The experience has been so thoroughly enjoyable, though—meeting people who have a passion for learning new things at all ages, from all walks of life—that I’ve been doing it for three years now.
I should do crazy more often.
The shuffle of laptops and pens being packed jerks me out of my own head, it’s my cue to walk up to the podium and set up my presentation. I stop to give Ned a quick peck on his cheek.
Ned pats my shoulder in a fond gesture. “When are we sitting for coffee? I want to hear all about that new polymer you’re working on.”
“Anytime you want, Ned, just say the word.” I smile at him, and he raises an eyebrow, studying me.
“A beautiful young lady such as yourself should have a full dance card, Dr. Lawrence.” He ponders for a few seconds before sighing. “My grandson, Matthew, is visiting us next weekend from New York. I know you went on a date with him a few months ago, but he was fresh out of a bad breakup. Try again, maybe it will be different this time around.”
I smile politely. “Matthew is a very nice man.”with whom I had zero sexual vibes. “We did stay good friends. I even got him that job, remember?”
“Alright. I’ll stop pressing the matter.” Ned shakes his head at me in amusement. “He’ll show up eventually, Zoe, the man who’ll sweep you off your feet.”
“Thank you, Ned.”
I go to the podium and start setting up my laptop. As a movement catches the corner of my eye, I barely look up from the screen, but then I do a double-take. A gorgeous man I’ve never seen before, no older than twenty-six, by my estimation, is taking a seat in the front row, smiling at me with interest and not of the platonic kind.
Waves of shockingly black hair begging my fingers to tangle in them, jade-green eyes with a sparkle of mischief promising dirty secrets that only we would share, and those lips look full and soft and inviting. All those soft features pulled perfectly together by a strong square jaw and high forehead, and what is undeniably a firm hard body packed in straight leg jeans, a tight-fitted gray T-shirt and brown leather jacket.
Forcing myself to look away and finish setting up my computer, I greet my students as they walk in and take a seat. The entire time I can feel his gaze still on me, warm and intense, and a blush creeps up to my cheeks.
The awareness tingling up my spine under his gaze is getting to me, and I tamp it down to the best of my ability. I make a rule never to socially engage with my students, definitely not on a romantic level, it’s unprofessional at best and a blatant abuse of power at worst.
Shaking the embarrassment off, I take a sip of my mocha. The sweet beverage serves as a reminder to my crippling sense of loneliness, and I’m hit with the realization that I am truly on my own now that my two best friends are gone and that I’m bound tostayalone unless I actively start doing something about it.
Hoping he won’t change his mind once my lecture starts, I lift my head to the man sitting in the front row, still staring intently, and when he notices my gaze, he grins at me in this panty-melting way that causes me to quietly gasp.
I smile back with the friendliest smile I can muster, and it must have been a good effort because that sexy grin just broadens and naughty promise lights up those dazzling green eyes, and damn if it isn’t the sexiest thing I have ever seen.
Mac
I’m intrigued.
As I’m packing my laptop, I notice Professor Thorne stop and greet a young woman with a warm embrace.
At first look, she isn’t really my taste. Small in stature with short, brownish hair and innocent brown eyes. She’s wearing a simple navy-blue sweater that seems too big for her frame and blurs her body’s outline to the point where she looks a bit like a stick figure. It’s paired with gray slacks and run-of-the-mill black heeled boots, not even spiky high heels, just sensible and stable shoes.
My usual type is curvy with a bit of danger in her eyes. Women who don’t have a problem flaunting their bodies with confidence. But something here warrants a second look, so I move to sit in the front row and scan her again as she steps up to the podium to hook up a laptop.
She looks up at me with an expression of surprise for a few seconds, as if she can’t quite figure out how to respond to my attention, then looks back down at her laptop intently. But the pinkish hue creeping up her neck and to her cheeks doesn’t escape me. I wonder where else that enticing blush had spread to and make a mental note to make her blush when I have her naked.
And yes, I’ve officially decided I want her naked, in my bed, under me. On me as well, come to think about it. And if I’m being really honest here, I can think of a great number of fun positions I’d like to have her in.
She’s young, so I assume she’s from administration, prepping a presentation for the next lecture. Without her heels she’s at most five-feet-four to my six-feet, her straight and perfectly set coffee-colored hair could have been boring had it not been for the unique, layered fringe haircut with purple highlights; one such highlight streaking the bangs gently caressing her cheek and teasing the corner of her eye, making my fingers itch to get up on the podium and brush it back.
Her large eyes fit perfectly on her long delicate face with her full curvy rose-hued lips. I can tell it’s their natural color, too, and it only makes her more appealing. The eyes are what really get to me, I realize. They’re the real reason for my curiosity. They seem to be filled with perpetual amusement, even as she seriously taps away at the keys of the laptop she’s setting up, it’s those eyes hooded by long lashes.
Despite my affinity for women with a need for a thrill written in their eyes, that joyful sparkle makes it seem like she holds the key to a secret I’m desperate to learn.
She looks up at me again, then, her rosy lips shape into a shy smile and her chestnut eyes gleam with mystery. A single dimple forms to the left of her upturned mouth, and I can’t help but smile widely back, determined more than ever to find out what secrets she holds behind those gorgeous doe eyes.
That damn outfit though, I wish I could see her outlines more clearly, but I’m still intrigued enough towantto see them, so I sit put waiting for her to finish setting up, planning on following her out and inviting her for a drink.
I’m so entranced by the elegant movements of her delicate fingers that I don’t notice the constant flow of people entering the hall and taking a seat, nor do I notice them pulling out laptops and writing utensils while nodding at the petite brunette who smiles warmly at each one of the arrivals.
Hell, I have no idea how much time I sit gawking like an idiot until she walks to the front of the stage with much more authority than I’d imagine an administrative employee would have over a college class and opens her mouth to speak.