Untapped Desire (closed)

[CXHarlotXD]

DAY 1

It was a slow morning at the large insurance and financials company called “Hugh Marshall Capitol” where Celeste worked. She has a large back log of insurance claims which needed to be gone through and sorted into priority. It was the full kind of work she thought she’d be done with after being there a few years, but the system had never really been upgraded yet. She rolled her eyes looking at the stack as she knew all they needed now was some kind of AI to speed up the process, but her boss wasn’t going to make her life any easier. What made things even slower was that her coworker was out of town at the moment. Usually they’d pole into this together and have it done in no time.

Whilst plugging in claims to the algorithms Celeste thought on her coworker Jan and her husband who worked down some halls in another department. She treated that husband so badly, spent his card when they went out and wasn’t particularly loyal either. Jan always seemed to do him down. Celeste had always thought him quite dashing and it really felt like he got such a disservice. She couldn’t help let her mind wander whilst doing the tedious tasks, did she make a little trip down there and see what he was up to. Maybe check up on him whilst Jan was away? Was it too wrong to do that, just to break up the morning…surely not? Internally she convinced herself it was only right to go down there.

At about half way through the morning she got some files which had to be taken that way anyway and checked herself out in the mirror in the ladies room. She was young, mid 20s and athletic. Her hair was a nice vibrant brunette done up and her skin was soft and clean. Celeste looked after herself and always had a nice aura, Prada perfume and a flutter of classy sophistication.She checked over her face making sure her black eye liner was spot on and all was where it should be. She was wearing a white blouse and black pinstripe skirt combo. She dressed fairly simply for the office, but liked to splash out where it mattered on some good quality lusty brown nylon tights which looked great on her legs and had some nice black court heels. She kept it professional, but often thought about going a little bit further in her work attire, she had better stuff she could put on if she wanted. She did like the designer stuff too.

Wondering why she was making such an effort just to go see him, she wondered if it was purely for the right reasons…was she trying to be a bit flirty? Loosing a button on her blouse and slightly rolling her skirt up a bit suggested she was, a little bit of her nice darker red lipstick too, was she going too far? Regardless who knew who was meeting or would meet on the way. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get attention and was asked out quite a bit…sometimes though it wasn’t as if the forbidden fruit that tasted the sweetest.

Slowly she then got up from her desk with her files in hand and sauntered off down the corridor to the lift. She’d hopefully surprise him mid work or call. See how he was…just a check up..that was all.

 

[The_gladiator]

The map updated in real time, each marker an asset—where it was, what they were doing, how to get them where they were going. The logistics were like solving a puzzle for him, and his baby did just that. He didn’t know how many hours he had poured into the software, but all those nights Jan just thought he was resetting passwords and helping people fix the printers, he had been coding. He had neglected his hobbies, his friends, but it had paid off. It was running, and at least someone recognized his value. The CEO had approached him with a challenge six years ago, to be more than he thought he could be, and he had done it.


He leaned back and stretched, worn wedding band on his left hand catching the light. Unfortunately his wife was not one of the ones who valued him. She still thought he was the nobody she introduced him as, like he were still the guy asking people if they had tried restarting the system.


No. To her he was a wallet, without even knowing exactly how that wallet was always full enough to keep up with her designer habit.


Nathan should be grateful, right? Jan was smoking hot. I mean, never mind that she dressed up more to go to the gym than to go on a date with him. She didn’t know all that he was building, and when the time came she wouldn’t know how to react.


A knock came at his door and he opened it himself. Navy suit tailored to fit his broad shoulders and tapered waist.


“Celeste.” He looked surprised. “Is it time for the daily software engineer welfare check already?” He teased, stepping back to let her in. He gestured at the files. “You know you can email those, right?” His smile was teasing, light. She knew that, but she also knew that when it came to personnel files he liked them on paper.


“Reginald trying to get me to hire an assistant again?” he asked with a sigh. “He knows I don’t like these kids mucking around in my mainframe.”


He absently moved a stack of laptops off a chair so she could sit.


“You look nice today.”


Not really flirty. Just observant. He believed if people made an effort to look nice, he should acknowledge it.


“Did Jan ask you to check on me again? I promise I ate something.” He looked down at his watch. “Okay, so it was six hours ago. I promise I’ll take care of that.” He chuckled, a little self-deprecating, but amused.

 

[CXHarlotXD]

That suit looked very good on him and she couldn’t help but look him down from head to waist on entering. She smiled as he spoke, always so polite and chatty. She stepped in and said.

“Nathan, you know I’ve always liked the personal touch” as she laid down those files on his table. He was so charming,

She took a step towards the seat he cleared and gladly placed herself in it. As she sat her lovely pristine skirt moved itself up her long legs and hiked itself well up her thigh. She could feel it move along her nice brown textured pantyhose, but it didn’t matter…she loved showing some leg and tightly crossed them letting her ankle float and heel with it. Sitting in heels with her legs crossed always felt so feminine and poised. It was amazing how much you could distract with a playful ankle and foot.

Then hid complement came and she smiled, acting caught off guard. “Oh your too kind…I just like to make a good impression as I know you do yourself…” she said as her hand rested on her nylon thighs, her fingers playfully taping the top of her leg.

“Actually it wasn’t Jan this time…I just thought I’d pay a visit because I thought you could use some company, maybe a chat. You don’t go to lunch or morning coffee like other guys…but I’ll say this, Jan is very lucky to have you. “ she said .

 

[The_gladiator]

Nathan smiled again at her.


“Well if Jan didn’t put you up to it, it’s doubly kind of you.”


His eyes dropped to her legs. He couldn’t help it. The skirt had hiked itself when she sat, brown textured pantyhose catching the light along her thigh, ankle floating, heel tipped just so. He’d noted the extra button on the blouse too. Both things at once.


“You’re right, I don’t go out to lunch much.” He could have said ever and that would have been more accurate. “My work keeps me busy. I never really mastered that work-life balance thing. I guess my work just gave Jan more time for her hobbies and more money for Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo.”


He shrugged it away like it didn’t matter.


Idly he flipped through one of the folders she’d laid on the table.


“Like, seriously. This is one of the best prospects. Gets into altercations with coworkers he sees as less intelligent. Sounds like a real winner.”


He set the folder back down and looked at her again. She was always so kind to him. Hand resting on her nylon thigh, fingers tapping like she didn’t quite know she was doing it.


“I know, I know. Don’t shoot the messenger. I know it’s not your fault Reginald wants to hire idiots.”


A beat. His gaze flicked once more to the crossed legs, then back up, polite again, or trying to be.


“Do you want coffee, or is—” He looked at his watch again. “Four o’clock. A little late for coffee?”

 

[CXHarlotXD]

Celeste loved his smile..it was cute. It seemed he was taking in her lovely appearance in its all beauty. She couldn’t help teasing, it was too much fun and even doubly so with someone she knew was down on his luck with his wife.

As he listened to him talk about Jan’s shoes her ears perked up. “Yes your wife has excellent taste in shoes and even showed me some at yours once, very expensive. Although I’m more partial to a pair of Christian Louboutins myself. Maybe I should come into work one day this week in them..,I’m sure they’d love a little eye candy like that upstairs” she said playfully smirking as her floating ankle twirled round, her eyes criss crossed the room.

He kept looking at her lovely silky smooth shiny legs and she could tell he was enjoying them. He then mentioned the time and she purposefully leaned over to clasp his watch with her petite soft hand to turn it round so she could see. At the same time as she leaned she knew he’d get a heart beat raising view down her blouse to her black lace bra under…maybe more.

She twisted the watch slowly letting her reddish nails touch his skin a little, a soft touch of his skin and one nail even slid over his wedding ring, almost intrusively, then released. Sitting back in her chair she said “Oh Four is not late at all…let’s have a coffee…you do Lates for Ladies?”

 

[The_gladiator]

Her touch was electric. He hadn’t expected her to take his wrist like that. He held still.


Petite hand, reddish nails, one of them sliding over the wedding band like it wasn’t even there. And when she leaned in, the blouse opened just enough. Black lace. He saw it. Of course he saw it.


“It’s just an Apple Watch,” he said, a little quieter than before. “Though I do like the leather band I found for it.”


He wanted to cover that small hand with his. Feel it. He didn’t. He should focus on the coffee.


He hadn’t actually expected her to say yes. He glanced around the office a second, like the answer might be sitting on a monitor.


“The coffee down here could probably clean your car’s engine. Maybe we should go to that little coffee shop next door instead.”


A pause. Then, like it had just occurred to him and maybe it had:


“I mean, unless you just want to skip coffee and get some dinner. I haven’t eaten in a while. It’s early for dinner, but it could still be nice.”


He shrugged, trying to keep it light.


Friends go out to dinner, right?


He added it lamely, as if saying it out loud made it true. The ankle still turning in the corner of his eye.

 

[CXHarlotXD]

She thought for a moment about his proposition, maybe a split second , wondering whether they’d get away with that considering the amount of staff that floated in and out of this place hourly…however she couldn’t refuse since that was such an upgrade over coffee. Besides she was famished to and his attention was a little intoxicating. It was so nice having a man pay her compliments.

“You definitely suit Apple…your techy skill set” she said looking at his face admiringly. His mention of the strong coffee amused her. He’d be surprised how strong she liked her own coffee.

“Dinner sounds lovely Nathaniel…” she said playfully as she leaned back in with a smile thinking of where this was all going. She only thought to come down to check and maybe flirt, now that had escalated to a full on date…her heart rate increased again. Was she going a bit fast here or should she just go with the flow…the latter was too much fun now to.

“…I’m in the mood for something to chow down on too, you are ready now? I could meet you in the lobby downstairs. I just need my coat and my bag” she added as she stood up elegantly leaning on one leg.

 

[The_gladiator]

She called him Nathaniel and he didn’t feel the skin-crawling wrongness he usually did hearing that name. He had shortened it to Nathan years ago, when he wasn’t going by Nate. Even his mother didn’t call him that. Something about how it rolled off her tongue was almost romantic.


He watched her stand—elegant, one leg taking the weight, skirt settling again like it hadn’t just been doing all that work in the chair.


“Sure. We can meet outside.”


He still couldn’t quite believe this was happening. But Jan went out with friends all the time. Why couldn’t he?


“There’s this little hibachi and sushi place nearby. Sounds good if you’re up for that.”


He stood too, already reaching for his jacket, like if he moved now it would stay real.


“Lobby’s fine. I’ll be down in a minute.”

 

[CXHarlotXD]

It was good to see he fancied having a bit more time to chat and talk. Celeste honestly felt she could feel his mood lift now and clearly she’d done a good deed here for the day. At the end of the day she was watching out for Jan by keeping an eye on him. Better he was kept a close eye on by his wife’s friend than some other woman who would take many many liberties.

“Sure. I’ve never really tried that before. You might need to give me some pointers” she said in response as she made her way out the door.

“See you down there” she said as she opened the door and looking back to him with a cheeky smile.

It didn’t take her long to get her small designer leather hand bag from the office, the chain she put around her shoulder. She grabbed her black coat and went to meet him downstairs.

As she saw the lobby her heels clicked on the white marble they moved across. It felt like ages since she’d gone out with just a guy for food. This was exciting.

 

[The_gladiator]

He locked the office without looking back at the map. Jacket on. Wedding band still there, catching the lobby lights the same way it had caught the office ones.


Celeste was already on the marble. Heels clicking, black coat, that little designer bag on its chain. The extra button still undone under the coat like it had never been an accident.


He crossed to her.


“Pointers I can do,” he said, falling into step toward the doors. “Hibachi’s easy. They cook it in front of you so you don’t have to pretend you know what you’re ordering. Sushi’s the part where people get brave or they don’t.”


Outside the air was cooler. Staff still drifted in and out of Hugh Marshall Capitol like the building never emptied. He told himself that was fine. Friends went to dinner. Jan did it all the time.


He glanced at her once they were on the sidewalk.


“You look like you’ve done this before, even if the menu’s new.”


A small, crooked smile.


“Place is about two blocks. You good in those, or do you want me to get my car?”

 

[CXHarlotXD]

As he started to talk about the cuisine she listened intently. He clearly enjoyed food and all the varieties that existed.

“Oh the sushi sounds good. I quite like that kind of oriental style food. It gives a very saucy wet taste when eating. By the way Im a fairly confident girl so don’t worry about me being brave” she replied to him playfully as they walked.

She wondered if he was nervous of being seen with her outside in the open, but he seemed cool and collected. After all, they’d known each other before…all she was doing was checking he was okay and grabbing a bite to eat. Jan would be happy to see he was being taken care of thought Celeste.

“Oh you mean gone out after work for food? Sometimes. My boss takes me a lot..I think he thinks he really has a shot with me…sadly he’s really not my type” she said in a jokey and self confident way.

As he offered to drive thrn she stopped in her tracks.

“It’s fine. Let me” she said as she stuck her hand out to grab a taxi for them. She knew how to stand there all innocent with her arm at her side giving the taxi a nice look. The taxi quickly hit the breaks and stopped for her.

“Where to miss” the driver asked.

They both hopped in as she said “Oh my handsome partner in crime here knows the place…”

 

[The_gladiator]

Of course there was a taxi for her on cue. She seemed to have that kind of spell over people. After all, she’d gotten him up out of the bowels of the building.


“Wouldn’t call them oriental to their face. Japanese is a little more politically correct.” He said it not meaning to sound like an HR department.


They slid into the cab. He gave the name of the Japanese steakhouse to the driver and sat back.


“So your boss keeps shooting his shot but they’re blanks, huh. So what is your type, if rich stuffy businessman in sweaters isn’t your thing?”

 

[CXHarlotXD]

This guy was interesting. She couldn’t tell whether his jibe was witty or serious… probably more witty.

“I’m more into the witty and intelligent guy who has more to offer than just money…plus I’m not that kind of gold digging career gal… they give women a bad name” she said as she sunk back into the seat of the taxi.

In her mind she wondered what kind of girl she was. The type that went out for meals with one of their best work friends husbands whilst they were out of town…was all this really a good idea? Would Jan be okay with this….just a harmless meal.

She sat there looking at him wondering what he might say whilst she twirled her radiant brunette curls at the side of her cheek with her index finger. Her legs remain crossed and they shone within their pantyhose as the sun streamed through.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Your boss feels like the kind of guy that got beat up in high school for sneaking around taking dirty pictures of the girls. I’m not saying he’s a creep, but he’s kind of got that vibe.”


He looked at her and laughed a little.


“I shouldn’t say that. Jan likes him.”


A shrug. The taxi moved. Sun on her legs, pantyhose shining, that finger twirling a curl like she wasn’t sitting in a cab with her friend’s husband.


“So I know we’ve been out on group brunches and work events, but I don’t really know that I know you very well. What do you do for fun, other than go to dinner with random software engineers?”

 

[CXHarlotXD]

She giggled listening to him dissing her boss. She kind of wished she’d recorded him saying that. It was quite amusing. Then he mentioned Jan again and she wondered to herself what kind of thoughts he was having. The shrug didn’t say much. Then she had her hand rest on her pantyhose thigh and sit there, her fingers slowly tapping her thigh in a crescendo.

“For fun? Oh I enjoy the simple things in life. A nice lie in, coffee and relaxing music. Im not massively into sports, but I work out, I enjoy shopping and game a little sometime. What about you?” She then asked him.

“What do you enjoy besides going to dinner with women from the insurance team?” she added with a smirk.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Well I seem to spend a lot of time following Jan around and paying for things when I’m not working.”


He didn’t exactly sound happy about that, but he didn’t really sound too bothered either.


“That seems to be something I’m good at. In the last few years I’ve been pouring all my time into coding, so I have neglected my hobbies. Biking. Cards and other games with friends. I played a mean game of chess once upon a time. Now I seem to just be at work. I catch podcasts or some YouTube videos while I work.”


He laughed a little at himself.


“Wow. I thought I would be more interesting than that, but when you spell it out, that’s what you get.”

 

[CXHarlotXD]

He clearly didn’t like paying for those things. How amusing, but Celeste knew his wife did take the mick on spending that card. Exploitation, Jan knew that word inside out, but it was probably best Celeste did not spill the beans on what her friend was doing behind his back.

“Well you definitely don’t sound boring, so that is a plus. As for Jan, shes just having fun, I’m sure she appreciates your earning power in a lot of ways. Having a husband do eagerly letting her go out spending, it’s most girls dream situation” said Celeste knowing full well that wasn’t the case.

 

[The_gladiator]

He almost laughed. Almost.


“Most girls’ dream situation,” he repeated, like he was tasting the words. “That’s one way to put it.”


The taxi hit a light. Her hand was still on her thigh, fingers tapping that little crescendo. He looked at it, then away.


“Jan’s having fun. That’s true. I’m good at the letting-her part. The eagerly—” a small shake of his head “—that might be generous.”


He didn’t push. Didn’t ask what Celeste wasn’t spilling. He just sat there with the wedding band against his knee and the Japanese steakhouse two turns away.


“Appreciate the vote that I don’t sound boring, though. Low bar, but I’ll take it.”


A glance at her again. Brunette curl, crossed legs, that coat still open like the afternoon hadn’t decided what it was yet.


“You always this optimistic?” he asked, with a slight smile at her.

He almost laughed. Almost.


“Most girls’ dream situation,” he repeated, like he was tasting the words. “That’s one way to put it.”


The taxi hit a light. Her hand was still on her thigh, fingers tapping that little crescendo. He looked at it, then away.


“Jan’s having fun. That’s true. I’m good at the letting-her part. The eagerly—” a small shake of his head “—that might be generous.”


He didn’t push. Didn’t ask what Celeste wasn’t spilling. He just sat there with the wedding band against his knee and the Japanese steakhouse two turns away.


“Appreciate the vote that I don’t sound boring, though. Low bar, but I’ll take it.”


A glance at her again. Brunette curl, crossed legs, that coat still open like the afternoon hadn’t decided what it was yet.


“You always this optimistic?” he asked, with a slight smile at her.

 

[CXHarlotXD]

His constant looking at her silky nylon legs was strangely a nice turn on fur her. She forgot how exciting it was to attract the gaze of a guy, even if he was married. She almost wish she’d have put some of her quality stockings on today, then his eyes would be glued to her legs non stop. Still it was a long week, plenty of time for
that and no reason to spoil him too early.

“I prefer to see the best in people. Even if they can’t see it themselves” she said in response to his question.

“I go with the flow” she added stretching back into her seat.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I’m a little out of practice here.” He chuckled. “So if I say something not particularly suave, you know the IT guy has forgotten how to socialize.”


His eyes flicked to her as they turned into the restaurant.


He got out quickly and opened her door for her. There was no sense not being a gentleman. He kept that going, offering her an arm.


“I know we’re just friends, but I flatter myself that chivalry isn’t completely dead,” he joked.

 

[CXHarlotXD]

He was quite self aware and ever the gentleman. Opening the door and offering his arm. Of course in both instances she accepted the gestures with a smile. It has been a while since someone had given her such chivalry.

“Oh I can’t deny I love it, it’s so charming to see a guy who knows how to be a real man” she replies to link taking his arm and walking with with him.

The restaurant was quite nice too.

“I also like what you say…don’t feel pressured by me to be overly suave all the time” she said as she leaned into his arm letting her lovely Prada perfume scent disperse upwards. That particular scent was lovely. It opened with an addictive and juicy blend of black currant syrup paired with bright orange blossom.

 

[The_gladiator]

He patted her hand softly where it rested on his arm. Small hands. She seemed willing to touch with them. Jan had found his touch annoying of late.


They stood waiting for a table. Eventually they were seated at one end of the hibachi, a young couple across the way already stealing kisses over the menu. Along the long side, four university friends with the same look, talking about the good old days.


He opened his menu, though he generally knew what he would get. Filet and shrimp.


He leaned closer to her right side as he explained it.


“Each dinner comes with a little bowl of onion soup, a salad, and then whatever meat you choose, plus fried rice and vegetables. I get the filet and shrimp.”


Then he went quiet and let her look.


As he sat there he had a flash of an image. Her hand on his thigh under the table. What was wrong with him, fantasizing about that. She was just being friendly. It wasn’t like anyone else would be interested in him. Jan always said so.

 

[CXHarlotXD]

She liked his touch, it was warm. As they sat they saw many other couples enjoying a lovely meal which got her own thoughts going. She listened to him intently about the food, he was such a foodie.

“I think I’ll go with your lead on this one” she said as she shut the menu. “I’ll have the same”.

He was so close on her right side. Under the table her own legs were tightly crossed one over the other. She wondered could she just have her hand accidentally brush over the centre of his legs. She enjoyed these kind of dangerous moves.

“Why don’t we get a quick snap” she said as she took her phone out and set the selfie mode. She moved in close so she was under his shoulder pretty much and had her left hand shuffle over. Whilst it shuffled she had it accidentally push on his far thigh and then glide back over his crotch till it rested on the cushion of the bench they sat on between his legs. She hasn’t felt it long, but she’d felt something…her naughty mind immediately imagined eating something else for dinner.

“Oops sorry…” she said as she made a sexy pouting face to the camera. “…I just want to show my room mate this restaurant. I know they’d love it” she added.

She wondered how that felt for him. She didn’t move right away. Her hand then slowly slid up his inner thigh to rest on his knee.

“Maybe stay close…I might need to follow your lead on the cutlery” she said with a cheeky smile.

What was she doing. She had just put her hand over his crotch and now on his knee. Was this too far? Of course it was…but he was the forbidden fruit not on the menu.

 

[The_gladiator]

The hand was not an accident. He knew that the second it pushed over his far thigh and glided back across him. Not long. Long enough. He felt it. Of course he felt it.


It shouldn’t have done what it did. A second of contact and he was already half hard under the table, heat sitting right where her palm had been like she hadn’t taken it away. Jan would have called it pathetic. He didn’t care. He could still feel it.


He didn’t move. Didn’t flinch her off. The selfie flash caught the pout she put on for the camera, and for a second he was just a man with a woman’s hand between his legs and a wedding band still on. Her shoulder tucked under his. Prada rising off her hair.


“Oops,” she said.


He let out a breath that was almost a laugh.


“Yeah. Oops.”


Her hand didn’t leave. It slid up his inner thigh and settled on his knee like that had been the plan all along. Stay close. Follow his lead on the cutlery. The heat stayed where she’d crossed him, a ghost of her palm he couldn’t shake.


He stayed close. The university kids were laughing about something that happened in 2019. The couple across the grill were not looking at them.


“Filet and shrimp it is,” he said, quieter. His voice didn’t quite land where he wanted it. “You can copy me on the chopsticks if you want. Or the fork. Nobody here cares.”


His hand dropped under the table. Not grabbing. Just covering hers where it rested on his knee, warm, the way he’d patted it on his arm outside.


“Your roommate’s going to love the picture,” he said. A beat. “Might want to crop it before you send it.”


As he spoke his fingers slid along hers. He could say he hadn’t consciously decided to lace his fingers with hers, upping the intimacy significantly over just touching her hand, but that’s what he found himself doing as his larger hand covered hers.

 

[CXHarlotXD]

She imagined the pure hot feelings he must be having and she was sure that would get him hard like quick cement. She wondered whether he felt guilty at all or whether he just couldn’t resist her. He gave his food eating advice and she listened. Of course she would need to copy him. She had no clue at all how to eat that stuff.

“Oh don’t worry. That picture will be fully cropped. Wouldn’t want it leaking out online anywhere would we?” She said teasingly covering her mouth from laughing. She could play the cute innocent when she wanted to and also the not so innocent. A devilish twinkle happened in her eyes.

The feeling of his fingers lacing with hers was so sensual and nice. His large hands were so big and masculine. Chunky and strong. Heavy and firm. Touching his knee was one thing, but she wanted a little more. She pushed her hair back a little and looked at him deeply in the eyes. Her black eye liner gave her quite a bewitching look when so close. Her mascara caught the light. Red lips reverberating lust and desire.

“Speaking of leaking…I really need to use the restroom…but before I do…” she said as she took her hand which was laced with his and flipped his so her hand was now on top. That’s how she liked it. Gripping his wrist gently she then moved his hand from his knee to the soft and silky smooth of her brown pantyhose thigh. As his big macho hand took position on her soft nylon her eye lashes closed and opened heavily once. Her legs were still crossed, but she’d placed his hand on the top leg so he could open his palm and get a nice sensual feel down there. She wanted him to touch and enjoy her legs he’s been admiring all afternoon. At this point her heart began to beat faster as she felt completely naughty and treacherous to her friend Jan. Was she being a total little whore by doing this and if so why did she enjoy it so much. Her fingers now laced with his were on top of his as his fingers rested on her thigh…silky smooth. Would he grip her leg. Her soft legs ached to have a man man hands them She suddenly felt it was maybe more than a leak she needed…her breath steadied

“…oops.” she said in a flirty seductive tone as her eyes locked with his. She loved how this was moving along and didn’t want it to end.