by Candy Caine
Chapter Six
To say she wasn’t nervous would have been a bald lie. She was nearly beside herself with apprehension. When Lauryn and she walked into MacDougall’s, Friday night, she had no idea what to expect. The furnishings inside were no better than outside, but the place was jumping. They were both relieved to see other women. Tables were set up around the room, but the action was at the bar near a large TV where many of the men were watching a football game. Others were openly gawking at the women. Okay, at least it wasn’t a gay bar.
Claudia located Robert in the far corner sitting next to John Phillips. He had a beer in front of him. The two women edged up as close as they could get hoping to be noticed. A few minutes later, John recognized Claudia and broke into a wide smile as he waved her over.
“Come, sit here,” he said rising from his stool and nudging Robert off his as well. “We can repay your kindness for sharing your table in the caf. Say, who’s this?”
“Lauryn, I’d like you to meet two nice guys from my university. This is Robert and this is John.”
Both men extended their hands and Lauryn shook them.
“We’re waiting for a table,” John said. “Would you like to join us?”
“That would be nice,” Claudia replied.
“What are you drinking in the meantime?”
Lauryn and Claudia ordered a glass of wine. John was hogging the conversation, as usual. Wanting to get Robert involved, Claudia brought up the subject of teaching and casually asked if he’d be teaching at the university next semester.
“Don’t know yet.”
“You have something else in the works?”
That’s when he began to tell her about his grant application. Unaware that she already knew about the grant, he was still talking about it when they were shown to their table. From what she’d seen of Robert up to this point, Claudia doubted he’d ever spoken as much in his entire life. The grant must have been the highlight of his very existence. Wonderful!
They ordered dinner. Robert and John drank beer throughout the entire meal. Claudia began to worry that Robert might not be sober enough to drive her home or even get it up. Twenty minutes later, Lauryn’s cell phone rang. Her husband was right on schedule. Bless him.
“Excuse me,” she said, taking the call. “Uh-huh. Leaving now.” She disconnected the call. “Claudia, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to run.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find a ride home.”
“I’ll take her,” John said.
That wasn’t what Claudia planned. She had to think fast.
“Listen, I don’t want to be a burden. I may be totally out of your way.”
“Where do you live?”
“Off Route 25.”
“I guess you’re closer to Robert, then.”
Claudia silently said a prayer of thanks as she turned to Robert and said, “You can tell me more about geology on the way home. I’ve always been interested in rock formations,” she lied shamelessly.
“In that case, I’m off. Nice meeting you both,” Lauryn said.
“Same here,” John replied as Robert nodded. “Well, I should be going, too. I promised my daughter to read her a bedtime story. Good night, you two,” he said grabbing the bill.
Claudia started to say something in protest, but he muttered something like it was his pleasure and was gone. With the others gone, Robert glanced at his watch and then said, “I guess I should be taking you home.”
The plan was back on track and he seemed sober enough to drive. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Robert, for being so kind.”
“No problem,” he replied in a serious tone and helped her on with her coat. Suddenly, out of nowhere, rose a queasy feeling that he wasn’t going to be easy to seduce.
Once outside, he led Claudia to his car. It was an adorable red sports car, definitely not the kind of car she’d expected a stuffy science professor to drive. When she first saw him get into it on campus, she’d been nearly blown over, expecting him to drive a Volvo or Honda like she did. But, as she was soon to learn, the surprises were only just beginning.
It wasn’t a long drive to her apartment. Robert was quite talkative in the car. Claudia realized that when he was interested in a topic, he had a great deal to say. She fought to remain awake, being totally uninterested in the formation of the earth’s crust. The only crust she liked was on sour-dough, rye bread.
“Nice place. I don’t live too far from here,” he said, as he pulled into her apartment complex.
She nearly blurted out, I know, having followed him home a number of times. “Would you like to come in for a night cap?”
“I really should start grading my papers.”
“Come on, it’s not all the time I have the chance to invite such an interesting guy in.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“Why do you ask?”
He shook his head. “No reason.”
“Then, join me.”
He followed her inside the building and into her apartment. “This really is a nice place.”
“I like it. I have more than enough room to keep from feeling claustrophobic. What can I get you?”
“Do you have any brandy?”
“It just so happens, I do.” Claudia kept a well-stocked liquor cabinet for entertaining.
When she returned, drinks in hand, he was looking through a pile of her CDs.
“Want to hear anything special?” she asked.
“I like Ottmar Liebert.”
Claudia could hardly believe her ears when he said that. The fact that Robert even knew who Ottmar Liebert was, let alone cared for his music surprised her. Ottmar Liebert was far from a common household name. He was a composer and guitarist who performed with his group called Luna Negra. They had a unique style called Nouveau Flamenco, which mixed elements of flamenco with several other genres such as jazz, bossa nova, and Hindu meditation music. She loved his music and owned nearly all of his CDs. “Really? Pick one that you’d like to hear.”
A beat later, he handed Claudia her favorite Liebert CD, Inclinado en La Noche. She was amazed with his choice and put it into the CD player. She tucked away this gem of information to think about later.
They sat together on the couch, sipping their drinks. He broke the silence by asking her if she was seeing anyone. She told him the truth—that she wasn’t.
“I would have thought a terrific lady like you would be taken already,” he said.
“No. Not really. Teaching requires a great deal of time.”
“Believe me, I know. Though, lately I’ve been thinking about growing old and having no one to spend my golden years with.”
“I never dwell on that. I guess I live too much in the present,” she lied, knowing well they were there together at that moment because of her thoughts of the future.
Robert took another sip of his drink. In the background the music throbbed sensually. “I’ve been alone most of my life. My parents died when I was an infant and an aunt raised me until she died when I was fourteen. Then I was placed in a foster home until I was eighteen. I’ve always been afraid to get close to anyone for fear they’d leave me—or so says a psychologist friend of mine.” He grimaced wryly.
He was sounding more and more like the perfect candidate to her. “I never had much of a family life, either,” she admitted. At least that was the truth.
As they continued to talk, Claudia found herself becoming more interested in him as a person, nearly forgetting why she had lured him there in the first place. Then the moment happened. He put down his glass and removed his glasses revealing the most beautiful teal-colored eyes she’d ever seen on a man. Before that thought had been completely translated by her brain, his lips were covering hers.
It was a gentle kiss, slow and thoughtful. In the background she could hear the sensual guitar music of Ottmar Liebert and marveled how much it fit the mood. Claudia liked how Robert’s mouth felt on hers and actually wanted more. Surprised at her reaction to the
kiss, she realized she might not need a script, after all.
His next kiss was more passionate and he crushed her to him. As his tongue explored her mouth, she felt a shiver of desire race straight through her. His kisses had become fierce and demanding. They seared her lips and yet she couldn’t get enough of them. She threaded her fingers through his thick hair and ran her restless hands down his back under his sweater. Though breathless, her lips clung to his mouth. A fire had been ignited that threatened to consume them both.
Clothes suddenly became a major issue. Claudia fumbled for his zipper as he practically ripped his sweater off. They shed their clothing like dead skin. Robert’s chest was covered with a mat of strawberry blond hair. She gave in to the urge to run her fingers through it. Being preoccupied with her breasts, he hardly noticed. He alternately lathered and suckled one as he kneaded the nipple on the other.
He rose to kiss her mouth. In doing so, his penis rubbed against her body sending out delightful blips of pleasure. Claudia shifted her bottom so that she could rub her clitoris against it. His lips slid down her neck to her breasts, once again. Robert teased them both with his mouth before slowly kissing his way down the length of her body. As he did this, he fastened his hands on her breasts, keeping her nipples erect and tingling. Every nerve in Claudia’s body had been awakened and was firing. Feeling that familiar tug at her core, she was primed and ready.
Robert didn’t stop at her sex, which was quite wet and begging to be tasted. Instead, he caressed and kissed the tender skin of her inner thigh, which made her body involuntarily twitch. The sensation was erotic, and yet, tickled at the same time. He played with her toes and massaged the soles of her feet. No one had ever done that to Claudia before and she found it unusually pleasurable. When he began to suck her big toe, she nearly came. At this point, she needed to have him inside her. However, Robert had more erotic torture in mind.
He raised her bottom and with the tip of his tongue, he skimmed the perimeter of her pussy and down toward her ass and then back up again. She practically begged him to suck her clitoris, but he preferred to continue to torture her, instead. At this point she was just about going out of her mind.
Finally, he ended the exquisite torture, giving her what she wanted. He grabbed the swollen nub between his lips and worked it as she mashed her bottom into his face. Robert thrust his tongue in and out, mindful to keep her clit aroused. As he did this, Claudia moved his hands back to her breasts. He gently began to knead their nipples, however at the moment, she desired him to be rougher. Applying pressure to his hands, she hoped he’d get the message. He did. A moment later, he pinched and twisted them, pushing her over the edge. She began to convulse. As one pleasurable wave after another wracked her body, she cried out. Robert continued to pleasure her until the last sensation left her body and she lay still and sated. He pulled her to him and kissed her. She could taste herself on his lips.
“Let’s go into the bedroom,” he suggested. Then he picked up his slacks and took out his wallet.
Claudia realized he was going to pull out a condom. She had to stop him. “No need. I’m on the pill and clean,” she breathed.
“So am I,” he quickly replied.
She raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Realizing what he’d said, he amended it with, “I mean I’m clean, too.”
Dropping his slacks, he followed her into the bedroom. She got on the bed and pulled him down to her, passionately kissing him. He had such a wonderfully kissable mouth. She reached down and stroked his semi-hard penis feeling it grow as blood rushed to engorge it. Then, placing her legs on his shoulders allowing him to penetrate her more deeply, she guided his pleasure instrument into her.
Robert began to slowly pump into her with long strokes, but soon quickened his pace and shortened his strokes. She moved with him, enjoying every stroke as the tension within her started to build again. Like the blood flowing through her veins, it spread throughout her body. He didn’t forget to pay attention to her breasts, which were overly sensitive by now.
She reached down and massaged his balls. He groaned and continued to thrust into her pussy as far as he could. A few moments later, Claudia felt his entire body stiffen and he climaxed. He didn’t stop, but continued, undoubtedly waiting for her to have another orgasm, as well. It didn’t take Claudia long. A few moments later, he was able to send her over and she came as deeply as before. If she had any strength left within her, she would have straddled the man and gone for a third round.
He smiled down at her. “You okay?”
“Hmm, and then some.”
He kissed her softly. “You’re something else. I’ve been with other women, but I’ve never experienced anything like that.”
“You had some crazy moves yourself, mister.”
“I need to lie down for a few minutes.”
Claudia nestled into his arms. When she opened her eyes again, it was morning and Robert was gone. Surprisingly, she found herself disappointed. It would have been nice to have had breakfast with him. Then she mulled that thought over in her mind. She could hardly remember the last time she cared to have a man stay over, let alone be there in the morning for breakfast. Finally, she smiled and admitted to herself that she liked the man—especially as a person. Knowing that he was most likely going to Arizona soon, she even toyed with the idea of seeing him again—but only as a friend—not a lover. She had accomplished what she’d set out to do and hopefully he’d impregnated her. She didn’t want to go through another passionate night like they’d had. It wasn’t because she hadn’t enjoyed it, because she had. If she’d been wearing any socks, the sex would have blown them clear off. She didn’t want a repeat performance, because she feared wanting any ties with the man. As much as she dreaded him caring for her, she didn’t want to care for him. It had to be kept impersonal, though she had a prickly feeling that it had already gone beyond that.
Claudia knew Lauryn was waiting for her call to let her know what had happened, so she put up a pot of coffee and hit the speed dial for her number.
“Did you lure him into your bed?”
“Yes.”
“Okay! Mission accomplished.”
“Only if I’m pregnant.”
“And chances are good since you were ovulating.”
“I won’t count my chickens until they’re hatched, so to speak.”
“I don’t want to jinx you, either.”
“He’s a really nice guy. I hope we can be friends.”
“Why? I thought you only wanted his sperm?”
“Whatever. He’ll be going to Arizona soon, anyway.”
“You hope. What if he doesn’t go?”
“Don’t even think that,” Claudia cautioned her. They talked a few more minutes before Lauryn went to take the clothes out of the dryer and Claudia made herself some breakfast.
Chapter Seven
On Monday, Robert Sterling walked over to the table in the cafeteria where Claudia was eating alone. Her head was in a book.
“Claudia?”
“Hello, Robert.” She closed the book.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Sure. Sit down.”
“Look, I’m really sorry,” he said.
“For what?”
“The other night. I had too much to drink—I really don’t go around seducing women.”
“Robert, it’s okay. We were two consenting adults. And I wanted it just as much as you did.” Much more than you could ever imagine.
“It would be wrong of me to start anything—I mean since I’ll probably be going to Arizona.”
“That’s okay. I really don’t want any relationships right now, either.”
“Friends?” he said, extending his hand.
“Of course,” Claudia said, placing her hand in his. She had the urge to add with benefits after discovering what a magnificent lover he was, but felt it best not to. It didn’t stop her, though, from wondering if he might be a mind reader. He had made everything
so easy for her—almost too easy.
“I’ve got a class in ten minutes. Maybe we can have dinner together some time.”
“I’d like that, Robert.” Claudia took out one of her business cards issued by the school and wrote down her cell number on the back. “Call me.”
He took it and smiled. “I will.”
As he walked away, she realized that she truly hoped he would call. She wanted to see him again—but only as a friend, of course. She marveled at the fact that by looking at him you could never guess that he was so dynamic in bed. He was also not exactly her ideal man, and yet, what was up with his taste in music? How coincidental was it that he happened to like Ottmar Liebert? That in itself was something else bordering on scary.
* * *
The following day, Claudia was on her way to the Administration Building to speak to the Dean of Students about a student, when she literally bumped into Robert Sterling. He’d been jotting something down in a small pad as he walked, while she was just as oblivious digging through her bag for her cell phone, missing the call, just the same.
“So sorry —” he started to say as he looked up to steady the other person and realized it was Claudia. A huge grin formed on his face. “Hi!” he said. “I should look where I’m going.”
“Hi,” she repeated like a parrot, her pulse jumping. “I’m okay. How are you?”
“Just fine. Say, I’m glad I bumped into you. Have you any plans for dinner tonight?”
“Tonight?” Why was she repeating everything he said? At this rate, she’d be stuttering next. She was acting like some teenager running into a guy she liked.
“Yes—unless you’ve already made plans…”
Claudia shook her head. “No plans.”
“Good. Then you’ll have dinner with me?”
“Yes,” she heard herself say. “What time?”
“I can pick you up at seven. I know this terrific seafood restaurant—unless you don’t like seafood.”
“Robert, seafood is fine.”
“Great! See you later,” he said and waved good bye.
His excitement was apparent and made her smile. She stood there looking after him, amazed how easy it was for him to get her to agree to go to dinner with him without any internal debate. Had she left down the drawbridge spanning her moat?