by Mia Madison
Just as quickly as my fantasy began, the real world came back into focus as we heard voices in the hallway .
I opened my eyes and saw Nate's expression close off as he looked over at the door. "Go get dressed," he ordered as he protectively put his body between me and the broken door. It was not the words I wanted to hear from him, but given everything that had just happened, I ran as quickly as I could to obey .
Nate
I was going straight to hell with a detour through public ridicule. Not only that, but I was seven shades of crazy to do what I was doing .
"I know it's kind of late, but the guys should still be out drinking. I'm sure if I texted one of them would let me crash -"
It only took one quick look in Olivia's direction to stop her rambling. As if I would let her anywhere near a group of drunken, horny frat boys. Her fingers continued to twist around the fringe of the bright pink scarf in her lap while she glanced at me anxiously. Every once in a while her eyes would dart to the back seat where most of her scant belongings were piled. I knew some college students lived rough, but aside from an overflowing laundry basket, a trash bag with a bit more clothing, and a couple of extra power cords, she seemed to carry all her belongings with her every day .
We pulled up to a stop light and I realized the car was quiet - too quiet. "Are you sure you have everything?" It wasn't the first time I asked that question, and I could feel her roll her eyes at me again .
"What more could I need?" The slight shrug of her shoulder contradicted her statement .
"Don't you have any pictures?" I barely had the question out before she waved her phone at me. "Music, movies…" she stopped waving the phone and pointed to the laptop nestled in her backpack, "books - you're a college student," I sighed, "you have to have books." At that, she pulled out an e-reader and I gave up. We now lived in a fully electronic world .
"Don't tell me you don't have all this stuff too," she chided .
"I do," I chuckled, "but I also have a TV, a library -"
"I have a library card ," she mocked and for the first time since I pulled her out of her ratty apartment, she smiled - a real smile .
Even if she had a working door, which she didn't, it was obvious Olivia's apartment wasn't safe. After what she had just gone through I couldn't just leave her to fend for herself, right? I tried to tell myself that I was just being chivalrous, but it wasn't chivalry that dragged her out of that apartment - it was my dick .
"So," she drawled, "where are we going ?"
In the rush to grab her things and get her out of that crappy apartment, I never really told her my plans. I didn't blame her for be on edge and questioning my motives. After barking out orders for her to get dressed and pack up her stuff, I ran a million different scenarios through my brain. Each one was dismissed in favor of the one option I really wanted - that Olivia would stay with me .
I had to be certifiably crazy. There had to be another way - a way that didn't get me banned from the University .
After all this time trying to hide any whiff of impropriety, I was going to move her into my home - temporarily of course. But as my libido dragged my thoughts back to the way her curves fit against my body and the way her lips reacted to mine, my cock stiffened and I wondered how temporary it had to be .
Examining every inch of her body was both the most exhilarating and excruciating experience of my life. I tried to be as detached as possible and concentrate on the task at hand, but this was Olivia. My fingers might have been methodically examining her body for glass, but my lips were crying out to explore every inch of her. I don't think I've ever been so excited by a woman but at the same time revolted by my own behavior. To top it all off, I would have been her first .
Fuck me, I was so screwed. Visions of irate Deans with pitchforks were running through my head when Olivia put her hand on my arm .
"Nate?"
I loosened my grip on the steering wheel and looked over at her. A whimsical smile was hovering over her lips, the lips I was devouring not that long ago .
Fuck
A horn blared behind me and I glanced up at the rear-view mirror in time to see the driver flip me off. I pressed my foot down on the gas and peeled out just in time for the yellow light to turn red .
"Umm... Nate?" Olivia pulled her hand away and I noticed it hover protectively over the dashboard. "Do you think maybe you could slow down ?"
I eased off the gas just in time to turn down a tree-lined side-street and pull into an empty parking spot .
Olivia blinked at sudden shift and looked around as if expecting a police car or that irate driver to come barreling after us. After a moment of silence, she finally asked, "where are we ?"
"My place," I said casually, and studied her face for any reaction, "you're going to stay with me until we get everything sorted out ."
She didn't move for a second - the longest second of my life - and then I saw her bite her lip to hide a smile. It was small, if the light had been just a bit dimmer I wouldn't have seen it - but I did .
I was so screwed .
I hopped out of the car and pulled open the back door before she could say anything. Reaching in for the bag of cords, I tossed it on top of the laundry basket and yanked them both out. I was reaching in for her trash bag when Olivia appeared beside me .
She leaned against the car and I tried to ignore the way her tight mini-skirt rode up a fraction of an inch higher when she crossed one leg over the other. When I told her to get dressed she mentioned something about laundry day and I figured she would come out in a ratty t-shirt and sweatpants. I certainly didn't expect a skin-tight mini dress, a leather jacket and high-heeled fuck me boots. It was all I could do to keep from ripping those clothes off her body too .
She cocked her head to the side and I swear she knew what I was thinking. I was going to have to watch myself around her .
"So," she drawled and my antennas went up, "Shall we go inside ?"
I gave her my most stern professor look and pointed her to the door. I would find someplace for her to stay tomorrow. I could handle one night with Olivia under my roof, right ?
I watched her saunter up the stairs and my dick was standing at attention again. Damn, she had the best saunter - coming or going .
This truly was a horrible idea .
Olivia
"W ell, that didn't go as I expected ."
I threw off the fluffy down comforter and blinked against the morning sunlight streaming through the near floor to ceiling windows. I looked down at the slinky babydoll lingerie that I put on last night and wondered where I went wrong .
After the most intimate encounter of my life, I put on my hottest clubbing outfit and set my mind to making Nate mine. Instead, he barked out orders like a drill sergeant and barely noticed me. He was running so hot and cold, I just couldn't figure him out. Did he want me or not? Did my naked body turn him off? 'Cuse that kiss seemed like he was pretty turned on .
Then, when he brought me to his home, I figured it was a done deal. I thought a night of mind-blowing sex was in my future and shimmied into this never before used ensemble. Was I ever surprised when he led me to a guest bedroom, closed the door in my face, and never came back. Did everyone have this much trouble giving away their virginity? I thought guys were all about popping that proverbial cherry. Why not mine ?
The grumbling in my stomach alerted me to the need to explore my new digs in search of something to eat. I would have just grabbed the pizza out of my bookbag, but I dropped that somewhere downstairs when I thought I was going to need both of my hands. As if .
I addition to no food, I also had no idea what time it was other than it was late. When I had a chance, I would have to contact Tisha to get the notes from my morning class. That was going to be a fun conv
ersation .
I picked up my spandex mini dress and tossed it into the laundry basket in a huff then went over to my bag of clean clothes and dumped them onto the bed .
The pickings were pretty slim as I rummaged through the pile and I finally settled on a pair of frumpy jeans and an oversized Tshirt. I pulled them on and looked at myself in the beautifully carved full-sized Cheval Mirror. Honestly, the mirror looked better than the reflection. My hair was a mess, I had bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, and I looked like a frump .
"Well, time to get this over with," I commiserated with my reflection before heading out the door .
The night before, it was dark and I was much more interested in Nick guiding me to the bedroom and what I thought we were going to do when we got there. Now, as I sunk into the antique looking Persian runner floating down the hallway and the crown molding covering the walls and ceiling, I was getting the impression there was more to Nick than just a gorgeous face and a rockin' hot bod .
At the end of the hallway was a curved stairway. I remembered this from the night before, but as I descended the steps, I marveled at the delicately carved banister. I hadn't noticed that before .
When I reached the foyer - marble of course - I saw my reflection in an oversized hallway mirror and began to rethink my frumpy outfit. I looked so out of place next to all the marble, crystal, and polished wood .
My stomach growled again and I pushed aside my reservations. There was nothing I could do about this situation but make the best of it .
"Nate?" I called out hesitantly and heard nothing but the dull clicking of a grandfather clock. "Professor Dalton ?"
"In here Olivia," he called out, "Sorry, I was on the phone ."
I followed his disembodied voice into the bowels of the mansion. Each step made me feel more and more like I didn't belong and faced with that reality there was only one thing I could do .
Relax and enjoy myself .
"Marco!" I called out with a healthy dose of false bravado .
"Polo!" Nate called back with a laugh .
I was close enough to find the right door and pushed it open before I could back out .
"Holy Shit!" I slapped my hand over my mouth and hoped he hadn't heard me. Nate just leaned back into his overstuffed chair behind his oversized desk and watched me make a fool of myself. A smile hovered around his lips and I got the impression he was enjoying himself .
I pulled my eyes away from him to take in the rest of the room. It wasn't hard to figure out this was a library because all I saw was books. Books, books and oh look there, more books! Floor to ceiling shelves of books, cases of antique books, and a coffee table with carefully arranged books .
"When you said you had a library, I figured you meant a bookshelf," I gushed, forgetting my earlier hesitation. "This is amazing !"
"I'm glad you like it." He smiled and then waved his hands around, "you don't think it's a bit overstated ?"
"No way!" In the corner, I saw a rolling library ladder and ran over to take it for a spin. I never claimed to be physically coordinated, but with one foot on a step, I pushed off with the other and easily rode the ladder past more books I had ever read in my life. "Oh man!," I shouted, "I feel like Belle in Beauty and the Beast !"
Nate was caught up in my excitement and chuckled along. "Wait," he suddenly stopped laughing, "doesn't that make me the beast ?"
I almost fell off the ladder laughing at his expression of horror. "Well," I cocked my head to the side and examined him closely, "you do need a shave." I had always seen Nate clean shaven, but the day old scruff on his face was sexy as hell. I got a taste of that scruff sliding over my body the night before and I wanted more .
Nate must have read my thoughts because his face closed off and he slowly rose from the chair. I desperately wanted to go back to our light-hearted banter and maybe take another ride on the ladder, but that moment was over .
He moved from behind the desk and I got a good look at his form fitting t-shirt and low slung jeans. His shirt was tight enough to show off the hard ridges of his chest, and the muscles underneath flexed as he walked towards me. I almost drooled as I took in the view .
My attention was diverted for a second when he walked past a huge marble fireplace flanked by two overstuffed leather club chairs. I swear the only thing missing was a smoldering pipe and a glass of Brandy. He took a few more steps and I saw the liquor cart with a crystal decanter and two brandy snifters ready to go .
The closest I ever got to drinking something so fancy was when one of my foster moms picked up a cheap set of snifters at a yard sale. At a worldly twelve years old, my friend Pam and I used them to drink our chocolate milk. The idea that Nate drank his Brandy in his crystal snifter while sitting in his leather chair in front of his marble fireplace kind of put things in perspective .
"So," Nate hesitated, "we should probably talk about last night ."
Fuck.
The last thing I wanted to talk about was last night. I wanted a repeat of last night, I wanted an extension of last night, but a talk about last night only meant one thing. A discussion about how last night was wrong .
Double fuck .
Nate came to stand right in front of me, close enough so I could gaze into his deep blue eyes and get a front row seat to what I was going to be missing. He had the decency to hang his head a bit as he proceeded to set me straight on how things were last night .
"I wanted to make sure it was clear -"
Nate's carefully scripted speech was cut short by the earth-shattering growl that emanated from my stomach. I would have been more embarrassed if I wasn't so relieved .
"Sorry," I fake blushed and waved my hand in the direction of my stomach .
A rueful smile crossed his lips, "No, I'm sorry." He took my hand and pulled me towards the door, "I should have realized you would be hungry ."
Hungry for you, I thought but kept my mouth shut and followed him towards the kitchen. If nothing else, I headed off a conversation I didn't want to have - and maybe I would even get some waffles. Nate looked like a waffles kind of guy .
Nate
"S o, do you do a lot of cooking?" I asked Olivia as we headed towards the kitchen .
"Well…" she laughed, "I would say that between pop-tarts and microwave dinners, my cooking involves a lot of take-out." Her jaw dropped as she rounded the entryway and saw the state-of-the-art remodel. "Holy crap this is nice !"
She immediately went over to the center island and danced her fingers along the sleek surface on the way to the side-by-side double oven with the grill top. On one side was a built-in temperature controlled wine rack and the other side housed a wood-fired pizza oven .
"Man," she clicked her tongue and glanced over at me, "it must be really nice to reheat leftover pizza in this bad boy ."
I couldn't hold back my laughter. Most of the women I've dated over the years would have made some polite comments about the fact that my housekeeper must have appreciated the upgrade before moving along to the Renoir in the library .
Olivia didn't even notice the Renoir. In fact, I think if she had, she wouldn't have cared .
"So, how about bacon and eggs? Pancakes? Or, maybe waffles?" As I ran down the list I somehow knew where we were going to end up. She looked like a waffles kind of gal .
"Well," she demurred, "I don't want to put you out …"
As I made us breakfast, I told her all about the history of the old brownstone while she rolled her eyes at me .
"Get to the good part," she joked, "like how you ended up here ."
"Well actually," I started and saw her roll her eyes again, "the truth is, I inherited it
."
"Oh," her expression was suddenly serious, "I'm so sorry ."
"Thank you," she caught me off guard with the comment and I wondered if she had lost anyone close to her. "It was my grandparent's house and when they passed it sat empty until I moved back to Boston last year ."
"I'm guessing they didn't do the remodel ?"
"No," I laughed, "My grandparents would not have seen the value in a pizza oven ."
"Well, that's their loss," she commented with a flip of her hand and then laughed with me .
I sat a platter of waffles down on the island and motioned for her to grab one of the bar stools and dig in. The sparkle in her eyes when took her first bite reminded me of why I loved to cook. I grabbed a waffle from the pile and dug in with matching gusto .
"So," I asked after a few bites, "what are your plans for the day ?"
"Well," I missed a morning class, "but with my work schedule, that happens sometimes." She screwed up her face in a way I had seen when she was angry at herself, "I'll just get my notes from a classmate ."
"Oh, I forgot to mention before - about your apartment," I saw her flinch and wished I hadn't brought it up, "I have a buddy at the Boston PD and I contacted him last night to get the ball rolling on a police report." She nodded dully and I pressed on, "I also contacted your landlord and explained the situation ."
I knew she worked three jobs to keep afloat, and after seeing her apartment, I could only imagine how poorly she was being paid for those jobs. I mentally calculated how much I spend on just the remodel of the kitchen and it put things in a new perspective .
"So," I tried to brighten the mood, "My afternoon meeting was canceled and I only have a few papers to grade, so how about we hang out ?"