still on me instead of asking you for that I want to ask you something else."

***

Shasta didn’t want to have David hear her crying but wanted to hear his words so she went ahead and cried because she couldn’t stop. She was filled again with that feeling of safety that she had felt in her dream. She grabbed a tissue and wiped her face. She told him that she would answer his question honestly.