"But how about you, Jack; are you close with your sisters?" Annie was slightly embarrassed that she had been talking about herself for so long. She was also worried that she had eaten more than her share of the dessert.
Jack smiled and told Annie more about his sisters. He told her that his oldest sister was twelve years older than he was, and she was a veterinarian, back in North Carolina. Even his youngest sister, who was a teacher, was six years older than he was. The middle sister was the one with whom he had always been most competitive, but with whom he was also the closest. She had come to visit him when he first moved to Cornell, last summer. They continued talking about Jack's family until the shop was empty and the employees seemed eager to close up.
* * *
Paulie jumped back behind the car, when he saw them putting their coats back on and getting ready to leave the restaurant. He had gotten several pictures of them eating together. They were so wrapped up in themselves, they hadn't even noticed him when he slipped in the door of the restaurant. His cell phone camera didn't have a zoom function, so the photos he had taken through the window weren't all that clear. But the ones he had gotten inside just might be enough to work, at least, if he photo-shopped things a little. Yes, he was going to make the bitch pay, all right! He'd make them both sorry!
* * *
Jack had hoped to continue spending time with Annie back at the lab, so he was disappointed when she stopped at the library and said goodbye. He was struck, once again, by a desire not to let her go, to keep talking to her. But he tried to keep his head, this time, and not blurt out anything about requiring her to have more spankings, like he had last week.
"Wait a minute, Annie," Jack began, frantically trying to come up with something to say that wouldn't scare her away. "That lunch was good, but it wasn't what I had in mind. I wanted to take you some place nice.
"Not that that place wasn't nice," he amended quickly, remembering that she'd said it was her favorite place. "I just meant I wanted to take you somewhere a little fancier. You know, a regular sit down restaurant."
"I don't need anything fancy." Annie seemed suddenly shy again and wouldn't look at him. She lowered her head and the hood of her parka slid forward to cover her face.
"There's this place I know in Syracuse. It's a bit of a drive, but the food is excellent. It isn't too fancy, but it's nice and they have a great vegetarian selection. Let me take you there. Please."
"Well, I'm not very hungry anymore," Annie said slowly. Had Jack not liked his lunch?
Jack laughed. "No, Annie, I didn't mean right now. I was thinking about dinner, tomorrow. What do you say? Are you free?"
Annie hesitated for just a second, and Jack teased her gently, "Of course, if you don't want to go, you should say no. We've been practicing since last night, so you should be able to say no to me now, if you don't want to go out to dinner with me."
"Oh, no, I…" Annie stopped suddenly. "Wait, I mean… I didn't mean no, I meant, I meant…"
Annie was flustered that she couldn't get the words out straight. "I didn't mean no to dinner. I meant no to not wanting to go. I mean, dinner would be great." Suddenly, she laughed. "See, it is hard to say no! It's really hard. So you should stop teasing me about it."
"No, it just means you need more practice. And I think you need a lot more teasing."
* * *
Annie hobbled around the lab for a few minutes and then sat back down, staring at her feet. The elegant heels her roommate, Sonja, had loaned her certainly looked nice, but they were so hard to walk in. Annie had never done well in heels, and these were a size and a half too big, making her even more awkward. She sighed as she pulled them off and tugged her snow boots back on. The boots weren't very stylish, but at least she could walk in them, and besides, her skirt came down to mid-calf so they weren't all that visible anyway.
As Annie put the sophisticated shoes back in her book bag and then put the book bag in her locker at the back of the lab, she reflected that the shoes weren't the only things making her uncomfortable. The thing that really bothered her was the dream she had about Jack last night. She could feel her cheeks redden just at the thought of it, and she put her hands up to cover her face, even though she was alone in the lab.
She quickly pulled her hands back down, mindful that she might smear the makeup her roommate had so artfully applied for her. Annie hadn't let Sonja apply much more than mascara and a little powder to even out her skin tone, but she wasn't used to wearing even that much and it took some getting used to.
It's probably Sonja's fault I had that dream, anyway, thought Annie guiltily. She's the one who made such a big deal of this dinner.
Jack had called Annie late on Saturday afternoon, after she'd gotten back from the library, to ask her what time he should make the reservations for their dinner in Syracuse on Sunday. Sonja had overheard Annie say she would rather have an early reservation because she had to be up early in the morning to take care of the rats.
As soon as Annie hung up, Sonja began questioning her about where she was going and with whom. Sonja had been trying to set Annie up with Tyler's buddies all year, but she had never been all that enthusiastic and the couple of guys she went out with had told Sonja they had the impression Annie hadn't liked them much. Now, Annie seemed to have a dinner date and Sonja was going to do everything in her power to make sure it went well for Annie.
When Sonja found out that Annie was having dinner with Jack, she was amazed and impressed. "OMG, seriously? Professor Davis is taking you out to dinner? For real? Oh, my God, Annie, you were really saving it for the big time, weren't you? I wondered why you always seemed to, like, push away the guys who took you out, but now I see you were holding out for the major leagues! Professor Davis, OMG! He's like the hottest dude on campus!"
Annie was flustered as she explained to Sonja that it wasn't a date. "And besides," she added, "I didn't push away those boys who asked me out. They just didn't like me that much, that's all. And…and…and Tyler is pretty hot himself…"
Annie had always liked Tyler and had frequently wished she could find a boyfriend who was similar to Sonja's sweetheart. Of course, she knew that someone as smart and good-looking and ambitious as Tyler wouldn't be interested in anyone as plain and boring as she was, but she really admired the way he took charge of things and took such good care of Sonja.
"Yeah, Tyler is pretty hot," Sonja admitted with a smile. "But so is Dr. Davis! Oh! My! God! Annie, you're, like, blowing me away here! I can't believe you have a date with Dr. Davis!"
Annie tried to convince Sonja t it wasn't a date, that he probably took all the people in his lab out to dinner at one time or another, that it was surely just a professional evening with no romantic overtones. But Sonja was impossible to convince, and once she found out that Jack had told Annie to wear a dress, she wouldn't even let Annie argue with her anymore.
"Not another word, Annie!" Sonja had insisted. "You're always sure guys aren't interested in you when you don't even give them, like, half a chance. I'm not letting you blow this one! I'm going to dress you and fix your hair and get you ready for this date, whether you like it or not."
Sonja had cancelled her plans with Tyler that night to stay home and sort through Annie's wardrobe. The only dress Annie owned was too summery to wear in February, and none of Sonja's dresses fit Annie, so they had finally settled on a sweater set and a wool skirt, accessorized with a scarf and some jewelry, borrowed from Sonja. Sonja had insisted that Annie borrow her good heels, but had compromised so that Annie could wear her snow boots over to the lab and change into the heels there. It would have been impossible to walk across the snowy campus in such elegant but slippery footwear.
Now, Annie was here in the lab and didn't think she could even make it out to the parking lot in the fancy shoes. She decided to just take them in the car and maybe put them on when she got to the restaurant. That way, she could at least tell Sonja she had worn them. She knew Sonja would be waiting for her when
she got home, eager to hear all the details of what Sonja incorrectly assumed was a date.
If Sonja hadn't kept insisting it was a date and making such a big deal out of nothing, maybe I would never have had that crazy dream last night, Annie thought with embarrassment. She was the one who got me thinking about kissing and dates and wearing skirts and everything!
In Annie's dream, she had been in the lab, preparing some assays to be centrifuged, when she had heard Jack call her name. His voice had sounded very stern, and when she turned, she saw him sitting in a straight backed chair in the middle of the room. She was suddenly filled with the familiar sense of dread she felt when she knew he was going to spank her, and her stomach clenched and her bottom tingled as she moved slowly and reluctantly toward him. When she reached him, he took her by the arm and pulled her over his lap. Although she almost never wore skirts in real life, she suddenly found she was wearing one in her dream. Slowly, very slowly, she felt Jack pull her skirt up until her pantied bottom was exposed.
Lying across Jack's lap, Annie was intensely aware of his body. She could feel the strong muscles in his thighs moving slightly as he shifted her into a more upturned position. She felt his hand rest on her panties as he scolded her for having impure thoughts. Annie's embarrassment increased by an order of magnitude as she realized that he knew her most secret thoughts about him!
Annie felt Jack's fingers slip into the waistband of her panties and pull them slowly, slowly, slowly down to just above her knees. She had to raise her hips slightly to assist him, and he patted her bottom approvingly for doing so. He slipped his left arm around her to hold her in position across his lap, and Annie felt the bulge of his muscles in his biceps and forearms as he tightened his grip on her.
"You've been having naughty thoughts about me, haven't you, Annie?" In her dream, Jack's voice seemed to be coming from very far away, although she was intensely aware of just how close he actually was. "Very naughty thoughts, haven't you?"
Annie wanted to argue with him, protest that she had tried very hard not to think of him that way, but the words didn't seem to come out right. Instead, she heard herself admitting, "Yes, sir."
"Well, Annie, we'll have to do something about that, won't we? Naughty girls have to punished, isn't that right?"
Annie felt a tremor run through her body as he said those words, but she heard herself repeating, "Yes, sir."
When she felt Jack's hand lift to begin her spanking, Annie tensed in anticipation. She heard a loud crack as the first swat struck her bare bottom, but, to her surprise, it was not at all painful. Instead, there was an electrifying tingle where Jack's hand had landed, and then he began rubbing her bottom in small circles.
Jack lifted his hand and smacked her again, then resumed his rubbing. Annie caught her breath as the sensation flooded through her. She lifted her bottom to meet Jack's hand as the third swat descended. She suddenly realized that she was squirming as she lay across his lap, trying to ensure that his hand never lost contact with her bottom.
Jack's hand began rubbing in ever widening circles, and Annie let out a soft moan in response. She felt Jack's hand on the small of her back, stroking gently. She wriggled until she had positioned her bottom directly under his hand again and then felt her legs part slightly as his gentle massage both relaxed and galvanized her.
Jack's finger traced the line where Annie's bottom met the top of her thighs, and then he resumed rubbing in small circles, moving down the backs of her legs. As his hand slipped between her thighs, Annie pushed her bottom back, meeting his hand with more and more insistency. Her breathing was becoming rapid and she gripped onto Jack's leg tightly with both of her hands.
Suddenly, a jolt of electricity shot through her! Engulfed by a blinding white light of utter bliss, Annie felt transported out of both space and time. As the ecstasy peaked, she couldn't suppress the low cry that escaped through her lips.
The noise she had made in her dream must have been a real sound, because the cry woke her with a start. She lay in bed in the dark, still panting, and hoping she hadn't awakened her roommate. She didn't want to explain why she had made a noise like that! Although her alarm was set to go off in another half hour, Annie crept out of bed as soon as she could gather her wits about her, shocked at herself for dreaming such a thing.
* * *
And now, here in the lab, twelve hours later, Annie was still unnerved by the memory of her dream. The recollection of the previous night's images caused her breathing to, again, become rapid and shallow, and she flushed at her reaction. How could she have had a dream like that? And why couldn't she stop thinking about it? She'd never experienced anything even remotely like that before, and she was shocked at herself. She had to stop thinking about it.
Just then, she heard the clicking of a key card in the lock. Jack was here!
Chapter 10
As Jack opened the door, his eyes fell on Annie's face. "What's the matter?" he asked in alarm.
"Nothing…nothing." Annie was blushing furiously. "I was just startled when you came in, that's all."
"Sorry. I guess I'm a little early."
"That's okay. I-I just…I'll get my coat." Annie turned toward her locker when she heard Jack's voice behind her.
"You look nice! I've never seen you in a skirt before."
Annie gasped softly and froze, staring into her locker. "Stop it!" she told herself sternly, biting hard on her lower lip. "It was just a dream. Of course, he never saw you in a skirt before. That was just a dream! Don't be so stupid! He can't know what you dreamed!"
Annie grabbed the long coat her roommate had loaned her and turned back to face Jack, still chiding herself. If we can just get out of here before I say something to embarrass myself, everything will be fine, Annie thought frantically. It's just because my dream took place in the lab that I feel all flustered now. I'll be okay when we get out of the lab.
Jack moved to help Annie into her coat, and his sudden proximity disconcerted her even more. She was as aware of his body as she had been in her dream, and she tried to force her mind to think of something else. She could feel the cold air that clung to him from just coming in from outside, and, grasping at straws, she said, "It's cold out today."
As she reached for her hat and gloves, she felt like kicking herself. How lame can you get, talking about the weather? But at least she hadn't said anything about spanking or about his fantastic body, or… Stop it! She clenched her teeth tightly. Back to the weather.
"But it's a good thing it never got up above freezing today." Annie pasted a smile on her face and tried to look as normal as possible as she chattered desperately. "At least, that way, there won't be any melted puddles to refreeze and make the roads slick on the way back."
Annie continued to babble on about the weather as they made their way to Jack's car. He opened the passenger door and Annie began to climb in, when, suddenly, she froze.
"Oh!" She looked back quickly toward the neuroscience building they had just exited.
"What's the matter?" Jack asked with concern.
"Umm, it's nothing. I just forgot my shoes." Annie had been so preoccupied with watching what she said that she had forgotten her book bag with Sonja's shoes in it.
"We can go back and get them. There's plenty of time. We're early, remember?" Jack smiled at Annie and offered her his hand to help her back out of the car.
"No, no, it's fine." The last thing Annie wanted was to go back into the lab with Jack, back to where her dream had taken place. "It's too hard to walk in the snow in those shoes, anyway. I'll just pick them up on the way back, if you'll drop me off here after dinner, instead of at my dorm."
The girl in the cloakroom where they checked their coats flirted outrageously with Jack, but, as far as Annie could tell, he didn't even seem to notice. He's probably used to it, with his looks, reflected Annie. Some of the students on campus are just shameless around him. Thinking about the girls (and even a few boys) in his classes who threw themselves at J
ack just reinforced Annie's determination never to let Jack know the fantasies she harbored about him.
Annie looked around the restaurant worriedly. Jack had told her it was nice but not too fancy, but it could well be the fanciest restaurant she'd ever been to. Maybe she shouldn't have worn the sweater set, after all. Maybe she should have borrowed one of Sonja's fancy dresses, even if it was a little big. The restaurant was almost empty, this early on a Sunday evening, so it was difficult to compare her clothes to those worn by the few other patrons, most of whom were much older than she was, anyway. She chewed her lip anxiously while they were seated at a quiet table in the back corner.
Annie got another shock when she glanced at the menu. She looked up at Jack with a stunned look on her face.
"We can't eat here! Did you see those prices? I couldn't."
"Don't worry, Annie." Jack smiled reassuringly at her. "I told you I wanted to bring you someplace nice. This is—"
"I know assistant professors don't make that much money," Annie interrupted. She was sure that Jack must not have realized how pricey this place was when he had brought her here. "You can't afford this. Let's just go." Annie started to get up to leave. "We'll just tell them—"
"Sit down, Annie," Jack said quietly but firmly. Annie plopped gracelessly back into her chair and stared at Jack. "Listen, Annie, it's fine. You don't have to worry—"
"But new professors' salaries—" Annie interrupted again.
"Annie!" Jack said sharply. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"I don't like to have to explain my financial situation, but if it will set your mind at ease, I will," Jack continued mildly. "For your information, my maternal grandparents left me a great deal of money. I have an inheritance from my paternal grandparents as well, but…" Although Jack continued talking, Annie ceased to process what he was saying.
Submitting To Her Professor Page 10
