Chapter 5
Professor Richards
Cool,crisp air fills my lungs as I briskly make my way through the quad and to my classroom. Today is the day I start closing the trap on my little mouse. Will she rise up and take the bait? Tingles race through my body as I contemplate her future actions. Hopefully, I’ll be able to have a taste so I can get her out of my system. As hard as I seem to be falling for her, I need to just hit it and quit it. I don’t do relationships, and she’s not going to force me into one. It doesn’t matter that she calls to me like the sirens of old.
Up ahead, her glistening, mahogany hair sparkles in the light as she tosses her head back and forth. An itch builds in my body as I watch her. I just want to run my fingers through those tresses and twine them about my fingers. My gaze shifts over to the guy she’s so animated with, and my stomach sours. Chase Ackerman. I should have known he’d try to make a move on her. His tastes seem to run along the same vein as mine. Luckily for me, however, once she’s inducted into our little society, he’ll have to be hands-off until our next open night.
The souring morphs into a ball of anger, settling deep into my gut. Her tiny hands flutter about his bicep, her little laughs tinkling through the air. How dare he seduce what is mine! Pausing for a moment, I run my hand down my tie, willing myself to calm down. He doesn’t know she’s mine yet. I don’t even know that she’s mine.
But watching him with her, tossing about that casual smile like he’s not as big a predator as I am, fills me with an odd sense of calm. Would she still want him after he shows his true colors? Perhaps not. Until then, I’m going to relish showing him exactly how much he doesn't have a chance with her.
He slips off his letterman jacket and drapes it across her shoulders before running his fingers through her hair to ease it out from underneath so it doesn’t get caught. I see red. Since he’s a student member of The Society, he doesn’t have to play by the same rules as us. No one would even blink at kinky sex games from consenting adults in a similar age range. A much older man, and a teacher at that, will have a difficult time convincing a jury of anything. The fact that he doesn’t have to go through these delicate dances is completely in his favor.
Quickening my steps, I catch up with the two and level a glare at Chase. The insolent pup smirks and pulls Melody tight within his grasp. We stare at each other for a moment, and even though he didn’t know that I’ve laid a tentative claim on her, he does now. As his eyes widen with understanding, so does his smile. I can’t outright claim her, and neither can he, but he can still enjoy what I can’t. Oh yes. I’m going to enjoy setting him down a few pegs if everything goes as planned. Once she cheats on this test – if…if she cheats on this test – I’ll scoop her up out of Chase’s grasp. Then, I’ll have the last laugh.
“Ready for your exam? I hope you’ve studied.”
Melody’s face whirls up, noticing me for the first time since I arrived next to her. That will not do. The very first thing on my list will be to train her to be aware of my presence at all times, even in the company of preening jocks. Especially in their company. Her focus will solely be on me. My glare starts to settle into a more pleasant smile. Chase may think that he’s won this little battle, but I will surely win the war.
A faint stain of pink highlights Melody’s delicate cheekbones as she disentangles herself from Chase and shifts closer to me. Elation flows through my body. Good girl. She already knows who’s the alpha dog around here. That will make my job easier.
“I’ve studied as well as I could, so I think you’re going to be very pleased with my score.”
Is it my imagination, or do her eyes start to shift in a guilty manner? Or is it just wishful thinking? I rub my hands together in the guise of warming them up in the brisk air. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited about this class. Looking down at my watch, I start counting down the minutes until we can begin. Tapping my finger to the brim of my hat, I nod at both of them and hurry into the main building.
All the tests are laid out on the desks; now I just need the students. Who am I kidding? I need one student. My pants tent in greeting as she makes her way through the door. Gods, but I can’t wait for her to get out of my system. It will make class time so much easier. Shifting in my chair, I adjust myself again and keep my gaze locked onto my prize.
She picks a chair closer to the back. Typical. I was anticipating this. That’s why I spaced all the chairs apart. She can sit anywhere, and I can still get to her with ease. As everyone settles in, I keep a sharp eye on the troublemakers, separating them before they can get too rowdy. I need all my concentration, and I will not lose her because they pulled my focus. If I go to John, it has to be airtight. There can be no way she can wiggle out of this.
Normally, I make a big speech about putting all cellphones on the desks to see them; however, I want to give Melody as much rope as I can for her to hang herself with. The analog clock is the only sound in the room as they all huddle over their papers and begin to scribble furiously.
Melody tips her head forward, her hair gathered to one side to conceal her ear and hang low against her chest. That’s slightly odd. Normally she doesn’t seem to like her hair in her face. At least that’s the impression I got. She always tucked it behind her ears the moment it slid forward.
Steepling my fingers together, I lean forward, my eyes never leaving her form. Her fingers twitch at her ear, but then she brings them back down, leaving her hair in place. Interesting. As she’s filling her answers, she suddenly pauses, her eyes wide before she shuffles her hand against her lap. After a moment, she breathes again and starts writing. A large grin crosses my face. If she’s doing what I think she’s doing, she’s a sly, devious little mouse, and I want her even harder for it.
“Melody, a word, please.”
Her head flies up, her eyes wide with panic. Bingo. She sets her pen down and shuffles a bit more in her lap before finally rising up to head towards me. The slight bulge on her right side is the only thing that gives away that she even has a phone. All eyes are on her as she makes her way towards me. The students stare at her: some simply curious, but many have figured out what is going on. They sneer at her as she slinks by. Part of me feels like it serves her right to have the class's disdain; however, the tiny sliver of humanity that’s still left in me feels a little bad. Though she decided to cheat, I created the environment in which she felt the need to cheat. Much like the dictator I am. In fact, I may do a class on that very thing. It would make an interesting object lesson. Hmm. That might be better for the ethics professor. I smother my grin. The very idea of Frank teaching ethics is laughable.
Standing up, I meet her at the front of the room and motion towards the door. If I’m going to confront her, I want it to be semi-private. No need to humiliate her any further. That will come later in spades. Her feet drag by as she gets to the door. It’s pitiful how she thinks she can stall the inevitable.
Hands clasped to her side, she looks up at me, still favoring the side that her hair is on. “Yes, Professor?”