Messed up and slept with a colleague...

Say something to her like "I really don't know how to handle it properly. I actually like [..] [you] a lot but don't necessarily think it's a good idea to continue."

man just learn to compartmentalize the various aspects of your life when around her in public, act like a colleague, and DONT EXPECT ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT. if you do, youre playing it wrong. if she goes out of her way to be with you alone again, or makes some kind of move, then let the cards fall where they may (i.e. fuck her again). but each time youre back at work, just be cool. either she will end it herself, or she will be fine with this, which means youve found yourself a girl on the side. either way if you take no further steps, it will end eventually, which seems to be what you want. dont overthink things

I would hope that all women who've slept with me liked me at the time...

She probably has the same reservations and/or will easely admit to having such when 'pressured' into them by your expressed reservations, one would think.

why is that?

Seriously

I bet she is thinking the same exact thing.

Here's a thought:

Sit down with her and ask her what she thinks about the situation, instead of trying to tiptoe around whatever you (or the strangers on this board) think that she might be feeling.

If you can both talk about it afterward, future tension will be minimized.

This threak is useless without pics. There, I've said it.

This seems to be very common, but I don't understand why. It is not unreasonable to like/be interested in someone. True, it can make one feel somewhat vulnerable, but it doesn't necessarily give the person power over you.

I did the same thing back when I was single...wound up marrying the girl and having 2 kids...she's still my wife, and we still work together...let it ride man, you never know, one day you may be kicking yourself for abiding by a rule. Matters of the heart (or dick) have no rules.

Show her this thread.

The biggest danger is that you continue it and for whatever reason it ends badly and your personal shit gets dragged into the office. Right now it sounds like you could end it and things would go on as normal. If you continue to see her and treat her as a booty call, watch out, even if she seems cool with it at first. And is she a colleague or are you her superior?