An Author's Angst

by Maggie Ryan

  "Not as of last night," Jeffrey reported. "We've yet to discuss today's progress. I wanted her to have a good time tonight before anything less pleasant occurred." He turned and his eyes found Rob's. "Just to be clear, I might take her in hand, but it is only with her permission. She might sit a bit uncomfortably, but I promise, she is quite happy with our arrangement."

  Rob had the grace to nod and reached out to clink his bottle against Jeffrey's. "As I said, I'm just glad to see her happy."

  * * * * *

  A very fun evening was had by all. As the men grilled, the women chatted in the kitchen while preparing the sides to go with the steaks. Ever had warned Venia that she'd better not say another word without her as she took the tray of corn, buttered and seasoned in their husks, out to give to Charles. Bringing Sam back with her, she changed him and then settled into an armchair and began to breast feed him.

  "That has got to be one of the most rewarding things about being a mom," Venia said as she, Violet and Ange, and Dina took seats.

  "I agree," Ange said. "Enjoy it now, Ever, because all too soon, he'll be scaring you to death by climbing out of his crib, poking things into the one socket you forgot to secure and have you calling poison control to discover if humans can share their dog's food."

  "Or thinking you have completely lost your mind moving to a spanko commune," Venia said with a chuckle, thinking about Cecily.

  "You know, I'd be willing to bet that if Cecily ever visited for longer than a weekend, if she took the time to actually look around, she'd discover that those commune members are really quite content," Ever assured her.

  "Speaking of content, we won't be until you get back to your story," Ange quipped. "We know about the delicious breakfast muffin, additional ones available at your favorite bakery in case you're wondering." After they'd all groaned, she continued. "What we don't know is how today's writing has gone."

  "Yes, tell us, what's the story line now?" Dina asked. "I have to admit I tried to get the info out of Jeffrey but he won't reveal a thing."

  Smiling, Venia gave them a very brief answer, simply stating that she had worked very diligently. "I don't want to chance upsetting my muse by giving away the plot."

  Though her friends looked a bit disappointed, Violet nodded. "I guess we'll just have to wait to buy the newest best seller. I'm just happy to know that your muse is back."

  After dinner, the conversation covering many topics, Venia gave the host and hostess a hug. "Thanks again. I had a delightful time. I'll have you over for dinner soon."

  "Not until that book is done," Charles said, his smile making his comment a bit easier to accept. "Far be it for us to distract you."

  "That's a deal," Venia said and slipped her hand into Jeffrey's. The ride home was spent agreeing that Sam was not only a good baby, never having cried despite being passed from person to person, but that the Montgomerys seemed absolutely smitten with parenthood.

  "You know you've got a great champion in Rob," Jeffrey said as he helped her from the car. "He basically warned me to make damn sure you are happy."

  "He may be my champion, but you are my love." She handed him the key so he could unlock the door. "And, just so you know, I couldn't be any happier."

  Jeffrey pulled her close for a kiss which was eagerly returned before the broke apart. It was time to discuss exactly what she'd accomplished that day and she knew he wasn't going to accept vague answers.

  Chapter Fifteen

  "Would you like some coffee?" Venia asked.

  "No, I try to avoid caffeine this late. I'd take some water though."

  "Okay, why don't you go ahead and check the laptop." Venia waved towards the computer as she headed for the kitchen. Instead of following her direction, Jeffrey followed her, leaning against the counter as she opened the refrigerator. When she straightened with a bottle of water in her hand, she gave a startled squeak to see him only a foot away.

  "You scared me."

  "I'm just proud of you," he said, accepting the bottle.

  "How can you know that? You haven't even looked at my computer."

  After taking a long drink, he replaced the cap and pulled her to him. "Since, you aren't already in your office, nose to the wall, I'm pretty confident that you made your word count today."

  Venia nodded and melted against him as he bent to kiss her. When he released her, she shook her head. "So, you aren't going to check?"

  "Honey, I trust you. If you said you did, I believe you." He saw both a look of relief and a flash of uncertainly in her eyes. "However, I've been waiting all evening to read what you've written. I'm assuming you began a new book?"

  "Yes, sir. I promise there are no cartoon rabbits or crazed professors." They walked into the living room and he took her chair. "Remember, you never said you have to like it—just that I needed to work hard."

  Looking up, he accepted the computer and opened it. "I enjoyed both your books, Venia, and I'm hoping very much to like this one as well."

  "It's that one," she said, tapping a nail against an icon.

  "Don't you want to sit with me?" he asked as he double clicked the screen.

  "If you don't mind, I'd rather you read it alone."

  Jeffrey gave her a long look but nodded. "If that's what you want." As he watched her move across the room to reenter the kitchen, he sighed. She was acting strange. Not exactly like she feared he wouldn't find her work acceptable, but he'd seen her teeth bothering her lip and knew she was nervous.

  As he read, he looked up occasionally to see her pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Whenever he caught her eyes, she'd look away and turn to disappear for a short while. When he was almost through with the document, he glanced at the television. Though it was silent and dark, it still pulled his attention from the book. Her soft voice caused yet another distraction and he looked to see her talking quietly into her cell phone. Glancing at his watch, he wondered who on earth she had called. Twenty minutes later, he closed the document, pausing only a moment to check the word count. She had been prolific, the count was almost five hundred words over her daily requirement. Slowing closing the laptop, he placed it on the table and stood.

  "What's the verdict?" she asked as she walked back into the room.

  "You made the count and then some," Jeffrey said. He pulled her to him and held her tight. "For that, I'm very proud of you."

  "Um, but didn't you like it?"

  "Venia, you were the one that just pointed out that it wasn't necessary that I like the book. I'm sure there will be an audience for it."

  "Jeffrey, I worked really hard. I finally feel that I'm on the right track. Wasn't there any part you liked?"

  Jeffrey didn't want to upset her but he was also a man who believed in honesty. Glancing towards the television again, he guided her down onto his lap. "As I'm said, I'm sure there must be an audience for that sort of stuff. Though I'd have to say, it didn't truly pique my interest."

  "It didn't? Nothing?"

  "Well, I admit it was a bit interesting to hear that several people appear to agree that UFO's have been around since the dawn of time, but…"

  "UFO's?" she exclaimed, looking from him to the television. "Oh, God, you read the wrong file!"

  "I opened the icon you tapped," he said, feeling a flood of relief go through him. He'd just spent the past half hour reading about ancient aliens that had apparently seeded the earth with knowledge on how mankind could get past living in caves.

  "I'm so sorry. I guess I was so nervous that I showed you the wrong one. Um, do you want to read the real file?"

  "Am I going to have niggling feelings in my head that I've read it or seen it before?" he asked, finally connecting her book with a series on the history channel about ancient aliens.

  She squirmed on his lap and her cheeks flushed. "I'll take the fifth," she said with a smile. "After all, I've yet to learn exactly the level of your experience with the subject."

  Intrigued, he pulled the laptop back towards him and when sh
e tried to wiggle off his lap, he shook his head. "Not this time, Miss Varner. You are already in trouble for a thinly veiled attempt to avoid plagiarizing the history channel. Let's see if you are going to be given another note before class is dismissed. Now, young lady, open the correct file if you please."

  Jeffrey was only vaguely aware when she asked to be released so that she could go to the bathroom. Nodding, he did feel the kiss she pressed to his cheek as she slid off his lap. He didn't look up again until he read the last word she'd typed. Sitting back he felt several things at once. First, he was extremely happy and couldn't stop the grin that appeared on his face. Secondly, he was disappointed that she'd stopped in the middle of what promised to be a very incredible scene. Third, his cock was rock hard and lastly, he needed to find a certain little minx and show her just how much experience he did have in her chosen subject.

  Closing the laptop, he set it aside and stood. He didn't bother adjusting his erection. Most likely, his brilliant little author would see it as a sign of his approval. She'd had time to take a dozen showers so he knew her disappearing act had been an excuse to allow him to truly engross himself in the story. His only question was, had she gone to the office due to his reference about notes being sent home or had she gone into her bedroom? His deep chuckle filled the air as he found her sitting on the kitchen chair smack dab in the middle of the hallway. Moving towards her, he shook his head.

  "I don't know whether to take you into the office and spank you for forcing me to read about bright lights and star beings or to take you into the bedroom and start some very personal research."

  "Well, Professor, far be it for me to pretend to know what's best in this situation. After all, I do admit I might be feeling a bit guilty."

  "About what exactly, Miss Varner? Almost putting me to sleep with plagiarism or writing a book that has my heart pounding and my cock about to explode?"

  "Oh, no," she said in a voice he'd yet to hear. "After all, an author can't really be held responsible for people's reactions to her words. I do admit that I almost did something else that might not meet with your approval."

  Remembering the phone in her hand, he narrowed his eyes. "Exactly who did you call, Miss Varner?"

  "I remembered I needed to remind Officer O'Nette that the police will need to put up barricades for the science fair."

  "And Sandra needed to hear about that after midnight?"

  "Um, not exactly, but since I did make the call, I needed to have a legitimate excuse for bothering her."

  Jeffrey had no idea why, but her teasing about nothing other than a phone call, coupled with the slight squirming she was doing and, God, the look in her eyes was not only intriguing him, it was also causing his cock to stiffen even more. He could only pray that he was right about where this play was going, but he couldn't ask for a more perfect playmate.

  Moving to lean against the wall, he crossed both his arms and his ankles. "And, pray tell, why should you need to bother her at such an hour?"

  "I was going to ask how many beers consumed constituted an officer's opinion that it would not be safe to drive home."

  "Why did you need to know that?"

  Venia made her full confession. "I didn't want you to drive home tonight. I thought that if I got an official answer as to what is considered intoxication… well, I'd have a better chance of keeping you here with me."

  Jeffrey shook his head. "So are you telling me you'd risk having me arrested just so…"

  Venia was quick to interrupt. "Oh, no, I didn't ask. I realized how manipulative that would be and felt guilty. Instead, I reminded her about the science fair." Before he could react, she flushed and continued. "I guess I'd better confess that I'm pretty sure Sandra saw through my feeble reasoning for the call."

  "What makes you think that?"

  "She just sort of asked me to tell you she thinks your Tahoe is pretty cool. Seems she saw it parked in the driveway." With a grin that had him attempting not to chuckle, she added, "Oh, and she said to give you her best."

  Moving from the wall, he shook his head though Sandra's compliment on his choice of vehicle answered the question of if the word 'cool' was still used. "Good thing you made that decision. I'm pretty sure you weren't exactly going to volunteer that you weren't the one driving and that while two beers might put you under the table, the three I had,—a man twice your size and hours ago—have already been filtered through my liver, distilled in my blood stream and have not impaired me in any way?"

  "Remember, I'm not that experienced with all that scientific stuff, Professor," Venia said as she looked up at him, dark lashes batting rather languidly onto flushed cheeks.

  "I see, and what do you think should be done to such naughty girls who obviously aren't paying attention in biology class?"

  He watched as she stood and turned from him, bending forward to place her palms on the seat of the chair. He watched as she wagged her bottom back and forth and he watched as she moved her hands to slowly draw the skirt of her dress up, revealing her thighs one centimeter at a time. He stopped watching and started acting the moment he saw that she had nothing on beneath her dress and that she was obviously quite aroused. Stepping forward, he slid one arm around her waist and gave her bare buttocks a caress before slapping his palm down on her left cheek, followed by one on her right, repeating the pattern until her bottom was churning and soft mews and sharp cries of 'ow' were being drawn from her with every swat. Her bottom was pink, a color he adored before he pulled her up hard against his chest.

  "I love you, Venia. God, I love everything about you." His mouth found hers in a scorching kiss. He felt her hand move to cup the outline of his erection, groaning as he released her.

  "I love you too," she said, giving him a gentle squeeze. "Now that you've spanked me for my naughtiness, I think my Professor should give me some personal tutoring in the part of biology that I do know a bit about." She squealed when he bent and lifted her, pushing the chair aside as he went into her bedroom.

  "Just to be fair, failure is not an option, Miss Varner."

  "Does that mean I'll be sent to the office, sir?"

  "That means that for however long it takes, you, my love, will be kept after class for a great deal of that personal tutoring." His mouth descended on hers to swallow both her giggle and the moan that were uttered.

  * * * * *

  Venia quivered as he began to undress her, both wanting to beg him to hurry and to relish in every kiss he pressed against her skin as he bared her. By the time her bra joined the dress on the floor, she was trembling even harder. Her body was thrumming with desire, her bottom pleasantly heated by the swats he'd delivered in the hall.

  Watching him undress had her stomach flipping and more moisture pooling in her sex. He was truly a magnificent specimen. Once he was nude, she stepped into his open arms. "Ever had any desire to be a cover model?" she asked, stroking her fingers down the muscles of his chest.

  "Only if you are naked in my arms."

  "Um, would you settle for me naked in your arms in bed?" His answer was to lead her to the bed and guide her down. Moving to the middle, she was breathing hard as he joined her for the first time.

  "Miss Varner, just so you know, I'll settle for you naked in this bed, on the couch, your recliner, bent over your kitchen table or on the floor." His kiss had her moaning and the fingers on her breast had her arching her back. Before he bent to suckle her pebbled nipples, he grinned. "And that's just this house. You'll discover we have got quite a lot of rooms where you'll be naked so that your much needed schooling can continue."

  "Sounds like a plan," she quipped as her fingers stroked through his hair. "A very good plan." Any further conversation had to wait as words were replaced with moans, mews, and gasps. She loved the way he lifted her with his hands cupping her bottom as he used his mouth to bring her to her first climax. She cried out his name as he slid into her for the first time, filling her so deeply and so well that she could have died at that moment and
been fulfilled. Though she was quite grateful that she didn't perish as Jeffrey began to stroke in and out of her. Her hands clawed at the bed sheets as he took her, his thrusts becoming stronger and faster when she begged him to take her hard. He put her legs over his shoulders, his hands on her ass as the position allowed him to go deeper. They exploded together, Venia swearing she could see stars when she could even speak again.

  "Stars are good," Jeffrey teased as he rolled off of her and pulled her to spoon against his chest.

  "Oh, I was under the impression you didn't like that story about star beings." She giggled and then yelped as his hand swatted her bottom.

  "Remember, you are in biology class, not astronomy," he quipped, rubbing the spot he'd swatted before pulling the sheets over them. He kissed her neck, right behind her ear before whispering into it. "Get some sleep, Miss Varner, class starts quite early you know."

  "You can be assured I'll be ready, Professor Einstein." She heard him chuckle and felt him pull her just a bit closer. It had been years since she'd felt a man holding her so close that she felt as if they were one being instead of two. Closing her eyes, which were welling with tears of happiness, she said a silent prayer. She thanked God again for his generosity and asked him to tell Greg that she thanked him as well. He'd taught her how it felt to be loved and cherished and for some reason, knew without a doubt that he was happy that if he wasn't there to provide that love, she now had Jeffrey to take care of her in all ways.

  If all classes had begun as the one did the next morning, she'd never once have been late. She'd been awakened with soft kisses and not so soft tugs on her nipples. Wrapping her arms around his neck, drawing his mouth to hers, she whispered that she was reporting to class. They made love again. It was just as fulfilling as the night before though this time, it was gentle and slow. Afterwards, lying in each other's arms neither felt the need to speak for several long moments.