Emma trudged down the hall to class. She sighed, knowing she only had a month left in college before graduation. She passed a group of freshman girls giggling at the antics of a freshman boy. At twenty-two, she felt years beyond those girls. She had worked four hard years on her business degree, only to worry she might not want to go into business.
She brightened knowing her next class was her favorite. Her professor, Dr. Ellington, was an amazing teacher. He was interesting, caring and kind. Even though he was at least forty, when he smiled he didn't look a year over twenty-five.
"Em, over here," waved Shelly, Emma's roommate and best friend. Emma plopped down next to Shelly, pulling her notebook and a pen from her bag.
"I'm so ready for this to be over, Shelly. I'm just sick of school." Emma sighed again.
"I know what you mean. Lectures, projects, tests, homework- it all sucks. Just four more weeks, though, and we're free!" Shelly bounced excitedly in her seat until Dr. Ellington entered the room. He was attractive in that older-guy way. His smile made soft green eyes almost sparkle, his dark hair was full, and sparsely sprinkled with grays.
Emma tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but quickly zoned out. She began doodling pictures in the margins of her notebook, tuning out everything. The hour seemed to crawl by, but it was finally over. The class rushed out, eager to begin their weekend.
Emma grabbed her backpack, only to have all her things tumble out. Cursing under her breath, she knelt to retrieve the scattered books, papers and pens.
"Need any help, Em," asked Shelly.
"Nah, go ahead. I'll see you back at home." Snatching her fallen things and stuffing them into her bag, Emma waved good-bye to her roommate.
"Miss Grailey, may I have a word with you," asked Dr. Ellington. Emma nodded and headed to the front of the room when he stood erasing the board. "Miss Grailey, I couldn't help but notice you seemed a bit distracted today in class. Is everything alright?" Emma nodded guiltily, looking down at the floor.
"I guess I just have a lot on my mind, Dr. Ellington. I'm sorry." Emma looked into his eyes, touched to see the worry in them.
"Listen, you know if you need to talk to someone, I'm always here for you. Please don't hesitate to come by my office if you need to someone to listen to you." He squeezed her shoulder gently, reassuringly. Emma felt a jolt in her stomach at his touch.
"Thank you, Dr. Ellington. I appreciate it." He gave her shoulder another gentle squeeze and turned to leave.
*******
"I've wanted you for so long, Emma. I've just never had the chance to tell you." Dr. Ellington laid her on his bed, removing her shirt. The cold air met her bare breasts, causing her nipples to harden. His tongue traced her nipples. Emma arched her back against him. His handles deftly removed her pants, leaving her clad in only her panties. Emma moaned as he gently and slowly slid her sodden panties down her thighs. Suddenly she felt his hot breath on her wet mound.
"Oh Dr. Ellington," she cried out as his tongue flicked over her sensitive area.
Emma woke up gasping for breath. The sensations of his tongue on her still tingled through her body.
"What the hell," she asked to no one in particular. "Why the hell did I dream of him," she wondered. Unsettled by her erotic dream, Emma tossed and turned for the remainder of the night.
The next morning, Emma went to the forest path on campus to try and sweat the sexual dream out of her system. She loved running on the path, with its canopy of trees, thick bushes and lush terrain, it was almost like being in your own private world. With her music pumping through her MP3 player, she zoned out, forgetting everything but the feeling of her muscles burning. Emma pushed herself faster and harder, pounding into the ground. All of a sudden, her foot caught on an exposed root, causing her to tumble to the ground. Splayed on the ground, Emma groaned in pain. She pushed herself up from the dirt and gently tested her foot.
"Shit," she cried out as she put weight on her left foot. Looking around at the thick greenery around her, Emma knew she was in trouble. She hobbled slowly over to a fallen tree and plopped down on it. Rubbing her tender ankle, she scanned the forest.
"Hello? Help! Someone, anyone! I'm hurt," she yelled. Nothing but the twittering of birds met her inquiry. "Help! Someone help me!" Emma heard a twig crack in the distance. "Hello," she shouted louder, hoping it wasn't just an animal. She heard the faint sound of feet pounding the packed earth. Squinting at the horizon, Emma saw the outline of another runner against the morning sun. Flailing her arms in the air, Emma shouted at the runner.
"Miss Grailey," Dr. Ellington said, "are you ok?"
"I don't think so. I tripped on that root and can barely walk on it. Do you mind helping me back to my car? I don't think I can walk the two miles back by myself."
"Of course Miss Grailey."
"Please, Dr. Ellington, call me Emma."
"Ok, Emma, only if you call me Daniel. I'm only Dr. Ellington inside the classroom." He smiled at her as he helped her to her feet. He wrapped one arm around her waist to steady her while she limped, her arm around his shoulder for balance. Emma's heart raced at his touch.
"It's just the exertion," she told herself. "It has nothing to do with Daniel." She tried convincing herself that the close proximity to him, the manly smell of his sweat and aftershave and the firm feeling of his arm around her waist was not the reason for the rapid pace of her heart.
They made their way slowly through the forest, chatting about class and Emma's upcoming graduation. When they reached Emma's car, Daniel helped her inside.
"Um, Daniel? Would you mind looking at my ankle? I'm not sure if I should go to the doctor." Daniel nodded, kneeling down beside Emma's car and gently removing her shoe and sock. Daniel tenderly touched the swelling area. Emma gasped at the feeling of his skin touching hers. Emma looked down into his eyes. She thought she saw something flicker in his eyes as he stroked the afflicted ankle, but it was gone just as suddenly as it appeared.
"Well," he said, "it looks like you might have just bruised it a bit. I would put some ice on it and try and stay off it as much as possible this weekend." Daniel put her sock and shoe back on as gently as possible.
"Thank you so much Daniel. I really appreciate it. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along."
"Next time bring your cell phone with you, Emma." Reaching down, he absently tucked a strand of long dark hair behind her ear, leaving his hand just a second longer than necessary. "Well, um, I need to get going. You take care of that ankle, ok?" Without waiting for a reply, Daniel jogged off towards the forest again. Emma touched the skin where the memory of Daniel's touch still sizzled.
********
"Why don't you talk to someone about it, Em?" Emma and Shelly were packing Shelly's suitcase on Monday morning. They had spent the weekend discussing school, the impending graduation and Emma's recent dislike for business.
"Who am I supposed to talk to?" Emma plopped on her bed, watching Shelly pack. Shelly had gotten a phone call that morning that there was a family emergency back home, and was leaving to go be with her family.
"What about Dr. Ellington? He seems to be the kind of person that wouldn't judge you for suddenly not wanting to go into the business field." Emma thought about it for a few silent minutes.
