"Things forbidden have a secret charm."

A high pitched squeak emitted from Caroline's mouth and she stared down at her chest in sheer horror. There was not coffee sinking into her pristine white blouse; there was not coffee sinking into her pristine white blouse… Not today of all days! She bolted for the bathroom, nearly slamming into the door with her face in her haste. She opened the fake pearl buttons jerkily, breaths racing as she yanked her blouse out of her pencil skirt and tossed it on the counter. There was still half an hour before the meeting…maybe, just maybe. She began praying to the holy gods of keeping her job as she turned on the faucet. The soft sound of a throat clearing sounded from the door. Fully prepared to launch into her story Caroline swung her head, only to have the words die on her lips. She felt her cheeks flush as with utter horror she realized she was standing in one of her least sexy bras, plain nude if you must know, in the men's room.
"OhdearGod," she let out on one breath, turning to the mirror. Of course she could still see him so she had no idea why she thought that was a good idea. "I spilled coffee," Caroline explained meekly before shoving her shirt under the running water. There was no turning back now.
"Can I help?" Jeremy Gilbert, co worker crush of three and a half years, questioned.
"Can I borrow your tie and hang myself with it?" she asked, scrubbing the fabric over itself, half joking.
"You want me to start stripping?" he returned, tone laced with pure enjoyment. She huffed out an irritated breath, unable to come up with anything even remotely suitable to say. "Okay, okay," he said, laughing, "I'll help you." He vanished without another word and Caroline was left with a fluttering stomach and weak knees. This was not how this morning was supposed to go. She was supposed to get here early, check, prepare for the presentation, sort of check, and kick ass at said presentation so they would transfer her to Paris, her dream job. But now Jeremy Gilbert had seen her in her bra…in the men's room….and it wasn't even a sexy one.
"God damn my life," she muttered to herself. She'd managed to get the stain down to a light tan and moved to the hand dryer. She would just have to be so unbelievably amazing that no one noticed her stained shirt. She could do that. She was Caroline Forbes for fuck's sake and she was not giving up. She set her jaw and nodded to herself. "Damn right," she added for good measure.
"Sorry?" Caroline flushed all over again. How did that man walk silently? Jesus!
"Talking to myself," she mumbled before glaring at him.
"Aah, ah, calm down Kitten. I've brought you something." He brought a gray blazer from behind his back, dangling it from one finger.
"Holy shit!" Caroline squealed, throwing her blouse on and tucking it in hurriedly. She smiled widely and took it. "Just promise me you didn't steal it from some helpless woman on the street," she muttered, slipping it on before buttoning her blouse, "and I don't care if you're lying."
"Somebody owed me a favor," he said, lifting one shoulder. "See you in there." Caroline rolled the sleeves to the elbow and buttoned the blazer as well before fluffing her hair. Yes. Okay! She could do this. Everything was fine. She glanced at the mirror one last time, just to make sure.
"Kitten?" she questioned incredulously.

Feet aching from an overactive day and cheeks stretched from smiling all damn day Caroline finally sank into her cubicle chair. She let out a sigh and rested her forehead on her hand. Today had gone well. Really well. So well that they'd asked her to stand in on meetings for the rest of the day. Sure, she'd had to work through lunch but most of the board knew her name now. She could finally be on her way. Screw that, I am on my way. She slipped off her pumps and tossed them in her purse before standing and shrugging out of her borrowed jacket. Slinging her purse over her shoulder she draped it over her arm and headed towards Jeremy's cubicle. Most everyone was gone for the day but she could at least leave it for him. She wiggled her toes as she walked, pleased that they could finally move. Navigating the path to Jeremy's cubicle was so easy she was fairly sure she could do it in her sleep. But then again, when he'd started she had found any and every reason to pass by. God but she was a fool. He'd never even shown a passing interest. Her forehead creased as she thought back to the morning. Kitten? Seriously where had that come from? She was trying really hard not to be pleased that he'd called her something reasonably cute but she was sort of afraid that it was because he didn't know her name. At this point it was highly possible. She let out a slight sigh and stopped at Jeremy's cubicle, finally looking up. Her breath caught in her chest. Jeremy had a man pressed against the wall directly across from her. They were kissing enthusiastically as the other man's hand wound into Jeremy's hair. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God… She knew she shouldn't but Caroline just stood there and stared. What was she supposed to be doing? What had she been doing? How did her body even function? The other man's dark brown eyes flew open suddenly and pinned her down while sucking the remaining oxygen right out of her lungs. He lowered his hand and pulled back, murmuring a quick,
"Babe," in Jeremy's ear. Jeremy turned and touched his tie for a moment before smiling.
"Oh hey Caroline." Three equally powerful emotions hit Caroline at once. Embarrassment, shock, and joy. She'd totally been creeping on them, Jeremy was cool as a cucumber about the whole thing, and he knew her name! Caroline had to check herself. Tongue down man's throat…two point three seconds ago. So not interested. Cheeks on fire she offered the blazer suddenly.
"Sorry," she muttered at the same time. She was reasonably sure that wasn't what she'd meant to say but it was too late now. Jeremy laughed.
"It's fine. This is Tyler by the way." Her eyes went to Tyler on their own and he smirked lazily before winking. Caroline's stomach tightened. Of course Jeremy's boyfriend would be gorgeous as fuck. He wore a caramel colored leather jacket over a grey v neck and low dark wash jeans practically painted on with a belt finished with a simple silver buckle. Normally Caroline didn't approve of low rise jeans, in general and especially on men, but she could tell from over here that Tyler could pull them off. She was scathingly jealous of both of them. Tyler's smirk widened and Caroline knew she was busted. She blushed deeper. He even had dimples. Sweet mother of holy unfairness…
"This is the one?" Tyler questioned quietly. Jeremy frowned and smacked him in the stomach. "Ouch, come on Jer that hurt," Tyler said playfully.
"Shut up before I make you hurt," Jeremy ordered. Tyler's smirk resumed.
"Um," Caroline let out, now feeling distinctly uncomfortable, "I should go."

Needless to say, Caroline bolted for the elevator, now doubly glad that she'd taken off her shoes already.
"Hey Caroline wait!" Jeremy called. She kept going.
"You're not even wearing shoes," Tyler added. He'd noticed that? And scratch the part about being glad. She made it to the elevator and pressed the button about fifty times but of course Jeremy and Tyler both arrived before one of the six, six for God's sakes, elevators opened up.
"We're going for a drink," Jeremy said, "did you want to come?" She couldn't help but shoot them both an incredulous look. Jeremy was smiling easily and Tyler was still watching her with that damn smirk.
"I should really get home," she said stiffly.
"Oh come on, if you're not going to celebrate tonight when are you going to?" She turned back to watching the elevators, feigning indifference.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come off it Caroline. Tyler knows you kicked ass and he doesn't even work here." She risked another glance. Jeremy was still looking at her but looked vaguely irritated and Tyler was suddenly examining the floor. What the hell was going on? "Plus," Jeremy added smugly, "you owe me."
"Wha?" Caroline demanded, jaw flapping open. "Says the guy who just stood and stared at my bra this morning!" She tugged her purse strap higher on her shoulder in irritation. So it wasn't completely true. Maybe it kind of was? She was trying to save herself from going out for drinks with the guy she'd liked for a while and his drop dead gorgeous boyfriend. She could employ some shady methods. She nodded to herself, glad that she'd found justification.
"I'm sorry," Tyler cut in, "what was that?" He suddenly seemed very interested in this conversation. Now Caroline felt a bit guilty. But…if they started fighting she could probably escape. And if Jeremy was gay, signs point to yes, then it wouldn't be a problem anyways. A few moments passed in silence and an elevator finally arrived. By the time the doors slid closed behind the three of them it was as if she'd never mentioned it. Both Tyler and Jeremy turned around to face her. "Why don't you want to come out with us Caroline?" Tyler questioned. She wanted to scream. Wasn't it obvious? Two amazingly beautiful men and she couldn't have either one because they were with each other! She was only human here. How was there this much of a disconnect between gay men and straight women? Shouldn't they all be on the same wavelength? "Just one drink," Tyler murmured, holding up a finger. Caroline scoffed.
"People never go out for one drink."
"Come on Caroline…we don't bite."
"Unless you ask," Tyler supplied, smirking again. Yes please. Caroline lectured herself mentally. No. No. No. This is exactly why this is not happening. Not interested. Not. Interested. N-o-t i-n-t-e-r-e-s-
"Why not?" Jeremy questioned brown eyes impossibly big.
"I'm not even wearing shoes," Caroline pointed out.
"I'll carry you," Tyler said, propping his hands on his hips. Double yes please.
"Oh yeah," Caroline let out in frustration, "that'll work." She continued her mantra. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Could this elevator run any slower? "I'm really tired," she tried again. Tyler looked skeptical and Jeremy was bordering on wounded.
"Is it because I'm gay?" Jeremy asked quietly. Caroline's jaw dropped.
"What? No! Of course not!" Part of her quietly whispered yes.
"Oh…okay," Jeremy said, looking even more upset. Tyler shot a quick glance to him before looking back to Caroline. She didn't miss him brushing his hand against Jeremy's. Fuck. She didn't want to hurt Jeremy. He'd always been nice to her. Even if it was politely disinterested. And he apparently wanted to be friends. Tyler seemed…well okay Tyler seemed like the delicious kind of dangerous that any woman looking to keep her panties on should steer well clear of but he was so taken he'd never been in her market. So…maybe she could handle it?
"Um," she murmured, "okay. I guess I could go out for drinks." Jeremy smiled and even Tyler looked relieved. Caroline wondered for a split second again what was going on here but brushed it away. "But one of you is buying if I have to put my shoes back on."
"Agreed," Jeremy said. The elevator doors slid open and Caroline stepped forward only to sway back when Tyler didn't move.
"Where do you think you're going?" he questioned. She'd admit it, she pretty much squeaked.
"Uh…out of the elevator? Towards the alcohol?" she questioned nervously. Jeremy stepped out before sending a quick smile backwards. She wanted to tell him to call of his dog but words had seemingly left her on her own here. She gasped outright as Tyler swung her up into his arms, one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
"You're not wearing shoes," he pointed out quietly. Pressed into Tyler's reassuringly, hotly, hard chest Caroline still couldn't speak. Jeremy held open the door for them.
"Should have warned you, Tyler can be very stubborn." Oh God. What have I gotten myself into?

A/N: Okay so this is officially the last new story I'm starting until something else is done. I don't even know where this came from honestly. Planned five parter. We'll see how it goes.

You should definitely review and give this story some love cos honestly I have no idea…