by S. E. Law
“So how long have you been teaching here?” she asks after a pause.
“About five years,” I say. “We both managed to get gigs here at around the same time. We went to grad school together.”
“Are you a freshman?” Mike asks.
She shakes her head.
“No, this is my second year.”
“Well, we’re certainly glad to have you in our class,” I say, and mean it. “And about what happened… It’s entirely up to you. If you want, we never have to talk about it again.” I exchange a glance with Mike, who nods in agreement. “The last thing we want to do is make you uncomfortable in any way. We can keep things strictly professional if you like.”
“But,” Mike chimes in, “we would both love to see you again in a non-professional setting, if you have any interest in that. And we’d love to talk about this more elsewhere, since now, here, isn’t really the best place. Scott, what do you think?”
I nod. We definitely have a lot to talk about, if Violet’s game.
She nods shyly. “I would like that.”
“Great,” I say. “Why don’t you meet us later this week at Cafe Horus? It’s on Madison and East Fifth. Is there a day that works for you?”
“I don’t have classes on Thursday,” Violet says.
“We have a 10 a.m., but other than that, Thursdays work for us,” I say. “Let’s meet Thursday at one. Our treat. Oh, and I jumped to conclusions: do you drink coffee?”
Violet smiles. “As a college student, it’s basically the law that I drink coffee.”
We all chuckle. Beautiful, smart, and with a great personality to boot? Violet is certainly an interesting young woman, and I look forward to the chance to get to know her better--whether in a personal or professional context.
“We’ll see you then,” Mike says. Violet nods, chews on her bottom lip for a second, and then blushes and practically flees the room.
As soon as she’s gone, I cast my friend a sidelong glance. “What are the fucking odds?” I ask.
He lets out a low whistle while getting his stuff together.
“Slim to none,” he says. “We’re either the unluckiest men in the world or we’re about to be the luckiest.”
With a laugh, I agree. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
6
Violet
With an exasperated sigh, I flop face-down onto my bed, surrounded by nearly every article of clothing I own. Plenty of fashion magazines have advice on what to wear on a first date. None of them have prepped me on what to wear on a first date with my professors, plural.
Not that it’s really a date, I remind myself for the millionth time. We’re just going to meet up and talk about what happened at the sauna. Who ever heard of going on a date with two men at the same time, anyway? And why would my two insanely hot professors be even remotely interested in someone like me?
I groan into my mattress. I’ve been trying to focus on my schoolwork for the past week, but I can’t stop obsessing about Mike and Scott. At first, they were just hot strangers that I was lucky enough to have a good time with. Now, they’re real people, with real names and jobs and personalities, who are in my life in a significant way. It doesn’t help that they’re maybe even more attractive out of the sauna. After all, the two men are confident, collected academics with down-to-earth senses of humor. They obviously know their stuff, and to me, intelligence is a huge turn-on.
I look at my phone. Shit! There are only twenty minutes until I have to be at Cafe Horus.
With a renewed sense of urgency, I slither off my bed and survey prospective outfits for the umpteenth time. After a few minutes, I’m finally dressed in a white embroidered tank top, light-wash skinny jeans, and a pair of platform sandals. I pile my hair on top of my head and do a little bit of makeup. Cute, I think, but not like I’m trying too hard. That’s the delicate balance I need to strike.
I appraise myself in the full-length mirror on the back of our door, and deem myself acceptable. Then, I make sure my phone and wallet are in my purse, and run out the door.
As I hustle my way to Cafe Horus, my heart begins to pump at what must be three times its normal rate. My fast-paced walking isn’t helping, but it’s nerves that are primarily to blame. I can’t imagine that these men really want to continue to spend time with me. They surely wouldn’t want to risk their jobs for a dumb sophomore in one of their classes. Besides, they’re both gorgeous and smart enough to have any woman they want. I just can’t imagine myself as their top pick.
When I arrive at the cafe, I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and walk inside.
Mike and Scott are already there, sitting in a booth. They’re impossible to miss because their frames are muscular and imposing, even hidden partially by the seats. I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. How are they both so effortlessly attractive?
“Hey, Violet,” Mike says with a wave. I wave back stiffly and force myself to walk forward as my heart slams in my chest. My palms are moist, and tellingly, I’m starting to go damp down there as well.
I sit down and Scott flags the waitress. “What would you like?” he asks me, his gorgeous blue eyes piercing mine.
I blush and look down, making a show of looking at the menu. “Um, a chai tea latte, please,” I say. I almost take back my order--chai tea lattes usually have a lot of sugar, and my mother would disapprove--but then I remind myself that I’m an adult and can do what I want. Including, I remind myself, meeting up with two very sexy men, even if they do happen to be my professors.
Scott smiles. “Good choice.”
I blush more. Great start, Vi. They’re going to think your skin is permanently the color of a tomato.
“Thank you for meeting us here,” Mike says when the waitress has left. “It’s good to see you outside of the classroom setting.”
“We figured it would be easy to talk about things here,” Scott continues. “And if someone we know comes by, we can just say we’re offering some mentoring.”
I nod, biting my lip. It does make me nervous that someone from class could walk by and see me sitting here with my professors. However, it’s college; students are much more likely to hang out with their profs here than they were in high school. It certainly can’t be that unusual.
“So,” Mike says after I’ve received my chai latte and thanked the waitress. “How are classes going?”
I’m relieved that we’re going to have some small talk first. It makes me feel a little less fidgety. “Pretty well,” I say. “I need to figure out how to fit a math class into my schedule, but otherwise, things are good. I think your course is my favorite so far.”
Scott raises a brow. “You’re just saying that,” he teases.
“I’m not!” I protest. “I think it’s genuinely really interesting.”
“What else do you think?” Mike says, smirking a bit.
I take a sip of my drink, savoring its sweetness and spiciness. “About what?”
Mike laughs. “About our situation in the sauna. Does anything stick out to you, sweetheart?”
I blush deeply at the double entendre. I didn’t realize we were diving into this particular subject so soon. I guess the small talk is over. “Oh,” I squeak, and then summon whatever courage I can find. “Um… I meant what I said before. It was really incredible and I had a great time. I really appreciated how you cleaned me up afterwards too.”
Two sets of blue eyes gleam at my naughty innuendo.
“We’re all about taking care of our girls,” Scott says. “If you’re not having fun, there’s no way we’re going to have fun, either.”
“And the more fun you’re having, the more pleasurable it will be for everyone involved,” Mike grins, showing perfect teeth.
I nod. I can’t remember ever having a partner who cared this much about how I was feeling. Most guys I’ve been with just wanted to get themselves off as quickly as possible. Whether I came was of no importance, but clearly, Scott and Mike aren’t like that at all.<
br />
“Are you blushing?” Scott teases.
My hands fly to my cheeks, which are definitely warm. “Apparently,” I admit, to their laughter. I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little embarrassed. I’ve never done anything like that before, ever. It’s still so wild to me.”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Mike and Scott say at the same time. They immediately look at each other and then grin.
“We both had an amazing time,” Mike continues. “Right, Scott?”
“Right,” says Scott. “We loved being with you. And, if it’s not too bold to say, your curves…” His gaze dips down the front of me, to my cleavage, and then flickers back up to my face as he licks his lips hungrily. “Absolutely incredible.”
My face flames harder. I will it to stop. It doesn’t.
“What happens, though, now that you’re my professors?” I blurt out. I had meant to phrase it with a little more subtlety. However, my anxiety won’t relent. If they had such a great time with me, does that mean we can do it again?
Mike and Scott look at each other. While Scott takes a sip of his coffee, Mike says, “We discussed this, actually, Scott and I. Like we said before, it’s most important to us that you’re comfortable. You’re in control here. If you want to drop our class and never see us again, that’s completely fine, and very understandable. We’d be disappointed, of course, but that’s entirely within your rights. But if you want to meet up again and continue what we were doing…” His eyes flash, and his lips quirk into a smirk. “Then we’re on board, Violet. Very enthusiastically on board. But it’s up to you, pretty girl.”
My breath catches in my throat, and I take a sip of my latte to stall for time. I can’t believe they actually want to see me again! Take that, Mom and Dad, I think with some degree of triumph. Didn’t even need to lose any weight.
But my nerves still persist, and I can’t just say “yes” without some real thought. I lick my lips before I speak. “I want to see you again,” I say slowly, and they both lean forward a little, as if eager to pick up where we left off. “But I would like a little bit of time to think because you’re my professors now. Just to make sure I don’t rush into anything.”
“Certainly,” Scott says, raising his mug to me. “And of course we’re okay with that. Take your time, sweetheart. Come to us when you’ve made a final decision. We’re in no rush.”
At that moment, our waitress comes back to refill Mike’s coffee, and idly, I notice that both men drink their coffees black. It must be an academic thing.
“So…” I fidget a little in my seat. I’m eager to keep talking with them but am not sure where the conversation should go next. “You said you went to grad school together?”
“Sure did,” Mike confirms. “The University of Arkansas. We both studied astronomy, obviously. People constantly mistook us for brothers, and it didn’t help that we were in the same department.”
“Did you like it in Arkansas?” I ask curiously. “It must be so different from New York City.”
Scott nods.
“It absolutely is, but we enjoyed our time there. It’s different, not worse. The university gave us many things, including academic freedom, stipends to conduct research, and the opportunity to pursue our first threesome,” Scott says.
I choke a bit on my latte.
“Your first threesome?” I manage in a tinny voice.
Mike grins. “Yes, definitely. Like Scott mentioned, the university opened the world to us.”
I blush again, bringing my mug to my face in a vain attempt to conceal it. I have a question that I’m too embarrassed to ask, but it’ll haunt me forever if I don’t voice it. “Are you two, um…” I look between them both. “Are you into each other too?”
They look at each other and laugh.
“No,” says Mike. “I don’t like him to touch me in fact.”
Scott just rolls his eyes.
“What a pussy. But no, we’re not bisexual,” Scott explains. “And if we were, there’s no way in hell I’d be into this clown.” He nudges Mike, who makes a face. “We’re straight, but we like to share, that’s all. Two men and one woman always means more pleasure for her, and we find that it works for us.”
I take a deep breath, trying to settle the butterflies suddenly fluttering around my stomach. They definitely knew how to pleasure me, all right. Then, the men turn back to me.
“But how have you not found anyone at NYU to date, Violet?” Mike asks, taking my hand. “Someone as sexy and smart as you should have boys lining up at your door.”
I laugh, blushing again, and shake my head. “I wish that were the case,” I say in a wry voice, “but that’s definitely not reality. I haven’t had a lot of, um, experience. Like I mentioned, I’ve never done anything like that in the sauna before.”
“You’re a natural,” Scott says in a low voice, his tone growing intimate. “And we definitely hope to continue our liaison with you, but no pressure. You’re in control. Okay?”
I nod my agreement. There are still so many outstanding issues and I haven’t even asked half of the questions on my mind. But it seems our coffee date is over and I don’t want to come off like a blubbery idiot either.
Mike pays the bill, and I stand a little awkwardly, unsure if I should go in for a hug. I decide not to--we’re in public, after all, and that might look strange--but Scott surreptitiously squeezes my hand.
“Let us know what you decide,” he growls, his blue eyes glowing. Then, he and Mike say their goodbyes and leave the café, every female head turning to watch as those broad forms stride away.
I try to make my way down the block, but am forced to sit on a stoop as my legs suddenly turn to jelly. Never in a million years did I think that two older, successful, ridiculously attractive men would take an interest in me, and that I’d have to make a choice. I certainly have some thinking to do, but in my heart, I already know. I want to be with them. I want to taste their kisses and hear their moans. I want to welcome them with sensuality, and give as much as I can take. I want a future with Mike and Scott, no matter where it leads.
7
Violet
“Movie night! Movie night!”
Kristy has been chanting this at me for over an hour. I’m up to my eyeballs in homework (and I know for a fact that she is too), but it’s Friday night, and I guess she’s in the mood to unwind.
“C’mon, Vi!” she whines from her side of the room. Kris is lying on her bed upside down so that her hair is dangling off the side and towards the floor. “Screw your stupid weight loss bars! Let’s get some candy and popcorn and watch a ton of dumb movies.”
I groan, sticking a pencil behind my ear. “I have so much work to do, Kristy,” I remind her. “And so do you. Let’s just keep studying, okay?”
“Okay, but just one movie. Please? I got stood up on my date and want to do something fun. Pleaaaase?”
I stare daggers at Kristy, who smiles innocently back at me.
I sigh. “Okay. Fine. One movie. But promise me you’ll never talk to that guy again.”
“Yay!” Kristy sits up, bounces out of bed, and puts on her shoes. “Of course not, I hate his guts now. I’m running to go buy chocolate and popcorn. You want anything else?”
I shake my head, and she practically sprints out the door.
I slam my chemistry book closed with another groan. Some of these subjects have just not been sticking. It doesn’t help, I guess, that I’ve been so incredibly distracted. I’ve always been a good student, but it’s difficult to focus when you just keep thinking about when you’re going to have sex with your hot professors again.
On my bed, I roll onto my back and hide my face in my hands. It’s still hard to believe that Mike and Scott want to see me again, and that they were so considerate about letting me be the one to make the choice. It would have been easy for them, I’m sure, to steamroll me as an innocent sophomore. But like the gentlemen they are, they’ve placed the ball in my court. Now I just have to
pick up the racket. Or the bat. Or whatever sporting implement is supposed to be used in this particular metaphor.
Now though, Kristy has decided that it’s time to relax, and it would probably benefit me to do so. I put my books and notes on my bedside table and change into my pajamas, throwing my hair into a giant bun on top of my head. By the time I’m done washing my face, Kristy has returned, triumphantly holding two grocery bags chock full of snacks.
“Let’s party!” she cries, and I can’t help but laugh. This is definitely preferable to actually going out and partying. I’ve always been more of a homebody, and thankfully, so is Kristy. I don’t think I could deal with a best friend who wanted to always go out and get drunk on weekends.
We sit together on my bed and look through a streaming service, trying to decide what movie we should watch. Eventually we settle on a new rom-com that was just released.
“Ah, romance!” Kristy sighs as she opens a bag of sour gummy worms. “I still can’t believe how much romance is in my life. I never thought I’d be going on so many dates!”
“Who are you seeing now?” I ask. “Just one or a few guys?”
She bites enthusiastically into a gummy worm, and I take a handful for myself. Orgo Weight Loss be damned, I think with satisfaction. After all, I’ve found two gorgeous men who like me just the way I am.
“I’m still seeing Nolan,” Kristy says. “And this upperclassman named Jake, who took me on a walk through the park, and then we had a picnic with a bottle of champagne. It was so romantic. And this other guy named Lucas, who says he wants to see me again but just got out of a four-year relationship, so I’m not sure that it’s the best idea. And then that asshole Brett was the one who stood me up tonight, so like, fuck him, I guess.”
I nod, trying my best to be present and listen. I’ve been so distracted lately by my own budding romance that I haven’t been the best friend to Kristy. I’m determined to do better.