Chapter 2
“Hello, everyone!” I said waving to my students as we stepped out of our cars and walked to our trunks to retrieve our luggage. It had been two weeks since my encounter with Paul and the animal that had attacked me. It was still a mystery what type of animal it had been, given that I didn’t have a scratch or bite on me. However, I didn’t dwell on it. When I had woken up again in the hospital, Paul hadn’t been there as he promised and I didn’t see him the next week for class nor the week after that. I had been concerned but had other things to worry about, like the conference where we were presently.
We had been invited to the conference months earlier and several of my students were presenting their findings, including Paul. It was a three-day overnight stay in a swanky hotel in the mountains and those of my students who could get away, signed up to attend. I figured Paul wouldn’t miss his chance to present findings from his research relating to mythology from across the world, and so I expected him to arrive eventually.
There were only eight students in my class and they all had my phone number. I was disappointed that I hadn’t heard from Paul. I enjoyed the camaraderie with my students outside the classroom; I felt it improved my relationship with my students, which was important to me.
I talked excitedly with them about what the conference had in store for us. And while I did so, I kept glancing around them, looking towards the exit, assuming that Paul would eventually show up.
I didn’t have to wait for long as I heard the only other guy in my class, Corey, yell out, “Paul! What’s up man? We thought you weren’t going to make it.”
I looked in the direction Corey had turned and smiled at Paul in relief. I couldn’t help myself. He smiled back at me and then the other students gravitated toward him. Paul was so charismatic. He chatted easily with all of them before approaching me.
“Dr. Gabardi, can I talk to you for a second in private?”
“Sure,” I said feeling suddenly apprehensive. I didn’t know what he wanted to discuss, but I assumed it was about missing class.
“Is everything okay, Paul?” I said, trying to keep my voice even as the rest of the class moved towards the center check-in area and received their room keys. The conference was in what was known as hill country. The all-inclusive hotel in the country featured lots of outdoor activities and beautiful hillside views. I figured that’s why all my students had wanted to attend. I let my eyes wander across the landscape while Paul led me away from within earshot of anyone.
There was a little conference room to our right that was unoccupied, and we ducked into it.
“Is everything okay?” I asked immediately, being sure that there was sufficient space in between us. That was difficult given that he seemed to shift forward any time I moved away, almost as if we were dancing. Stop fidgeting, Sydney. He’ll think you have some sort of nervous tick or something.
I stuck my hands in my pockets and rocked back on my heels. I tucked my hair back behind my ears and trained my eyes on him.
“I had some business to take care of out of town, that’s why I didn’t come to class. I apologize for not contacting you about it, but it came up suddenly and I had to deal with it quickly.”
I nodded and wanted to ask if everything were okay, but I didn’t want to pry. I had a habit of becoming quite awkward when it came to subjects that I felt were personal. I also wanted to avoid looking into those dark-brown eyes.
“Well, it’s good to have you back.” I said turning away and stepping towards the conference room doors.
His next question stopped me, “How are you feeling? After the other night? You hit your head pretty hard. I don’t see any signs of stitches, so I guess you’re better now?” He stepped closer to me, so close that his body was only a few inches away from my own. I attempted to back up and realized that I was up against a wall and could move no further.
“Do I make you nervous, Dr. Gabardi?” He said, a small smile forming on his face.
“What? No! I just...errr...” I didn’t know what to say and it didn’t matter; he wasn’t going to give me the opportunity to say anything, that wasn’t in his plans.
What was in his plans apparently was kissing me as he easily closed the distance between us and lowered his lips to mine.
The kiss was so gentle, so slow and sweet that I couldn’t help but kiss his back. The way his lips moved over mine as if he were mesmerized by the feel of me, made my entire body shake and then when he traced a warm hand up my side and abandoned my mouth to trail his lips down my neck and up to my ears, I could barely breathe.
He exhaled against my ear, “I’ve been wanting to do this since the first time I saw you.”
My only reply was a little moan as his hand began to work itself under my shirt and he easily found my breast and pushed my bra to the side. He started roughly playing with my nipple and I gasped.
“Paul.”
“Shhh…” he said aligning his body against mine so that I could feel his erection clearly pushing against my stomach.
I wanted him. And at that thought, my eyes flew open and I pushed him away from me.
To my surprise, he didn’t let me go, instead he took me by my hands and pulled me into the conference room’s supply closet.
“Paul! Are you crazy? I’m your teacher! What if someone sees us? This is highly inappropriate!”
Anything else I had to say was swallowed by his lips as he didn’t waste any time picking me up and holding me up with his chest as he brought my legs up to wrap around his hips. My back was against the wall; his chest was pressed against my breasts.
I knew I should have protested. I know I should have told him no, but that would have been the exact opposite of what my body wanted. This time it was me reaching for the buttons of his shirt as I feverishly ran my hands across his hard chest and kissed his throat.
“Dr. Gabardi, I didn’t know you had this in you,” he said jokingly as he pulled my shirt off and tossed it.
“I would rather have you in me,” I said wantonly.
He grunted and shoved my hand to his crotch. I hastily unzipped his jeans and stuck my hand inside, reaching for his straining member when suddenly I heard voices from the other side of the door.
“Oh my gosh, Paul. Isn’t this the conference room for the welcome ceremony?” I whispered in horror.
He wasn’t listening; he was too busy staring at my nipples. I crossed my arms over my chest and he groaned in disappointment.
“Paul!” I hissed. “Help me find my shirt, please! People are coming!” I know I sounded panicked and that was because, frankly, I was panicking. I was in a supply closet with my student, semi-nude. I could see it already plastered across the school paper; tenured faculty member caught topless with student seven years her junior. I would be seen as the predatory older woman! My cheeks flushed at the thought. I was getting myself worked up.
Paul didn’t seem the least bit concerned as he extracted my shirt from on top of a box of tissues. I hastily slipped it back on and then looked down at his pants.
“Your pants are still undone,” I said and without thinking I reached forward and started fixing them. He groaned and didn’t try to help at all, I realized that the groan was in pleasure and sent him an annoyed look once I saw the smug smile on his face.
“What?” He asked teasingly, and I gave him a mean look and zipped up his pants quickly.
“Hey! Watch it. You almost made me a eunuch.” He whispered in an accusing voice.
I ignored him and tiptoed towards the door. I opened it just a little and peeked out. My heart could have plummeted to the floor. It was too late. People were already coming in and filling up the chairs.
I groaned inwardly and outwardly blamed Paul, “There are people out there! See what you did? We’re going to get caught.”
When I looked over my shoulder at him, he didn’t look the least bit concerned; instead he was rubbing his palms across my backside, clearly enjoying himself.
“Paul!” I said and decided to just shut up. I was starting to feel like an admonishing kindergarten teacher instead of the college professor that I was.
I decided then and there to just be quiet and hope we weren’t found out. Apparently Paul had other plans.
It was easily the longest thirty minutes of my life. I could hear the guest speaker and the polite laughter of the crowd. I knew the guest speaker; he was the department chair at a prominent college in the area. He was also extremely uptight and no-nonsense. I cringed at the thought of him finding us.
I just couldn’t believe I’d gotten into this situation. Here I was in a supply closet, hitting at the hands of my student who now had his hands again under my top.
“Stop it!” I hissed at him for what felt like the hundredth time.
He whispered, “I think we should take advantage of the moment.”
“No. I don’t think so.” I whispered back trying to sound stern.
He took that moment to press his lips again against my neck and pull me back towards him. I couldn’t help my instant reaction as I ground my hips against his still hard member, my back leaning against his chest.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I breathed out as he massaged my nipples through my shirt.
“Do you really want me to stop?” Paul said and I wanted to say no. Instead, I said nothing at all. I guess Paul took silence as consent as he let his hand slip between my legs.
Suddenly, I found my voice again, “Actually, yes. You probably should stop.” I was wet. Very wet and for some reason I was embarrassed that he turned me on so much. The whole situation was embarrassing me, in fact.
As if sensing that, Paul abruptly dropped his hand and said, disappointment clearly in his voice, “You’re probably right. Some other time, I guess.”
He brought his cellphone out of his pocket and said, “Well, according to the agenda, this will go on for at least another thirty minutes. What do you suggest we do until then?”
The glow of the light from his cellphone illuminated his face before he closed it and I was reminded of how beautiful his eyes were and I finally noticed that his lips were full, lips that had been on my body only minutes ago.
Stay focused, I reminded myself. I said to Paul, “We shouldn’t do anything. Let’s just sit here and do nothing. Deal?”
I instantly stuck my hand out in the darkness, but I couldn’t see very well. Paul groaned and I realized that I had completely missed his hand and had instead run into his crotch.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.”
He chuckled, “Don’t apologize. I liked it.”
I sighed to myself: This was going to be a very long thirty minutes.