by I. T. Lucas
The only reason he knew girls liked them best were the comments they’d left.
“Why did you start without me?” Ruth sat next to him on the couch. “I want to see it from the beginning.”
“I don’t remember what the movie is about, but I think it’s in the same series about the professor and his students.”
Ruth arched a brow. “There was a series? I thought those were full-length independent movies.”
“They are. But if one was a hit, it made sense to continue with the theme.”
“I see.” Ruth took a small sip of her coffee. “You didn’t drink yours.”
He’d forgotten all about it. “Let me cue the movie to the beginning first.”
When the titles started, Nick lifted his cup, leaned back, and wrapped his arm around Ruth’s shoulders.
A student wearing a traditional schoolgirl outfit, including a plaid skirt, knee-high white socks, a tie and a jacket, walked into the professor’s office with a leather satchel slung over her shoulder. He’d fast-forwarded that part before, skipping over the uniform. Was the movie about high-school girls this time?
That was bad. The actress was obviously not a teenager, but Ruth might have a problem with that.
“Does it bother you that she is supposed to be a high-school girl and that he is her teacher?”
Ruth tilted her head. “Did they employ underage girls in the porn industry back then?”
“No, of course not. And this one is probably in her mid-twenties, which means that she is fifty-something now.” He grimaced.
“What’s wrong with a fifty-year-old?” Ruth sounded offended for some reason.
Women were strange. “Nothing, as long as she looks good. So are you okay with the movie or not?”
Ruth waved a hand. “I think I’ve already proven that I’m not a prude. This is a schoolgirl fantasy that is reenacted by adults.”
“That’s true.” He put his hand on her knee and slowly slid it upwards, stopping on her inner thigh. “Did you ever have a crush on a teacher?”
She smirked. “Once. He was a very young substitute who happened to have a great voice too.”
Again with the voice. “Was he handsome or ugly like this dude?”
She shrugged. “He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t handsome either. He was skinny and tall and had terrible posture.”
“So it was all about the voice.”
“Yes.”
This was ridiculous. Maybe instead of losing weight and developing muscles, he should’ve taken voice-coaching lessons.
Well, it was never too late. He could still do that.
On the screen, the actor assumed the pose he had in the other movie, leaning against his desk and crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ve been late submitting your homework assignments every day this week, Kimberly. Is everything all right? Do you need help with anything?”
Kimberly chewed on her bottom lip, lowered her gaze to her ballet flats, and shifted from foot to foot. “Um, maybe?”
“Is it a yes or a no?” the professor said in a stern tone.
“I get easily distracted,” the student whispered. “I want to do my homework, but I have all these thoughts going through my head, and before I know it, I’ve been daydreaming for an hour, sometimes two.”
“And what are you daydreaming about?”
She lifted her eyes and smiled coyly. “You, professor. I daydream about you.”
“Is that so?” The actor’s voice dropped an octave.
“Yes, it is. I can’t stop thinking about your hands.” She glanced at them and licked her lips. “I imagine them all over my body.”
“Tsk, tsk, Kimberly. You know it’s wrong to have naughty thoughts like that about your teacher.”
“I do. Are you going to punish me, professor? Like you punished Heather?” She looked at him from under her lowered lashes.
As Ruth’s lips parted and her breathing became faster and shallower, Nick contemplated his next move. Skirts were very convenient for snogging, but it was too early for more than just resting his palm close to Ruth’s heated center.
“Aha, I see. You’re craving the same correction Heather got.”
“Yes.”
“Very well.” The professor pushed away from the desk. “Sit on the couch.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guy took his jacket off, draped it over the back of his chair, and then started rolling up his sleeves, revealing very hairy forearms.
How Ruth could find the dude sexy was beyond Nick. The guy was hairy like a monkey. Even his knuckles were hairy.
Yuk.
The actress playing Kimberly was hot, but in a slutty way. Well, duh, what did he expect from a porn star? To look virtuous?
The whole scene was ridiculous. What was the professor going to do? Spank the girl?
Smirking, Nick glanced at Ruth.
Apparently, his Ruthie found the scene arousing, which once again proved that women were not only strange but loony. Her eyes glued to the laptop’s screen, she licked her lips and squirmed a little.
Well, well, it seemed like his shy girlfriend had some naughty fantasies. She must’ve read those Fifty Shades books that had been all the craze a while back.
Could he fulfill them without laughing his ass off, though?
19
Ruth
This was hot.
Ruth hadn’t read the Fifty Shades books or seen the movies that Sylvia and her friends had been going on and on about.
The whole idea had seemed absurd to her.
The romances she liked to read were sweet, and sometimes funny, and some of them had sex scenes that had caused her to blush, but she stayed away from anything that resembled those Fifty Shades books. Or worse.
Out of curiosity, she’d once downloaded a free book from the dark romance genre. The two chapters she’d read had given her nightmares for weeks.
What woman in her right mind wanted that?
It was crazy what some people found arousing. And yet, watching the scene on the screen unfolding, she was turned on.
It didn’t mean that she wanted to reenact it with Nick, though. She would die from embarrassment before suggesting such a thing. But she could watch and enjoy.
The professor sat next to his student and took her hand, kissing the back of it. “Tell me, Kimberly. Are you a virgin?”
“Yes, sir, I am. I'm a good girl.”
The professor tapped his finger on her pouty lips. “A good girl wouldn’t be sitting here on this leather couch, goading her teacher to give her what she needs. But that’s okay, sweetheart, naughty girls are my favorite.” He placed her palm over his bulging erection.
“Oh, professor, you’re so big.”
Nick chuckled. “Here comes the big schlong.”
Way to spoil the mood. Ruth slapped his thigh. “Stop it.”
“Sorry.”
The professor cupped the back of Kimberly’s head, holding her in place as he kissed her.
Ruth felt a pang of disappointment. After all that sleeve rolling, he wasn’t going to spank her?
“You’re such a sweet girl, Kim. I don’t feel right about taking your virginity.”
“Please, professor, I need you to. I can’t concentrate on anything else, and my grades are dropping.”
He leaned back. “Well, we can’t have that, can we? But first there is the issue of your late assignments and your lack of discipline. If after your punishment you still want to proceed, I will grant you your wish.”
“Thank you, professor.”
Ruth was giddy with excitement. There was going to be a spanking scene after all.
The professor tugged on the girl’s wrist and pulled her over his lap.
“Last chance to change your mind, Kimberly.”
The actress pushed her bottom up. “I want this.”
From under her lashes, Ruth glanced at Nick to see if he was getting as excited as she was. The scent of his arousal was strong, but that could’ve be
en her proximity and not what was going on in the movie.
He had a slight smirk on his face, and she wasn’t sure whether it was because he was embarrassed watching the scene or because he found it silly.
Probably the latter.
She’d better play it cool and not let him know how much this was arousing her.
Except, Nick was more attuned to her than she’d realized.
The hand he had on her thigh started a slow glide toward her heated center. When the tip of his finger touched her soaked panties, Nick sucked in a breath. A moment later he pushed the gusset aside and brushed his finger over her wet folds.
With a moan, Ruth let her head fall back on his arm and closed her eyes.
As Nick leaned and took her lips in a ravenous kiss, his finger slid inside her wet sheath. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth, he penetrated her with another finger.
Over the sound of her own throaty moans, Ruth heard the unmistakable slap and opened her eyes, but it was hard to see with Nick’s head blocking the way.
A dilemma. Should she cut the kiss short to watch the hot scene? Or should she forget the movie and concentrate on the sensations bombarding her body?
Could she do both?
Nick let go of her mouth and glanced at the screen. “I see that you want to watch, baby.” He gave her a slight push and helped her lie down on the couch. “You can keep on watching while I get busy doing other things.” He pulled her panties down.
“Okay,” she whispered.
As Ruth tilted her head to look, her breath left her in a whoosh.
Fates, why did she find the scene so erotic?
The girl’s white panties were down around her thighs, and her round bottom was on full display, getting smacked by the professor’s big hand.
The girl was wiggling all over, but not because she was trying to get away. He was caressing her perfectly shaped bottom more than he was smacking it, and when he did it was very lightly.
It was a game, not a punishment, and it was hot.
While she watched, Nick pulled down her skirt, leaving her bottom half bare, and then pushed her shirt and bra up instead of bothering with the clasp.
For some reason, being exposed like that was more erotic than being completely naked. It was naughty and lewd and it made her feel sexy.
“God, you’re beautiful.” He leaned down and took one nipple between his lips, sucking on it gently while thumbing the other.
As she kept watching, Nick put his hands on her knees and parted them, then dipped his head between them.
Tensing for a moment, Ruth wasn’t sure whether she was ready for that, but when Nick delivered a soft kiss to her lower lips, she was a goner. He could do whatever he pleased with her.
Except, Nick wasn’t the kind of guy who took anything for granted. Lifting his head, he looked at her and waited until she nodded.
“Thank you,” he mouthed, then grinned and licked his lips before lowering his head between her spread thighs again.
Feeling loved and cared for, she put a hand on his head and caressed him. “I love you, Nicki.”
He looked up. “Keep watching, baby. I want you to come all over my tongue.”
A week ago she would’ve felt scandalized by his words, now they only aroused her more.
Nick was turning her into a wanton woman.
Or was it her doing?
It seemed that all she’d needed to release her inner wantonness was to feel safe and loved.
20
Anandur
As Anandur spotted Jackson’s blond head behind the counter, he grinned and waved. “Jackson, buddy, I’m glad to catch you here so early in the morning. I need to talk to you.”
“Give me a moment.” The guy finished frothing milk for a cappuccino, filled the small paper cup, and handed it to Ingrid. “Anything else? Can I offer you a pastry with that? They are freshly baked.”
The boy was a born salesman.
“I had my eye on that Danish.” She pointed. “Can you heat it up for me?”
“Sure. Let me pop it in the toaster oven.”
Anandur pulled out a stool and sat down. “As long as you’re at it, heat up one more for me.”
Jackson smirked. “I knew you wouldn’t want to talk on an empty stomach.”
“How did you know I didn’t have breakfast yet?”
“Is Magnus back?”
“No.”
“That’s how. Unless he makes it for you, you never eat at home.”
Astounding observational skills. “True. Listen, I wanted to ask you if you still need someone to help around here.”
“Why, do you have anyone in mind?”
“In fact, I do.”
As the toaster oven beeped, Jackson grabbed a pair of tongs, pulled out the steaming Danishes, and put them on two plates. “One for you.” He handed a plate to Ingrid. “And one for you.” He put the other one in front of Anandur. “Do you want coffee with that?”
“A simple drip will do. Small, black.”
Jackson lifted the carafe and filled a small paper cup. “Here you go. So, who is it?”
“You must’ve heard about Wonder, right?”
The boy’s lips twisted in a smirk. “The girl who kicked both your and Brundar’s asses? Yeah, I did.”
Anandur pointed a finger at him. “Wipe that smirk off your face, boy, before I wipe it for you.” He went for a stern expression and failed.
It was hard to pretend anger while watching Jackson’s face contort in an effort to keep his lips from smiling.
“Yes, sir,” Jackson croaked, his belly shaking with suppressed laughter.
“Anyway. She needs a job, and she thought she could help Carol out.”
“Is she going to scare off my customers? I heard she is huge.”
Apparently, the clan rumor machine worked just as well in the village as it had in the keep, blowing things out of proportion and turning every molehill into a mountain. Or in this case a gorgeous young woman into an ogress.
“She isn’t huge. She is about Kri’s size, and she is a beautiful young girl with a sweet and gentle personality.”
Unless someone pissed her off, but he wasn’t going to mention that. “She had very good reasons for what she did to Brundar and me.”
Jackson lifted a brow. “You have a thing for her, don’t you?” It wasn’t a question.
“No, I don’t. She is still a baby immortal, like you. I’m just helping her get settled.”
“A baby, really?” Jackson’s blue eyes blazed like Wonder’s had last night.
It was ridiculous how the young took offense to being called young.
“Do I seem like a baby to you? I’m a mated male, and I run my own business.”
Anandur lifted his hands in the universal sign for peace. “Don’t get your panties in a wad. You’re an awesome guy, Jackson, and I didn’t mean to belittle you in any way. It’s just that to an old fart like me you’re a baby and so is Wonder. I can’t think of her as anything other than a little sister.”
He heard Carol snicker behind him. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” She sauntered over and pulled out a stool for herself.
“Whatever. Can Wonder work here or not?”
“Of course she can work here.” Carol waved a hand. “Starting today. Mister Jackson the Great is only here for a couple of hours before heading back to his business empire.”
Jackson flicked her with the corner of a dish towel. “That’s no way to talk to your boss.”
“Ouch! This is workplace abuse!” She turned to Anandur. “Guardian, arrest that man.”
“Sorry, but I need him to hire my friend.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Old boys’ cliques. That’s what it is.”
Jackson smirked. “He is an old boy. Supposedly, I’m a baby.”
Carol chuckled. “Baby boss. I like it. I think I’ll start calling you that.”
He pointed a finger at her. “I can always replace you with more vending machines. The
keep’s old café is running well and turning a good profit without any employees. I can do the same here.”
Anandur grimaced. “Well is a relative term. You’re not there at the end of the day to see how messy the tables are. The Guardians are pigs. They leave crumbs and spills behind. It’s good that Kian allows the cleaning service to take care of the place at night.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“And what would you do? Come over twice a day to wipe the tables?”
“You should hang up a sign,” Carol said. “It should say self-serve also means self-clean.”
Anandur stuffed the rest of his Danish in his mouth, washed it down with the remainder of the coffee, and rose to his feet. “I’m going to get Wonder. Which one of you is going to interview her, and what’s the starting pay?”
“She is hired,” Carol said. “No need for an interview. I like her.”
“And the pay?” Anandur looked at Jackson.
“Same as what the waitresses at Fernando’s are getting. Fifteen an hour plus tips.”
“Sounds good.” He pulled out his wallet and put a twenty on the counter. “Keep the change. I need to start leaving more generous tips.”
21
Wonder
“The coffee part is simple,” Carol said. “You just press this button here, and it grinds and does everything else automatically.” She demonstrated. “The frothing requires some skill.”
“Got it.” Wonder watched Carol froth the milk and pour it into the cup. “Can I try?”
“Go ahead.”
Everything was happening so fast. She had a new place to live, a new job, and she was making new friends. It was everything Anandur had promised her and more.
With every passing moment, the idea of going back to her old life was becoming less and less appealing. There was nothing for her in San Francisco. She missed Toni and Natasha, but only a little, and she didn’t miss her jobs or the shelter at all.
“Is that good?” She showed Carol the contents of her pitcher.
“Needs a little more foam. Give it one more minute and move it up and down the wand.” She demonstrated with a chuckle. “Gently, like you would the other kind.”
