Chapter three
Juliet
I didn’t know what I was going to wear for dinner, but I knew that I wanted to knock his socks off. The long conversation I had on the plane with Amelia made me realize it was better to play things casually.
I certainly didn’t mean to be defensive, but the frustration of wanting him was causing me some sleepless nights.
The dress that I finally decided on was blood red, but it left a little bit to the imagination. I applied my makeup and made myself look as sophisticated as possible. I didn’t want to do too much in case it would raise the suspicion of the other students. It would mean something else had we been having dinner alone. I looked more like a 50’s pin up model.
“I don’t know what’s taking you so long, Juliet. It’s just dinner with our professor and our guide Amelia. It’s not like a blind date. I don’t know if you have noticed, but the others in his class had been talking about it.” I was afraid of what Camilla was going to say and I thought that my feelings were hidden from those in his class.
“I can’t believe everybody noticed,” I blurted out without thinking.
“He tries to hide it and his confidence is a lot more because of it.” I was feeling like the walls were closing in on me. She was standing at the door impatiently bouncing from one high heel to the other.
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to.” I was trying to be subtle and not say something I was going to regret.
“Every girl has taken an interest in the way that he has sculpted his body. Don’t get me wrong, he was pretty damn fine looking before, but now he has taken it to a different level. I don’t mind saying there’s a part of me that wouldn’t mind testing out the waters. I’ve heard several girls exclaim the same thing while in the bathroom gossiping about one thing or another.” Camilla had a French accent and it would seem to be drawing the boys to her yard.
I breathed a sigh of relief and let out my breath after holding it for way too long. They had no idea of my secret crush and the way that I pined for him from afar.
“You would have to be blind to not be able to see the progress he has been making. I don’t think that we should let them wait any longer. We are already going to be making a fashionably late entrance.” I felt like the dress was choking me, but the material had a lot of give.
“Nobody is willing to take the risk of making a move. I’ve come close a couple of times, but I always pull back before it’s too late. I just hope that I can control myself when he takes off his shirt tomorrow in the hot sun. His muscles will ripple and glisten. I’m feeling a little bit flushed just thinking about it.” I suspected that she was part of the secret club. She probably wouldn’t admit it, but being a virgin had become something of a craze.
“I never thought of that.” It was the only thing that I had been thinking about since I had decided to go on the trip. It was all about getting him naked. Starting with the top and working my way down to the bottom didn’t sound like a bad thing.
The elevator announced its arrival on our floor and we got in as it descended to the lobby. The red dress would hopefully make him focus on more than just the food at the table. I wasn’t even sure that we were going to be sitting at the table together.
“I know from personal experience that he can clean up well. Those suits are tailored made for his body. I don’t know where he gets them, but it’s money well spent. He would look damn good out of it, but he does leave you with the chance to imagine the possibilities.” She was taller than I was and made even more so by the high heels she balanced in with experience.
“I doubt you’ve ever had that much problem attracting the attention of the male gender. I’m sure there are a few girls that have given you the eye without you knowing about it. You could have any man with a motion of your finger. It seems rather reckless to go after a professor.” She seemed to be taking my words in the spirit in which they were given.
“Every girl has the fantasy of being with the perfect companion and it usually revolves around an older man. I’m no stranger to the way that people look at me. I wear my sexuality on my sleeve. Living in Europe made it necessary to be open sexually.” I didn’t know who she was trying to kid herself or me.
“There’s no reason to put up this wall and we both know you are French kiss 22.” Her hand extended and she was breathing kind of funny like she was about to pass out.
“How could you possibly…know that?” She seemed rather ashamed and there was nothing for her to be embarrassed about. It was perfectly natural to want that moment to be something written in the stars.
“You didn’t exactly make it hard to figure it out. Your recollections of playing by the river Seine and your handle pretty much gave it away from the very beginning. I confirmed my suspicion by making you talk about the professors. I was able to put the pieces together rather quickly when I had all the information.” She was stunned by this revelation and I wanted her to know that it was no big deal.
“I hope you’re not going to tell anybody about this. It’s a private matter and a lifestyle choice. It seems only fair for you to tell me your handle. You have me at an unfair advantage and I feel it’s necessary that we are on equal footing.” I had no problem sharing, but only to those who were of like mind when it came to abstaining from the pleasures of the flesh.
“My handle is Once Bitten 24. I don’t see this as being a big thing. There’s no reason to get bent out of shape about this. I admire your right to choose the person that makes your heart go crazy. We all have that certain someone and I won’t even ask you what man does it for you.” I could only hope that her answer wouldn’t be Professor Jenkins. I had no idea what I would do if his name slipped from her lips.
“I have a couple who have given me a reason to think that maybe I don’t have to wait until marriage. The one that comes to mind has the flair of an artist. His life has been all about beauty and how to capture its likeness on the canvas. I want to be his muse and to stand out from the crowd.” Francis Boudreaux was one of those professors who could have you eating out of the palm of his hand. He demanded that each of his students excel beyond his expectations.
“I’ve heard of him, but I’ve never actually taken one of his classes.” I was feeling like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. She would’ve been stiff competition had she had her sight set to go after what was going to be in my bed.
“He makes you feel exposed and vulnerable to his criticism. He believes in tough love. I know from an ad he put out recently looking for nude models that he wants to unshackle himself from society’s blind eyes. I actually sent a reply anonymously. We’ve been corresponding for the last few days. I gave him the impression that he was talking to an unsatisfied housewife. I just don’t know if I have the grapefruits to actually show him my true self.” She didn’t seem to be the type to have to think about things before doing them.
“You do have this funny way of painting an explicit photograph.” I could smell the food cooking in the kitchen and how the fragrance was wafting in the air.
“I’ve never felt like this before and I think that it goes without saying that French people are a bit more passionate and open to the emotion of love. I never could take them seriously, but they really do mature when they get older.” That was a testament to Francis.
“I was wondering what was taking you so long.” Darryl was standing behind us and I was slightly concerned about how much he had heard of our conversation.
“Girls have the tendency to make guys wait for the unveiling.” Camilla followed this statement by twirling in place and then grabbing me to do the same thing.
“I see what you mean and maybe I should keep my mouth shut the next time I have something to say about a woman’s right to be fashionably late to the party. That dress…ahem…those dresses surely do make a statement.” I wasn’t sure, but I could swear that he had a slip of the tongue.
“It’s not every day we get the chance to dress up.” I was trying not to show the way that my chest had flushed.
“I know what you mean but in the exact opposite way. In the classroom, I feel like a million bucks in my suits. Here in a foreign land, I am able to let my hair down. It’s not that I have much to let down.” His locks were neatly shorn and I wasn’t sure how I felt about him losing what I considered the Sampson quality.
“The new look is fitting for this humidity. I did that once a couple of years ago to reinvent the wheel. I wanted to change everything about me, but I knew it was only a superficial decision predicated on a young man breaking my heart.” Confessing wasn’t my strong suit, but I felt completely at ease telling him some of my darkest secrets.
“Save that kind of talk until after we have a few drinks, but don’t go making a public nuisance. I don’t want to see this on Instagram or Face book. I know that you are old enough to make your own decisions, but I don’t need your parents coming to my house with torches.” I almost burst out laughing, but I could understand his trepidation for giving our parents the wrong impression.