She had never done anything like this before and it shook him.
A campus police cruiser drove by slowly and his hands
tightened on the wheel, a slight sweat breaking out all over his
body. He pulled away slowly, and when he rounded the corner, he
sped off.
* * * *
Jana rolled over, opened one eye, and then stifled a small groan. Sunlight was blocked by a pair of curtains with a truly ugly pattern of zigzagged stripes, and the floor held several rumpled piles of clothes. She levered herself up on both elbows and opened 28
Kate Watterson
the other eye. Her slight headache was back, but she’d done that entirely to herself.
Jake Quinn on the other hand, had done a lot of things to her as well. It was all true, from the wreckage of the bed, her undeniable nude presence among those tumbled sheets, and of course, the vivid memory of just how incredible the young—virile—Mr.
Quinn truly was. She might be thirty-six, but she had never made love so many times in just one night.
Not made love, she quickly corrected herself as she registered the smell of bacon frying. Had wild, uninhibited very satisfying animal sex. Her body felt well used, but then again, it had been.
As a lover, he certainly got high marks.
Just the same, she had the feeling this was a very big mistake.
Her professional life was her whole existence at the moment, and sleeping with a student—even if he was closer to being a colleague—was a bit frowned upon.
What’s more, she was—martinis or not—a complete idiot. Her thighs were sticky with sperm, which was not much of a surprise considering how many times they had made love, but she hadn’t even thought once to ask him to use a condom. Sex was bad enough, unprotected sex made her stupid.
She dropped back down on the mattress and groaned again, but after lying there for a moment, knew it was best to simply get out of bed and see how quickly she could make as graceful an exit as possible. If there was one thing she was not used to dealing with it was waking up in the bed of a casual acquaintance after a night of unbridled intercourse. The protocol entirely escaped her.
Her skirt was silk, and therefore a wrinkled mess, and apparently her sweater and bra still in the other room of the apartment. Jake’s tee-shirt lay on the floor and she retrieved that, slipping it on and raking through her hair with fingers that shook slightly. Luckily the garment was big enough it came to about mid-thigh and she was decently covered, though why she cared was an
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interesting question, because he’d already seen, tasted, and touched every bare inch of her anyway.
The memory of his mouth on her pussy made her skin flush slightly. There wasn’t much doubt he knew exactly what he was doing when it came to giving a woman oral gratification. He’d been more than competent at the rest of it too.
Opening the door, she slipped out and was happy to see the bathroom right across the small hallway. It was tiny and modern, and once again surprisingly tidy. Either Jake was used to having overnight guests that stayed unexpectedly, or else he was anal about changing his toothbrush, because to her relief she found a brand new one sitting on the sink, still in its wrapper.
That was a nice gesture, and brushing her teeth and washing her face made her feel slightly more human. There was a comb in one of the drawers and she did her best with her hair. Finally, she reluctantly trailed out toward the small kitchen where from the aroma, he was obviously fixing breakfast.
“Hello,” she said not so brilliantly, as he glanced up from the stove and saw her standing there.
“Good morning.” He gave her that sexy smile and turned his attention back to the pan. Clad only in a pair of jeans, his chest bare, he looked pretty much like she remembered, all delicious young male, a pin up calendar boy with tousled dark hair and those hard beautiful muscles. “I assume you’re hungry since we never ate dinner last night.”
No, they hadn’t, and no wonder the three drinks had hit her so hard. Though, if she were honest about it, she hadn’t been
that
drunk, just definitely on the tipsy side.
“I…er…suppose so.”
“Sit down, it’s almost ready. Do you want coffee?”
“Like my life depends on it,” she answered truthfully. There was a small table right next to the galley kitchen and she saw he had set out silverware and even napkins. Not knowing what else to 30
Kate Watterson
do, she sat down and watched him pour coffee from a carafe by the stove into a mug. He moved efficiently, deftly, and when he walked the few steps to hand it to her, their fingers brushed and she felt an inner quiver that was now a little familiar.
His dark eyes held a hint of laughter, as if he understood her discomfort and was a little amused by it. “You know, Professor, I’ve always wanted to see what you look like first thing in the morning, still a little sleepy and not immaculate and perfect.”
“I can’t think why,” she muttered, recalling her tangled hair and smudged eye make up. As far as she could tell, she definitely looked a little the worse for wear.
“Sure you can,” he told her meaningfully, the hint of a dark daybreak beard making him somehow more attractive, which was amazing. “Because if I get to see you first thing in the morning, that would mean we had spent the night together.”
Jana gave him a level, straightforward look. “Yes, we did. Be careful, your bacon might be burning.”
With a muttered profanity, he turned and hurried to the stove, scooping out the sizzling pieces and depositing them on a paper towel. She sipped her coffee, glad it was a little on the strong side, and wondered just what to say.
Damn, this was very awkward.
Why didn’t he think so?
Probably because he was male, twenty-five years old, and had gotten laid the night before. On the other hand, she was a professional woman who prided herself on the fact that she was respected, defined not by her gender, but by the fact she had accomplished success in the academic world.
Oh Lord, what a mistake. A wild, wonderful, erotic mistake she would never forget, but still a mistake.
As she watched, he piled scrambled eggs on two plates, added bacon and toast, and brought it to the table. It actually did smell pretty good and she
was
hungry. “Thank you.”
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“I am not much of a cook, but I can do breakfast.” He seated himself, and lifted his brows. “More coffee?”
“No, but thanks for asking.” Jana looked him in the eyes.
“Look, we obviously need to talk—”
“Sure, but eat first,” he said calmly. “We can talk afterwards.”
After a moment, she smiled coolly and picked up her fork.
“Fair enough.”
It was good, the eggs scrambled a little wet like she enjoyed them most, the bacon crisp, and he even made good toast, not burned, not soft. Jake finished before she did, and he sat sipping his coffee, waiting until she took the last bite before he said in a neutral tone, “Can I go first?”
Jana hesitated a moment, and then nodded. “I suppose so.”
“You lived up to the fantasy. You are a very hot lady in bed.”
Why did he have to say
that
? And in such a soft, sexy tone.
She took a deep breath. “That’s very flattering, but—”
“But you are about to tell me you are not interested in having a relationship, partly because I’m still a student, but mostly because of my age, right?”
That was pretty on the mark. She said as reasonably as possible, “Last night was not the beginning of a relationship. I drank a little too much—in which you are not entirely blameless, by the way—and you brought me back here for a specific purpose you seemed to achieve. I am not going to deny I enjoyed it, Jake, for we both know I did—”
“All five times.” There was a slight smug set to his mouth as he interrupted.
Five
? Oh God, he was probably right. No wonder she felt deliciously tired.
Self-possession was a little difficult under the circumstances, but she reached for it anyway. “However many times it might have been, I am not interested in a repeat performance.”
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Kate Watterson
“That’s an interesting choice of words.” His lips quirked upward and he lounged back in his chair, giving her a very good, up close, and tantalizing view of his chest and flat abdomen. “And for the record, I didn’t plot to get you drunk or anything.”
She did her best to ignore the implied challenge in his statement and the fact he looked very gorgeous in a definitely Incredible Quinn sort of way. “No, fair enough. I suppose I set myself up for that one.”
“And now you regret it?”
Yes. It was what she should say. Unequivocal and firm. Jana hesitated a moment though, before she murmured, “I’m ashamed of my behavior. I had sex with a much younger man I don’t know that well—unprotected sex, no less—and though it is a biological fact we as human beings are programmed to be attracted to each other and intercourse is an entirely natural result of that genetic code, it was still imprudent and reckless.”
“How clinical, Doctor.” His dark eyes were a little mocking.
That sarcastic comment made her defensive. “I see you at some time or the other almost every day. Now I will feel very awkward.”
“I don’t know why you should. The sex was great.”
“Yes, it was, but that isn’t the point.”
To her chagrin, he simply looked unperturbed. “You are perfectly safe, Professor, by the way, because—believe it or not—I am normally very careful and you can rest easy that I don’t have any STD’s. I even was tested recently since the university offers it free and I figured what the hell, why worry. Concerns like that run both ways, but not in our case. Last night, Jana, I didn’t suggest or use a condom because I was confident you are just as healthy as I am.”
That was a bit of a relief, and she hoped she didn’t show it too much. “It was stupid of both of us, just the same.”
“With you, I wanted to feel everything as much as possible.”
He said it softly and slowly.
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That foolish romantic sentiment was so disarming she had no idea what to say. She was a scientist, a pragmatic realist who did not indulge in reckless sexual adventures.
Five times? Really
?
Speechless, she stared at him. He asked again, “More coffee?”
Jana simply nodded and handed over her cup.
* * * *
On a late Saturday morning the faculty lot was nearly deserted, the only other vehicle a light blue pickup truck that probably belonged to one of the custodial crew because there was a man sitting in it, reading the newspaper. Jana looked openly relieved no one would see him bring her back to her car, and Jake felt his confidence slip another notch.
Maybe he’d succeeded in his quest to get something started, and maybe he’d failed. Oh yes, the lady had liked what happened, of that there wasn’t a question. She had certainly had multiple orgasms, made the right—very sexy—noises, and no woman could properly fake the way her pussy tightened during real climax.
However, if all he’d wanted was a quick lay, he could have that any time. From her he wanted more.
Jake pulled into the university parking lot and stopped his car in the spot next to her gleaming expensive sedan. This wasn’t some underclassman with wide eyes and the usual sexual eagerness sitting next to him in the passenger seat. This was a mature woman who normally guarded her private life and he was completely out of his league in some major ways.
“I had a good time,” he told her, and immediately flushed in embarrassment at his choice of phrase.
Smooth, Quinn, very smooth
.
Jana’s dark brows lifted in an ironic arch. “What should I say now? You’re welcome?”
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Kate Watterson
Jake turned and looked at her, his arm braced over the back of her seat. “Why would you say that? Was last night some kind of gift?”
“No.” She had the grace to look away and her cheeks suffused with color. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t really what I meant to imply. I am obviously not good at this. Maybe it’s why it has never happened before.”
“Or maybe you hadn’t met the right guy?”
“Don’t complicate things. I’m a little hung over. I can’t answer that question.” She started to get out of the car.
“Wait.” Jake’s hand shot out and snared her wrist.
Jana glanced back. Even with no make up, her shining hair in disarray, she looked deliciously pretty and very appealing. “Why?”
“It feels wrong to just leave it like this,” he admitted, gazing at her mouth. It was soft and tasted wonderful, and there was just no way on earth he could stand to never kiss it again. Not to mention those spectacular breasts and how hot and tight she felt as he thrust between her long luscious legs…
“Look.” Jana Johnson visibly set her shoulders. “Last night happened, yes. That’s it.”
No, he really wasn’t in agreement over that. “So you said, but I want to see you again.”
“You will. Monday morning we almost always pass in the hall after my first class. Besides, you need to return my key.”
Dammit
.
He tried again. “What happened between us in bed aside, I had a good time talking to you is what I meant to say before, Jana. Yes, I’m attracted to you, I think most men who are breathing are attracted to you, but I also
like
you. You’re smart, which is the number one thing I look for in a woman, believe it or not, and when you relax a little, you have a great sense of humor. I wasn’t just looking for sex. Give me a chance. I’d love to take you out to dinner tonight.”
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She gently tugged her arm free. “You are twenty-five, Jake.”
“You’re going to have to bear with me, because I don’t see how in the hell that matters. I’m a grown man and in a year or so, will have the same string of letters behind my name as yours.”
Her sapphire eyes widened just slightly at his vehemence. After a moment, she sighed. “Dating someone you work with is also a problem, and you know it. It’s fine as long as it all works out, but terrible if it doesn’t. My policy has always been I would never become involved with someone from the university.”