“Name?” I asked, rather moronically. You go, girl!
“Yes, I’m Galen Elliot, but your name is?” He looked doubtful for a moment then hid it.
“Oh, shit, my name!” I slapped my hand over my mouth, my eyes huge as I realized what I’d just said. My first swear word! “Tara, my name is Tara. Sorry for swearing, it’s not something I do often.”
“No worries,” he said with a chuckle. Such beautiful eyes! Eyes that could eat you up if they looked at you right. “So, around five-thirty?”
“Yeah, great. I have to go now. See you then!” I turned before he could speak again and all but ran to my front door. I wanted to get away as fast as possible before I gave him any more reason to doubt my mental abilities. Wait until Amanda finds out, I thought as I closed the door and sank back onto it. She’s going to scream!
I went to my couch and stretched out, still smiling as I remembered the way he smelled. I knew the cologne but couldn’t think of the name. I closed my eyes, remembering it, remembering him. I relaxed as I sank deeper into the cushions, my tension easing away.
That’s when he walked into the living room, his chest rising and falling rapidly, and stared down at me.
“I’m sorry, Tara. I just, fuck, I need to taste those lips of yours!” He sank down onto the couch over me, pushing my glasses away as his lips captured mine, soft against soft, but hard, so fucking hard. I opened my mouth to him as well as my thighs, and moaned deeply as his tongue swiped over mine, coaxing me to play with him.
He moaned in kind—a low sound of need—as I wrapped my legs around his waist. I pulled his dark shirt from his pants, tearing the buttons off the shirt in my need to feel his taut skin. He felt smooth. Hard muscle covered in the softest skin I’d ever felt.
He lifted me at the same time as pulling my shirt away, revealing the lacy bra I’d bought earlier in the week. Black lace and little more, it only served as a cover but he growled when he saw it. His eyes flashed to mine, hot and hungry as he licked his bottom lip.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, his head moving down to push the lace away. I cried out as his tongue circled around my nipple before closing over it. He left me gasping as pleasure rocked through me, the tugging sensation an exquisite pleasure bordering on pain. He moved away for a moment, kissing me swiftly, before he moved back down. His hand went down to my jeans, slid beneath the loose waistband, seeking out my heat.
“Open for me, let me inside.” His tongue swirled over my nipple, and my hands sank into his hair, not wanting to let him go. “Open, Tara.”
I responded to his demand by letting my legs fall to the couch, my open eyes staring as he tongued my nipple in slow circles. I felt so bad, and oh so fucking good. I liked it when he made demands and let him know I was more than willing to respond.
My fingers trailed through his hair, sliding down to his broad shoulders. His fingers found my liquid heat, and then they found a spot only I had ever explored before. I cried out as his fingers traced circles over it, butterflies taking flight as the heat burned in my abdomen, a pleasure that made my toes curl.
“Galen,” I whispered. Something was building inside of me, some pleasure I thought would drive me insane. Then his fingers slid lower, slicking over the opening he found there. I wanted to feel those thick fingers slide inside me, to fuck me hard and fast, and I gyrated my hips, my breast pressing into his mouth as he gave a low chuckle.
“You need it don’t you, girl? You want my cock so bad. You can’t be this wet and not want it.” His lips moved, taking my other nipple as his fingers plunged into me. My nails dug deeper into his shoulders as I started to ride his hand, my hips moving of their own will.
The orgasm hit me hard, deep—deeper than anything I’d ever managed to give myself. “Galen, fuck! More!”
It was all I could manage as my walls clenched around his fingers; my back arching as my head fell back, exposing my throat for his lips. “That’s it, Tara, come for me.”
I wanted to do so much, try so many things I’d only seen others do on TV or read about in books. I wanted him naked and between my damp thighs. I pushed at his pants, the material disappearing quickly as he came back to me, settling between my legs. Hot, hard flesh met my hand as I reached for him, ready to guide him into me. I gripped him, testing his hardness, before I looked into his green eyes, now a stormy color verging on gray.
“Take me, Galen. Make me yours.”
He looked down into me, into my very soul, his lips sealing to mine as he began to move, to tease my folds.
“Tara.”
I moaned as he said my name, and slid my hands into his hair once more.
“Tara! Girl, wake up or I’m leaving! What is wrong with you! Wake up!”
“What?” I opened my eyes, lost for a moment, looking around for the man on the verge of fucking me silly. “What are you doing here?”
“Homework? Ring any bells? Girl, what were you dreaming about? That smile on your face is just plain dirty!” Amanda stood over me, her blond hair long enough to tickle my nose. I brushed it away and sat up.
“Let’s just say I’m going to kill you if you don’t ring the doorbell next time. Dang! I was almost…” I caught myself, looking over at her guiltily.
“Mm, one of those dreams huh? I’ve had some of those myself lately. Come on, go wash your face and make me some coffee. I think we’re going to need it tonight.” She pulled me up laughing.
I really might have to kill her.
5. Tara
“Maybe he’s gay now, and with that other guy. What did you say his name was, John?” Amanda was munching on a carrot stick and staring over at the professor’s house. There wasn’t anyone home so it was safe.
I grunted a reply as I typed into my laptop, glancing over to check on Rikki who was asleep on the couch. She’d been an absolute angel until she grew grumpy and started to cry. Thank goodness for Amanda because I had zero experience with kids but she has two younger brothers. I’d have never tried to rock the girl to sleep.
“Yeah, his name is John.” I went back to typing up a paper for another class as Amanda stared out of the window.
“So what do you think? Is he batting for the other team now?” Amanda broke into my thoughts again and this time what she was saying actually penetrated.
I turned around in my chair, pushed my glasses up my nose, and gaped at her. “Wait, isn’t it batting for the same team? And no, he can’t be gay. Can he?”
“You were the one that said that guy is there all the time, and wouldn’t he have a female babysitter?” Amanda came and sat next to me in a recliner I’d pushed up beside my desk.
“I suppose, but, well…” I stopped to think. I don’t know much about gay men, so I don’t really have anything to go by. “Maybe they’re just friends?”
Could he be interested in men now? I suppose it could happen but it wasn’t something I’d ever thought about.
“Oh, he’s here!” I jumped up as lights flashed at the window that faced his house. I ran around, picking up the toys, bottles I’d cleaned, and other paraphernalia that seemed to come with babies.
“I’ll get the door,” Amanda said, sauntering over to open it just as a knock came. “Hello, there.”
She has such a sultry voice, I thought, as I went to stand behind her, smiling at the professor from behind her shoulder.
“Hi, is Tara here?” He looked her up and down, a light of interest flashing in his eyes for a moment before my snort of disbelief caught his attention. No, he’s not gay.
His eyes changed as he looked at me, the interest fading into a cool business-like perusal instantly. I wasn’t covered in goo and I wasn’t losing my mind which meant his kid was alright, that gaze told me.
“Hi, Tara. Is Rikki ready to go home?” He gave me a wry smile, impersonal but still somehow making my heart trip.
“Yeah, she’s asleep on the couch.”
I pulled Amanda out of the doorway and walked with him to the long brown couch I�
��d inherited from my grandmother. A behemoth from the 1980s, it was the most comfortable couch I’d ever rested on, but it was dated. He didn’t seem to notice because he was busy staring down at his little girl.
I didn’t think my heart could melt any more than it already had, but when he stooped to look at his daughter, a finger brushing a blond curl out of the way, I felt my heart ooze down to somewhere around my ankles.
“How was she? She’s not used to being in a stranger’s house.”
“She was great! It was really fun to have her here,” I said simply, not elaborating much because I was too caught up in watching him. I felt like a terrible person when I remembered the dream I’d had about him. Look at him—just an innocent father, not bothering anyone and I go and have a sizzling hot dream about him.
“Do you, well, do you think you could do this more often then? John won’t be able to watch her for me in the evenings for a while and I need to be out some evenings.”
He finally looked back at me, his eyes telling me he expected a no and could live with it.
I wanted to say no, I don’t know enough about kids, but I saw Amanda behind him at the back of the couch, nodding her head vigorously, a huge grin on her face. I looked back at Galen’s stoic face. I couldn’t say no, especially when he turned up the heat in his eyes just the right amount while he looked me up and down. Oh my God.
“Sure, we can do that, can’t we, Amanda?” I stressed her name and looked at her pointedly. She nodded in agreement and did a quiet dance behind the man we were both crushing on.
“I don’t think Tara would mind at all. She’ll just need a nap first.” She gave me a teasing wink, and I wanted to kill her for the second time that day.
“Great! I’ll bring her tomorrow, I have a… meeting. I can’t miss it. If that’s alright?” He sat there, his size all but making the couch disappear, smelling like heaven, and staring right into my eyes. I thought I might drown in those green irises.
He looked at me more closely for a moment, as though something had caught his interest, but then Rikki started to whimper. He picked her up and pulled her warm little body next to his.
“I’m going to get her home. She’s eaten?” He looked up at me as he stood with his daughter in his arms, concern for Rikki a priority again.
“Yeah, she’s all ready for bed.” I came close enough to stroke Rikki’s soft hair, before moving away. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
He took the bag I offered him in one arm and went out the door as Amanda opened it. We both watched him until he managed to make it inside his own home. She shut the door and stared at me with rounded eyes.
“We are so going to make the best of this.”
I stared at her, not sure what she was talking about, but hoping it didn’t involve waxing and curling stuff I’d rather not wax and curl. Just the thought of those words made me cringe, I surely didn’t want to do any of it. Not even for him.
6. Galen
“Hey John, what’s up?”
I’d put Rikki into her bed and managed to get a bit of scotch poured before my phone had started buzzing. I wasn’t surprised to see who it was.
Walking into my bedroom I stared across the way to the house next door. Tara had been calm and collected, appearing to be unfazed by her evening with my daughter. That was a good thing.
“I’m on a break between sets, thought I’d check in. Is she still alive?” he asked.
“Who?”
“Tara? Rikki? Both?” His answer was short and couched in laughter.
“Ah, they’re both fine. No problems at all. She’s agreed to watch Rikki for a little while until I can find something more permanent.”
I noticed Amanda leaving Tara’s house and watched her go. She had a fine figure, but my eyes were drawn to the window I’d learned was Tara’s bedroom one night when she undressed whilst I was sitting in the backyard.
I’d looked away but my eyes had moved back on their own, only to be disappointed she’d moved away.
“Cool, man. Have you thought about that meeting tomorrow? What you’re going to do?” John sounded like he wanted to ask more but didn’t.
“Not really. It’s crazy, pointless. Surely they’d have to prove I was some kind of terrible human being before they’d take her away from me?” I let my disbelief drip through, not certain why the courts were even entertaining it.
“Just see what the lawyer has to say first, then maybe you should think about that thing.”
“What thing?”
“You know, that thing. Getting married,” John said in a deadpan voice, trying not to push my buttons.
“I don’t have any candidates, John. Who could I possibly get to do that for me? It’s crazy, no, it wouldn’t work anyway. I don’t have time for it.” I was trying to stay calm and listen to my friend. Sometimes he gave good advice, even if it was shit I didn’t want to hear.
“Maybe she’d do it.” He spoke very quietly, very softly. “I think she digs you, man.”
“Who?” I asked, totally lost now.
“Tara, that girl. She was so hoping you were going to ask her out today.” John wasn’t laughing now, just stating what he thought was a fact.
“Seriously? No way! That girl has no interest in me, at all. She’s too serious. Have you seen those glasses? Those are birth control glasses designed to keep men away.” I remembered the thick, black frames of Tara’s glasses, and though I thought they were cute, I instinctively knew they’d been chosen for their practicality, rather than as an accessory.
“She’s cute and willing, I’d bet on it, Galen. Don’t be so quick to dismiss it.”
John sounded distracted and I knew he’d have to go soon. I was almost glad of it. I took a sip of my scotch before I responded.
“Fuck, no. She’s so young.”
I saw the lights going off next door and waited, holding my breath as I watched. Her light came on in the bedroom and she came to the window, clad only in a bra, hair down around her shoulders.
Even with the thick glasses, there was still something about the roundness of her shoulders that drew my eyes. Tara was a little thicker than most of the women I dated, but there was still something that kept my attention, though I had no idea what.
“As if age was ever a problem for you before! She has to be in her twenties, she’s fine. Look, I have to go, but seriously, think about it.”
I told him goodbye and he hung up, leaving me with a lot to think about.
It was a crazy idea, silly really. Marry someone I don’t know just to convince a court I was a good father. I waited at the window and Tara didn’t move. She stared up at the moon, her face intent. What was she thinking? I wondered.
She was nothing like Amy, the last student I’d slept with. Amy had been blond, self-assured, and determined she just wanted to fuck me and move on. She’d got me off then moved on to her next conquest. Even my wife, Kayla, had been slimmer, more open about her sexuality than Tara. Tara hid behind large shirts, baggy jeans, and those glasses of hers that she was constantly pushing up her nose.
Marrying her would be an insanity too far, even for me. There wouldn’t be any sex, first of all. I couldn’t live without sex so it would have to be a marriage in name only. That kind of marriage wasn’t going to convince anybody.
I saw the light go off in Tara’s room and went to my own bed, enjoying the feel of cool, clean cotton sheets against my skin as I slid in. No, I couldn’t marry Tara. She’d probably turn me down anyway, why would she want to marry me, even if I did make it worth her while? Crazy idea, not worth thinking about, I thought, and closed my eyes to let sleep take me.
* * *
Maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea, after all.
I stared across the expensive oak desk at my lawyer, Bill Woods, the next evening, wanting to strangle him.
“What do you mean they have a good chance at winning?” I glared at him, certain my stare would turn him into little more than ash but he persisted in sit
ting there unharmed.
“They have a judge that’s sympathetic to grandparents and hates men. He, yes he often finds in favor of women over men. Plus, I think there’s more here than we’re being told. Something’s got my nerves strung tight but I can’t quite figure it out.”
I sat back in my chair, watching him. Something has his nerves strung tight? Mine were about to snap!
“Aren’t they supposed to hand over their evidence and all of that, Bill?”
“Yes, but there’s something missing. Something that gave them this idea and they haven’t listed it yet. They’re far too confident about this. They allege you’re unfit but give few reasons why. I don’t think working long hours is a good reason, do you? Your book on historical French art certainly isn’t enough, even if there are a few nude examples in the contents. What have you done that you haven’t told me about?”
The rather talented Amy crossed my mind but I dismissed it. She’d moved on to the next professor on her list. Rebecca had graduated and gone to grad school in another state. Sarah was in med school now, too engrossed in her studies to even think about me. I hadn’t kept up with the girls personally, I never really cared much once we were done with each other, but I’d heard snippets through conversations. It wasn’t any of them.
“Nothing that I can think of. I don’t know. What can I do?” I looked to him for advice, advice I paid dearly for but he shook his head in momentary defeat.
“Right now, nothing. I mean nothing, Galen! Don’t do anything to make this worse. I mean it.” He glared across the desk at me, his aged skin and rheumy gray eyes drilling into me. “Keep your dick in your pants, your hands off your wallet, and your voice off the phone.”
“Sure, Bill. Whatever you say.” I held my hands up in surrender, giving him a look that said much the same.
“I mean it. People do stupid shit sometimes and I don’t need you fucking this case up before I can even get it started. Don’t be like one of my other clients and hire a hitman. And don’t try to solve this on your own like another did. He tried to talk his wife into taking him back and ended up with a restraining order. That shit doesn’t look good to judges, Galen. Don’t do it.” He glared over at me again, his white hair a brilliant halo in the afternoon sunshine.
Professor next Door Page 3
