Chapter 1: Introduction
The bar was a throbbing mass of bodies, writhing to the beat of songs I vaguely recognized. I should have been happy, ecstatic even, for tonight marked our last exam before freedom. But the bass drum's incessant pounding echoed the deepening dread lodged in my chest. I glanced at Sarah, my beautiful best friend who had the nerve to worry about me, and I put on a brave smile.
"Two drinks, please!" I shouted over the pulsating music to the bartender. One for me and one for her.
Just as the bartender handed us our drinks, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there stood Professor Richardson. I felt a strange mixture of surprise and excitement. "Professor?" I asked, taking in his handsome features.
"Call me John, please," he replied, his voice deep and smooth.
He gestured towards the empty bar stool next to me. "May I join you ladies?"
I blinked in surprise for a moment, but Sarah, always the more outgoing one between us, answered. "Of course! We were just celebrating our last exam."
As John sat down, our knees brushed together under the bar, and I felt a jolt of something inexplicable. I realized I was biting my lower lip, and I quickly released it.
"So, Professor-John, do you often mix business with pleasure?" I joked, trying to play off the tension I felt between us.
He locked eyes with me, and my breath hitched in my throat. "Only with those who pique my interest, Ms. Emily."
My name on his lips did things to me, things I couldn't even explain. I felt a need, a desire, bubbling within me, and it was beyond anything I had ever experienced before.
I needed John, and it confused me beyond belief. I glanced at Sarah, who had turned her attention to the crowd, dancing and laughing with a drink in her hand. I leaned in closer to John, a devilish smile playing on my lips.
"You have my attention, John," I whispered, close enough to feel his warm breath on my cheek.
His nostrils flared, and I could tell he was holding himself back.
I felt a rush of satisfaction and began to let my mind wander. I imagined his hands all over my body, grasping and pulling at my clothes, uncovering my bare flesh for him to explore.
John caught me looking and smirked. With a swift yet gentle movement, he placed his hand on my thigh, fingers pressing into the soft skin underneath my skirt. The contact sent an electrical charge through my entire body, forcing a moan from deep within my chest. I couldn't deny the heat building up between us, or the fact that I wanted more.