An Author's Angst

by Maggie Ryan

  After taking a shower, she dressed in the pretty white gown he'd admired and began to prepare breakfast while he took his shower. She'd just flipped the pancakes when he entered the kitchen and kissed her. She smiled as he quickly set the table as if they'd shared a morning meal together hundreds of times before.

  "I'll be right back, I need to run out to the car," he said, placing two glasses of orange juice onto the table.

  "Are you sure you're not running out to see if any curtains are suddenly twitching?"

  "Babe, after last night and this morning, I'm ready to run outside and shout my love for you to anyone who cares to hear." She smiled and though she shook her head as if he were nuts, she was thrilled. "In fact, I'll do that and then get the bag out of the truck. Maybe your neighbors would be quite interested in seeing what purchases were made." Venia was suddenly not as sure he was teasing but decided two could play that game.

  "Well, you'll need to yell loudly as I'm not too sure my neighbor isn't a bit deaf. Oh, and make sure you dance slowly with your paddle so she has time to pull out the binoculars if needed." Sliding the golden pancakes onto a plate, she turned off the griddle and turned to him. "But, Professor, don't blame me if your pancakes are cold by the time you are done with your show."

  The moment he left, she ran to the front window and peeked out. She watched him go to his car and pull out a bag. When he reached into it and pulled out what was quite obviously a paddle, she gasped and threw open the door. Stepping out, she saw him pause in the middle of the yard and turn to face the street.

  "Attention, Corbin's Bend," he yelled loudly causing her to jump. "Let the rumor's fly." The paddle was thrown high into the air and when he caught it, he finished his act. "Let it be known that I, Dr. Jeffrey Allister Humphries, am in love with the wonder that is Miss Venia Varner."

  "Jeff, get in here," she hissed, her eyes scanning the street. "What are people going to think?"

  "They'll think I'm madly in love with you," he said as he walked towards her, twirling the paddle in his hand. "And, Miss Varner, I'd think the proper question would be what they'll think seeing you standing there, in a gown that is quite transparent in the sunlight."

  Venia looked down and though her gown wasn't as transparent as he'd said, just the fact that she was indeed on her porch half-naked, had her twirling around and pulling on the doorknob. "Oh, no, no," she moaned, turning back to face him. "It's locked!"

  His chuckle didn't make her smile. "Jeff, it's not funny!"

  "Relax, honey. Don't you have a spare key hidden around her somewhere?"

  "No! That wouldn't be very safe now would it?" She moved to stand in front of him as he met her on the porch as if attempting to shield herself from view. "Wait! Lizzy has a spare key."

  He led her to the car and in the next moment, she was reciting Lizzy's phone number as he entered it into the contact list. Pressing a button, they listened to it ring for a moment before it was answered.

  "Lizzy, I'm so glad you're home," Venia stated. "I seem to um, have locked myself out of the house. Can we come by to get my spare key?"

  "Sure, I'll get—wait a minute—who is we?" Lizzy asked.

  "Lizzy, this is Jeffrey Humphries. As Venia said, we'd be grateful if…"

  "No problem, doctor. I'll be waiting."

  It only took five minutes to drive to Marilyn and Lizzy's house to get the key, Venia blushing as Lizzy passed it through the opened window. Though Lizzy didn't say a word, Venia could just imagine what she must be thinking. Venia had thanked her and waved to Marilyn who was standing in the open door, slight amusement on her face. When he pulled back into her driveway, Venia practically jumped out of the car to run to the front door.

  "Careful, honey. No need to break your ankle," Jeffrey said as he took the key and unlocked the door.

  Dashing inside, Venia finally relaxed. "How much do you want to bet that Lizzy was on the phone before we got home?" Venia asked.

  "Oh, I'm not even willing to bet that Sandra hasn't already beaten them to the phone tree. After all, she's had quite a head start."

  "You think she'd say something even though I didn't ask that question? Do you think she figured out what I was really attempting to keep you overnight?"

  His eyebrow lifted and the paddle he still held began to tap against his thigh. "You tell me, Venia. Exactly how long does it take for gossip to fire along the phone lines?"

  Having the grace to flush, Venia giggled. "Point taken, I'm not willing to make a wager who might be on the phone first. I'm just really glad you did stay."

  "Oh, my Venia," he said softly. "What am I going to do with you?"

  "Love me?" she suggested and was relieved to hear him chuckle.

  "That is without question." Her relief disappeared and she began to walk backwards as he slowly approached as if he were a great cat about to pounce on his prey.

  "I'll, um, put the pancakes in the microwave," Venia said as they entered the kitchen.

  "No, you, young lady will turn around and grab the edge of the bar."

  "But…"

  "Exactly. This will end with your butt getting a little taste of what will happen the next time you think about such a ploy. What do you think would have happened if I ran into Officer O'Nette and made some silly comment about the fact I was grateful she hadn't come over to arrest me for intoxication?"

  Venia was about to protest when she realized how embarrassing that could have been. Turning, she grabbed the edge of the breakfast bar, his words of last night flowing through her head. She guessed she'd be able to check off 'naked in the kitchen' within the next few moments. She blushed as she felt her gown being lifted. There was no need to pull down her panties as she hadn't put any on that morning. Clenching her bottom, she was prepared to accept the first swat when instead, she saw the paddle appear beneath her lowered head. Though she read the words engraved on it before it disappeared, she had no idea what they could mean. She was about to turn her head to ask about the two words, Venia's Vocalizer, when she discovered the answer.

  The first stroke landed hard against her right cheek.

  "Ow!" she yelped and repeated the same cry as her left cheek got its own swat. She was bracing for another when he stepped to the side and took her arm.

  He didn't say a word as he led her to her bedroom. Thinking that perhaps he intended to finish her paddling, she was surprised when he led her into the bathroom and turned her to face away from the mirror on the door.

  "The engraving on your paddle marks it as yours," he said as he began to lift her gown. "The engraving on the opposite side marks your bottom as mine since I'll be the one imprinting its lesson on your ass."

  Looking over her shoulder, she saw two perfectly legible words imprinted on her ass. Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. Reading them, she looked up at him and then burst out laughing. Her voice was almost strangled when she spoke, "Owie? Seriously?"

  "As a heart attack," Jeffrey said, allowing her gown to fall as he pulled her into his arms. "I think it is adorable that you yelp 'ow' when you are getting paddled. I believe it is the perfect description of how 'owie' your bottom will feel after a nice long session with your new paddle."

  She melted into his arms and it was another hour before those pancakes found their way into the microwave.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next few weeks followed a pattern that quickly became both familiar and comfortable. Every day found Venia seated, her fingers flying across her keyboard. Every evening found Jeffrey at her house after work for dinner and a review of her progress.

  All seemed right with her world as she slipped into a booth at Endelé one afternoon to meet Lizzy for lunch. Though she had fretted that Lizzy would have burned up the phone lines after that entire key incident, she had known that her friend would never do such a thing. That didn't keep Lizzy from making her usual request as she slid into the booth opposite Venia.

  "What's new?" Lizzy asked after they'd given their orders to Bernie.<
br />
  "Let's see," Venia said, dipping a chip into the complementary salsa. "I had some very exciting news in my mailbox yesterday."

  "I knew they'd love your book! I'm so thrilled for you," Lizzy said, reaching across the table to grab her friend's hand before pulling back. "Hey, you didn't really submit it before I had a chance to beta read it, did you."

  Venia giggled and shook her head. "No, I meant I've been informed that I could be the next huge winner of the Clearing House sweepstakes."

  Lizzy huffed and ate her own chip. "So not funny, Venia Varner! I've been chomping at the bit to read your book. And, pray tell, exactly why are you being so secretive about it? You've shared with me plenty of times before."

  Venia flushed and squirmed a bit on the leather seat. "It's not finished yet."

  Glancing at her watch, Lizzy looked up. "You'd better hurry then if I'm going to have enough time to read it before it's submitted. Isn't your publisher expecting it next week?"

  "Yes," Venia acknowledged. "All I have left is the ending really but I still don't know what that will be."

  Lizzy waved a hand in the air. "That should be the easy part, you know—good looking alpha male captures gorgeous young nymph, protestations are given, seduction begins—yada yada yada. Heck, let me read it and I'll write the ending. You know your fans love getting lost in the worlds you create and no matter how unlikely it seems, you always show that love conquers all and they live happily ever after."

  "Don't be so sure," Venia sighed, sitting back as their plates were slid before them. "Maybe it's time to face reality."

  Lizzy didn't pick up her fork to begin eating. "What exactly does that mean? Have you decided that the world is in such bad shape that your scientist hero, or heroine, decides not to save it after all?"

  "As I said, I'm still pondering." Venia took a bite of her taco salad. "Remember, this is a new genre for me so I'm not positive it will work."

  "Oh, honey, it will. I have every faith in you."

  Venia smiled, thinking she was very lucky indeed to have not only such a great, supportive friend, but a man that had told her the same. "Thanks, and no matter how the ending goes, at least I'm not going to miss my deadline. Even with the science fair this weekend, I'll still have a few days to finish it and tweak a bit."

  Friday evening, she was curled up on Jeffrey's lap after they'd eaten dinner and worked together to clean up the kitchen. When he reached for the laptop, she put a restraining hand on his. "You know, now that my muse is back, you don't really need to keep checking on me."

  "I don't renege on my agreements, Miss Varner."

  "I know and I appreciate your dedication. It's just that, well, I'm writing the ending now and I thought it might be better if you got to read the last all in one sitting. You know, like a surprise finale." When he didn't respond as quickly as she would have liked, she gave a soft sigh and reached for the laptop only to have his hand still hers.

  "If that's what you prefer, honey. Just know that I have thoroughly enjoyed every word you've written and can't wait to find out how your book ends."

  You and me both, Venia didn't voice her wish. Instead, she gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Jeff."

  Jeffrey gave her one of those slow smiles that had the dimple in his left cheek appearing and her panties moistening. "So, if we're not going to spend a pleasant hour discussing your latest chapter, how are we going to fill our time?"

  Venia truly relaxed for the first time that evening. "I think the Discovery channel is running a marathon about gold mining up in Alaska. Maybe it will spark a new plot line for my next book."

  "Babe, I'd think you'd be quite uncomfortable with the endothermic reactions that take place in such a cold environment." He bent to kiss her as his hand moved to slide beneath her bottom. "I believe my little student would do well with a bit of research on the benefits of exothermic reactions."

  "God, I love it when you get all scientific on me," Venia said. "I don't know what you are talking about, but if my professor states a need for research, who am I to disagree?"

  The television was never turned on as Venia was stripped naked and placed on her bed to begin class. Jeffrey took her to the pinnacle of pleasure only to back off repeatedly. She had been shocked when he'd climbed out of the bed only to return with a bowl of ice cubes.

  It had been the most erotic thing she'd ever experienced as he instructed her to grasp the rails of her headboard and not let go. Her nipples, already taut, had become throbbing stiff peaks as hard as diamonds as he trailed the ice across them, explaining the endothermic reaction he was demonstrating.

  "As you'll notice, Miss Varner, the cold has your pretty little nipples drawing up and turning quite a beautiful shade of red." His free hand slid between her legs to cup her weeping sex. "And though your breasts are experiencing such cold, the rest of your body is releasing heat." She whimpered and thrashed on the bed when he put a piece of ice between his lips and settled between her thighs. It took every ounce of will she had to keep her hands on the rails as he demonstrated how ice could also burn. Her clit was swollen and pulsing and she was panting hard and begging long before he moved to position himself between her thighs.

  His fingers stroked through her sex, tapping against her clit and sliding in circles around the bud that was still cold. "Exothermic reactions on the other hand, release heat. Often times, a great deal of heat." His mouth descended on her clit and his tongue flicked and licked until her hips were once again bucking up and she was mewling. "Ready for your final exam?" he quipped and smiled that devilish smile, his tongue running over his lips that were glistening with her arousal.

  "If you don't hurry and give it to me, Professor, you'll discover that your student has disappeared in a burst of spontaneous combustion."

  "Now who is being all scientific?" he asked, pushing just the barest inch into her. "I see the need for further research, Miss Varner. After all, combustion is another scientific theory."

  Venia was positive she not only combusted, she continued to burn long after he had made her scream his name. By the time he spooned her to him, she was exhausted and yet looking forward to the next class. As long as he had theories to demonstrate, she was more than willing to be his student.

  * * * * *

  "You weren't kidding," Jeffrey said the next day.

  "I rarely do," Charles said with a grin. "I told you we want to show our kids our support."

  "It's really amazing," Venia exclaimed as they walked down the street looking at the tables that had been set up and watching as excited children were helped by their parents to bring their displays together. "I'm as excited as they are!"

  Jeffrey pulled her to him and kissed her hard. "It's very rewarding to learn my little pupil is excited about her science classes outside of the bedroom." Violet smiled and Charles shook his head when he saw his friend's hand drop to pat against Venia's backside.

  Venia's giggle and blush had Jeffrey shrugging. "As I recall, you did say to think of something to get the little tykes excited about science."

  "Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, Dr. Humphries, I was speaking of demos other than those of biology." Charles' smile and the hand he slapped against Jeffrey's back showed that he was capable of teasing.

  "Ahh, well, I see Dina now. Believe me, these kids are going to think science is awesome!"

  The group split apart as Venia moved to assist Ange and Jim in setting up the table where boxes of muffins, donuts and cupcakes were being placed onto trays. A huge coffee urn and a large dispenser were set up for beverages. Parents began to gather before the last goodie had been taken from its box. They'd gotten up very early that morning and not only needed the caffeine, they were happy to treat their little scientists with a donut or cupcake and a cup of juice for all their hard work on their projects.

  Ever and Violet were arranging the t-shirts into piles on another table, the winning design being a large sphere that was formed by the words 'Corbin's Bend Rocks' arranged in a circ
le and depictions of various rocks in their natural state broken open to reveal the beautifully colored crystals that had been growing inside. Venia didn't hesitate to slap down a twenty and ask that one be put aside.

  "Isn't this one a bit too large for you?" Ever asked as she looked at the tag.

  "I'm thinking she is buying it for a certain, much larger scientist," Violet teased. "After all, we've all seen the professional stoic doctor break open to reveal his, um, jewels." The three laughed and Venia blushed as she thought about the jewel that was her love.

  The air began to fill with the aroma of BBQ as the Pit set up on one end of the street. Though she and Jeffrey had enjoyed another pancake breakfast, Venia's stomach rumbled. Within another hour, all the booths had been set up and people of the community began to walk along the street to look at what the children had produced.

  The members of the judging committee each had a clipboard and took far more time at each display. As the student explained their project, marks were given as to creativity, difficulty of the project, how well the hypothesis was proven to be true or false, and how the display looked. Venia had a very hard time as she wanted every child to feel like a winner.

  "You do know you are going to have to pick the top three in each school, don't you?" Jeffrey asked when she told a pretty little girl that she thought it amazing that plants did seem to react to different styles of music.

  "I know," she moaned as they moved away. "It's just that they've all put so much effort into their projects. I can't imagine how much time was really spent."

  "I can't imagine not tearing my hair out or wearing earmuffs for a month as she had different radios blaring different music in every room of their house," Jeffrey said as several other judges agreed.

  Hearing the spectators clapping, the judges moved towards another table. "I can't wait to see this," Venia whispered as Miranda's face glowed with the attention her table was getting. They watched her set up her elaborate maze into a new configuration, the judges having missed the others she'd already demonstrated.