Andrea and James Pt. 01

Andrea and James - Part 1 of 3

Comforting a colleague eventually leads to the end of a marriage

This tale is a slow burn so if you're after a lot of sex quickly, this story may not be for you. There is a little sex towards the end but this part is mainly just background information, dealing mainly with the conflicting emotions of a married woman whose desire to help a colleague begins to transform their relationship. It could also be in Loving Wives, Romance, or Mature categories, but I put it in Erotic Couplings as it is basically about the relationship that develops between work colleagues. It does develop into infidelity that ultimately ends in divorce, (Part 3), but the husband is collateral damage to the colleagues' relationship.

Erotic Couplings: Adultery, infidelity, cheating wife, mature, office, work

Chapter 1

"Do you still miss her?" Andrea asked James.

Andrea was a fox. In her mid-forties, very attractive, married with two grown children no longer living at home, she enjoyed her work as an Administration and Public Relations Manager for a small division of a large manufacturing company. James was early thirties, tall, well-built and thought Andrea, an attractive man.

They'd originally met in the kitchen when they'd bumped into each other as they stopped for a coffee. Andrea had always been a friendly gold-hearted empathetic and caring woman and noticed that the young man she was sharing the kitchen with she'd not seen before, and started speaking with him. Discovering he'd only recently joined the company, and even after their brief chat, she'd developed a good feeling about him and offered to show him around, help him if he wanted. It didn't hurt that she found him quite handsome.

Over the next six-months they'd developed quite a close friendship so she felt quite comfortable when at one time she 'd noticed he seemed a little uncharacteristically distracted and she'd told him she was a good listener so if he ever wanted to talk about anything she was happy to lend an ear. At that time, he'd thanked her, told her he appreciated the offer, but he was okay. He just had a few things on his mind. Since then, they'd had had many conversations over coffee and daily shared time in the lunch room until one day recently, when they were alone at the table, almost on the verge of tears, he'd blurted out, told her, that he'd broken up with his fiancé. At that time, she'd felt a real tug on her heartstrings, a slight tremor of a wave reaching all the way down to her belly, seeing the pain he was in. She'd grown to love his company over those many months and again offered to be a friend, a confidant if you like; just someone to talk too, a shoulder to cry on. He though, had initially been too shy to open up any further. He was a sensitive, possibly overly so, and an emotional man. But over the next week or so he'd started opening up a bit more when it seemed Andrea might really understand what he was going through.

Considering the question she'd just asked him; whether he still missed her, "Yes..." he replied. "I thought it would be easier by now... that I would be over her... It's been a couple of months already and my pain is still as bad as it was when I found out she was cheating on me."

Pausing, he added "Well, not quite as much now... Being able to speak with you, and your company and understanding... and support... have given me some brief moments of relief... a lessening of the pain during our discussions over lunch. You have no idea how much that... you... your support... has meant to me."

"James, I'm so glad that I am able to help, even if only for a few moments."

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. Andrea, when I'm with you, when we are talking, it's the best feeling. It's... when I look at you, I see you really are listening, I see sympathy, empathy, understanding, in your eyes and it makes me feel so good to know that you are there, that I have the support of someone as wonderful and caring as you."

"Wow! James, that is a really nice thing to say. Thank you."

"Why I said a few moments of relief, I meant that while I'm with you, for a few moments I feel good, for the reasons I already mentioned, but those moments don't last all that long after we leave to go back to work. We've been having lunch most days since I started here and even from the first day Cheryl and I broke up, when you asked me if I was okay when you found me in a bad state, when I blurted out Cheryl and I had broken up, when you saw me on the verge of tears.

"One thing I can truly say is that were it not for you, for your support, I would be in much worse shape. I start to feel better after each of our lunch meetings, despite how brief they are, and that we can't speak too long or too personally, and that better feeling lasts just that little bit longer after each meeting. But the feeling wears off after a few hours and I get miserable again and the pain returns. I was really in love with her. She was my fiancé! I never thought she'd cheat on me... I moved here leaving all my friends and family to be with her, after she said she needed to move here to get the promotion she was after."

After a pause during which she appeared to be quite deep in thought, Andrea, subconsciously reached out her arms, took James's hands in hers and rubbing her thumbs over the backs of his hands said, "James, what can I do to make those moments of relief last longer? Would spending a bit more time together help?" Then, suddenly realising they were still in the lunch room with other employees', Andrea quickly withdrew her hands from his, and hoped no one else had noticed the touch. Even though innocent, some people may jump to conclusions and get the wrong idea.

"Andrea, of course it would help, but I'm not sure how we could do that... It's not as if we could go out for dinner to talk, or anything. You're happily married and I can't see how we could spend more time together without taking time away from your husband and family. I couldn't ask you to do that."

"James... sometimes a little physical closeness... such as just a simple brief hug, can help restore happy feelings and comfort, but we can't do that in public, nor can we do that at work. It would all be innocent of course, but still, some people might see us hugging and take it the wrong way. That's how rumours start and that cannot be allowed to happen. I can't do anything that might jeopardise my marriage. But I want to help, if I can, to get you back to the happy smiling person I knew when you first started here. I miss that person very much. Sometimes, your laugh, your jokes, just make my day. Administration and public relations activities can sometimes make for horrible days, and often your bright, happy, smiling countenance did wonders for my mood."

"Oh every time I see you, speak with you, you help. And I must admit, when you touched my hands a few minutes ago, although it was only for a brief moment, it felt so incredibly good. Like a load had lifted from me. Sorry... perhaps I should not have said that, but it demonstrates how much your support means to me. I guess I just miss the physical closeness I had with Cheryl. In some respects, that's the hardest part.

"Look... a hug now and then would be really good, but I'm just happy if we can continue to have lunch together sometimes, if that's okay with you."

"James, thank you for understanding... and making me feel good too," she said as she reached out and patted his hand. "Of course, I am happy to continue having lunch with you when I can."

But that afternoon, as Andrea tried to concentrate on her work, she couldn't help wondering how she might help James's mood last longer after their lunch meetings. She hated to see good people being sad or unhappy. That just tore at her heartstrings. She was really quite delighted that James felt she really was helping him recover from a traumatic relationship breakup, even if only for short periods of time, and he did say, those feel good periods were increasing in length, very slowly, but nevertheless, increasing. She could still see though, when she ran into him in the office, that he was still in a lot of pain. How could she maybe help speed up his recovery to the happy guy she knew him to be?

How could she provide him with the brief physical contact that she thought would help, just a simple innocent hug or two? How could she do that for him without jeopardising their positions at work and her married life, her relationship with her husband, her kids? There was a morals clause in her employment contract that strictly banned any sort of personal intimate relationships between managers and subordinate staff unless advised to HR that such an intimate relationship did exist. She was a manager and James a clerk and even though he did not directly report to Andrea, the manager subordinate restriction might still have applied and they could both be fired if that restriction was breached. And she was happily married. She trusted her husband and knew that her husband trusted her, and even though any potential physical contact between James and herself would be innocent, it could, it might, it probably would, if misinterpreted, lead to divorce even though her husband was an understanding man and knew about Andrea's almost obsessive desire to cure all the world's ills. He'd often reminded her that sometimes people just need to work some things by themselves, without interference, no matter how well intentioned the efforts of others. That had occasionally led to some quite heated arguments between Andrea and her husband. But still, a divorce would be unbearable. That would put her in the same situation James was currently in. That would be an unsatisfactory situation. So she needed to ensure that there was no chance of any behaviour that might be interpreted, by anybody, incorrectly, as crossing the line.

To get more from their lunch meetings and a little more privacy, they'd decided sometimes to have lunch in a nearby cafe rather than in the work lunch room. Andrea and James continued most days having lunch at the cafe, sometimes joined by other colleagues, but mostly just the two of them. But they made sure that having finished their lunch, when they walked back to the offices in which they worked, just a couple of blocks away from the cafe there would be no holding hands, no hugging, no other physical contact. Just two work colleagues returning from lunch. But the lunches there enabled conversations that led to the deeper discussion of more intimate issues, such as feelings. The closeness between the two continued to deepen, both unaware of the strong emotional bond forming between them.

One day, a few weeks after the last meeting where Andrea briefly took James's hand in hers, almost subconsciously, she did it again. This time, her heart fluttered a little and a piece of it went out to him when she saw what it meant, when she saw James's eyes light up and a huge smile spread across his face. Oh how good it would be to make him feel that good for longer periods, to heal his broken heart completely. Aware of where she was, and some other colleagues nearby, she quickly withdrew her own hand, but felt a little sad when she saw the momentary disappointment in James's eyes of the loss of physical contact.

As she sat there wondering, how she could make James's happiness last longer, she said, "You really do miss her touch don't you."

"Yes", he replied, "Very much. There was a lot of intimacy between us, just a touch on the shoulder, or cheek or arm, even right up to the end. I guess that's why the pain is there... that's why it's been so bad, because I had no idea I was sharing those touches, her love, with another man!" raising his voice a little. "We had even made love the night before and again that morning!"

There was a pause as they both took a bite of their food, then James said, "Yes... yes... I miss her touch and me touching her, and the feeling of loss as she's no longer beside me as I drift off to yet another fitful sleep... And the pain is there again when she's not there when I wake in the morning." James sighed and threw his hands in the air in frustration, wondering, saying out loud, "When will the pain end completely so I can get on with the rest of my life."

Andrea's own heart was almost breaking as she felt for James. She could almost feel his pain and wanted to do something more to help him.

"James, I so want to give you a hug, to let you know I am there for you, to comfort you, but we can't do it here and we can't do it in the office. We really can't do it anywhere in public, where no matter how innocent, people may get the wrong impression. But, from what I sense, you really do need a good hug."

"Yeah, I know. Look, I don't want you to get the wrong impression. I said more than I should have. It was just frustration escaping, letting its wild ugly head loose," as he had a little laugh to himself. "I hope I haven't said anything too inappropriate, anything that might have offended you. I would be devastated if I'd caused you not to want to have lunch with me again because of the feeling of hopelessness I may have conveyed. I don't want to be a cry-baby, but I've never been through this sort of thing before. My comments may have been a bit too personal but I'm hoping your support maybe grants me a little leeway now and again. But please tell me, tell me, if I cross the line or if anything I say makes you feel uncomfortable."

Andrea just laughed, "James, James, it's all okay. So far, so good," she said and had a little laugh. "I feel for you and understand what you are going through. It's not as if I haven't at some point been there myself," and laughed a little again.

She was glad to see a smile cross his face. "Let me see if I can work out a way to give you that decent hug that you really need... And if you think of anything, let me know too." Both smiling they left the cafe and headed back to the office.

It was just two days later that an event occurred that would have a lasting impact on both their lives.

Chapter 2

Twice a month, when payrolls needed to be processed, but occasionally for other reasons, Andrea needed to work late for a couple of hours. Whilst payroll preparation was not her actual task, she was responsible for the efficient and accurate operation of this critical area of the organisation so she always stayed back to answer any queries that may crop up, and to ensure its satisfactory completion. Once the payroll was put to bed, she did the rounds of the offices before locking up if she was the last person in the office.

This night, she was startled when she went into the copy room to copy the payroll summary report ready to hand to her boss, first thing in the morning, when she ran into James, who was still working, running off some copies before calling it a day. Both had been busy and hadn't had time to meet for lunch that day.

He jumped as Andrea entered the room. "I thought everyone had gone," she said as she stood there looking at James.

"Yeah, I thought I was the last one here as well," and laughed. "I've just finished so the copier's all yours."

"Thank you," she said as she ran off the copies she needed. "How are you going today, James?"

"Ohhhh, you know... Been better."

James stayed while she made her copies. He loved being in her company. She'd just finished and turned around to find James right there, in her space. They just looked at each other, both with heartbeats raised slightly and edging higher every second.

No words were spoken, no movements made, until...

First looking around to confirm no one else was around, "I... umm... do you think I might have one of your hugs now?" he asked uncertainly, a hopeful smile just forming.

Andrea had at times thought about what she would actually do had she found herself in this or similar situation, but had not been able to come up with an answer. She knew James needed a hug and she so wanted to give him one, to make him feel better.

Andrea's face showed confusion, caring, empathy, recognition, and maybe just a little love that had inevitably grown between them during their many months of lunches, often getting into personal and intimate discussions. James's face showed almost a plea as he uttered his words. He'd known that he'd started to develop feelings for her, confusing his personal life even more. Not yet over his cheating fiancé, but having feelings for this extremely attractive woman, but who was out of bounds. She was married. He wanted her but did not want to damage her relationship with her husband or her children. Nor did he want to lose her as a friend. And he didn't want to get fired.

The two of them just stood there for what seemed like hours, but was what must have been, give or take, only a few seconds. Five or so, long seconds.

Andrea placed her copies on the copier, stepped right up to James and put her arms around him. It was a sigh of relief from James as he returned the hug, putting his arms around her and hugging her tight. She felt his sobs start as he bent his head in the crook of her shoulder, gently kissing her neck.

"It's all right James, it's all right... Let it go, you beautiful man." Her eyes went wide as she realised what she had just said, but James did not appear to notice. His sobs continued a while longer before he withdrew his face from her but did not let her go. Her heart felt as if it might break, feeling James's pain, feeling his sensitivity. She was caught off-guard momentarily when she felt a strange slight tingle run from her belly down to her vulva. She gasped at the unbidden feeling. His vulnerability seemed to her to be drawing her entire caring, empathetic being into the gap in his own being, the empty gap created by his ex-fiance's absence.

Reacting to her gasp, "I'm so sorry" he said. "I didn't mean to do that."

Recovering from the strange feeling, but with her vulva still tingling, she quietly said, "It's all right James... It really is all right," as she rubbed her hands up and down his back. As they stood there hugging she stiffened momentarily as she became aware of his hardness. He did feel good to her. She couldn't work out whether it was her heart beating hard or James's. She was sure James needed some physical contact, thinking maybe some nice long hugs, if he was to forget his cheating fiancé and get on with his life. She wanted to give him some comfort to help with his healing. And now it seemed, as a surprise to them both, the time had possibly arrived.

He stopped sobbing, now feeling a little embarrassed as he turned his head away.

Andrea removed her arms from around him and took his face in her hands and pulled it back around to face her. Looking into his eyes, with her thumbs she wiped away the remaining tears, pulled his head down and kissed him full on the lips. He returned the kiss with a softness that made her knees shake and she felt the tingle get stronger, running right down to her toes. She felt her panties getting wet as her vagina leaked its juices and her nipples begin to harden.

She was astounded as in a moment of clarity, she pulled back from him. How could she feel like this? She was happily married. She knew she liked James and wanted to help him overcome the loss of his cheating fiancé but this was a danger to her marriage, this was already cheating, even if only emotional. It was just a kiss, but it would not pass any husband test. And the feeling both emotional and physical felt so strong!

"I... I'm so sorry," she said, pulling back from him. "I don't know what came over me," slowly shaking her head from side to side, her face a picture of dazed confusion with even the trace of a tear or two developing. Was it the vulnerability she saw in James and her overwhelmingly strong desire to help him that caused such a strong reaction? Had she developed feelings beyond simply wanting to help him heal? Had his vulnerability tapped into her maternal instincts? Would she do anything, even the unthinkable, to help him heal in order that he be able to get on with his life?

She focused and looked back into his eyes and saw confusion on his face. And helplessness. And hurt, because she had pulled away from him. He didn't understand. They had spoken about having some physical contact, a long hug. And they had just done that but they had also kissed.

And then, she made an impulsive decision.

Knowing there was a camera in the room she moved so that her back was to it, and James was mostly hidden in front of her. With both hands, she took one of James's and placed it on her breast, covering his hand with hers and pressing it hard against her. James gasped as he felt the firm softness of her large breast and Andrea felt her nipples harden even further. This time it was he that bent down to kiss her. The softness of his lips and the sensual way he moved them over hers made her knees shake again and as he fondled her breast she was almost ready to collapse.

In another moment of clarity, she pulled away from him again; wide eyed she covered her mouth while uttering "Noooo." A pause of a few seconds then spoke. "No James... no... I'm sorry... We can't do this... I'm married. I have to go... Would you lock up when you leave please."

Downcast and bereft of understanding at what had just happened, he mumbled, "Okay," turned and walked away.

Andrea quickly took her documents, gave James a quick peck on the cheek, returned to her office, packed her bag and left the building, a little stunned at what had just happened. She'd also been aware that what happened in the copy room may have been caught on the security cameras mounted at various points throughout the building, but she thought she'd avoided the most incriminating behaviour satisfactorily.

She was quiet that night over dinner, more than usual after a long day at the office, so much so that her husband asked if anything was wrong, if she was okay.

Andrea just replied that there were a couple of things at the office that needed sorting out, but that everything was under control. She would be okay in a day or so. In bed that night she had a fitful sleep, trying to analyse what had happened, how she had kissed James and how she'd let James kiss her and to touch her intimately, even if only briefly. And she wondered how much she had set back James's healing of his broken heart after she had pushed him away. He looked so miserable and disconsolate as he walked away.

She needed to let James know that she still cared but was concerned that what happened in the copy room might jeopardise their jobs because of the fraternisation rules if what they did, came to light. She ran into James in the lunch room, saw the look on his face and his downcast demeanour and so wanted to hug him to tell him everything would be alright but simply explained that maybe they should just take a break from spending alone time with each other for a while, just in case the cameras caught something.

"Have you given up on me?" James asked.

"Oh no, James, not at all. We just need to make sure our jobs are safe, and we can then get back to what we were doing before." At least that was what she told him, but there was still the matter of feeling a little guilty about the behaviour that would not pass the husband test and she needed a bit of space to work out what to do about that. She knew the right action to take would be to just maybe keep having lunches with James, but there should not under any circumstances be any physical contact of any sort. But then she thought that might not be enough to help James get over his cheating ex as both had previously agreed that hugs might help

It was three weeks, or was it maybe four when she ran into James again in the lunch room, having avoided him all that time which was fortunate, as the compromising security camera footage had been brought to the attention of her immediate boss. Fortunately management, unknown to both, had monitored Andrea's and James's behaviour and apart from the day after, when they had a brief discussion in the lunch room, management decided to give them the all clear and stop all further monitoring of their activities although a note, stressing that no adverse impact on their careers was to occur was placed in both their files just in case something happened in the future that might affect the company. They were also not concerned about her safety as she was the one that had originally made the advance and they appeared to be conversing in a reasonably comfortable manner. She'd even given him a quick peck on the cheek as they parted. Still, their respective bosses had a quiet word to both of them and satisfied with their responses, after they'd explained they were just friends and James had been feeling a bit down, the matter was closed. Besides, they didn't want to upset Andrea or James as they were both highly valued employees.

"How are you feeling James?" Andrea asked, "Are you over Cheryl yet?"

"I'm okay. I'm getting there, but it's taking a lot longer than I thought. It's been about five months now and I'm still really only marginally better than when you said we couldn't meet again for a while... That set me back a bit because it seemed the only person I could turn to for support, was no longer there for me."

"You know I'm there for you. We just had to be sure we were in the clear because of what happened in the copy room. But you know what? Why don't we, you and I, just go and have lunch in the cafe again today?"

"You mean it?" asked James and she saw his eyes light up and a smile cross his face. And that old feeling came back to her again. This time it may even have been worse as she felt a slight tingle in her belly spreading down towards her sex when she saw James's reaction. She was going to continue helping him again. She smiled to herself.

"Yes James, I mean it. But no touching, okay?" as she smiled at him and started walking away. "Around one PM suit you for lunch?"

"Absolutely" replied James almost skipping back to his own work area.

Lunch went off fine, both just speaking about things in general, ignoring the elephant in the room but both were smiling as they walked back to the office.

The next day they went to lunch again. This time they did not ignore the elephant. They spoke about their feelings for each other and discussed the best way forward to get James's heart whole again. But the issue of being seen together too often might reopen worries about inappropriate behaviour coming from the company's HR department.

"Andrea, I love our talks... I love when we are together. I loved it when you touched my hands those times... But the best feeling I've ever had, was when we hugged in the copy room. You have no idea how good I felt after that... until you broke away... then things got pretty depressing for a few weeks. But what I do know is that when I am near you and when we touch it makes me completely forget about Cheryl.

"I would do anything to get that feeling back, even if only once or twice, but without you cutting off contact with me after it," he laughed. "Look, I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but even as I think of it now, it might sound a bit creepy and I would not want you to get the wrong idea."

"What are you thinking?"

"I know I probably shouldn't even say this, but I want some of your hugs again. Your touch, the hugs, help me forget... they help me heal, but I know we can't be seen in public hugging, especially if the hug should last a bit longer than acceptable according to the husband test, but I live only five minutes away, literally... Maybe we could meet there during one or two lunch hours every so often."

"Oh James, I don't know. I'm not so sure that would be a good thing... I want so very much to help, to support you to heal but that... I just don't think... I just don't know."

"Please don't be upset Andrea. Just hugging... nothing else... Not much one can do in a lunch hour," he laughed. James paused and then added, "I could even prepare lunch before I go to work, so we could have a hug, have a bite to eat, maybe have another hug and then get back to work, well within the hour. Nobody need know."

"I don't know James. It wouldn't pass the husband test, and I don't want to jeopardise my marriage. But I want to help you, and I must confess, it makes me so happy to see how our being together... the effect it has on you, to see you smile, to see you being happy, getting happier, getting your spirit back."

"Do you maybe just want to try it once? See how it goes?" James asked hopefully. "If it's awkward or it doesn't feel right to you, I won't ask you again. And it's innocent... When we are together, it's a win win situation. I see how happy it makes you when you can tell that you have helped me and that's a double win for me. I see you happy, and that makes me happy too."

"I understand... but I'm a bit torn between my desire to help and what that may look like should anybody see us no matter how innocent.

"James, I so want to help you anyway I can but you can't look to replace Cheryl with me. I'm married. I'm too old for you. You're too young for me. You need to look forward to meeting the right girl, getting married, having kids, buying a house or travelling, all things you young folks need to do. I want so much to help you, to be your support when you need it, but I'm not Cheryl's replacement."

Andrea paused, "I don't want inappropriate feelings to ruin our lives," but sensing already, that feelings, that an attraction had already developed between them. That was hardly surprising given the personal nature of their interactions. She still remembered how nice the kiss, and pulling his hands onto her breast made her feel in the copy room that night. And the wetness she felt between her legs.

"We'll be okay Andrea. We know what we're doing and we know how much you have helped me already and that must give you some satisfaction too. We know there is no future for us. It's not that sort of relationship... it's just friendship."

"Let me think about it for a few days, okay."

"If you don't want to try that, that's okay too. The most important thing to me is just that I am so incredibly happy and lucky to have your support. And if we need to restrict our chats to an occasional lunch in the cafe, that's more than okay with me," said James hoping he would still get those hugs that he so desperately needed.

"Just give me a few days to think things over, okay," she said smiling as she very briefly ran her hand over his just before leaving the cafe and heading back to the office.

Chapter 3

It was when they next had lunch that Andrea said "Okay, James, let's give it one try. If it feels right, if it feels good, maybe we can continue until you heal, but if awkward or uncomfortable, we stay with what we have been doing. Are you okay with that?"

James was on cloud nine. The mile-wide smile Andrea saw on his face made her smile too. She hoped it was the right thing to do. It really did seem like it meant something huge to James and that surely would help him get working to get over his cheating ex-fiancé. They arranged for their first meeting to meet at James's the following Tuesday during their lunch hour. It was Thursday and they both spent the next few days wondering how the physical contact, the hugs, though innocent, would play out. Would it be awkward? Would it be good? Would they be able to meet without anyone else, including her husband ever finding out? Would they be able to keep it to a strictly platonic friendship despite knowing that they both had developed feelings that were stronger than mere friendship? She thought back to the incident in the copy room when she knew strong feelings already existed between them when they'd kissed and she'd even placed his hand on her breast. She took a deep breath and shook her head.

Tuesday arrived and they made their way to James's apartment. They both took their own cars, both heading off in different directions, neither of which was in a direction directly to the apartment. Arriving together, they locked their cars and entered the building. Andrea was a little nervy waiting while James unlocked the door. Once inside she relaxed a little noticing the apartment was neat and clean, even quite cosy for a single guy's apartment.

"Take a seat, make yourself comfortable," said James. "Can I get you a drink, soda, tea, coffee?"

"Just a glass of water would be fine," she responded, her mouth feeling quite dry.

"Do you want lunch now, or wait a moment or two?" he asked as he handed her the glass of water and sat down beside her on the couch.

Taking a sip, "We can wait a moment if you're okay with that," she said taking hold of his hand. She was a little surprised when she felt a nice warmth, almost a slight shock, from his hand and a tiny tingle ran through her lower body. She wasn't alone with that feeling. James was also a little taken aback at how strong the sensation of her taking his hand in hers affected him as he felt a momentary pulse run through his penis.

James turned toward Andrea, looked into her eyes, saw what he took to be the same feeling he was experiencing and took a chance. He put his arm around her back pulling her to him, bent his head down and lightly touched her lips with his. So soft, so sensual, thought Andrea, and made no move to stop him. After a moment, she started responding, returning his kiss with the same softness she felt from him. The kiss lingered quite some time, warming both their bodies, raising heartbeats, before Andrea pulled away. She leant back against him calming down from the sensuality of the kiss.

Putting his arm over her shoulder his hand dropped down in a natural position but that meant it fell over her large breast. The touch was accidental, but it felt so very good. He didn't want to do anything to jeopardise this new level of "hugging", or touching although there hadn't been any hugging so far.

He was elated when she made no move to move his hand away but was wary about Andrea's momentary tensing as his hand fell over her breast.

But it did start to further stir up Andrea's feelings. She felt the tingling right through her body, tending this time to pool in her genitals and she could feel her nipples hardening. James could also feel a similar sensation as his own cock started to harden in response. Leant back into him as she was, her left elbow was resting on his upper thigh just to the side of his cock and she now also felt his erection beginning to make itself known.

He let his hand rest on her breast for a few moments before cupping and gently squeezing it. He hadn't intended today's lunch to be anything more than what they had already agreed; some physical touching and hugging but nothing that would compromise her relationship with her husband. Both were surprised at how easily, how natural it felt, to fall into what was already intimate touching; touching that would not pass the husband test.

He could feel its weight as he gently lifted the heavy breast and caressed it causing a sharp breath intake from Andrea, but still she made no effort to move his hand away. Emboldened, he reached around with his other hand, cupped and gently kneaded the other breast. Gently squeezing, he heard a little groan from Andrea as he brushed his thumb over the bump in her bra made by what was an engorged, stiffening nipple.

"Umm..." a little breathless, Andrea asked "Should we have lunch now?" wanting to calm down and think about the new level of intimacy that had now developed between them... James was a little disappointed when Andrea pulled away but happy, as that was the longest and most intimate touch he'd ever experienced with her. He remembered her putting his hand on her breast briefly, in the copy room, months before but that was a momentary thing and caused her to stay away from him for a while. He fleetingly recalled also doing something similar with his ex but Andrea's breast was bigger, fuller and felt so much nicer. He was happy as she'd not complained or objected.

He stood up and retrieved the food he had prepared that morning and placed it on the kitchen table. The lump in his trousers was not missed by Andrea. "It's just simple sandwiches but I hope you'll like them," as he pulled out a chair for Andrea to sit down.

Standing behind the chair, as she sat down he put his arms around her, gently cupped and squeezed her breasts and kissed the nape of her neck for a brief moment before sitting down beside her on the other chair.

"That was really fantastic," exclaimed James as he helped himself to a sandwich. "You know, that was the very first time, since Cheryl and I broke up, that I have felt alive. Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much for being my friend."

Andrea responded with a half-hearted smile as she finished her sandwich and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"What's the matter" he asked. "Have I upset you?"

She didn't answer straight away and James was getting concerned.

Andrea sighed. "James, you haven't upset me... It's just... I want to support you... and things seem to have been progressing quite comfortably... I can see that you are so much happier these days... but... I know we met today to be able to have a hug, so that you could have just a bit of physical closeness that you had been missing after you broke up with Cheryl, but I'm married... and while I enjoyed your touch... it's not right... I'm a married woman."

She was devastated as she saw James's whole physical being seemingly empty itself of everything good, as his face fell, as his shoulders slumped, as all the happiness that had started to return, disappear as she watched. Her heart ached for him. It was almost at the stage where it all began, all those months ago when she saw him in a depressed sad state in the kitchen that day. She knew that the physical closeness with James earlier had lifted his spirits almost to the point where he was really happy again. And now, with just a couple of words, it had all been for nought.

"Oh James, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean we should stop," and she pulled him in close, hugging him for the first time today, giving the physical contact which was the reason they were meeting here today. She was torn between her duty as a married woman, and her need to help a soul deeply in trouble, a situation her husband would most definitely not have approved of. She was torn, but her need to give some comfort to someone who really needed it won out. "Wow." She thought. "Strictly platonic no more," and winced slightly, unnoticed by James.

What was happening between her and James was not impacting or affecting any other part of her life she reasoned, emotions beginning to override logic. She loved her husband and nothing had changed on the home front. They were chatting, communicating, exchanging those intimate touches couples in love do, smiling when they looked at each other and generally exchanging loving pleasantries. Work was not interfering, compromising her performance either. Yes, she'd decided. For almost a year now, with her daily lunches and chats, her relationship with James had not impacted on any of the other most important aspects of her life. None of the other important things in her life needed her help or support as much as did James. She would do whatever it took to help him out the depression, the feeling of hopelessness and lack of self-worth he was feeling.

With emotions winning the battle, throwing caution and care to the wind, she decided helping James was the most important thing to do right now, today, here, this minute. Removing her arms from around James, she started unbuttoning her blouse and when fully unbuttoned removed it and gently dropped it over the back of a chair. Then reaching around, she unclasped her bra, let the straps drop off her shoulders, removed it and placed it on the chair with her blouse.

"James" she said, putting her hands under his chin and lifting his head up, "it's ok... it will be okay... It's okay to touch me... I really enjoyed it before... I want to help you."

James's mouth dropped as he turned and saw her naked breasts, then seeing her smiling face he choked back tears realising that he hadn't done something that had driven her away."

As relief crossed his face, Andrea took his head and brought it down to her breast, feeding one of her engorged nipples into his mouth, while rubbing the back of his head and said, "It will all be okay, James... it will all be okay..."

The tears had stopped and he now sucked on one nipple while lifting a hand up to caress her other breast, then switched to suck the other breast for a few minutes but then Andrea said, "We'll do it again James, but we need to get back to work now. We've got just enough time so that if we leave now we won't be late. We can't be late... We can't be drawing attention to ourselves."

Hurriedly she replaced her bra, donned her blouse, buttoned it up and taking James's hand they both left the apartment and returned to the office with a couple of minutes to spare before their lunch hours were up. They returned to the office retracing the same routes as earlier. Anyone seeing the two cars returning from different directions would not have known they had been together.

Back at the office, James sat down in his chair and reviewed the events of the last hour. The smile returned to his face as he started to feel happy again. He hadn't wrecked what had become to him an extremely important friendship. It had actually turned into something more and he hoped that Andrea was still okay with everything as he was sure, she would also be reviewing the events of the last hour. James was actually quite productive the rest of the day, more so than he had been for months.

Andrea considered developments with James, particularly events during today's lunch hour. She shook her head at the realisation of how quickly things had escalated. A momentary pang of conscience was quickly pushed aside as a smile crossed her face, thinking how happy James had been, particularly when she's told him everything was okay, and that their friendship was good. She raised her eyebrows thinking about how she not only exposed her bare breasts to James, but physically encouraged him to take her breasts, her nipples into his mouth. She giggled to herself at the totally uncharacteristic behaviour she had shown. Justifying her actions, she felt that she didn't need to explain anything to her husband because she was sure he wouldn't have minded her doing whatever compulsive Mother Teresa actions, maybe not quite to the level it went today, it took to help remove a fellow colleague's mental anguish, after all, he knew she had a soft spot for the vulnerable and her desire to help whenever she could. God knows, there had been many examples over the term of their married life. None of those examples however, approached the level she had reached today, but still, she felt all was good.

As a final thought before returning to the work she was paid to do, she tingled a little, even now, at how nice it felt when James had fondled, then caressed, her breasts after having earlier kissed her lips. He really knew how to kiss. His mouth was so soft and sensual, and that alone was enough to begin making her a little weak at the knees and causing the crotch of her panties to get damp. With a smile on her face, she bounced in her seat before settling down and decided she was really looking forward to lunch on Thursday, if James was available.

A text confirmed he was, after she'd sent one to confirm if Thursday was still okay. She'd already at that moment confirmed internally her decision to do whatever was needed in order to help him heal, to forget his soul destroying break up with his ex-fiancé. And if she was being honest, she was looking forward to continuing and possibly developing even further, the physical closeness that had developed between them. She looked forward to the tingles she'd felt from his touches on previous occasions.

Thursday arrived and once again they both left the office in separate cars and headed off in different directions, just as they had done on Tuesday but arriving at James's apartment together.

James unlocked the door and let Andrea in before following, then shutting and locking the door.

She put her bag down on the couch and turned to face James. He took her in his arms and kissed her with a sensuality that he didn't even know he could summon. The softness of his lips on hers, the way he moved his tongue over her lips, the way he gently pushed it between her lips causing them to part then meeting her tongue. Andrea had never felt anything like that, and she swooned, so much so that her knees weakened with only James's strength holding her, preventing her from collapsing.

He let her recover then walked her over to the couch, sat her down then sat down beside her. He kissed her again then placed a hand on her breast and gently fondled it, causing Andrea to emit a groan and felt a gush of juices soak her panties. At that moment she felt she would let him do whatever he wanted.

Once she'd recovered from the kiss and noticed James had started unbuttoning her blouse she hurriedly helped him and quickly removed it and placed it to the side. He started moving his hand around her but she pushed it away, telling James to remove his own shirt, while she reached behind her back and so efficiently, unhooked her bra causing her breasts to sensually, just drop that fraction, removed it and placed it on top of her discarded blouse. James had removed his shirt. Both now, naked from the waist up, looked at each other, smiles breaking out as they both liked what they saw.

"God... you are so beautiful," he said "You are the most beautiful woman I have even seen, and you are my friend... You are helping me..." and before he could say anything more Andrea pulled his head down, as she had done on Tuesday, and fed a nipple into his mouth while taking his hand and lifting it to her other breast. She ran her hands over his naked back as he fondled sucked and kissed her full heavy breasts. She was in ecstasy as her ran his tongue and teeth over her rock hard nipples.

She moved her hands to his waist. Looking for his belt and finding the buckle, unfastened it. She undid the button on his trousers then slid the zip down so that his trousers could now be removed. She put her fingers into the waistband and pulled down. James lifted his bottom as she grabbed the top of his trousers and boxer shorts and pulled them both down before James sat down again. She wasted no time as she took his cock in her hand and slowly started stroking it.

James now fired up with passion slid one hand under the hem of Andrea's skirt and moved it up to her panty clad vulva. He awkwardly reached up to the hem of her panties and started tugging down. "Let me help you," said Andrea as she stood, undid the little loop on her skirt, slid the zip down to release it and removed her skirt.

James leaned in, put the fingers of each hand into the waistband of her panties and slowly slid then down her legs. Exposing her pussy he saw a neatly trimmed little runway of hair and protruding soaking wet lips and a prominent clit already poking its head out of its protective hood.

Stepping out of her panties, Andrea was now completely naked in front of the only man to see her that way since she had married her husband. James gently pulled her toward the couch, sat her down then turned her so he could gently push her back so that her back was now on the couch. He lifted her legs and placed them fully stretched out in front of her. Before she could do or say anything else he moved one foot and placed it on top of the couch backrest and moved the other foot to the floor, now completely exposing her sex. She couldn't remember when she'd last felt so exposed and her anxiousness was soon calmed when she felt him running his tongue back and forth along her slit a number of times before nibbling on her swollen labia. His tongue found her swollen button and as he took it in his mouth he slid a finger into her vagina.

The combination of everything caused Andrea to moan and her entire body trembled as she had her first orgasm. James continued his ministrations with his tongue and teeth and inserted another finger into her vagina and then a third, before rapidly moving them back and forth. It wasn't long before he felt her begin to tremble again but this time it was stronger, much stronger. Her body was shaking all over, her groans and moans were loud as she uttered "Ahhhh's" and gasps and "Oh God's," before a final body shaking tremble drained her and she relaxed back. Her eyes were dreamy, her face a serene glow and a smile so beautiful James was in awe. If he already thought Andrea was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, seeing her like this was almost a religious experience to him. He was so rapt.

It was a few minutes later when Andrea finally sat up, got off the couch and knelt in front of James, between his knees. "Your turn now" she said as she took his hard pre-cum covered cock into her mouth and slid her fingers around the shaft. James hadn't been too far from cumming himself after he'd gone down on Andrea and he could already feel himself getting very aroused as she took him as deep as she could in her mouth. As he enjoyed her hot wet mouth, her lips, on his cock he felt himself building up to climax and as he bent forward a little so he could caress her breasts and nipples, he shouted, "Drea, I'm going to cum... I'm going to cum," giving her warning in case she didn't want him to cum in her mouth. That only made her actions more energetic and as he erupted. She swallowed everything he gave her and to his surprise, she had another orgasm, almost as strong as her last one.

She knew he would probably be sensitive so she didn't touch the glans as she cleaned him up. He'd softened and removed it from her mouth.

"Wow!" he said, "Wow!" that was something else. Thank you... thank you... thank you... "

Andrea giggled, "Yes... I have to agree," and giggled again, "I need to go to the bathroom though."

"Oh yes, it's the first door on the left he said as she rose and a little unsteadily, picked up her bag from the couch and walked to clean herself up a little."

He was dressed by the time she returned, her makeup back in order but still with a flush from her orgasms on her face, on her body.

"We'd better have a quick bite to eat and get back to the office," said James.

They hurriedly ate, with little conversation and walked to the door, ready to leave.

"Are you okay?" asked James.

She paused before answering, then said, "You know, I am having difficulty believing, understanding, how quickly we transitioned from lunch in the cafe to being completely naked with each other, but," she giggled as she replied, "Yes James I'm okay. I'm very okay."

"I know I said it before Drea but I'll say it again. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You have a beautiful face, with the most beautiful warm smile, you have a beautiful heart, and oh, you have a great really really great, hot, body."

"Thank you James. You know, you're not so bad yourself."

He turned to her, put his arms around her and hugged her. Reaching down he gave her another of those sensual kisses Andrea was now becoming familiar with. Despite her increasing familiarity with them, her knees weakened and she threatened to collapse again, but James held her until she was okay again.

Locking up the apartment, they once again retraced their separate journeys to return to the office.

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