Fuck. I remembered chasing her, but little else.
I looked over her shoulder, expecting to see several policemen ready to haul me in for assault or harassment or for just being a creepy asshole.
I stumbled over the fallen stool as I backed away. Bending over to pick it up, I avoided eye contact with her as I said, “About yesterday. I can explain—”
As I talked, I looked down to see I was wearing unfamiliar clothes. Instead of my usual shirt and denim pants, I was in what felt like an expensive suit. The problem was I had no memory of purchasing one. Tucking the shirttail in, I tried to come up with a plausible excuse to explain my indefensible actions last night.
If I told her I wasn’t myself because I had taken my formula, she would probably run straight to the dean of the university to have me fired for violating human trial protocols.
She held out one of the coffee cups. “Please, Dr. Jekyll. Let’s forget all about it and have a fresh start.”
My brow furrowed as I hesitantly took it from her. “What I said… what I did… it was unforgivable.”
She smiled after taking a sip of her coffee. “You were unprepared. They should have warned you.”
Warned me?
Warned me about what?
The effects of the formula or warned me against taking it?
I gulped down the coffee, hissing as it burned my tongue. I prayed the caffeine would kick in quickly to clear my still-muddled brain. I could only remember flashes from last night, but they were all about Catherine. Her scent. The way she walked. The glimmer of the streetlamps reflected in her glasses. The intoxicating feel of her fear.
I shuddered.
Catherine approached me. She placed a gentle hand on my arm. “You shouldn’t have done that last night.”
I closed my head and nodded. “I know. I know. Catherine, I’m so sorry. It was—”
She continued as if she hadn’t heard me. “You really shouldn’t work so late. As my mother always said, nothing good happens after midnight and that includes scientific breakthroughs. You need to take better care of yourself, Dr. Jekyll, if you are going to complete your work.”
What was happening?
Was it possible she didn’t realize it had been me following her last night?
I gazed at her expectantly. “What do you mean about last night?”
She laughed. “Well, you obviously worked too late. I found you passed out, sound asleep, on a pile of files this morning.” She shook her head. “Please, won’t you reconsider letting me help you?”
I wasn’t sure if she realized she was stroking my arm in an attempt to soothe me. It felt… intimate. As if she were consoling a lover. My cock hardened at the thought.
I shifted in my seat but the images in my mind wouldn’t stop.
Catherine stretched naked underneath me in bed. Her mouth open in ecstasy as I pushed my cock hard and fast into her tight pussy. The idea of tasting that sweet mouth of hers and then grabbing her by the hair, forcing her to her knees and thrusting my cock deep into her throat as she gagged on its length.
I took a sip of coffee and choked.
Catherine patted me on the back. “Does this mean you will reconsider?”
Unable to speak, I could only nod.
Her pretty mouth lifted in a smile. “I’m so happy. I’ll get started right away. I noticed you are behind in cataloging your research notes in the university’s system. Would you like me to start there?”
I snatched my leather-bound personal research journal from the top of the lab bench and held it tight. “No. I prefer to transcribe my own notes.” I couldn’t risk her seeing that I had taken the formula myself last night. “Could you please start by making an inventory of the chemicals in that cabinet?”
“Absolutely, Dr. Jekyll.”
“Call me Henry.”