Eight Weeks In The Life Of Michelle Devereaux

VI.

Monday morning, Michelle rose feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time. A couple of days of solitude had done her good. In fact, she looked forward to getting to the library today, and occupying her mind with something other than soaps and Lina.

"Well, check you out, Michelle A. Devereaux," commented Angie, another assistant librarian. Angie was a striking young black woman whose eyes were a startling shade of green. She seemed to always have a jaded, stern manner about her that Michelle didn't care for. And although Angie did not outrank her in the hierarchical power structure of the organisation, she did have seniority, and rarely failed to remind Michelle of the fact. For the sake of harmony, though, she made an effort to at least tolerate Angie.

At the moment, Angie was standing over Cherie, a blonde, nineteen-old secretary whom Michelle considered totally devoid of any higher brain-function (her three main areas of knowledge being men, makeup and clothes -- not necessarily in that order).

"What's up, Angie?" asked Michelle, with a big grin on her face.

"Oh, nothing much," replied Angie. "Just seems like you're in too good a mood this mornin'."

Michelle shrugged. "Just glad to be back -- it was a nice weekend, but I like to keep busy, you know."

Angie nodded, then Cherie piped up. "Miss Devereaux, can you help us...?"

"What's up?"

Angie sighed. "Our star secretary has managed to crash her computer again."

Michelle sighed and rolled her eyes. "Look, Cherie, I think I told you to give that program more memory, didn't I?" She began to walk over to Cherie's station, then hit the "restart" switch. "Now look, let's go back to the beginning..."

It was good to be back.

* * *

By noon, Michelle had nearly forgotten her lunch date with Lina. She looked over her list of projects for the week. Nothing seemed too urgent. One patron had requested some rather obscure records from the fourth-floor archive room. Of all the areas in the library building, it was Michelle's favorite -- incredibly quiet, containing a large, over-stuffed green leather sofa that was "to die for." Best of all, virtually nobody ever went up there except Michelle, whose duties took her up there regularly.

"Angie," she said, "I need to head up to Archives for awhile. Will you be alright?"

Angie shrugged. "As long as Cherie doesn't erase her hard-drive." Then she added, "What about those records from the archives Mr. Beaston wanted?"

Michelle made a face at the mention of Beaston's name. "Let me look real quick...."

She turned back to her own computer to find out exactly where the requested materials were located, when she heard a familiar Spanish-accented voice say "Hey, mija."

Michelle looked up. "Lina!" she exclaimed, her heart skipping a beat. She looked up at the clock. It was 12:20. "I - I almost forgot - "

Lina's full, almost voluptous lips curved upwards in a smile that dripped with seduction. Michelle felt her pulse starting to quicken...while underneath her sweater, her nipples started to harden.

"Uh - look, I'm sorry - I need to head upstairs and look for some records."

"Mind if I join you? I've never seen all of this place."

Unable to think of a quick reason to say no, Michelle said, "Uh...sure. Why not?" She turned and called "Angie?"

Angie popped out from behind a bookcase. When she saw Lina, her eyes grew wide. Lina herself seemed taken aback.

"Well, well, well...Adelina Sandoval!" Angie said. "So, what brings you down to our little neck o' the city?"

Lina seemed almost embarrased, but responded politely, "Hi, Angie. Didn't know you worked here."

Michelle raised an eyebrow at Lina. She tilted her head in a way that said I'll explain later. Noticing, Angie commented, "So...you and Michelle know each other?"

Lina replied, "We're friends...Michelle, are we going to...?"

Michelle nodded.

They turned toward the elevator when Angie said, "Hey, wait a sec."

Michelle and Lina turned as one. "What?" asked Michelle.

"You wanted to ask me something."

Michelle realised she'd completely forgotten what she meant to ask Angie. "Uh...never mind." Flashing Angie a big smile, she turned agains and started for the elevators with Lina.

On the way up to the fifth floor, Michelle asked, "Where do you know Angie from?"

"She used to come into the 'Lizzie' quite a bit," explained Lina.

"Is it my imagination, or do you two have a bit of 'bad blood' between you -- oh, forget that, it's none of my business."

"Oh, mija, it's alright -- I'll tell you about it someday...it's kind of a long story."

Michelle nodded, then added "I understand...she's not exactly one of my favorite people." At that, she let the matter drop.

They reached the archive room a few minutes later. As Michelle unlocked the door, she mentioned "This is actually one of my favorite places in the library."

Lina had to agree as she looked appreciatively at the hardwood floors and book cases. "It's nice...reminds me of your place, in a way."

"I just have to make sure we have a couple of documents a patron requested," said Michelle as she pulled a portable stair unit over to one of the bookshelves.

As she climbed, she looked back at Lina, saying "If you want to know any obscure historical tidbits about Port Landers in the old days, this is the place to come."

Lina nodded. "I see," she said.

After a minute, Michelle located what she was looking for."Here it is," she said triumphantly, pulling out the document. Suddenly, she felt a minor ache where her neck met her shoulder and gave a short moan.

"What's wrong, mija?" asked Lina, with a concerned look.

"Nothing, really," said Michelle, rubbing her shoulder with a free hand as she climbed down off the stair unit. "I'm just uptight. Damn Angie has that effect on me."

"Well, you just come over here," said Lina, gently, taking Michelle's arm.

Michelle turned. The sight which greeted her caused her to gasp and nearly panic.

Lina had unbuttoned her blouse...and was not wearing a brassiere.

"Uh...Lina...what do you think you're doing...?"

"Shhh," replied Lina, gently guiding Michelle over to the sofa.

Although she was nearly shaking, a phrase from a science fiction show she had once enjoyed echoed in Michelle's mind...

Resistance is futile.

"What are you doing?" asked Michelle again as Lina sat her down and began working her thin, pullover sweater off.

"I'm taking care of you," Lina replied. Slowly, she placed her hands on Michelle's shoulders, and began to massage and knead her upper back muscles gently as she had the last time. "Caramba, sweetie -- you're all in knots again!"

"Damn Angie," murmured Michelle, again. All at once, Michelle's resistance crumbled like an old, worn-out building. Closing her eyes, she sighed "Mmmm...that feels good..."

Lina continued massaging Michelle's shoulders for several minutes, gradually slowing. Without even realizing she was doing it, Michelle began to lie back against Lina, as Lina put her arms around her.

"Feel better?" Lina asked.

"Oh, yes..." murmured Michelle contentedly. "You really know how to turn me into jello..." She looked up at Lina, and their eyes locked. She smiled. Then, as if of its own accord, her arm reached up behind Lina's head. Slowly, Michelle pulled Lina's face down and kissed her.

Lina returned the kiss lovingly, then kissed her again. "I missed you so much, mija," she whispered.

"I missed you, too," Michelle heard herself say as they shared yet another kiss. My god, what are you DOING?!? said a small voice from a corner of Michelle's mind.

Shut up, Michelle told the voice. She caressed Lina's sensuous lips with her tongue, whispering "I thought about you all weekend."

"Mmmm," murmured Lina as she ran her tongue over Michelle's. "I couldn't take my mind off of you."

Michelle began to realize she was hungry -- but not for food. Lina's mouth was intoxicating, and addicting -- the more they kissed, the more of Lina she wanted.

Michelle, you crazy bitch, screamed the small voice from the corner of her mind. My god, this is the PUBLIC LIBRARY!! What the HELL do you think you're doing!?!?

I said shut up, Michelle said to herself. She sat up and put her arms around Lina wordlessly. She was starting to lose control.

Lina leaned forward, twisting her shoulders back and forth slowly so their breasts rubbed together. Deftly, Lina began undoing the buttons of Michelle's blouse, as her lips and tongue moved over her lips, and across her jawline. Eyes closed in bliss, Michelle raised her head back and to one side as Lina kissed her neck. Meanwhile, Michelle's hands, moving as if of their own will, began reaching under the sweatshirt Lina wore, lifting it up, cupping her breasts and caressing her nipples with her thumbs.

Within minutes, Lina and Michelle were nearly naked from the waist up, mouths glued together, fondling and caressing each other's breasts...

Lina had started to push Michelle's skirt up when suddenly, the door rattled.

Oh my god, she thought, suddenly freezing in mid-kiss. Their mouths still joined, they looked toward the door, not saying a word, frozen in place.

The door rattled again. All at once, there was the rattling of keys. "SHIT!" Michelle whispered fiercely, pushing Lina away and struggling to pull her skirt down.

Lina looked over at the door as well. Without a word, she leaped over the back of the sofa, making a hard landing on the floor behind it. "OW!" she screamed.

"Shhhh!" said Michelle vehemently, as she struggled to get back into her blouse. A key entered the lock and began to turn...

Beaston entered, greeted by the sight of his newest assistant librarian, her hair disheveled, her blouse half unbuttoned, her skirt in disarray, and wearing only one shoe.

Michelle brushed the hair back from her face and smiled in a way both foolish and disarming.

"Oh, clumsy me," she said, giggling nervously. She tossed her head in the direction of the stair unit. "I just missed a step and fell on my - uh, you know..."

Beaston nodded, moving over toward some back shelves and another door leading to a closet. "You should be more careful, he said, adding with a grin, "With all the cutbacks, we can't afford a lawsuit."

Michelle nodded as Beaston disappeared behind some shelves. Michelle heard the sound of a door opening as Beaston opened up a storage closet. Immediately, Michelle ran behind the sofa and grabbed Lina by the wrist, pulling her to her feet.

"Ow - ow - " whispered Lina. Michelle looked daggers at her, placing a finger to her lips as she led her to the door and out of the room. Quickly, she shut the door behind them and began escorting Lina toward the elevator.

"Shut up!" Michelle whispered fiercely. All at once, the door to the archive room began to open. The elevator was still twenty feet away and closed tightly. Michelle began to panic -

Beaston had turned and was locking the door of the archive room. He had something in his hand...

Michelle tried to go back into the stairwell when Beaston called out, "Miss Devereaux!"

Trapped, Michelle turned. Beaston was holding up the sweater and the shoe. Beaston started toward her. "Are you alright?"

Once again, Michelle brushed her hair back in a distinctly feminine way designed to charm men. Smiling demurely, she replied, "I - I'm fine, Mr. Beaston. Why?"

"I believe these are yours," Beaston said sternly, holding out the shoe and the sweater.

Michelle opened her eyes wide and giggled. "You know, I think I'd lose my behind" (at this, she wiggled her hips slightly) "if it weren't attached." Then, batting her eyelashes, she smiled. Taking the sweater and shoes with one hand, she touched Beaston's chest lightly with the other and said, "Thank you so much, Mr. Beaston. I don't know what I'd do without someone like you around here."

Disarmed, Beaston smiled and nodded. "Well, don't worry your pretty head too much about it," he replied, patting her cheek. Offering his arm, he said, "Ready to head down?"

Michelle hesitated, then suddenly said "Oh, I completely forgot what I came up here for! I'm so sorry!" With that, she headed back up the hallway.

Beaston nodded, then flashed a grin. "See you downstairs, then." As Michelle began to open the door of the archive room, Beaston pressed the "call" button for the elevator, then grunted and headed over to the stairs.

She ran back over to the stairwell and yanked the door open. No-one was on the landing, but she could hear Beaston's steps on the level below.

Michelle returned to the archive room and picked up her search where she had left off earlier.

She was so intent on finding the records, she did not hear the door open...nor soft footfalls across the floor...

Still non-plussed, Michelle stalked over to the sofa, archives in her hand, where she sat down heavily. Slowly, Lina sat down next to her, and began running her fingers through Michelle's lush red curls.

Suddenly, Michelle began giggling almost uncontrollably.

"What is it?" asked Lina.

"I cannot believe we did this!" exclaimed Michelle.

"What -- make out?"

"In the goddamn Public Library!!" Michelle said. "My god, when that bastard supervisor of mine walked in an us -"

Lina laughed, then said, "Oh, I know...lo siento, mi cara...but didn't you feel so alive?"

Michelle considered this for a moment. Regarding Lina for a moment, she had a brief flash - not a vision, but a realisation - of what her life had been...

...namely secure, stable, predictable, staid - and competely lacking in spontenaiety.

She reached out and put her hand against Lina's cheek. Lina placed both her hands over Michelle's, her eyes dancing with affection.

Michelle chuckled, shaking her head. "I suspect life with you would not be easy," she said.

Lina nodded. "I promise you'll never be bored." At that, Michelle laughed out loud. Lina started laughing as well.

Impulsively, Michelle hugged her close, then backed up a bit, gazing into those big brown eyes.

"Let's just hang out and see where it goes. I'm willing to do that much."

Lina nodded. "I can't ask for more than that."

A few minutes later found them alone in the elevator, heading down. The two women were silent a moment.

"I still can't promise I can be what you want."

Lina turned Michelle's face to hers. "Just be you, mija."

At this, Michelle almost wanted to cry. Impulsively, she leaned forward to kiss her when the bell rang and the elevator stopped. Quickly, Michelle stepped back as the doors opened and a couple of patrons got on.

Michelle walked Lina to the library entrance.

"Would you like to get together later on?" asked Lina.

Michelle shook her head. "I wasn't putting you off when I said I'm here until 8:30. Usually, I'm too tired to do anything but go home and go to bed."

"Such long hours."

"Yes," agreed Michelle. "but I get three day weekends out of the deal. Sometimes four."

Lina nodded. "Well -- I don't want to spoil your rest."

"Why don't you come over Thursday night?" said Michelle, impulsively.

"It'll have to be late -- I'm over at the 'Lizzie' until closing."

"Well, come over anyway and stay over for brunch." Michelle leaned forward conspiratorially. "I make a great portobella trucchia," she murmured.

Lina turned to Michelle, slipping her arms around her. "Count on it, mija," she said.

Michelle suddenly wanted to kiss her - then realised where she was. She settled for a hug and a peck on the cheek.

As Lina walked toward the bus stop, she tossed her head back in Michelle's direction, saying simply "Hasta el jueves!"

"Bye," replied Michelle, non-chalantly, as she walked in the other direction.

As Michelle arrived back at her desk, Angie asked, "So how was lunch?"

"Great," replied Michelle.

"Looks like you let your hair down," commented Angie.

Michelle reached up to her hair, and realized she'd forgotten to tie it back up.

"So I did," she grinned, "so I did."

TO CHAPTER SEVEN

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