Chapter 3
It was the next day and I still couldn’t look Paul in the eye without blushing. We had managed to get out of the supply closet without anyone seeing us, and we had each gone our separate ways so that no one would suspect anything, but I still felt self-conscious. I’m sure my students had noticed that I wasn’t there. And I’m sure they noticed that Paul hadn’t attended the opening ceremony either.
The only saving grace I could think of was that at least they didn’t know where we had been instead. I’m sure they just assumed we had been talking privately regarding Paul’s presentation or something. At least, that’s what I hoped they thought. When I saw them the next day, they didn’t let on that they had seen something or suspected anything, and I had given a sigh of relief. And much to my relief as well, Paul kept his distance and didn’t say much when we were around the others. I went out of my way to be sure I wasn’t alone with him, but it wasn’t that hard, he seemed preoccupied with his presentation that was on later that day.
I had a panel discussion that I was going to help moderate in the afternoon, and I expected at least one of my students to attend. My session was pretty full and I sat at a table in the front that was off to the side as there was already a moderator present, but I wanted to be there just in case I was needed. I was surprised to see Paul in the audience. I didn’t think he was into quantitative research, which is what the presentation focused on. He was seated towards the back of the auditorium where the session was being held, so I figured it wouldn’t be too hard to ignore him.
I sat my cellphone on the table and was engrossed in the discussion when my cellphone beeped. I looked down at it wondering who would be calling me now. Besides my parents and my best friend, I didn’t get many calls. I didn’t recognize the number, but checked the message, annoyed that my attention was off the discussion at hand. I was a statistics nerd and loved talking about it so the interruption of my cellphone was definitely unwelcome.
Annoyed, I checked the message and almost dropped my phone.
“I thought about our closet session all night,” was what the text message said.
I looked up immediately in Paul’s direction, and he shot me a knowing look and a small smile. I felt myself blush and hastily exited the screen, putting my phone on vibrate. My phone vibrated in my hand.
“Did you think about me?” Read the next message.
I looked again in his direction, but he seemed to be now listening to the speaker. I took that moment to text back. “No!”
I watched him as he looked down at his phone, read the message and looked back up at me with another small teasing smile. He was enjoying himself.
“Are you wearing any panties?” Was his next text and with chagrin, I realized that this text aroused me. My body instantly reacted. And before I could text back, another text came through.
“I can see your nipples. You’re aroused.”
I looked down and realized that because my nipples were large, the top did little to hide my clear sign of arousal and I wished at that moment that the ground would open up and swallow me.
I tried to be subtle and crossed my arms over my breasts, willing my boobs to get the message that they weren’t allowed to show my excitement at Paul’s words.
I kept my cellphone in my hand and looked around to see if anyone else noticed that I was texting. I hoped they didn’t, but I couldn’t be too sure.
“Move your arms. You’re ruining the view.” Came the next text. I ignored it.
“I’m hurt. You’re ignoring me.” I looked in his direction and he again was pretending to pay attention to the speaker. Apparently, I was the only one in the room who knew that he was doing the absolute opposite.
“Stop texting me.” I mouthed to him across the room, when he finally made eye contact with me.
He looked at me innocently and shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. I turned away, determined to ignore him. I subtly looked over the crowd and then at the panel, hoping no one noticed that I was half-arguing and half-ignoring text messages from my student.
“You’re so sexy when you’re angry,” said the next message, and I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“Dr. Gabardi, you seem to disagree. You’re the expert. Perhaps you have a different view of things?” Said one of the presenters. All eyes turned in my direction.
I was caught off-guard, but thankful that I had kept up with most of the conversation so I smoothly answered and everyone nodded in agreement, clearly impressed with what I had to say. I felt self-satisfied when I was done and would have pat myself on the back if I could. Apparently, I had no problem thinking on my feet or sounding intelligent when I needed to. If only I could apply that same confidence to dealing with Paul, I thought to myself.
Speaking of Paul, he waited a few minutes after I was done speaking and texted, “I think your intelligence might be your sexiest feature.”
I smiled then, I couldn’t help it. It was such a flattering comment and it was scores ahead of comments about my nipples.
My phone didn’t vibrate again during the presentation and as the moderator wrapped up, I glanced in Paul’s direction, but he wasn’t there. I hadn’t noticed him leaving and wondered when he had disappeared. I knew his presentation was next and I wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine.
With a little smile on my face, I arrived at his discussion and took a seat towards the back. He smiled at me when he saw me and nodded in my direction in acknowledgment. I smiled back and as he was about to get started, I sent one text message.
“I’m wearing panties. And they’re wet.”
He visibly gulped and I felt a moment of power, as I crossed my legs, sat back, and smiled. This was going to be a great presentation.
* * *
Forty-minutes later, Paul wrapped up his session. I clapped with the others. It had been really interesting and I had enjoyed it. Paul was one of the better presenters that I’d had the pleasure of hearing, and that wasn’t me being partial. The rest of the crowd hadn’t said a word as he spoke. He commanded the audience’s attention with his presence and held it with his words. I was sure that I was the only one who actually had a physical reaction to his voice, but there was an almost hypnotic quality to it that made you lean in and want to listen.
I left while he answered questions, but the entire time, I could feel his eyes on my back, following my every move. I headed to the next session, hoping to catch up with some of my other students when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I was already smiling as I reached for it.
“How about dinner tonight?” I had a skip in my step as I replied. “You’re on.”
He texted back a smiley face and I couldn’t help but actually laugh out loud.
Later that evening he called me and we made plans to meet up at a restaurant in a small town about twenty-five miles from where the conference was being held. Although our relationship wasn’t exactly prohibited, given that my university didn’t have a policy that prohibited students and professors from dating, I still wanted to be careful. Our relationship, or budding relationship as it might be, would still be frowned upon even if it wasn’t specifically prohibited by university code.
I had to admit, I was excited as I drove towards the restaurant where we were scheduled to meet. Besides the fact that I was ridiculously attracted to Paul physically, he also intellectually stimulated me.
I didn’t have anything really nice to wear on our date, so I was glad when he mentioned a place that was pretty casual. I donned on my best pair of jeans and a pretty top. It was a light pink lace blouse, and it made me look sexy, but still tasteful. I then put on a pair of heels. In terms of makeup, I went for a very natural look with just a little mascara and lip gloss. I didn’t want him to think that I was trying too hard. Whatever that actually meant, I thought with a smile to myself.
I pulled up and parked my car. I saw him leaning against his car, casually waiting for me in the parking lot. I thought again how sexy he was. Looking at him, I was glad I went with jeans and a blouse. He wore just a plain blue button-down shirt and a pair of jeans as well. He didn’t smile when I pulled up and got out of the car. Instead, he just stared at me intently, as if trying to memorize everything about me.
I didn’t speak either, letting my eyes roam over his body freely.
“Are you done undressing me with your eyes?” I asked him.
“Almost,” he said raising one brow and looking really focused. I laughed and he smiled then and took my hand. He kissed the back of it as he escorted me through the entrance. I felt a tingle of heat go up my spine and my heartbeat raced as his lips pressed against my flesh.
When we were settled at a table, I took a moment to look around at the restaurant he had chosen. It was definitely rustic and resembled a log cabin. I saw massive ovens in the rear of the room and my mouth watered at the scent of meat cooking that permeated the air.
He looked around to where I was staring and then looked back at me, “Tell me you’re not a vegetarian.”
“Actually, well-”
“Oh no, I’m sorry. I should have asked first.” He said clearly frustrated with himself, and I decided to let him off the hook easy.
I shook my head, “You’re so gullible. I’m not a vegetarian. I’m a huge carnivore. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I had a salad. Give me a hamburger instead of arugula any day.”
He shuddered, “Arugula. I can’t stand the stuff. It’s right up there with bean sprouts and tofu in my opinion.”
I mockingly put a hand on my chest and said, “A man after my own heart. We must be soul mates.”
“I think so,” he said those words softly and from the intense look of his eyes, I wondered if maybe he actually meant it.
I quickly changed the subject, hoping to stick to lighter topics. I realized I didn’t know much about him, so I started there.
“Where are you from?” I asked as our waiter came back with our drink orders.
“I grew up in Canada actually, near Vancouver.”
“Really? I would have never guessed. Did you move here just for school?”
“No. I’ve lived in the U.S. for a while. I’ve traveled a little bit all over.”
“Which places did you like the most?”
“The warm ones,” he said, and I had to smile, even though I felt as if he were being deliberately vague.
We grew quiet as we looked over our menus. I wasn’t disappointed at all; there were so many options to choose from and everything sounded appetizing.
When we finally ordered, we relaxed a little more and I told him about my parents and growing up in Texas. I found it interesting that he liked Texas so much especially given where he was from.
“So life here suits you is what I’m hearing?”
He nodded, “I do really enjoy living here. I plan to go for a PhD though, so I don’t know where I’ll eventually end up.”
I tried to keep the smile I had earlier plastered in place. He planned to leave. I couldn’t get upset with him about that. He wanted to further his education. At least he was upfront about that, so now I knew not to get emotionally invested. I just worried that it was too late. Because I feared, against my better judgment, I already had.