【79】Full Circle

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As tempting as it was to stay in bed and let our desires loose until they consumed us entirely, I decided we'd been locked in for long enough. It was time to go out and enjoy some of that freedom we'd fought so hard for.

So, after we'd showered, gotten dressed, and checked the news as we ate something, we headed out. The day was sunny and warm, so I suggested we left the car behind and walked, which Lex instantly agreed to. Hand in hand, we set course to our destination, feeling safe and free. The grin on my face wouldn't go away, and I didn't even try to quench it. My enjoyment of something as trivial as being able to walk outside without feeling in danger was too great.

After all this time, we were living again, not just surviving. No one was looking for us. No one would come for us. And no one would tear us apart.

Thanks to Agent Lewis' subtle commentary, Becker was probably certain that the person who'd tipped the authorities was one of the members of his killing club. The message Lex and I had come up with, the one we'd sent with the anonymous tip, was too ominous to misinterpret.

I can't keep this quiet any longer. I need to repent for the sake of my eternal soul. May God forgive me for what I've done.

That clearly put the suspicions on one of the perpetrators, and because Lewis had shared it, we were safe. Becker now had preoccupations much greater than a hacker who'd stolen a small portion of his money. The fact that no one was coming forward to claim the unveiling of such a huge case played in our favor, too. Someone as public and prideful as Nammota would normally have called it as theirs if they'd done it. The renowned hacker wasn't one to beat around the bush, and Becker knew about it.

We were completely, utterly, and absolutely free.

From the apartment, it took us forty-seven minutes to walk to our destination. When we reached it, I halted my steps, taking a moment to prepare myself. As I gazed up at the tall building, I was thrown back to the very first time I'd seen it, to the day everything had changed. Getting a job at Kelex had brought both the best and the worst moments of my life. But regardless of all the shit I'd had to claw my way out of, I would never, ever, regret meeting the man standing by my side.

Flooded with nostalgic feelings, I gazed up at him, looking all dapper in his dark blue jeans, black T-shirt, and anthracite jacket. "Are you ready to go in?" he asked, looking down at me and pressing an encouraging hand on my lower back. I nodded, but before he turned his attention away from me, I extended my neck to demand a kiss. He indulged, and with his hand still behind me, we entered the building that was so familiar to us, yet estranged.

Given the hour, we'd arrived right when people were coming back from their lunch. The hall was busy, slightly crowded, and I took Lex's hand in mine, hoping the sensory overload wasn't too hard on him. We waited among the other suited up people for the elevator, and when it arrived, we entered it with the flow.

It seemed things never really changed, and the angry mob hadn't learned about manners during our months away. Lex and I were pushed like cattle into the small space, and he ended up forced between me and the stainless steel panel in the back.

The situation was oh so familiar, and a soft laugh rolled out of me as I glimpsed up. There was keen amusement in his eyes when they met mine, an incredulous, crooked smile bending the corner of his mouth. While it threw me back to the first time it had happened, all I could think of were the differences between then and now.

This body I was plastered against, which had felt foreign and inappropriate back then, was one I knew better than my own, now. This man, who'd seemed like an unattainable demigod, was mine, and I knew he was so much more than a dashing face with amazing eyes. The sexual tension that had oppressed me what felt like forever ago was still there, but it was a familiar feeling, one I enjoyed and cherished. And contrary to when I'd wanted nothing more than to have enough room to set some distance between us, I didn't want to move from my spot, even if the space became less crowded.

Nothing was the same, and yet here we were. Stuck together in that damned elevator, on our way up to the Kelex offices.

We'd gone full circle.

And Jesus fucking Christ, what a journey it had been...

"So, here we are again," he whispered in my ear, an undying grin on his lips.

"I guess history was bound to repeat itself."

"If I'd known back then everything I know now, I wouldn't have let you go," he confessed, his warm and humid breath fanning across the slope of my neck.

The familiarity of the situation, the way we were so closely pressed, combined with his flirty tone, had my knees bucking slightly. People might have been watching, or noticing the sensual moment we were having, but I didn't care. We didn't work here, and we weren't being that indecent.

"You would have kidnapped me?" I asked, amused.

"No, I would have claimed you sooner, made you fall in love with me faster. I loathe those weeks where you could have been mine, but weren't."

I understood all too well what he meant, so I offered him an understanding smile, gently grazing his side. We'd wasted time in the past, yes. But we wouldn't anymore.

The elevator rose to the floor we wanted, and we exited it after elbowing our way to the door. We both noticed the construction workers, and when I asked Lex what it was about, he explained that Kev had purchased the other half of this floor to expand the Kelex offices. The company was doing very well, and all the new hires needed more room for everyone's comfort. Side by side, we walked into the old section, ready to see our friends. First stop was Kev, but I'd check to see if Tamika was back from her lunch break on our way there. Then, we'd go downstairs to the Lair and have a chat with the nerds.

To my great pleasure, Tammy was back, and we exchanged a long and tight hug. I hadn't seen her – or any of my friends – since the girls' night we'd organized at home. Nearly two months had gone by since, but with everything that had happened in New York, it felt like an eternity ago. Thankfully, we'd kept up via texts and video calls, so we weren't too out of touch with one another.

Because of the circumstances, I'd told people that Lex and I were off to London, where he had assets, and pretended he needed to take care of some stuff. Even to my family, who knew, I'd said the same thing, knowing they couldn't know the truth, since it could have put all of us in danger. If the snake guy had known we were in Becker's home city, he might have left no stone unturned to find us.

Tammy and I caught up for a moment, our hands signing fast and excitedly. Her romance with Darius had grown stronger than ever, and cohabitation was smooth and perfect. Now that we were back, she insisted on inviting us to my old place for dinner in the near future, and I gladly agreed.

Since I knew Lex was impatient to be reunited with his oldest friend, I promised her we'd go out soon for a few drinks, and hugged her once more before leaving her office. On our way to Kev's, we came across a few people we knew, especially Lex, and with all the stops we were forced to take, it took us a solid five minutes to get there. He knocked, visibly excited, and I gently pinched his forearm, delighted for him. Kev invited us in, and Lex opened the door.

He entered first while I followed, and as soon as Kevin lifted his eyes to see who the newcomers were, a huge smile split his face in half. With impatient moves, he got up from his chair, came around his desk, and the two of them walked into each other's arms. They shared a solid hug, tapping each other's back, and Kev eventually pulled away, holding Lex by the shoulders.

"Are you officially back?" he asked, his eyes going from Lex to me.

"Yes, He-Man. We're back."

"You beautiful bastard," Kev let out with enthusiasm, his eyes slightly glassy. He hugged Lex again, tighter, and then let go of him to give me the same treatment.

Once the fervent effusions were over with, we all sat in the sitting area of his office, Lex and I on the couch, and him on the armchair in front of us.

"So, is it all good? You're safe now?"

"We are, yes. Andrea and I took care of everything. No one will be coming for us."

"That's amazing! Does it mean you two came to get your old jobs back?" he humored.

"Well, for now, we're taking a much-deserved break. And after, I think we'll start our own thing," Lex explained, before turning to me. "If you still want to," he added.

"Yeah, I'd love to. We'll just take some time to decide what we want to do, but all this has proven we make an incredible team."

"We do," Lex approved, resting a hand on my jeans-clad knee to squeeze it.

"Can you tell me any of what happened, or is it some confidential secret?"

We exchanged a glance, pondering for a moment. "I guess we can tell you some of it," I said with a shrug.

Two knocks on the door interrupted us before we could say more, and his secretary opened to slip her head into the crack. "Mr. Kyeong just arrived," she said. "He's on his way up, and should be here in a couple of minutes." With that, she closed the door again, and Kevin swore.

"Fuck, I completely forgot. I have this Samsung representative coming. Damn it. You know what? I'll tell him we need to reschedule. This is more important." He rose from his seat and I did the same, hastily.

"No, don't!" I stopped him. "It's okay, Kev. We're back for good. We'll have time."

He gave it a quick thought, and then an idea came to him. "Tonight. Shelly would love to have you for dinner. And you two need to see your goddaughter. She's growing like a mushroom. It's insane."

Oh, Lord... The idea of going to Kev's house for dinner was very tempting. I'd been so socially deprived lately, I craved some interactions with humans who weren't Lex. And getting to see Amanda was cherry on top. I didn't want to speak for Lex, though, so I turned to him, standing next to us, and let him decide. Still, I influenced him heavily with pleading eyes.

"Of course we'll come," he replied, as if it had been obvious. "We'll bring wine and dessert. And tell Shelly I want that artichoke dip."

"Deal," Kev agreed, extending a hand so they'd shake on it. He then pulled Lex in, throwing an arm over his shoulders. "Damn, man... It's good to have you back."

They hugged for several seconds, and the easiness in Lex's body language told me how close these two were. I received one last embrace as well, and we were at the door at the same time Kev's meeting arrived. We waved at him one last time and disappeared into the corridor.

"Are you okay?" I asked Lex, worried he might be disappointed that their reunion had been cut short.

"Yeah, I'm good. I'm happy we'll get to see Shelly and Amanda. Let's go see the nerds."

I nodded, and we walked back toward the stairs. As we passed Lex's old office, a sudden impulse took over me, and I grabbed his wrist to drag him to the door. I opened it carefully, made sure it wasn't occupied, and pulled him into the room we had shared for a while.

Nothing had changed, which made sense since Kev had never given it to someone else, probably reluctant to officially put his partnership with Lex behind. It was my understanding that four people were now in charge of Lex's old functions. Someone from research and development had been promoted to manage that section, and Steven was now in charge, along with Oli, of handling the dev team. Then, someone from outside had been hired to manage the graphic design team. It took four people to replace the genius of a man Lex was.

Lex's computer was still there, as well as the three screens, and another strong sense of nostalgia hit me. Wordlessly, I walked to the chair I'd occupied for about a month, and sat on it. Lex sent me an amused glance, and went to his own chair to roll it back, before taking a seat as well. It was odd to be in this position, so similar to the past. Because of everything that had happened, I felt so different from the old Andy. The carefree attitude and innocent youth of her was gone. I'd matured immensely since meeting Lex, either because of my relationship with him, or because of all the complications that had come with it. With time, I probably would become more like I used to be, but it would take a while to grow past everything.

"Is it weird if I kind of miss having you as my boss?" I asked, intrigued.

"I still boss you around, freckles."

"Only in bed, though. Not that I'm complaining." I looked around the room, familiar yet distant, and returned my attention to him. "Does it feel like it was a lifetime ago for you, too?"

He nodded, scanning the room just as I'd done. "It all feels so... inconsequential," he said. "This meant everything to me back then, this office, this company, this job... But now I've realized how there are other things so much more important than any of this."

"I did love working here," I replied. "And if I were to work here again, I know I'd still love it. But I know what you mean. The life I led was so small, in the end. So unimportant."

"And mine was missing something, even though I wasn't aware of it." We exchanged a long, deep stare, so many words passing in our gazes.

"I will say that I only have one regret," I declared, failing to hide my mischievous grin.

"What is it?"

"We never got to act on that fantasy you had of me."

A flame danced in his gray eyes, and the same heat echoed in me. "Which one?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

"The one where you bend me over your desk and fuck me."

His irises darkened, and I could tell he was considering acting on my teasing. Aside from that time on his couch, we'd behaved overall, and we'd never had sex in here. Not that the temptation hadn't been there. Before he could get too absorbed in his fantasy and decide it was now or never, I shot up from my chair.

"Alright, let's go to the Troll's Lair," I declared, heading for the door.

I'd just reached it when he caught up with me. I let out a surprised squeal, which turned into an uncontrollable giggle, when he pressed me between his large body and the panel. "Will you ever get tired of driving me mad?"

Between the baritone pitch and the hardness of his dominant body against my back and ass, heat spiked in my entire body. "I don't think so, no. That's like... my favorite pastime."

"You impossible little tease. Should I give you a spanking every time you make me hard and don't take care of it?"

"Oh, God..." I moaned, stunned by the acute flash of arousal that shot through me. If we did that, I'd probably never be able to sit down again. It wasn't my fault if the man was so horny for me all the time. Still, I masked my worries, out of pride, and decided to reply with cheekiness. "Only if you want me to do it more often, I guess."

He chuckled behind me, which didn't help with my excited situation. To my surprise, he gave me the sweetest, most tender kiss on the cheek, and moved back to release me from his caging hold.

"Let's go see the team," he decided. Fuck, I kept forgetting how good he was at turning the tables around.

I nodded, not trusting my voice given the lump in my throat, and we exited the office. As we walked downstairs to see my old colleagues, I did my best to shake my mind out of the gutter it had fallen into.

The same thing happened on the lower floor as it had upstairs, and we came across many people we knew, some I even considered friends. I looked for Dakota when we passed the graphics team, but then remembered she was still on maternity leave. I'd have to pay her a visit at home soon.

When we reached the Lair, I noticed it was much bigger. Oli had told me they were making adjustments to welcome a bigger dev team, but I hadn't expected it to be twice as big as before. The glass door was still in the same spot, and the stickers were still on it, with a couple of new ones. Lex opened it, and with a hand gesture, he gallantly invited me to go first.

I thanked him with a courteous nod and walked into the room as he followed closely. Wow, just like the space had doubled in size, the team had as well. Seven unknown faces were working from their desk, focused and serious. I scanned the room, and the sight of the ones I knew filled me with happiness.

Mason was the first one to lift his head to see who we were, and his eyes became huge as he recognized us. "Ah! My babies!" he shouted, overly excited.

The others looked up, confused, and Mace left everything he was doing to come our way. Without missing a beat, he opened his arms and pulled us both into his embrace, squeezing us together. Amused, I looked up at Lex, who was staring ahead, seemingly unfazed, and then wrapped an arm around Mace.

"How dare you two go away for so long?!" he scolded after he'd released us. "Ya'll know I need a regular dose of yous."

"Sorry, things took forever in London," I invented.

The others had had time to move forward now, and Steven, Joseph, and Brian greeted us with an enthusiasm that almost matched Mason's. Oli and Meera were waiting for their turn, and I gave each of them a long, tight, and intense hug.

Oli and I shared a long and knowing look, and the sight of his red hair and freckles appeased me. Without him, without his selflessness and his friendship, none of this would have been possible. I'd forever be grateful that he and Meera had helped me get Lex out. We owed them so, so much, and I would never forget it.

"So, how was London?" Brian excitedly asked.

"It was a lot of fun," I lied.

I couldn't wait until some time had passed, so this lie would be far enough to never be mentioned again. "How about you, guys?! How have you all been doing?"

They filled us in on what they'd been up to for the past few months, and I listened eagerly to their tales. Brian was the same clueless nerd I'd grown to adore, and Steven had finally asked his girlfriend in marriage they planned to get married in the Spring, and we were invited to the festivities. Joseph had a girlfriend for the first time in his life, and she was apparently as sweet and shy as he was. When it became Mason's turn to speak, he entertained us with a verbal essay. His relationship was going swimmingly, and he was more in love with his boyfriend than ever. Although, he made sure to make clear he'd still leave him in a heartbeat for a throuple with us.

"How are you two doing?!" I asked Oli and Meera, eager to hear about how their cohabitation was going.

"Oh, these two are boning," Mace intervened before they could say a thing.

My eyes went huge as they darted to my two friends. Damn, I should have seen it coming. I should have guessed this would be the unavoidable outcome of them living together. All the tension that had been between them had morphed into something else, something less platonic and more physical.

"Mason, you gossipy bitch!"

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