Studious Desires

by Mary Winter

  She looked up from her note taking. Her gaze collided with his. Lips parted, she stared at him. Her tongue slid out to moisten her lips, and he followed the movement. An invisibility potion would be good right now, so he could slip beneath the table undetected. He’d part her thighs, feel up her denim clad legs, unzip and unbutton her pants, and see if he could make her come without the other students noticing.

  Damn, he was really losing it. He listened to the movie, realizing it was nearly half over, and he’d spent all the time fantasizing about Kat. That confirmed it, he had to keep on with his research. Circumstances like these were exactly what it was designed for, and with his serum, he could focus on the class, on his job, when his mind wanted to focus on the woman with whom he’d spent last night.

  Kat would just have to understand. He’d make her see his point of view when it came to his work. She was a scientist. She had to believe he had only the utmost thoughts in mind when he created his research and in going forth with it. Surely she saw that there were applications for it, and he wouldn’t use it to jeopardize their relationship. Though, he had some interesting ideas for his next field trials. With a grin, he turned his attention toward the papers sitting on his desk and began to read.

  ****

  Neal contemplated his burger and fries, not liking the direction in which the conversation was headed. Sitting in his favorite diner, his long-time friend, Dan Finche, sat across from him. Neal he frowned and squirted a generous helping of ketchup on his plate. “So what do you think?” He looked up to find Dan looking at him thoughtfully.

  Dan took a bite of his double cheeseburger and ate. He sipped his cola, the silence stretching between them growing so taut it could be cut with the butter knife sitting by his left hand. Finally, he shook his head. “I don’t know what to tell you, except it doesn’t seem like your heart is in your project anymore.”

  “What?” Neal furrowed his brow. “How can you say that? All the hours I’ve put in at the lab, my research. I’ve sent you everything. You’ve gone over it with me step by step, so how can you say my heart isn’t in it?” He shook his head and took a vicious bite of a French fry. That just wasn’t right. It was Dan who wasn’t paying attention.

  Dan sighed. “Look, you asked for my honest opinion, and I’m giving it to you. If you don’t like it, that’s not my problem. You’ve been putting in long hours. I’ll give you that. Your notes have been meticulous. The logic you’ve made and the leaps in progress, they’re astounding. But something is missing.” Swirling a fry in the ketchup and eating it, he paused.

  “Go on,” Neal demanded. Why he’d agreed to have this lunch meeting, he didn’t know. He’d be better off spending his time in the lab, working to perfect the dosing. Sure, Kat had gotten to him. Hell, she’d get to any man who wasn’t dead or blind. That had to be why the dosing was off, why he couldn’t keep his mind off of anything but her. And when she was in class, well that just made it worse. But out here, away from her distraction. His thoughts trailed away as he scanned the sidewalk, hoping for a sign of her.

  “There.” Dan said, pointing out the window. “You’re staring off into space, not even paying attention to what I’m saying. You wouldn’t have done that six months ago. What happened? What changed?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know what I mean,” Dan insisted. “C’mon. I had to correct one of your calculations. You’re slipping. Something’s on your mind and it isn’t your research.”

  Neal shook his head, ready to deny his long-time friend’s words. He stopped. Deep in his heart, he knew his friend was right. It wasn’t ‘a what’ that had changed, but ‘a who’. Kat. She’d returned and shattered his disciplined, academic world all to hell. Neal frowned.

  “I’m right, aren’t I? What happened? You’re so close. I’d hate to see you blow it all away now. Just a few more trails and you can publish, and then from there—” Dan pointed to the ceiling. “This is the ticket you’ve been looking for. Fame and fortune within the scientific community if you can pull this off, buddy. So what’s stopping you?”

  “Nothing is stopping me.”

  “But you have had something on your mind.”

  “Not something,” Neal admitted. “Someone.” He leaned back in the booth, his juicy hamburger and thick steak fries forgotten. “Kat. She’s returned to finish up her degree, and she’s in my Organic Chemistry class.”

  “And I take it chemistry is happening outside the classroom as well. You’re a sly one. I knew something was up,” Dan wiggled his eyebrows at his own joke, “but I couldn’t quite guess. Aren’t you the lucky one? She’s as hot as she was all those years ago?”

  “Hotter,” Neal admitted. Dan had been a year ahead of them in college, more his friend than hers. “I’ve got to focus on my research, and no, I’m not dosing myself with my serum to do it.”

  “You tried it?”

  Neal nodded. “A dare. It didn’t work out. At least not in favor of my scientific formulas.” He grinned remembering the way Kat had seduced him on his own couch. Her thighs straddling him, her breasts hovering at eye level. If he didn’t stop thinking about it, he’d get a hard-on right there in the booth.

  “Look, you’ve dealt with distractions before. That’s all she is, right? A distraction?” When Neal didn’t answer, he continued. “Go back to your lab. Finish up your research, start your trials. You know it’s the best thing for your research and for you. I doubt you want to be a lowly professor forever, do you?”

  “No, I don’t.” The conversation drifted into silence as both men finished their meals.

  “Think about it,” Dan said on their way out the restaurant door. “I’d hate to watch you throw it all away.” And much to Neal’s chagrin, he thought about it, all the way back to his lab.

  Two hours later, Neal stared at the test tubes sitting on the bench before him. He’d just about finished measuring out twelve doses of the serum, ready to test. As he poured the last bottle into the test tube, his hands shook. A couple drops of serum splashed harmlessly on the stainless steel workbench at which he worked. Quickly, he wiped them away with a rag. He’d better be careful. He didn’t want to spill any on himself, not until he’d done full dose testing.

  Sliding from the stool, he went to the fridge where he kept the second bottle. A stronger strength, he wanted to conduct a second trial simultaneously. He opened the fridge and reached in for the open glass. He’d set the jar full of serum in the fridge to cool after mixing it and condensation rolled down the sides. Wrapping his fingers around it, he pulled the jar from the fridge.

  It slipped from his fingers. Neal reached for the jar, trying to catch it. The jar twisted in mid-air, blue liquid falling from it in a stream. The liquid splashed on his arm and leg, the jar landing on the floor and shattering. Oh hell! His skin tingled where the serum touched him, and Neal rushed to the sink. He stuck his arm under the water and wet down a cloth with which to wipe his leg. He removed most of the liquid, hoping it hadn’t penetrated his skin. Damn it, he should have been more careful.

  Just as the thought filled his mind, it fled. A blessed calm, the likes of which he hadn’t felt in weeks filled him. He turned to his notes, suddenly realizing the mistake he’d made in the variables when it came to dosing. Yes, just a few tweaks of the calculations, and he’d be ready to work. He belatedly remembered to close the fridge and sweep up the glass. He disposed of it, then sat back down at the desk and began to work on his calculations. With any luck, he’d make great strides this afternoon. And he must remember to document what happened. For science’s sake, of course.

  Chapter Six

  Finished with his research for the night, Neal hurried across campus to his classroom. This close to dusk, with the sky streaked orange and purple and the chill of night in the air, few students crossed the quad going to or from classrooms and dorms. Neal hurried across the grassy lawn, close cropped. Nearby one of the downtown restaurants grilled on the patio, and the succulent smell of
beef filled the air. Neal noticed it, and hurried on.

  He thought little beyond the need to get to his classroom, check on a few supplies and make a list. Then, he could go home, sleep and come into the lab early to do some more research and testing. In his mind, he ticked off the things he could complete from his mental “to do” list, so lost in thought he faintly heard someone calling his name.

  “Neal!” Kat yelled. She hurried across the lawn. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  He stopped. Looking around, he watched her stride towards him. Distantly, he recognized her breasts bouncing invitingly beneath the t-shirt she wore, and with her hair up and her face nearly devoid of make up she looked like another college student. “Kat.” He slowed down, but kept walking.

  Some part of his brain told him he should stop, chat with her, but he just couldn’t click it into gear. Instead, he thought of the classroom, the lists of things in his mind, his work, and all the things he had to accomplish.

  “Wait up! I’m glad I caught you.” She fell into step beside him and closed her fingers around his biceps. “I wanted to see if you wanted to get together. I know you’re busy with your research, but I thought you might have other theories to test.” Her voice grew husky.

  “Actually I’m in a trial phase at the moment.” Neal frowned and glanced at his watch.

  “Really?” Kat released his arm as if he’d burned her. She glanced down at his legs, noticing the dark stain on one. He’d tried to wash off the blue serum, but it had stained his shin in spite of his best efforts. “Did you have an accident in your lab?”

  “Just a little spill. Nothing to be worried about. Now if you’ll excuse me,” Neal started to pull away.

  “I don’t think it was a little spill at all.” Frowning, Kat stepped in front of him, arms crossed over her chest.

  He barely noticed that the motion plumped up her breast, and with a flush to her cheeks, and her lower lip slightly protruding she looked quite kissable. Instead, he wondered more how to get past her and to his classroom.

  “How much did you spill on yourself? You’re not acting like yourself.”

  “I’m fine,” Neal said. He furrowed his brow. “Can’t we talk about this later? I’m very busy at the moment.”

  He knew he was being rude, and though a part of him cared, the part that was thinking about his scientific work didn’t. She interrupted him. She stopped him on the way to his classroom. Deep inside, Neal knew it was the serum talking, but he couldn’t stop himself. Any shred of emotion couldn’t make it through his brain to register. He hated it. He knew his actions hurt her, put their relationship in jeopardy, yet the hellish hold the serum had on his mind prevented him from acting.

  “Why don’t I walk with you to your classroom? What are you doing there?” Kat walked by his side as they crossed the grassy lawns of the quad toward the large building that housed the science rooms and several lecture halls.

  Grateful to be back on the track of science, he mentioned an experiment they’d be doing next week and all the supplies they needed. By the time they reached the room, Kat had fallen silent. Neal wanted to say something, but again that fog came over his mind. Instead, he unlocked the door and turned to her. “It was nice to walk with you,” he said. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  Kat followed him through the door. He turned to close it behind him and nearly ran into her. A soft floral scent filled his nostrils, reminding him of that sensual night in his apartment. “I, uh…” His voice trailed off as words failed him.

  “Look,” Kat said. Hands at her hips, she glanced at the stain on his leg. “I don’t know whether it was accidental or not, but that serum has obviously affected your thinking.” She stepped forward, so close that when she breathed her breasts brushed his chest. “You might want to look at the transportation vehicle within the serum. It probably isn’t a good thing to have it able to soak through the skin.”

  “Without a thorough analysis of the compound and my research, how can you say such a thing?” He shook his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He turned away before Kat could say anything else.

  ****

  Kat watched Neal turn from her. Frowning, she watched him straighten his desk, busy work undoubtedly meant to keep him busy until she left. Anger churned in the pit of her stomach. She seethed with it, wanted to tell him where he could stick his research. Bastard! After all they shared, and the way she disproved his serum, then this had to happen.

  He moved to the cupboard, giving Kat a view of his stained leg. His dosing obviously wasn’t intentional. If it was, the stain would be more uniform, and most likely in a location where it would be covered by clothing. Looking at Neal’s leg, the stain clearly appeared to be an accident. After all, his sock was marked with the blue stain as well as droplets splashed on the top of his shoes. He should have changed. He probably should have called poison control given the fact that he worked with an experimental drug.

  She wanted to be mad. A part of her wanted to believe that hurt by her seduction’s effect on his theories, he’d dosed himself with an even larger dose in order to get back at her. His words, though not cruel certainly weren’t what she expected from him. Yet, if he were under the influence of his serum and thinking only about his scientific goals, then they were exactly what she should expect.

  Kat frowned. Turning, she slipped out the door, leaving him to mutter to himself about various chemicals and how much they’d need. Talking to him in this state wouldn’t do either of them any good. She’d become more infuriated and he, well he’d probably retreat back into the world of cold, emotionless science. Damn it! She pounded her fist against the wall, wincing a bit at the pain. She strode outside and into the gathering dusk. She’d return, and then Neal and she would have it out.

  So why did Neal’s accident anger her so much? That, Kat decided, was the key question. She hurried not to her car, but to a restaurant that had been a study hangout when she’d been in college the first time. She knew it for a place where she could sip a diet cola for a while and mull over the problem of what to do about Neal. With a smile, she stepped inside, and found herself seated at a quiet, corner booth. Pulling out the notebook sitting in the bag she had slung over her shoulder, she started taking notes. Very quickly, the realization that she had to go confront Neal about the episode took root in her mind. The question was, where, and how?

  Three hours later, she strode across campus toward Neal’s lab. Fully dark, with only street lights and the moon for illumination, the quad looked different, spooky almost. Kat hurried across the grounds, grass crunching beneath her heels. As she neared Neal’s lab, she saw lights glowing in the windows. Good, he was still there. She figured he would be, doubted even if the serum had worn off that he would go home. Not the Neal, she knew.

  And that was the catch. The Neal she knew would be working hard, striving for perfection. She loved that about him. Whatever Neal did, he had to be perfect at it. They’d joked about it being part of his Virgo trait. Exhaling, Kat stopped in front of the door. She had to talk to him, had to put what happened behind her. Deep in her heart, she knew Neal would never be mean to her, and frankly, she had to put her own demons to rest. Kat raised her hand and knocked on the door.

  Shuffling came from inside, and moments later the door opened. Neal appeared decidedly more bleary-eyed, his hair looking as if he’d run his fingers through it many times. “Kat,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

  So he knows he’s been an ass. “I take it the serum has worn off?” She stood there, trying hard not to show any reaction. Deep inside, her heart ached. She knew now, why she feared his work, why she feared someone becoming completely unemotional. No longer would she spare a moment for emotionally unavailable men. No longer would she draw herself into a cocoon. Instead, she’d live life, and she wanted the man who shared her life to live it too.

  Neal nodded. “I spilled some on me,” he admitted and straightened out his leg. “There’s not a tr
ace of the stain remaining. If I’m going to have to create something like this, then I’m going to need an antidote.”

  A smile she couldn’t stop crossed her lips. “It might come in handy.”

  Neal stepped forward. He curved his hand around her hip, bringing her in close contact with his body. His hard chest brushed against her breasts, his lips just inches from hers.

  Low in her stomach, heat blossomed, and her nipples hardened into tiny points. Her breath came in short pants.

  “Yeah, like this afternoon when you were so close. Some part of my mind wanted to do this.” He dipped his head, his mouth sliding across hers. His tongue traced the seal of her lips, sliding inside when she parted them on a sigh. Neal pulled her into his lab, closing the door behind her, and then pressing her up against it.

  Winding her arms around Neal’s shoulders, she tangled her fingers in his hair. Against her stomach, his cock hardened, and the thick ridge, so at odds with his unemotional demeanor, fueled her passion. She’d come here to set things right, but with one touch of his lips, Neal spoke volumes. She parted her legs and invited him closer.

  Kat had come back to him. Tangling his fingers in her hair and kissing her with every ounce of his being, Neal didn’t want to do anything that would send her away again. After she left his classroom and the effects of the serum, thankfully not long lasting, had worn off, he cursed himself a hundred thousand times. Now, with his erection rubbing against her softness and her breasts crushed against his chest, Neal intended to make up for his faux paus earlier.

  He pinned her between the door and his hard body, his cock cradled against her softness. Reaching down, he cupped the back of her smooth thigh, stroking her from buttocks to knee, and back again. He kissed and nibbled her mouth, her neck, down to the satiny soft skin at the base of her throat. Laving her skin with his tongue, he fought against the animalistic need to plunge into her hot, wet depths and fuck them both into oblivion.