SOMEHOW, I MANAGED to get through class, but I don’t think I learned a thing, and avoided eye contact at all costs. Today’s class was the longest class in history.
Forgetting all about Trish, I threw my shit into my bag not caring how it made it in and made a beeline for the door. I couldn’t get out of that room fast enough, praying to the almighty above he didn’t try to stop me as I was hauling ass out the door. I was successful on my escape from the professor, but definitely not from Trish as she came running down the hall and yelling after me.
“Hey Laney! Slow down!” I didn’t stop. I just kept going, needing to get as far away from the building as I could. I needed space to think. To breathe, but Trish never faltered in her pursuit. “Laney! Laney, stop! What the hell is wrong with you?” she kept shouting.
When I finally burst through the doors to the outside, I started heaving, breathing in the fresh air as fast as I could, borderline hyperventilating, which gave Trish the chance to catch up.
“Dude.” Grabbing my arm tightly so I would stop. “What the hell, Laney, stop! What was that all about? You took off like a rocket after class! What the hell’s gotten into you?”
How do I tell her? How do I tell her I’m being ridiculous? This is insane! I myself don’t know why I’m acting this way. I mean, really, what’s the worst that can happen here? Nothing. So why am I even worried about it?
“Okay, look, I will tell you but not here. I could really use something to drink. Feel like going for coffee?” Wishing it was later than eleven in the morning because I could use something way stronger than coffee.
“Fine, but I’m not letting you off the hook this time. There is something up with you and you are going to tell me, now let’s go.”
I could tell she wasn’t thrilled with me, but she’ll be better after I tell her what’s going on. She’ll probably laugh at me for being so dramatic about all of this. I want to laugh at myself, but I can’t help the way I’m feeling.
After getting our usual lattes, we sat at our favorite table in the corner. It was our favorite because it was the farthest away from most of the tables in the on-campus coffee shop. It was as if we were in our own little world away from prying eyes and ears.
“Okay, we are here, now spill,” she said with a stern glare.
“First you have to promise you won’t laugh.”
“Why would I laugh? Witnessing your behavior, I doubt I will be laughing. You took off like a crazy person!” she scolded me.
“Promise,” I demanded.
“Fine! Just start talking already, damn!”
“You were right; I didn’t tell you everything about the other night.”
“Tell me something I don’t already know.” She cut me off.
“Then shut it and let me speak, woman.” She just waved her hand at me signaling for me to continue. “Anyway, I only intended to venture off and explore, that part is true, but it’s what happened while I was exploring.” I told Trish the whole story of me going from a voyeur to a full-on threesome.
“Oh my god, Laney!” she squealed with excitement. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Shhh, I don’t want the whole café knowing about it!”
“That’s awesome and all Laney, but I’m confused. What does all that have to do with today? With you taking off like you saw someone rise from the dead. That’s what I want to know.”
My stomach constricted into a knot.
“Well, I chose the no names route; the wham bam, thank you guys route the other night. You obviously had a more personal experience sharing information and all.” Pausing briefly before continuing, “I didn’t think there was a need to know each other’s names though, and I certainly never expected that the man who turned my world upside down would turn out to be…” leaning in closer I whispered the last two words, “our professor.”
“Holy shit!” Trish shouted before slapping her hand over her mouth. “Mr. Hottie from class is your Mr. Get Me All Wet from the other night?” She was much quieter when she spoke that time and then the laughter came just as I knew it would. “That’s why you were acting like a nut job? God, who cares Laney? So what, you’re hot for teacher, go for that shit.”
“Need I remind you there is a policy against students fraternizing with professors? I could get kicked out! I can’t afford that this close to graduation.”
“Rules are meant to be broken, Laney. Come on take the hottie professor for another spin! There’s another party this Saturday, and you’re coming with me. I can see Parker and you can have your way with dreamy green eyes,” she said giggling.
“Thank you, but I’m going to sit this one out. You have fun with Parker, and you can tell me all the juicy details when you get home.”
I knew she didn’t like my answer by the way she was staring at me, but now that I know who he is, it’s a line I can’t cross. There is just too much at stake for me to have some fling with a hot professor. Professor Devros is fruit from a poisonous tree and nothing good could come of it. I had no idea what next week’s class would hold.
“Whatever, you’ll be back for more, mark my words, you’ll see.” A wicked grin gracing her lips.
I didn’t though, at least not that week anyway. I stuck by my decision and stayed buried in books all weekend at the library, though, I admit, my mind often wandered off, thinking about that place and the many delicious sins it held. Wondering if a specific green-eyed Adonis was there and what delicious things he was doing to the flavor of the week.
Trish told me all about her weekend long escapade with Parker. It appears they couldn’t get enough of each other because she was with him all weekend. Who knows, maybe her and this Parker guy will turn out to be more than just a fling. This is the second time she hasn’t come home the same night.
***
When I got up the next morning I was more focused on how I was going to get through class with the professor than anything else.
The two of us took our usual seats way up in the back and I stayed as invisible as possible, or so I thought.
I tried to escape again but at a much slower pace this time, so I didn’t look like a crazed lunatic, but when I walked past him, his scent infiltrated all my senses, and I was a goner. That intoxicating scent caused my stupid stomach to ball up in a knot, and a familiar pang of want to hit between my thighs like a bolt of lightning.
Suddenly without bothering to look up from his desk, “Ms. O’Neil a word please.” he said quite seriously.
“I’ll see ya later,” Trish whispered in my ear with a wicked grin on her face and wiggling her eyebrows at me.
SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! I screamed in my head, but I had no choice but to stay, so I waited without saying a word, my back to him, while everyone filed out of the room, until there was no one left except him and me. I knew this moment was inevitable.
“I missed you Saturday, Alaina,” he said nonchalantly, taking me off guard. That was the very last thing I expected him to say.
A little stunned, I turned so I was facing him, but he was still looking down at the papers on his desk. Here? He chooses to do this here when someone could walk in at any moment.
“Excuse me?” Trying to sound, what? Offended? Knowing I’m not. I just didn’t have a clue how to respond.
“I’m sorry. Did you not understand what I said?” That’s when he looked up and our eyes locked. His a much darker shade of green. “Or are you just pretending you didn’t hear me? I will say it once more, so you can understand.” Such a serious expression on his face. Is he mad? He stands and walks around his desk so he’s standing right in front of me only inches apart. Hands in his pockets he leans in ever so close. “I…missed…you… Saturday, Alaina.” Then he pulls back.
What an arrogant asshole! What the hell! Why does he keep calling me that? Is he stalking me? Ugh he’s your professor stupid! He knows things and if he doesn’t he can find them out, I scolded myself.
Straightening my back so I looked more confident than I felt when I said my next words.
“I’m not deaf. I heard you loud and clear the first time, but I’m not doing this here, and you can just call me Laney. No one calls me Alaina except for my parents. Now if you will excuse me I have another class to get to.” I turned and started to walk away, but in a flash, he was in front of me again, blocking my path. Hands still in his pockets.
“You have a choice. We are going to have this discussion right now, or over a meal of your choosing. The choice is yours. Either way it’s going to happen. So, what’s it gonna be Alaina?”
With that he knocked all the air from my lungs, and as hard it was I kept my composure, so he wouldn’t see the effect he had on me. He’s obviously not the kind of man who takes no for an answer but what is he not getting? He’s a professor, so surely he isn’t lacking in the intelligence department.
“Look, what happened between us happened. We had a good time but that’s it. Our story ends there. I will admit that maybe if you weren’t my professor, which I was blindsided with by the way, I may have considered more good times with you. Nevertheless, you are, in fact, my professor and there are rules in place against those kinds of friendships, so to speak. Again, please call me Laney.”
“So that’s all it was, a good time? I see.” He pauses briefly looking down before pinning me again with eyes that were now a dangerously dark green, almost black, “I think you’re lying. I think it was more to you than just a good time, as you put it, and are making excuses. It’s funny, I didn’t peg you for a girl afraid of taking risks, maybe I was wrong in my assumption, but I’m usually a very good judge of character.” Before I could answer he moved so close, our lips almost touching. I could feel his warm breath wash over my skin when he breathed his next words in his deep husky voice, “Rules are meant to be broken, Alaina.”
My heart was racing, a lump formed in my throat and it took everything I had not to turn into a puddle of needy mess at his feet, but I had to stick to my guns. I had far more important things to be focusing on than some cocky hot-ass professor that thinks he can have whatever and whomever he wants. Only wanting to do deliciously naughty things to my body. Gulping down the lump sitting in my throat I tried to relay that to him, failing miserably.
“We just…it’s just…I.” Not able to communicate and stammering over my own words caused by his closeness he cut me off not letting me continue.
“You what? Tell me Alaina, we just what? Scratch that, tell you what, you think about it, and give me your answer by next class.” And he turns and walks back around to the other side of his desk, “You have one week. See you Monday, Ms. O’Neil. That will be all, you may go.” Dismissing me like we just had a meeting about a homework assignment or something. Bastard.
Completely dumbfounded and a little angry I just stood there looking at him in disbelief.
“Did you need something else, Ms. O’Neil?” His eyes pinned on me.
“No,” I said a little defeated, mostly angry, but my feet wouldn’t move no matter how much I willed them to.
“Good. Then if you will excuse me I have a meeting I must get to.” Collecting his things he added, “I look forward to seeing you next week.” Shooting a cocky grin my way before walking out of the room leaving me standing there like a complete idiot.
“The name is Laney!” I shouted after him
What the hell just happened?