The dream emerged from the depths of her subconscious like a premonition. Although, Jennifer wouldn't become aware of her intuitions until much later when she reflected upon it with a wicked amusement. The fantasy had been building for months; biological needs bubbling up through her body, the desire for human contact developing into a full-on crisis. Jennifer's impulses manifested in her mind throughout the night as shadowy reflections of her basest and most fundamental urges. They took flight, unhindered by any sense of decency or decorum. Hardy phantoms gathered about her body, red-blooded and full of craving.
Had she been lucid, she might have laughed off this dream or even expressed total shock at the very idea of a throng of men convening upon her nude body. She would have felt shocked at their stark nudity and fierce arousal, at her own willingness to receive each one of them in that raunchy, indistinct sanctum of her mind. Jennifer found herself drowning under the weight of their clutching bodies, submitting not so much to their advances as to a wellspring of pleasure that rose and fell like waves in an infinite ocean.
She felt the flood coming. It was inevitable, woven as it was by the Fates themselves.
Jennifer's phone abruptly went off, as did the bedside alarm that she'd left plugged in atop the empty night table. She had set both of them to make doubly sure she would get an early start, given the long day of driving ahead. The sun had not even risen. Her apartment was virtually pitch black. The phone screen stung her eyes as she became mildly conscious of the erotic fantasy fading from her mind.
She laughed out loud, bewildered by the unexpectedly lewd dream. "Good for you, Jennifer. Planning to sample the hot young professors all at once, are you?"
Jennifer rolled out of bed and made her way to the kitchen counter to make coffee, before remembering that the machine had long since been packed away and now lay buried in a pile of boxes for her rental van. She groaned, realizing that she'd need to wait until she could make a pit stop on her way out.
The nervous excitement of a move down to North Carolina began to rush back into her mind. As sad as it was to leave home, the prospect of her new apartment in Chapel Hill and a fulfilling job was enough to lure her away on an adventure. Jennifer had been recruited to do research on a large cache of newly discovered Ancient Greek texts, in partnership with a major university in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Best of all, she would report to a handsome young professor in the Classics department, named Adam. He had sounded adorable over the phone. She found his profile on the university's website. He was gorgeous and no doubt the singular inspiration for her surprise awakening that morning...
After a quick shower and her last goodbyes, Jennifer loaded up the van and set off for the long road trip at the end of which awaited her new life.
***
Jennifer reported to the large, gothic building that housed the Classics department early Monday morning, not wishing to be one second late for her orientation. She made her way to Adam's office, excited to introduce herself to him. Instead, she found a young woman hanging out inside, casually occupying his desk.
"Hey!" the woman said, leaping to her feet as Jennifer peeked into the open room. She rushed over, holding her hand out. Jennifer shook it.
"I'm Kyra, Adam's TA. He's got a morning class, but he'll be here in an hour or so. In the meantime, I'm supposed to give you the tour."
"Oh, okay. That sounds great," Jennifer said.
Kyra smiled and gestured toward the hall as an invitation to stroll the grounds of the university together. Kyra's eyes narrowed curiously at Jennifer, flitting up and down her body excitedly. From behind the thin veil of her dark mascara, a penetrating gaze lingered there in some unsettling way.
Kyra gave her a quick tour of the campus, then focused on the facilities related to Classics. They briefly popped into the empty box of a room that would soon become Jennifer's office. Finally, they made their way back to Adam's office. As they stepped inside, they found him at his desk. He looked up suddenly, rose to his feet, and circled the desk with a large grin.
"You must be Jennifer!" he exclaimed, thrusting his hand forward and hurrying across the room.
"Yes. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Adam!" she replied, enthusiastically.
Adam was every bit as handsome in person as she found his photo to be; tall, fit, with a slightly dimpled smile. It looked like he had just received a fresh haircut. He left a dark shadow of stubble on his face, but it was quite becoming on him. Adam spoke eloquently, with just a touch of nerdiness, just as she liked. As smitten as she was, Jennifer found it easy to be relaxed around him. They hit it off perfectly, right off the bat. She imagined him instantly as her majestic future husband.
After a long discussion detailing the specifics of her new assignment, an arduous task of translation and research, Adam invited Kyra to help Jennifer set up her new office. Kyra jumped at the task and whisked Jennifer away to settle her in.
Admittedly, Jennifer felt a mild jealousy seeing her handsome new boss with this attractive young teacher's assistant, but they soon hit it off, comparing notes on their shared interests. She hoped that there would be no competitive tension between them. Jennifer was beginning to like Kyra and needed a friend to help her adjust to her new environment.
***
When lunchtime rolled around, Adam offered to take Jennifer out for a local favorite of students and teachers alike. He drove her off campus, into a rural part of town, until they reached a quirky restaurant located inside a barn. She could smell the smoke from a half mile down the road. Harriet's Hog Heaven served some of the finest Carolina whole hog in town, he reassured her.
They sat down on a communal picnic bench after placing their order and Adam commenced with an enthusiastic series of questions. How did she feel about moving so far away from home? Was she excited about the new texts she'd be working with? How did she end up in her chosen profession and what were her main areas of interest?
Jennifer answered them all enthusiastically, gazing at the little dimples that formed as he listened attentively and found her answers intriguing. She felt a rush of excitement. She studied his lips, imagining the first time they'd kiss.
"Oh, what a strange little tattoo!" she said, suddenly spotting something inked on the inside of his wrist. She reached out and dared to turn his hand to get a closer look. "What does it mean?"
Adam looked down suddenly at the hollow black band crossed by a rod, which Jennifer found to be mildly phallic.
"It looks a little suggestive to me..." she laughed.
He chuckled and withdrew his hand. "Oh- nothing," he replied. "Just a little thing I got on a whim a few years back." Adam smiled at her. She gave him a curious look, intrigued by the fact that he avoided the topic. It only made her more desperate to break through the mystery of his guarded persona.
A woman arrived with a large tray containing a spread of the restaurant's famous barbecue and sides.
