"What did you just say to me?" Elaine said after a few blinks in disbelief.
"There's really no need for me to repeat myself," Dr. Doherty replied in his Irish accent. "I'm certain you heard me clearly the first time," he said taking off his glasses allowing her to see his icy cold blue eyes without any obstruction now.
She scoffed as he pushed up the sleeves of the scarlet striped button down, revealing a tattoo on the inside of his forearm, no doubt in Gaelic. The tall, well defined man stood only enough to push open the window of his office and turned on the fan creating a soft whir in the room. Afterwards, relaxing back in his seat. Her coffee bean colored eyes scanned shelves and bookcases chocked neatly full and alphabetized. Her mind traveled back to last week and her professor's aforementioned aversion to clutter when he ordered everyone to move their things out the aisles because it was too distracting.
"Dr. Doherty, I'm sorry, but that's just wrong and...and I'm offended and disgusted," she stammered as collected her satchel and rose to leave.
"No you're not. Sit your arse back down. If you were as disgusted as you say you are, you'd have left a long time ago," he said blowing the smoke into the fan.
****
At only his third semester present at the university, Dr. Doherty was recognized as the bad boy star of the history department. He was 31 single, originally from Belfast, cursed every other word, and didn't give a damn who he offended, because basically, the man was a genius in the field of Western European history specializing in the UK. Rockstar would have been more fitting than a doctor of history. Elaine thought him attractive like everyone else, but more so charismatic, she enjoyed his enthusiastic lectures. That said, her passion was more so for the course, Celtic and Gaelic History, than him. Elaine, was actually a 25 year old grad student from the Middle Eastern Studies department, but she decided to take the course having always been intrigued by the mysticism of the Celts. As a result, she was always on time and never missed a class despite its late time of 6pm. She would watch girls add their phone numbers to their assignments slyly, wear low cut blouses in the front row, everything they could do to get his attention, but he only ignored them and would remind everyone "I run a tight ship, and shenanigans will get you tossed overboard."
****
Elaine took a deep breath and did as he directed. "I
know
I didn't fail that test," She said trying to control the volume of her voice.
"Oh really? How do you
know
that? Study 2 weeks in advance, did you? Took Issac Newton equivalent notes?"
"Yes!" She retorted no longer able to keep her voice down.
"Well, you did a right shite job, I'll tell you that. It does not show,' he snapped back at her.
"You're a liar," she said folding her arms across her chest, the perfect little Cupid's bow of her lip now pursed in a sour expression.
"And you can't prove it, so you have 1 of 2 choices, Either leave and fail the midterm- meaning you'll more than likely fail the class.
or
" the cigarette tipped in her direction as he gestured, "you can choose my alternative."
Her head fell backwards and she exhaled heavily. The rims of her eyes began to burn as tears became inevitable. "Why are you doing this? You have
all
the women in
all
your courses throwing themselves at you, and you choose me?"
Dr. Doherty took a final drag from his cigarette before snuffing it out in the already ash laden tray. He shrugged as he blew out the smoke carelessly, no longer concerned with if it went out the window or not "I'm a chancer. Plus, you've got a dead on little body, gorgeous face, and nice curls. I'm a bit partial to curls." His eyes went to the thick Sharpie marker sized raven ringlets that hung past her shoulders. In fact, it was her hair that had caught his attention 2 semester ago when they crossed paths early one morning coming out of the locker rooms at the university gym. They exchanged flirtatious smiles, but nothing more, and both thought the other had forgotten of the encounter. "And cause honestly, I think you've got a big stick up your arse, and this would be good for you." He said like a mother would say to their child about eating their vegetables or playing outdoors more. "C'mere, enough of this blathering on, this is my last time asking you, otherwise, it's F." His blue eyes pierced hers and a sly grin surfaced as she looked away and her fingers brushed away a tear. The dimple in his chin that she once thought was his most attractive feature and gave him the most character, didn't seem so attractive anymore. "Don't cry, I promise you'll enjoy it. It's for your own good, really," he said with a an affirming nod. Dr. Doherty stood and ran a hand back through his dark brown waves and then down his dark stubble of 5'o clock shadow that seemed to be there at all hours of any given day.
She groaned in repulse, dragging her hands down her face. " Here?" her eyes not bothering to follow him as he moved from behind the desk to the other side of the room.
"Right, here. We've got plenty of room." Which he was right, he did have a pretty ample sized office. There was even enough room for a sofa. "Would you like me to turn on the lamp, set the mood a little bit? I know how you good girls are about your mood." He said not waiting for a response.
The yellow glow of the lamp filled the room weakly as the fluorescent overhead lighting blinked off soon after. He closed the window and the blinds and soon she felt his hands on her shoulders, massaging them deeply as he tried to relax her. She felt her body tensing, and as though she was going to burst into tears.
"Take off your sweater, would you?"
She stood up as he requested and undid the belt of the gray wrap cardigan. His hands pushed the material away from her soft skin and down her arms, letting the sweater fall into the seat of the chair. His fingers roamed over rich chocolate caramel tone shoulders and pronounced collar bone and she could feel his breath on her neck as he inhaled the sweet smell of her perfume. She was beginning to shake, and her stomach turned flips.