Students filtered out of the class, dropping off their assigned work into a pile until none but the two of them remained.
"Where is your homework?" The Professor asked Natalie.
"I..." She looked down to the commercial linoleum tiles that lined the floor. She didn't have it. Once again, she hadn't done it.
"Sit."
Natalie flopped down into a student desk by the wooden table at the front of the room. Though a small woman, the space between the attached chair and desk was constrained, with barely enough room to set down work. The shadow of her curvy fullness covered a stain of graffiti that portrayed a woman's intimate parts crudely scrawled onto the desk's surface. He sat down at a corner of his table, looming over her like a hawk, wearing a cheap corduroy dress jacket with leather elbow patches. A look of concern presented itself upon his chiseled and scruffy face.
"If this persists, Natalie, you will fail this class."
The realization overwhelmed her and her head bent down in shame. She wanted to speak but was unable. Golden locks of curly hair flowed down past her forehead, obscuring some of the view above. But for just a second she noticed his eyes panning across her chest and then locks upon that line of cleavage in between. It billowed out from her, only just barely contained by a pink cashmere sweater. A wry smile formed on her lips.
"Natalie?"
"Yes. I know. I just. Well, it's just. I've had problems this semester."
"In this class, you mean."
"No. Personal problems. My attention -"
"- I'm concerned with this class, Natalie."
"I'm sorry."
"My office hours are from 3pm to 5pm this afternoon. I have appointments scheduled all day. Meet me there at 5pm sharp if you would like help with your grade."
She agreed to be there on time, and then walked across campus back to her dorm room.
Natalie was not a good student. It wasn't due to a lack of intelligence. It wasn't because she hated school. In fact, she had always wanted to graduate and continue on to a Masters in Business program to find success in life. Long ago she had once dreamed of being admitted to the Harvard MBA program. But here she was, in this small city of a community college. She knew she could do better. Yet something always hindered her.
This semester it had been a crazy boyfriend who began stalking her after she dumped him. For weeks she'd see him standing across the street at opportune times, or the corner of a building nearby, and she swore she had seen him through the window outside her dorm-room at night. It unsettled her. She had been unable to work.
Before, it had been other interruptions in school-work. Other boys. Other parties. Other things. All distractions from that MBA she had once so badly wanted. How could she explain all this to that professor? He, who was trim, young, attractive, and - well, unfortunately bearded. She laughed to herself.
She climbed the stairs up to her room and entered. It was empty, her roommate off somewhere. Perhaps she was at the library studying. That would have been like Gertrude, frumpy, with unkempt hair sticking out, and overly large glasses. But she got good grades.
Natalie threw her books on to the bed, sighed, and went to the full length mirror. She ran her fingers through the curly locks of her hair with worry. What was she to do? Well, he is cute. And she had caught him glancing where he shouldn't. She wondered what was stuffed behind those jeans of his.
A finger lazily strolled down her throat, along exposed skin until reaching soft cashmere. Under the lace brassiere her nipple grew, embossing its image into the cashmere. Slowly her finger twirled around until an uncontrollable deep breath was sucked through her teeth and warmth spread down below. She knew what she would do. It was dangerous. What if he said no? What if he was offended? What if he failed her just because?
But Natalie is a creature prone to taking risks. She enjoyed not quite knowing what might happen when she embarked upon a new game with men. She understood their desires. Knew how a little flirtation could grow bit by bit into something more. And how generous were men who had been satisfied fully by a pliant and eager young woman. And this excited her.
The rest of the afternoon she did not do homework. Instead, she took off that sweater, her jeans, and underthings and tried on various elements of her wardrobe. She tried dresses. She mixed colors. She pulled out all her shoes and looked for just the right thing for her feet. In the end she chose a low cut red silk blouse that was just a little too tight. She didn't wear a bra. Underneath she had on a black cotton skirt just above her knees. She didn't wear a thong. Black leather high-heeled boots rode up her shins. She dabbed a bit of perfume on her neck, wrists, and nipples and applied a small dash of makeup. And then she put on a light evening jacket.
She picked up her math book, held it to her chest, and then left the dorm with a confidant click-clack-click-clack that rang from the heels of her boots.
Below, underneath that flowing skirt, she could feel air blow past between her legs, unsettling the small tuft of fur that undulated in the breeze. It made her lips quiver and she bit down. An expectation built within her. Waves of fear clenched her stomach like surf on a beach. Faster she walked. With each step the movement between her thighs grew more intense until by the time she reached his door she was panting from excitement. She tentatively knocked.
"Yes? Please enter."
She opened the door to find him sitting behind his desk, gazing out into her eyes across that gulf of wood like a panther. He smiled dangerously.
"Natalie. I'm glad you're here. Please sit."
She hung up the jacket on a coat hanger in the corner and sat in a small and uncomfortable office chair. It sank as she sat as if broken. It had no armrests. She placed the math book down on the desk in front of her and waited. He lay back in that plush seat of his and clasped his fingers together by his waist. They locked eyes saying nothing until she could not stand it any longer. She looked down at the book. It's disuse across the semester made it seem nearly brand new. She touched it and felt the shiny sheen of its cover.
