Absolute Beginners (Absolute #1) (15 page)

“And?”

“And who’s to say that all those encounters that he describes aren’t just fantasies that he’s conjured up in his mind, like him flying a plane?”

“How would you support such a statement?” I asked, happy that she was able to analyze the novel so well.

“Ray drinks heavily, plus the whole novel is very fragmented so we lose a sense of time and space. Suddenly, he’s in an office where the rude tax lady ignores him, and what happens? He decides that he’s sick of her ignoring him, walks up behind her, and ends up having sex with her then and there. If that isn’t a typical fantasy, I don’t know what is,” she said, grinning.

I took a breath to calm myself down. Hearing her talk about sexual fantasies was not exactly helping my resolve to keep our interactions professional in the classroom. I noticed that all the boys were watching her intently as she played with one of her braids while smiling at me.

“I mean, isn’t that a common male fantasy?” she asked. “Dominating a woman and taking control?”

She’s trying to kill me
.

“I suppose so,” I managed to say in a fairly steady voice. “Do you think that this reflects the author’s view on men, then? That they like to dominate women?”

“Perhaps. But it could also be his view on women,” she said. “After all, there are two people in the fantasy.” She smiled again and leaned back in her seat. “I don’t think that most men and women are strictly like that, but it
is
fun to play once in a while. Wouldn’t you agree, Stephen?”

“You will address me as Professor Worthington or leave my classroom immediately! I will not stand for that insolent behavior, Ms. Wilde! Do you understand?”

Whoa! Where did that come from?

I looked at her shocked expression and felt a rush of fear, suddenly sick to my stomach with worry that she’d be angry. I couldn’t believe that I’d chastised her so harshly.

I’ve ruined everything. She’ll never let me touch her again after this
.

Much to my surprise, Julia’s lips curved up into a small smile she quickly hid away. She lowered her eyes. “Yes, I understand. I’m very sorry, Professor,” she said quietly.

She’s
apologizing
?

“Just don’t let it happen again,” I said, drawing a calming breath. “You did make some excellent points, Ms. Wilde.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

I looked out over the rest of the classroom, seeing stunned expressions on several faces. I never raised my voice in class. Even the jocks in the back had stopped tapping at their phones. I had everyone’s attention now, and I had to admit that it felt good.

“Any comments on Ms. Wilde’s assessment that Ray is actually fantasizing about a lot of the things that take place in the novel?” I asked, smiling to myself as several hands shot into the air.

For the rest of the lesson, Julia dutifully took notes, but didn’t say another word. Class ended and I watched her packing up her things. She lingered as the rest of the students left. The room was dead silent as she walked over to stand in front of my desk, looking down at her feet.

She’s ending it. I can’t believe I let my temper get the best of me
.

“My place in thirty minutes?” she asked, so quietly that I barely heard.

What?!

“W-what?” I echoed my thought.

“I apologize for being such a
bad girl
,” she said in a breathless whisper, a grin tugging at her mouth. “Let me show you how sorry I am, Professor.”

“
Bad girl”?!

“OK,” I said, confused.

“See you soon, Professor,” she said and walked out, leaving me flustered and incredibly aroused at the same time.

What the hell just happened? She didn’t end it…and she wants to see me now?

Perplexed, I packed my things and headed out to my car. What exactly would she expect of me when I got over there? This was highly unorthodox. We never met in the afternoon, and had never once discussed our arrangement while on campus grounds. I’d finally gotten comfortable visiting her at night. We’d established a set pattern and I knew what to expect.

Now I was being thrown back into the unexpected.

No less nervous than when I drove my car off the faculty lot thirty minutes earlier, I found myself knocking at Julia’s front door—a now-familiar position for me to be in, it seemed.

“Come in, Professor,” she said demurely as she opened the door and stepped aside, her eyes fixed on the floor.

I walked in and looked around nervously when she shut the door behind me. I had no idea what I was supposed to do now.

“Julia.” I realized that I didn’t know what I was going to say next.

“Call me Ms. Wilde,” she said softly, looking up at me while fiddling with one of her long braids.

Clearly, Julia was playing some sort of game and wanted me to participate. And, God help me, I wanted to be a part of it, but I didn’t know the rules.

“I’m so sorry for my insolence in class, Professor. What can I do to make you forgive me?” she asked.

“I, um, I don’t know,” I said helplessly.

Julia ran her hands down my chest, playing with my belt while she looked up at me.

“Please let me show you how sorry I am. I’ll do anything you ask.”

Anything I ask? Oh God, she wants me to tell her what to do
.

My pulse thundered in my ears as she looked up at me with a coquettish smile on her perfect pink lips. Did she even realize the magnitude of what she was asking? I had never taken charge with her before, or with any woman for that matter. She had always initiated, but now it was my turn. It left me feeling dumbfounded and frozen to the spot.

I’m terrible at this game. Why does she want someone who’s this meek and unsure of himself? Oh God, I suck. I’m just standing here like a complete moron, staring at her. She must think I’ve had an aneurysm. Just say something. Now. Say something
now
, you idiot, before she changes her mind!

“K-kiss me,” I stammered.

Her demure smile widened, which made her whole face light up. I felt a strange fluttering sensation in the pit of my stomach—maybe it had been a bad idea to have seafood for lunch.

“Yes, Professor.” She stood up on her toes and gave me a chaste peck on the cheek. “Was that all right? Have I shown you how sorry I am?”

“I, uh, I might need a little more convincing,” I said unsurely.

Please kiss me again
.

“OK,” she said, and this time she pressed her lips against mine.

She kissed my bottom lip, then the top, and slid her tongue into my mouth when I parted mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I held onto her slender waist as the kiss deepened. When she pulled back, I nearly grabbed hold of her to stop her. I wasn’t done kissing her, but the gentleman in me let her take a step back.

“Is there anything else you want?” she asked, running her fingertips over the top buttons of her shirt.

“Open your shirt?”

She did what I asked without hesitation and I relaxed further. She slid the blouse off her shoulders, revealing a white lace bra. I realized that this was the first time that she’d undressed for me, and for some reason it was incredibly arousing. I knew that I was the only man she showed her body to like this, and as long as I kept seeing her, no one else would. I believed Julia when she’d told me this. She had no reason to lie about it since we weren’t in a relationship, and it made me happy that I was the only one in her bed now.

“Take that off as well,” I said, running my index finger over her bra strap. She unclasped it and let it join her shirt on the floor.

I want to feel her
.

“Can I touch you?” I half-whispered.

She nodded. “You can do anything you want, Professor,” she said with a smile. “
Anything
.”

Anything? She’ll let me do
anything
I want?

“I just want
you
,” I murmured, running my hands up and down her naked arms.

“Then have me,” she whispered. “Take me. I want you to.”

I pulled her to me, crashing my lips against hers, pressing her against me while my hands roamed over her half-naked body. I moved my mouth to her neck, licking her warm skin and tasting her.

“Take my shirt off,” I whispered, feeling her skilled fingers undo the buttons quickly and slide it off me.

My hands drifted down her back and as I bunched up her skirt, I felt only soft, smooth skin.

“Oh, God, you’re naked underneath!” I gasped, grabbing her backside. “Were you like this in class today?”

“Yes, I did it for you,” she murmured against my lips. “I dressed like this in class for you.”

“Why?” I asked, pressing the lower half of her body against my erection.

“Watching you teach makes me so hot,” she confessed. “I liked the way you looked at me today. I had a feeling that you’d like the outfit.”

You’re wrong, beautiful girl. I don’t like it. I
love
it
.

I moved my right hand to her front and touched underneath the skirt. Dipping my index finger inside her folds, I found her warm and slick.

“God, you’re so…” I groaned.

Aroused
.

“I’m wet for you,” she moaned, moving herself against my hand. “Take me!”

I pushed my finger all the way inside her and she moaned again. Her hands flew to my belt and five seconds later, my pants and boxers were pooled around my ankles. She stroked my length firmly and I gasped before kissing her again.

Suddenly, she turned around in my arms and took a step forward to lean on her desk. I watched in amazement as she arched her back and spread her legs in invitation. Instantly, I was behind her, lifting her skirt up to reveal her naked backside. Bending over, I kissed the side of her neck and enveloped her breasts in my hands. I’d never felt this uninhibited before and I wanted her with an urgency I’d never felt before.

“I need you,” I rasped, slipping my erection between her wet lips.

“Fuck me, Stephen,” she begged. “Please!”

“W-what about protection?” I gasped.

“I’m on the pill. I’m safe, I swear. I’ve never gone without a condom before.”

“I haven’t either,” I ground out, looking down to where our bodies were so close to connecting.

“Please, I want you.” She pushed herself back against me.

I kept my eyes trained on the sight as I slowly pushed inside her. “Oh, God.”

“More!”

Grabbing her hips, I slammed into her.

Oh, God! Oh, God! This is heaven!

Through my lust-filled haze, I heard Julia cry out and froze instantly. “I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?”

“No!” she said. “No, not at all.”

“Are you sure?”

“I swear,” she said. “Fuck me, Stephen! Do it again!”

I leaned forward and kissed her shoulder before pulling back so that I almost slipped out of her. I gripped her hips tightly and thrust into her again.

“Oh, that feels so good!” I moaned loudly.

I ran my hands up her back and grabbed her shoulders. I pulled back and started thrusting roughly, reveling in the sound of her whimpers. I couldn’t stop my mouth from running, telling her how wonderful it felt.

“Oh, Julia! God, that’s so good,” I panted. “It feels so amazing!”

I noticed that her hands were gripping the desk tightly.

“Is it OK? Is it good?” I gasped.

“So fucking good!” she moaned, moving her right hand between her legs.

“Oh, God, are you touching yourself?”

She nodded fervently, arousing me further. She was so confident and self-assured. I didn’t have to worry about my performance when I was with her. Julia would clue me in to what she needed to feel good. She leaned down on her forearms, changing the angle slightly. I pushed into her again and let out a strangled, guttural moan when I felt how much deeper I was able to go. My thrusts became faster and wilder as I took her with a sense of savagery I didn’t know I possessed.

“I—I’m close,” I panted. “I can’t…. you feel too good. Please come!”

Seconds later, she did, calling out my name.

“Oh, God! Oh,
fuck
! Julia!” I panted.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I thrust wildly into her and came so hard that it completely took my breath away. I pulled back and pushed forward again slowly, letting out a low moan as my body started to relax and my orgasm reached its end. I fell forward and wrapped my arms around her, covering her shoulders and neck with soft kisses while we both caught our breath.

“Julia,” I murmured, resting my head on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

She let out a breathy laugh. “Fuck, yes! That was fantastic!”

I grinned, feeling proud. When I lifted my head, I finally got a good look at the tattoo below the nape of her neck. It was a small circle with a four-leaf clover in the center, and I was surprised that I actually liked it. I placed a kiss on it and slowly disengaged from her. Immediately, she stood up, making a beeline for the bathroom, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me for a passionate kiss. I didn’t want to let go of her right away, knowing that we wouldn’t be touching each other much now that we’d had sex. We didn’t usually cuddle, but right now, I wanted to feel her close to me.

“You’re incredible,” I whispered against her lips.

“Mmm,” she hummed. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

I held her for another minute before she pulled away. “I need to clean up a bit. That’s the drawback of not using a condom, I guess.”

“Oh, of course,” I said, letting go of her.

She smiled. “It was a lot better, though.”

“Uh, yeah,” I said, running my hands through my hair. I was a little amazed how much of a difference it had made in terms of sensitivity. It felt fantastic being inside her with nothing between us.

“Hey, you’re not regretting it, are you?” she asked, looking up at me. “I’m on the pill and I’ve been tested just in case.”

“No, not at all. Um, but why did you want to do it without one now?”

“I couldn’t wait another second to feel your cock inside me,” she laughed. “I mean, it’s been a week.”

“Yeah, uh, that’s a long time,” I said. I didn’t want to tell Julia that before sleeping with her the first time, it’d been years since my last sexual encounter. A week was nothing in comparison, but I knew what she meant. I’d been desperate to be inside her again, and it seemed that she’d felt the same urgency.