Apprentice, Ch. 02: Monday

The Apprentice, chapter 2: Back to work.

[Tom's perspective.]

MONDAY

Waking up to my alarm clock I of course have absolutely no memory of dreaming about workout sex.

About two hours later I arrive at my workplace and go to the break room to get my second cup of coffee for the day and to attend the morning briefing.

After the usual meet and greet I'm informed that I've been assigned a high priority task for this morning. Mats, our CTO has hired a corporate assistant apprentice. His assistant Thomas is to train this apprentice to become a corporate assistant. My task this morning is to provide this apprentice with all the technical tools he needs (smartphone and a laptop computer with a bunch of peripheral equipment) as well as making sure all relevant software is properly installed. Given how often I've been handed incomplete packs of equipment from the guys at the storage, I'll be happy if I make it work before lunch. It's more likely going to take me all day, and I still haven't had a chance to go through the email accumulated during my absence.

I'm handed a cardboard box that's supposed to contain all of the ordered hardware.

Checking all items off the list I find a couple of mistakes. One provided cable is the wrong type. An ordered USB charger is missing. Two items required to make everything work haven't been ordered in the first place. SNAFU(*)!

Since this is far from the first time it happens I know what to do.

I put everything back in the box and load it onto my flatbed kick-bike. Take the culvert over to the store house and go to their office.

Turns out the order was picked by a teenage summer temp, explaining the wrong cable and missed charger. I also point out the items required but not ordered, and the person I speak to agrees that this is an issue. She'll make it a point for improvement and also make a new express order with the lacking parts.

Then I go to the storage and politely ask a picker to get my missing parts ASAP, which he does.

Now I'm ready to go meet the apprentice.

When I arrive neither the CTO nor the apprentice is there, they are at HR signing papers and stuff. Thomas is there though.

He points me to the right desk and tells me to install the hardware.

I set up two monitors, a high res USB camera (for video calls), headset holder/charger, laptop docking station, full size keyboard, etc.... You get the idea.

As I'm crawling under the desk, neatly bundling the cables, I hear Thomas' voice in the corridor: "He's here installing your computer. Go right in."

"Right. I'll see you later", a female voice replies.

Heels clicking on the floor enter the room behind me.

"Hi, I'll be with you in two minutes", I say while still working with the cables.

"Fine. I'll wait", says the female voice that seems familiar but I can't place.

She strolls around the desk, stopping in front of me.

I see a pair of nice red pumps with sensibly sized heels. The shoes cover a pair of feet in dark brown nylons that continue up a pair of shapely legs and disappear under a navy tight skirt. That's what I can see.

Those legs also look a bit familiar though, as if I've seen them before...

She bends down to see me better.

"Tom?" she asks, surprised.

"Yes Lena, it's me", I answer equally surprised as I recognize her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Installing your tech.... So you're the apprentice?"

"That I am, starting today."

"That's cool. Look, if you just give me five minutes to finish the cabling here under your desk first I'll then have plenty of time to show you the ropes."

"Five? You just said two!"

"That was before I saw you. Now that I've seen you there's a delay", I say, trying to be diplomatic and not arouse myself further by telling her the actual problem.

"Am I really that distracting to you?"

"Remember the elevator ride?" I counter.

She pauses for a few seconds to evaluate. Then she smiles.

"Oh, I see... Please carry on then, don't mind me."

I go back to work while she sits down in her new office chair, well within arms reach right in front of me.

Suddenly doing the job in five minutes becomes very difficult, as a significant part of my concentration once again is diverted to Lena's alluring and mesmerizing legs.

In an attempt to get her out of sight I turn around.

"Please back away to give me some space", I say.

She complies, albeit with some unwillingness.

I back up a little bit towards her so that I have my hands in the right position. I'm standing on elbows and knees bundling cables with my hands.

Then I feel Lena's foot between my thighs, gently pressing against my crotch in a way that makes the one eyed monster come to life.

This is highly improper! And it feels very nice.

I should definitely stop her! But there's no way I want to do that.

I should report her to HR!... that she's someone for whom I have deep sexual, and possibly romantic, feelings.

I say nothing, just try to continue the work at hand.

It gets a lot better when the foot disappears, though my cock is still stiff..

It gets A LOT worse when Lena decides to join me under the desk, asking me to explain what I've done and what I'm doing.

Half an hour later my two minute job is finally done. Half an hour of smelling her hair, her perfume and body. Of looking at her beautiful face, now with a token amount of makeup, and her delicate hands. Of teaching her about the different cables and my strategy for bundling them. She seems to actually care about what I tell her, and at the same time she asks questions about basic stuff that she should already know.

I'm unable to make out if she's doing this just to tease me and make me embarrassed or if she's actually interested in the work I do. It might be both, although she doesn't quite look the part of every other hottie that has been toying with me in the past.

We both stand up, facing each other a meter and a half apart..

"What do you think?" she asks, stretching her arms out to the sides while doing a little pirouette to give me a good look at her.

She's picked a more formal outfit today. The red pumps and navy pencil skirt are accompanied by a white blouse, slightly transparent to show off a red lacey bra underneath. Around her neck is a red velvet ribbon in a bowtie. A slight makeup with marked eyes and a little red on the lips. Her hair, that was tied up in a bun, has become a bit of a mess.

In short she looks absolutely gorgeous! And more formal than the other women in this company where 'proper casual' is the norm.

(Noticed how I deliberately skipped mentioning her nylons to keep myself somewhat sane?)

"That's nice", I say, trying to sound neutral.

"Nice!?!" she bursts out. "I've been totally stared at by every other person here since I arrived, most men not even trying to look away, and all you say is 'nice'? What's wrong with you? And me? Why the stares?"

I don't answer directly. Instead I turn around and close the door, noting a navy jacket hanging on a hook next to the door. I guess Lena wore it when arriving here.

I turn back to Lena.

"For this to work, and by 'this' I mean our relationships as neighbors AND as me professionally introducing you to your new equipment and this company, we both need to be a little more open and also restrained. You're making me sexually aroused. I haven't been able to stop you because it feels great while you do it. Being rational I don't want you to do it though, because it prevents me from thinking straight. I need to think straight in order to teach you what you need to know. Can you please try to not make me sexually aroused, at least not more than I get just by you being close?"

I can see her brain working to process what I said before I get an answer.

"Yes", she then says, possibly with some admiration. "It's been good for my self esteem to see your reactions, but I will stop if it makes you uncomfortable."

"Good! Now I can properly address your other questions. You probably haven't met that many other women here yet and therefore not noticed the informalities. I'd say your outfit is good for meetings with the board or major clients, and you should use it for such occasions. In everyday work a more casual dress code is used, even by Maria, the CEO. And we're all on first name basis with each other here. That, combined with how pretty you are, is why you stand out visually here today."

She contemplates what I've said.

"So nobody wears something like this?" she then asks, indicating her outfit.

"Not on a daily basis, no. I suspect that those who are expected to occasionally wear formal clothes keep a set in their office or locker room to put on when needed, you should ask Thomas about that."

My eyes come to rest admiring her red bra.

"... And possibly use a less transparent blouse."

She seems pleased.

"I'll take your advice", she says.

I sit down in her office chair and start her computer to see that everything is alright.

Lena stands beside and slightly behind me, watching me work, and I appreciate that I can neither see nor physically feel her. Just knowing she's present, watching me, makes my heart flutter, and that's bad enough.

As I feared, some of the ordered software is missing. I call support and have them do a push install during the lunch break.

Then we switch places and I begin teaching Lena how to use the installed programs.

A while later we get interrupted by Thomas, walking in after a quick knock, asking Lena if she wants to have lunch with him.

She looks at me, seemingly preferring my company instead.

"You two should go", I say to her. "Thomas is your mentor and has a lot to tell you. I'll be back here after lunch."

Thomas seems eager to be with Lena, and I can't blame him. Those two will spend a lot of time together and need to get to know each other first. I feel a pain in my stomach as I think about Lena flirting with him as she did to me. I'm just hungry, I try to convince myself.

We leave the office. Thomas and Lena go to the restaurant while I go back to my break room to have my lunch box with left-overs. And another coffee, of course.

When Lena returns to the office I'm already there, waiting for her. I've also verified that the ordered programs are now installed on the computer.

She and Thomas come strolling from the elevator. I can hear him say something that makes her giggle. My stomach pain returns, and now I'm not hungry.

"Back to the grind", I hear Lena say.

She enters the room, and I immediately notice the red bowtie no longer being there. Instead the blouse is unbuttoned down to just beneath her bra. I don't want her to show off this much skin here at work.... And I hate myself for thinking so. I have no right to criticize her outfit since I'm neither her boss, her dad, nor her husband. As long as neither Thomas nor Mats complains then I'm not in a position to do it.

I do my best to suppress my dark thoughts.

"Hi Lena", I greet her. "Did you have a nice lunch?"

"Oh yes! Thomas is very nice and also turned out to be funny."

She looks happy. I want her to be happy.... But I want her to be happy with me, not with Thomas, so I'm NOT happy.

But I need to stay professional about this. Thomas WILL spend time with her here at work, but I might get her to spend some time with me outside work.

"Let's continue going through the programs, shall we?" I ask.

"Yes teacher", she answers with a shy smile. "Too bad I forgot to wear my school uniform. I suppose you'll need to pull my skirt up, hold me down across your knees, and spank my firm butt so I don't forget the uniform again. I hope my delicate and very sheer pantyhose will survive the spanking."

This little vixen! The imagery she's planting in my brain is very disturbing!... At least it makes me forget about Thomas.

"There will be no spanking", I say. "You promised not to entice me again."

"Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. It was meant as a joke."

"An explicit, sexually oriented, joke. It did amuse me, but it's not fitting. Not here at work in general, if you want to keep this position, and for the time being I personally don't want to hear that type of joke from you at all."

She finally seems to grasp the gravity of my concerns.

"Now sit down so that we can continue", I say.

Just shy of two hours later I've begun a summary of what I've tried to teach Lena today.

That's when Thomas appears again, and my mood instantly drops a bit. "Time for a fika", he says in a cheerful voice. "Are you finished yet?"

I glance at the clock on screen. It's time.

"Yes, I'm summarizing now", I say. "Give us two more minutes and Lena is all yours."

"Thanks", he says, smiling at me before shifting his gaze to Lena, and then finally leaving the room again.

I quickly finish the summary. (Fika time is sacred here in Sweden.)

"If you encounter any problems or have further questions don't hesitate to call IT support", I say. "Or you can call me directly."

I hand her my business card.

"Take care!" I say before leaving the room.

"See you at home", she replies, and it makes me feel cozy. As if we lived together. I was sort of hoping for a '... darling' at the end though.

Then I pass a cheerful Thomas in the corridor and my coziness is gone.

I spend the rest of my workday plowing through two weeks of email.

At the end of the day a message pops up on my work phone. Unknown number.

"From Lena. Just checking your number works. I'm going home now."

I type a quick reply.

"It works. How do you get home?"

"Bus."

"Bus is okay. I ride my bicycle."

"Smart. I'd like to ride you some day."

My heart does something exotic. Did she really write that? A new message from her.

"Sorry, meant I'd like to ride WITH you."

... Or was it perhaps a Freudian slip?

Yet another message.

"Fika at my place this evening? Eight o'clock?"

"I'll be there", I reply.

No more messages appear.

I store her work number as a contact on the phone, and then also on my private phone.

I go home and make dinner. It would be nice to share the dinner with someone. Someone nice, like Lena. Perhaps there is 'someone' I could ask to have dinner with me every now and then?

What should I wear for the fika? Definitely neither formal nor pantyhose.

I expect her to make me horny, so the question is how to handle that situation. Wear something that will be painful but hold my stiffie tucked in? Or something roomy, allowing it to go erect and make a tent?

Well, she doesn't seem to mind me being attracted to her. Let's go for the tent option to let her see the result of her teasing and flirting. She knows that I don't want to have sex, but I have no idea what she wants. Can she control herself if/when my cock gets stiff for her? I don't know but I must be prepared for getting a boner!

I take a quick shower and shave.

Time to get dressed.

I take out my widest sweat pants. Should I use underwear? Not if my cock is to be free. But then the pants will get spots of pre-cum on the inside, and I don't want that.

I come up with an irregular solution for that problem: A fresh condom will protect my pants and keep them spotless while allowing the covered meat rod to swing. (That's a first for me.)

For my upper body I re-use the same t-shirt I wore last night. I want Lena to get to know the real me, the WYSIWYG version (excluding my pantyhose, for now), not a polished version.

Should I bring a present?

No, it's not a formal date (which it rarely is in Sweden) and I don't expect her to give me anything fancy.

I check the time.

It's ten to seven.

Ten minutes to wait....

Ten very long minutes....

I can't stand waiting another ten minutes!

I cross the hallway in five brisk strides and ring the doorbell.

"Come in, it's open!"

I open the door and step inside.

Lena is sticking her head out from behind the bathroom door. Her hair is, like yesterday, in a pony tail and she still has the makeup from earlier today.

"Stay there", she says. "I need your opinion on something."

I close the door behind me, then stop and wait.

She continues.

"I was considering what to wear this evening since you made it clear you wanted modesty from me."

I just nod to confirm.

"Then I decided to take a chance. I've dressed the way I typically do when I just want to feel comfy here at home, when the opinion of others doesn't matter. The only guys that have seen me like this are my former boyfriends, and while I wouldn't define my outfit as particularly 'modest' their unanimous verdict has been that it's a 'mood killer'. Is that okay for you, assuming you agree with their assessment?"

Now she's made me curious.

"Anything that doesn't arouse me is definitely acceptable", I say. "And if it's also something you like to wear it's even better."

"Good! I want your honest opinion whether this is a mood killer or too sexy for this occasion. Have a look!"

With that she opens the door wide.

Within a split second I've closed my eyes and covered them with my eyes. I don't need more time to register more than I wanted.

She's wearing a well worn off yellow oversize t-shirt that reaches a little bit below her crotch. Sheer tan pantyhose, possibly the same as she wore last night, cover her legs. Nothing more. It looks pretty darn sexy to me!

I can hear her giggle at my reaction. I like that sound, but not so much the current reason for it.

"It's too much", I say. "Can you please put on some pants to cover your legs?"

"Noted!" she replies. "I'll see what I can do."

I can hear her disappear into another room, so I open my eyes again.

My mind is racing again. The glimpse I caught of her will stay in my long term memory. It will surely be part of my jerk off fantasies for some time to come. It has also proven beyond doubt that Lena needs no convincing or other external reason for wearing pantyhose. She wants to do it! That puts her at the very top of my very short list of potential girlfriends. Should we become a couple (in all aspects) I'll encourage her to wear that as often as she wants. The huge problem is that I have no idea if she's in any way interested in me. And what is that personal problem preventing her from relationships?

Less than a minute later she reappears, now wearing baggy sweat pants like me.

"Thanks!" I say. "That should do it."

She gives me an amused smile and walks the few steps needed to reach me.

"Welcome!" she says and gives me a friendly hug. A friendly hug that feels very nice, and which I return, and which continues quite a bit longer than a friendly hug should.

My heart flutters.

We step apart and just stand there, looking at each other.

"I will serve pie," Lena says, "but it isn't ready yet. Come!"

She walks into her kitchen with me following.

I can't but look at her feet. Still in the sheer tan nylon.

She suddenly turns her head and catches me staring.

"Made you look!" she says with a coyly smile.

"I'd be more impressed if you failed", I reply.

I finally made her giggle! The sound makes my heart flutter and I feel really good.

Lena starts making coffee. The oven is on and I can see something in there, the pie, presumably.

"How do you want your coffee?" Lena asks.

"Strong and black", I reply. "Neither milk nor sugar."

"My type of guy...", she says to herself in a lowered voice. I almost miss it.

"What was that?" I ask.

"That's how I want my coffee."

"So what did you think of the coffee at work today?"

"The office break room has decent coffee, but the restaurant coffee is better used as a rust remover."

"Coffee as a rust remover, huh? I've never thought of that, but I suppose it could work."

With the coffee maker running she turns around towards me.

"That thing I wrote... about riding you, no, about riding WITH you, to work. There's a problem."

"You not being able to decide which version you want?" I ask, intentionally not helping.

"No! Well... yes... But that's not it!" she says a little confused and fluttered. "I don't have a bicycle. At least not here. I only have an old one, at my parents house."

"My bike is by no means fancy. It doesn't have to be. It's only a short distance and no major gradients to negotiate. If we can get your bike here that should do nicely."

"I suppose dad could bring it when my parents come to visit. I don't even have a car myself yet."

"Or I could drive you there to pick it up? I have a car, even if it's old."

"That would cost a small fortune in gas money. I'm not sure I can afford it yet."

"I'll give you a payment plan. Bus tickets aren't cheap. Riding me and/or your bike..."

I try to deliver those words with a straight face, and I see her trying not to laugh out loud. Then I continue.

"... will save you that cost in no time. I go by bus some winter days, so I know the cost."

Lena tells me her parents live in Smalltown, so if we go there it must be on a saturday or sunday.

"We can also stay the night," she adds, "but then you'll have to sleep with me, in my 90 cm wide bed."

I'm so shocked I don't know what to say about it, but Lena continues as if this is no biggie.

"My parents would be delighted, and I should warn you that I've never let a guy share that bed with me unless we had sex. I can't promise I'll allow you to be the first exception."

I just look at her, shell shocked. Her statement makes me wonder about her body count, but it's probably better if I don't know.

"What?" she asks. "I'm just telling you the realities. I'd rather not stay the night with you, at least not until I know you better."

"Good! Then we're on the same page", I reply.

A timer rings. The pie is ready.

Lena takes it out of the oven.

"It must cool down a bit before we can eat", she says. "Come!"

Without asking permission she takes my hand and leads me to her living room.

Her hand in mine feels good, as if it belongs there. Four hundred years ago I'd say it's witchcraft and I'm under her spell. Now I'm convinced that the 'spell' is made up of biology and pheromones. She can still make me do stupid things, like offer to go meet her parents, probably causing them to think I'm her boyfriend. Stupid!

Her living room doesn't look one bit like mine. It's clear that this is her first own home away from her parents and that she's moved in recently. Not much in terms of furniture or wall decorations. More in terms of cardboard boxes, most seemingly still filled with stuff. There's a nice carpet on the floor. A, by modern standards, small TV (around 40") and a two seat sofa in front of it. Nothing else. No wonder she wanted to see what my apartment looks like.

She moves to the sofa and sits down, patting the seat beside her.

"Come sit here!"

I sit down next to her. Close to her. Not so much by choice as out of necessity due to how narrow the sofa is.

Turning to me Lena looks me in my eyes as she says:

"I'm really not used to wearing pants at home. It's not me."

"But you wore jeans yesterday", I reply.

"That was almost a panic split second decision. I was about to go over to you wearing something less..." She hesitates a bit before continuing. "But then I recalled how you behaved in the elevator and guessed, seemingly correctly, that I had to cover more of my legs or you'd be unable to concentrate on something else. The jeans happened to be what was most accessible. I bought them years ago in a thrift store and have used them only once or twice before."

"Interesting. I think they're flattering for you."

"Really?" I can see her absorbing the compliment with a smile.

"Anyway," she continues, "today I wanted you to see me in my casual outfit, t-shirt and pantyhose, and I hope it won't freak you out in the future."

"Freak me out? Never!... It's just that I can't think straight when too much of my blood rushes to the wrong head as a result of me seeing you in that outfit." (Not to mention that I'd love to casually wear the same outfit myself. I'm just too much of a coward, too afraid of what others would think of me, to actually do it.)

I continue: "But why did you want ME to see this in the first place?"

"Because you're my only friend in this town, and I don't want to cover myself extra just because you drop in to see me."

She doesn't seem very confident of herself.

"I really appreciate your trust and confidence in me", I say. "I also want us to be close friends and if you say it's okay I will come visit you often, if just to spend some time with you."

"It's okay", she says. "I'd love that!... Perhaps we can figure out a way to make the situation less problematic without me having to wear trousers?" she asks.

"I hope so", I reply.

We sit in silence and think for a while before I get an idea.

"Can you wear opaque pantyhose instead?" I ask. "I find those less attractive, so it might work for me."

"Oh, that shouldn't be a problem for me. Let's try that next time."

"You know...", I begin tentatively. "I thought a bit like you. What I'm wearing now is my typical look at home."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Did you expect something else?"

"Actually... No, never mind."

We just sit there, side by side in a strangely comfortable silence, and contemplate.

I think about Lena, what I've experienced with her since we met yesterday.

I have no idea what she's thinking about.

"The pie must be ready now", she suddenly says, hasting to the kitchen.

I follow her at a slower pace.

Two plates with spoons, the pie and a package with vanilla ice cream are already on the table.

Lena is pouring coffee in two sturdy mugs while I sit down at the table.

She brings the mugs to the table and sits down.

"Nice coffee", I say after taking a sip.

"Thanks."

"Oh, that's right... you sent me personal messages to my work phone. How about I give you my private number?"

"I'd love that. Didn't know you have two phones."

"Well, I have. Can I have your private number?"

"Sure."

We exchange numbers.

"How was your day at the office?" I ask.

"Interesting and a lot to take in. I met some nice people."

"Anyone in particular?"

"You should have seen the guy teaching me to use my computer. Such a nerd!"

Ouch!

"And my mentor", she continues. "He's a really nice guy. Very smooth. Handsome. I'll learn a lot from him."

Double ouch!

We continue chit-chatting while eating pie and drinking coffee.

It feels right sitting here with Lena. She's smart, funny and easy going. I like it... and I like her.

I bring up my idea of having dinners together, and she likes it. I'll make dinner for her on Tuesdays and on Thursdays she'll cook for me. Nothing fancy, just a way to save a little money and have some company.

After fika Lena mentions her problems understanding the wash room procedures and suggests I show her how to reserve a time slot.

Happy to spend some more time with her I accompany her to the basement. I show her the board with marked time slots and how to lock a slot with the marker for her apartment.

She reserves a time for tomorrow evening, shortly after dinner.

When I want to show her how to handle the machines she stops me and suggests I do that tomorrow, so that she can learn by doing. I agree that's an excellent idea (since it will allow me to spend even more time with her).

Back at the third floor we formally end the time spent together this evening and I return to my apartment.

That's when my phone rings. It's mom.

"Hi mom!" I say.

After the phone call I lie in my bed, totally exhausted.

Mom can go on for ages about how my siblings, two younger sisters, have been able to get married and have kids while I'm still looking for a longer term relationship. How I really should find myself some significant other and become a father. Now and then she's even hinting suggestions that I might be homosexual, but unwilling to accept it myself!

Thinking of Lena is much better. And more arousing. Thinking about her makes me want more, and I know how to get it: Replace my sweat pants with pantyhose. I do that.

The condom didn't see much use at Lena's. Only a tiny drop of slimy pre-cum has been prevented from staining my pants. I leave the condom on.

Recollecting my dream about Lena yesterday, where I was about to lick her dripping pussy, I now let the fantasy continue while I slowly stroke my cock.

Licking her nylon covered pussy feels great. It's about as delicious as I expected and Lena squirms with lust under my tongue.

Then I use a finger to probe the wet hole. Pushing against the stretchy material it takes a bit of force to get it in, but it works. Can I do the same with my cock? Before getting a definitive answer the pressure on my finger disappears. My nail has cut a hole in the nylon. The hole almost immediately expands enough to let my entire finger through.

I pull my finger out and get into position to fuck Lena properly. The tip of my cock against the hole in her pantyhose. Only a slight amount of force is required to get it through the hole and on into Lena's inner sanctum.

It feels wonderful to fuck Lena while caressing and kissing her pantyhose legs. Soon I let my cum fill the sacred chalice of this nylon goddess.

With some tension thus released I evaluate what I've learned about Lena:

This far I like her as a person. Good.

I definitely find her sexually attractive. Great.

I've verified that she enjoys wearing pantyhose. Perfect.

She seems to not mind spending time with me. Great.

She's flirting with my company CTO and his assistant. Annoying or bad?

There are still remaining questions:

What's her thoughts about me?

Will I still enjoy spending time with her once I really get to know her?

What's the problem that ended her prior relationships?

Is having sex with her as good in real life as it is in my fantasies?

What's her opinion on men wearing pantyhose?

What's her opinion on nylon sex?

Is there something she's hiding in her bedroom, since she didn't let me see it?

I go to sleep contemplating these questions. Also thinking about what to serve Lena for dinner tomorrow evening. What can I cook based on what I already have available?

I decide on something fairly basic, but I still have to pass a grocery store on my way home to get a few more items.

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(*) SNAFU = [The] Situation [is] Normal: All [is] Fucked Up.