“You knew her potential,” the words were cold out of my mouth, “You didn’t believe in her.”
“She was so young, you know? She still is. Can’t even drink a second can of beer without stumbling through a casino.” Dr. Smith sighed. “Keep your eye on her. If you don’t, I’ll make her one of my students, and then she’ll never be yours again.”
I scoffed. “Mara isn’t going anywhere.”
“We’ll see.”
I wasn’t concerned with Dr. Smith. There may have been a venomous tone to her words, but she had made empty threats about fighting for student loyalty before. In the past, I had honestly never cared about being a student’s committee chair. But with Mara, it was different. I knew long ago that Mara wasn’t just any student.
The time came for the evening to wind down. When Mara excused herself to bed, I excused myself to sleep too. While dressing down in the master bedroom, my mind kept wandering to Mara. She would be alone, now, in the farthest room, away from the others, away from my bedroom. The hum of the house was quiet. If anyone was awake, they were likely in their bedrooms or out on the patio, in the darkness.
An image of Mara crossed my mind: a loose shirt on her shoulders, breasts hanging free, tight bottoms barely covering her ass. Mara stretching and settling into a comfortable position, lying in bed. My bed.
I stared at myself in the mirror. If there was a time when I should restrain myself, it was now. When every room in the house was filled with students and professors from the university. When we could get caught.
Mara’s grin across the table. The blush on her cheeks. Her round ass.
“Fuck it,” I said. I quickly put pajama pants over my boxer briefs and headed to the door, carefully opening it. As long as I didn’t run into anyone, we would be fine. The rooms would be closed, and if anyone heard the click of a door, it only meant someone was going to the bathroom. I neared Mara’s room, purposefully sectioned off, away from the others. We were in the clear.
“Oh, sorry, Dr. Evans,” a shocked voice said. I turned around. Jessica looked at me with wide eyes. Surprise on her face at the shirtless attire. She wobbled to the side. “I thought you’d be asleep.”
“I needed something from in here,” I lied, pointing to the bathroom next to Mara’s room. It was my home. I didn’t need to explain further.
“You go ahead, then,” she said. “The other one up here is occupied.”
“Thanks,” I said, unable to hide the irritation in my voice. I quickly went in and grabbed an old prescription bottle from the cabinet, to have something to lie about. I waved as I passed her. “Have a good night.”
“Uh-huh,” she said. I walked back towards my bedroom, but as soon as I heard the bathroom door click shut behind her, I turned around and went back. It was now or never.
I knocked quietly, hoping only Mara could hear. She eased the door open, looking up at me with big eyes. “Nate! What are you—” She looked behind me. “If someone sees you, we’ll—”
“Not if you let me in,” I said. She blinked. “Now.” She stepped aside. I closed the door behind me.
She sat on the bed, a lace-lined camisole on her chest, her legs bare, the slightest hint of bikini-cut bottoms in faded purple. She stared up at me, blushing furiously. “I’m not one to wear lingerie. If that’s what you’re looking for, then—”
I walked to the dresser, opening the top drawer. I had placed a few items in there when I had decided it would be Mara’s room. I removed two maroon silk ties, running them through my fingers. Soft. Smooth. Like Mara.
“You’re already undressed,” she said.
“As are you,” I said, still facing the dresser. I shoved the ties in my pocket.
“What if someone saw you, or sees you—”
“It’s my house,” I said. I turned towards her. “Lie down on the bed.”
She stared at me, her mouth open, her bottom lip wet.
“Here?” she asked. “Now?”
I stepped closer, and her knees parted, ready for me. “Everyone is asleep,” I said. “And if they aren’t, then we have to be quiet. Do you want to do this?”
Mara nodded.
“Can you be quiet, Mara?”
She nodded, biting her lip. “Good girl,” I said.
She laid down on the bed, and I hovered above her, looking down at her marvelous body. I lowered myself, breathing on her neck, inching down. She shivered. “Can you be very still?” I asked in a whisper, my lips close to tasting her skin. I licked my lips, salivating at the thought of her. “Can you be a good girl?”
