by M. J. Cooper
Gordon snorted and broke into a fit of laughter.
“You wouldn't believe the things I've heard in all my years as a professor. Try me.”
Embarrassed, Mary rubbed her arm again and attempted to come up with some average reason why she would be so distracted. What were normal women distracted by these days? Men? The thought made her roll her eyes.
“Dr. Lowe, I'm sorry. I just really got lost in my thoughts. I've been thinking about my undergrad dissertation and how to put it together.”
It was a weak lie, but it would work for now.
“I believe you. I've gone through the same thing you have.”
Gordon stood from his desk and gently placed his big binder into a satchel which he hauled over his shoulder.
“Is that all?” Mary asked while pulling on her bag. “I have to start walking home before it gets too dark.”
“Where do you live?”
“Just up Walter Street.”
“That's on the way to my house. Would you like me to accompany you?”
“That would be lovely.”
As they strolled down the sidewalk in the light of the setting sun, Gordon and Mary got lost in conversation about evolution and its application to current behavioral standards. They were so engaged with each other that Gordon forgot about the present danger of his dark stalker and got lost within the eyes of the woman next to him, the round auburn nearly shining gold in the dim light of dusk. It wasn't long before they arrived at Mary's apartment and stood at the edge of the stairs leading to the door. She twirled her gold hair nervously.
“This was such a lovely walk,” Gordon said. “I wonder if we can do it again.”
Flushed, Mary lowered her head as she giggled and allowed her hair to cover her face. It reflected the sun's rays reaching over the edges of the earth as if attempting to get one last touch before night fell. Before responding, Mary raised her eyes back up to Gordon.
“I would love that,” she said.
They each said goodnight and parted ways, Gordon continuing down the road as Mary climbed the stairs to her apartment. It occurred to both of them that this was, in some ways, their first date. The smiles they wore walking away from each other were bright as day, enough to hold them over until they met the sun the next morning.
Chapter 3
Across town, hidden in a run down motel room, waited the dark stalker that Gordon feared so deeply. His name was Matthew Walker and he was one of the most dangerous hunters on the Eastern coast. Vampires, shifters, werewolves, ghosts – anything that could be defeated or destroyed was on his list. As an exceptional killing machine, he earned his keep by answering vague ads listed on the internet, one of the most reliable ways he was able to keep his “pest control” business up to speed. He relied on word-of-mouth at some point, but that proved to be too slow and too difficult. Most people weren't as reliable as they used to be.
As Matthew methodically cleaned his guns, he listened to the news blaring through the television. It helped drown out the sound of his blood rushing through his veins, a stark reminder of his humanity and of his limited time on the earth.
I have to catch that shifter, he thought to himself. He's the last piece of the puzzle. For years, Matthew had been looking for the last bits of the clan that had left New York. They were the ones who had betrayed the trust of his family and they had all slaughtered by a nearby group of wolf shifters. He swore not only to get revenge of each wolf shifter involved, but to also skin them and sell their parts for profit. It was the easiest and most lucrative way to rebuild his family of hunters.
The news switched over to sports and Matthew turned it off, finding the frivolity in human contact games a complete waste of muscle. He had certainly fooled around as a child with soccer and football, but he outgrew them. As he matured, he lost interest in the childish games of his youth and found pleasure in the thrill of the hunt. It was truly a calling for him as he found it empowering as well as exhilarating.
Matthew recalled fondly a time when he had gone hunting for deer with his father as practice for catching shifter animals.
“You can't go soft with them, Matty,” his father spoke as he steadied his gun. “Going soft means you miss your target and then you lose the game.”
Gunfire filled the air and echoed through the trees, causing birds to scatter in the distance. As they approached the area where the deer had been standing, Matthew noticed a naked human had taken its place. It was a boy about the age of eighteen – not too much older than Matthew was right then – who was still wheezing even as he bled out into the brown soil beneath him. Matthew leaned over the body to study his face. He looked so normal, like he could just be any old Joe walking down the street.
“You don't want to lose the game, son,” his father continued. “Never allow yourself to fall below the pecking order. You become food at that point.”
The memory soon faded from Matthew's vision as he reassembled his guns and carefully placed them back in the giant black case he carried around everywhere. The room was deathly silent which caused a stinging ring in his ears, an occurrence that often happened when there wasn't enough white noise to fill the void of his mind. If he didn't have anything to focus on, the memories of his past flooded his vision and he couldn't control the actions he took next. He flipped the television back on and laid in his bed.
It wouldn't be long until Matthew could hone in on his prey and take him. It appeared his target had found a precious little woman as company, probably somebody who might throw Matthew off his tracks. It was possible that Matthew would have to take them both out. It was sad, but he understood how necessary it was to leave no mess behind. Messes were evidence waiting to be found and used. His pained heart didn't need to be thrown behind bars where he couldn't do much else for his family. He'd be useless, and useless got nothing done.
*****
Mary woke the next morning in a splendid mood, stretching out across her bed as the sun glittered through the curtains to decorate her mocha tan skin. She jumped from her sheets and headed for the kitchen where she started making coffee. During her morning routine, she heard her phone buzzing from the charger in the bedroom. She ran across the apartment to answer it. As suspected, the caller was Gordon and she answered her phone in rapturous anticipation of what he might want. There wasn't class until Monday and the weekend would be filled with essays and all manner of homework from her other courses.
“Hello, professor!” Mary said the word in a panic and immediately regretted it.
She should have called him by his professional name. It seemed childish to call him such a thing, but Gordon didn't seem to mind.
“Please, call me Gordon,” he implored. “I, uh… I wanted to see what you were doing tonight, Mary. There's a lovely opening premiere of this play downtown and--”
“Yes,” Mary blurted out. “Yes, I'd love to go. What time would be good for you?”
“Is six alright? I can come pick you up.”
“That's perfect.”
Overcome with joy, the two quickly got off the phone and went about their business. It was about to be an invigorating day, one that Mary would come to realize was a huge turning point in her life. It had been so long since she had enjoyed the company of a well-rounded man, especially one as intelligent as Gordon. He was polished from head to toe, he never looked rough, and his expansive knowledge of all things human was impressive. If her parents were alive, they would be so proud.
Mary suddenly felt somber at the thought of her parents. She had hidden that particular incident from most of her friends, even Bette. Because of the gruesome nature of their death, she rarely ever thought about it. Something changed Mary that fateful day her parents were lost to the dark underworld where souls slept soundly beneath the surface of the soil. Her permanent demeanor became that of porcelain, a hard shell covering the emotions dwelling beneath the surface. On the surface of her skin was reflected the feelings of the company she kept, so she often sat with smiling
spirits who would see their own smiles on her face and assume nothing was wrong.
Overcome with grief, she bent to her knees and said a brief prayer for her parents. She hoped that their peace had been found and that it continued to hold them through their perpetual slumber. The motion helped her keep from exploding into a fit and she stood to go back to her routine. Gordon wouldn't find her company pleasant if she was a blubbering mess. Her routine would ensure complete control over her emotions, even though she knew she was stifling them further. Eventually, she would have to face those dark memories, but not now while things were so pleasant. Not now while things were finally coming together.
Soon, she thought. Soon, I will have the room to grieve properly.
Without another thought about it, Mary nibbled on some eggs and fruit she had prepared for the morning before sitting down at her laptop to start writing.
*****
Later that evening, Gordon picked up Mary at six o'clock as promised and drove them to the local theater. He parked and sprinted to the other side of the car to open the door, holding her hand as she climbed out. The kind gesture caused a wide smile to appear on Mary's lips as Gordon's fingers lingered longer around her hand while they walked. As they reached the front, Mary opened the door for Gordon who almost rejected the kindness, but reconsidered. Why couldn't she also hold the door for him? It was a sweet and considerate token that signaled her appreciation for him, the same kind of appreciation he had shown just moments before when holding the door for her.
The two approached the ticket booth and bought their tickets, Gordon insisting on paying for both. After choosing their seats close to the stage, Gordon and Mary became engrossed in a conversation about the evolution of love. They were so encapsulated in their conversation that they hadn't noticed the lights dimming and the curtains parting to open up the first scene. Someone to their left shushed them. Flushed with embarrassment, Mary covered her mouth and apologized with her eyes. Gordon wrapped an assuring arm around her and she leaned into him, the scent of his cologne a comfort after such a social faux pas.
During the play, it became difficult for the couple to focus as Gordon's proximity to Mary had elicited a rather awkward response from his genitals which were determined to cause another social outcry if they didn't leave immediately. The dialogue and costumes were as engaging as the conversation, and Gordon lamented the fact that they would have to miss the second act due to his inconvenience. He nudged Mary during the intermission as they rose from their seats, covering himself with his playbill.
“Darling, I insist we leave at once.” Gordon whispered in her ear.
The sweet nickname caused Mary's face to light up and she blushed when he motioned down towards his erection. Giggling, she took his hand and pulled him from the theater to his car parked in the back of the lot away from the lights. As he let her into the car and sat into the driver's seat, Mary jumped into the back and lifted the hem of her sparkling evening gown that she had worn for the occasion. Her mother had always instilled a sense of culture in her, saying that it was heavily inappropriate not to dress up in your best when attending a play. It represented respect for the art of acting as well as acknowledged the social occasion as intensely important.
Without hesitation, Gordon jumped into the backseat with Mary and propped himself between her legs, the moonlit visage of her body glowing beneath the gown. There was no need to be slow or to pace. This encounter had been anticipated since the very first time they met, their bodies equally aching every night in blissful fantasy. Desire ravished the professor's body and he pulled down the straps of Mary's dress to finally see her plump and perfect breasts presented before him. Every imagined scene didn't do them justice. They were immaculate and juicy, his lips immediately drawn to the nipples that were perky against the chilly night air.
Mary moaned softly, aware that they were groping in the parking lot and they could be caught at any moment. She reveled in the feeling of careless , memories of her party youth returning vividly like a motion picture on a projector. As Gordon suckled her breasts, she reached down to unbutton his pants and play with his member, his hard erection warm in her hands. Gordon groaned into her skin, the motion igniting a hunger in him that nearly caused him to change form. He pulled back from her chest briefly to catch his breath.
“Should we stop?” Mary asked, concern filling her voice.
“No,” Gordon panted. “I'm fine.”
Mary kissed him gently and pulled him close, his erection pressing into the front of her panties that were now wet. With her permission, he peeled them off and carefully laid them on the seat before mauling her mouth with his tongue. He was so hungry. Deep down, his cock burned with desire for her silky void, his wild intuition wishing desperately to mate. As he kissed the slender column of her throat, he rubbed her lips with the head of his rod and pushed between them to be met by a rush of warm fluid. She welcomed him enthusiastically with a growl and spread her legs wider, the small space inhibiting much movement between them.
The first few pumps were difficult to manage as Gordon tried to prop himself up comfortably. After a brief reposition, he found the spot within her that caused the most lovely moans to leave her lips. He muffled them with his own, sucking the energy she willingly gave as she rolled her hips into him. The windows fogged, creating a barrier of privacy for the two to hump confidently, their clothes not stopping them from grabbing and fondling. Mary gripped Gordon's shoulders as he planted kisses down her chest, licking her nipples as he shoved himself deeper and deeper. A tickling sensation filled her gut and she started to buck. It cued Gordon to pump harder.
“Mmm,” Mary moaned. “You feel so amazing.”
“And you feel exquisite.”
The exchange made him more rigid and he felt himself edging, hoping she would cum soon so he could eliminate the great pain of having been abstinent so long. Mary met his lips for another kiss and started to moan more consistently, her hips grinding into him even harder than before. She bucked and started to shake, causing the car to rattle about as her orgasm shook her to the core. Not long after she started twitching did Gordon finally erupt as well, his creamy cum filling her to the brim and leaking out around his cock.
Happily exhausted, the two cuddled momentarily as the lethargy of spent passion rushed over them. The car was filled with the humid scent of their lust, the windows finally clearing up a bit as they recomposed themselves. Gordon settled into the front seat and then helped Mary over the center console, his heart still racing as they relaxed in their own seats.
“My word,” he said. “You are quite talented.”
Mary giggled and rested her face on his arm.
“I haven't felt that wonderful in a long time. Thank you.” She whispered.
Gordon leaned over to kiss her again, his lips trailing off to her jaw and neck.
“I'm hungry,” he whispered between kisses. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes, I am,” she replied.
“Well, let's get something to satiate our appetites.”
That being said, Gordon started the car and they zipped off into the night.
Chapter 4
By the following class period, Mary and Gordon had already decided to date officially. It was agreed that it would be best to keep it predominantly to themselves with a few exceptions such as Gordon's supervisor and Mary's best friend. Gordon had been warned about the potential hazards of dating a student, but he insisted that Mary was far more mature than her peers and that she was more than capable of handling a romantic partnership. Besides, she wouldn't be in his course for much longer as she planned on switching professors by the end of the semester.
The weeks turned into months and they grew closer, stronger. Mary could feel the gap between them dissolving as secrets began to slowly come to the surface. At one point, Gordon considered telling Mary that he was a werewolf. Her love for those creatures overseas might be powerful enough to share with him, but he still had his doubts. It was a
shame for him to hide his true form from this woman who was sewing his heart back together so carefully. Her hands knew exactly where to stitch and how to heal the wounds. The feeling of peace was overwhelming.
On one of their lazy date nights in Mary's apartment, she confessed her darkest secret to Gordon: that of her parent's death. The moment had arisen when Gordon asked if she had informed her parents of their relationship, assuming that she had parents who were alive and well. It caused an explosion of tears and a series of incoherently babbled phrases that eventually turned into Gordon holding her and rubbing her back to calm her.
“I'm so sorry, Mary,” he said calmly. “I hadn't meant to trudge up old memories.”
When Mary was able to compose herself, she spoke clearly though the tears threatened to return at any moment.
“It's alright. I knew we would come to this moment eventually. I just didn't know how to approach the subject.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “My parents died ten years ago in a terrible hunting accident. They were camping when they heard gunfire nearby in the middle of the night. Some drunken idiot was firing wildly into the woods and ended up hitting them by accident.”
Gordon held Mary tighter, knowing the very pain she felt inside. His own personal experience with death was enough to give him empathy in this matter, something that he felt much of the world lacked when it came to human interaction. As he gathered himself, Mary stroked his cheek that was surprisingly wet. He had started crying.
“I lost my parents a long time ago. To some extent, I understand your pain. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.”
Mary sat up, shocked that his parents were also missing from his life.
“I hate to say this, but it feels like fate to have met you, Gordon.” She brushed her fingers through his brown curls, the short strands coming down in spirals against his ebony skin. In the light from the television, it almost looked like his eyes were glowing, the honey gold on the inside exploding into a dazzling yellow and then fading to a light brown as the outline.