3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Rutherford
Flipping a pen through my fingers, I stare out my office window. The student parking lot has never occupied so much of my attention. Mila’s car is still here. It’s not a good reason for me to work late, but it’s a reason.
I’ve agonized over what to do about the connection I experienced with her. Do I listen to Sterling’s words of caution or be grateful Mila’s not my son’s ex? It’s not just that Victor’s my roommate. We’re tight. But he’s too reserved sometimes. Most of the time.
I might have to pursue whatever I’ve got with Mila, and if something’s there, I’ll figure out how to break it to Vic.
Student voices drift down the hallway into my office. Mila’s? I stop twirling my pen to listen closer. Not hers. I watch out the window as they head into the parking lot. She’s not with them, which means she’s still here.
I should have more respect for the university’s policies. My head drops back, tipping my chair backward. I shouldn’t be planning parties with her in my mind, but something broke inside of me at the sex club.
“Professor Rutherford?” The softness of Mila’s voice teases me as if she’s still in my arms.
How can it sound so real?
Knock. Knock. Soft raps on my open door snap me to reality.
The pen flips from my fingers as I lurch forward and spin to face her. “Mila, come in.”
She holds a paper up, but stays in the doorway. “I didn’t realize you were on the scholarship committee this year. Will it be a conflict of…” She pauses briefly. “I’m really sorry about the other night. It was a dare. I shouldn’t have—”
“Shhh.” I put a finger to my lips. “There’s nothing wrong with talking about parties.” Grinding my cock into her backside and sliding my hand over her clothed pussy were more problematic… along with the revelation that she may have only acted on a dare, not her own desire.
Mila grimaces and lowers her voice. “Right. But I need this scholarship.”
“Have a seat.” I motion to the chair on the other side of my desk.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. All I need is your signature.”
Concern races through me. “Let’s just talk for a second.”
A nervous laugh makes its way through her nibbling on her lower lip. “I trust you. But if Professor Sterling hadn’t intervened… I don’t want rumors to get started.”
“Come on in. Leave the door open.” I motion over my shoulder. “It’s late. My light is on. Anyone outside can see in. Nothing to worry about. No parties in here.”
She giggles. It’s cute. It’s genuine. And it’s hinting that she wouldn’t be opposed a party.
She steps forward and grabs my pen from the floor. My mind wastes no time imagining her kneeling in front of me, looking up at me with those big blue eyes. I tell the party in my pants to take a break.
She sets the pen on my desk and slides her paper next to it. “I didn’t realize you were on the scholarship committee. If you think it’s appropriate, I need your signature.”
I want to give her a lot more than my signature. I want to give her my last name, a baby, a future where all of her needs are met. Yep, she broke the bachelor in me. I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want her.
“I understand. I shouldn’t have—” She reaches for the paper, causing me to realize she misread my hesitation.
“Whoa!” I set my hand on top of hers. It’s as delicate as I remembered. “I just joined the committee this semester. You couldn’t have known. Now, it’s a merit-based scholarship, so let me check your grades, ask the questions I ask all of the candidates, then I’ll decide if I’ll sign.”
She smiles timidly and her cheeks are flushed as she looks at our hands. I lift mine just enough that she can pull hers away and take a seat. Reading her student number, I type it into my computer.
“Highest marks out of everyone who’s asked for my recommendation.”
“Really?” Her tone lightens.
“Definitely. You’re single, correct?”
Her eyes twinkle and her lips purse before she answers. “Yes.”
“Have you thought about how you would incorporate a spouse or a family into your school and work?”
“I don’t think you’re allowed to ask questions like that.”
I start to regroup but she cuts me off.
“But I’ll answer anyway. I want someone who understands my passion. A spouse should respect me in all ways and work with me on our mutual desires. We would need to support each other.”
“That’s a lot for someone who’s never… planned a party with another person.”
“Is it?”
A few more questions, and I sign her recommendation, not because of ulterior motives, not because she needs a signature from at least half of the committee members to be considered, but because she’s the most qualified. I return the paper.
She slips it into her binder and gets up. She could have gone to any of the other professors to get enough signatures, but she came to me. That has to mean something.
I can’t help but ask, “On a different note… Do you have time to tell me about the dare?”
Her brow furrows.
“You mentioned a dare when you came in.”
She retakes her seat. “I basically dared Belova to go out with the next guy who asked her out, and she dared me to…” Mila looks over her shoulder but there’s nothing to see out of my doorway. “She dared me to flirt with you and Professor Sterling.”
Fuck. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. I pick up the pen but am too tense to twirl it through my fingers. “So that’s it. You had your fun? Mission accomplished?”
Her smile comes across as forced. She’s not the first student to hit on Sterling or me. She’s just the first one I didn’t shut down. Joke’s on me. Our age difference looms larger suddenly. Just another school girl prank to give the professor a boner. Yep, mission accomplished.
“You’re free to go.” I watch the tip of the pen move in and out as I click it. Anything to avoid grabbing her and bending her over my lap.
She stands, steps to the door, and I wait for her to move on. But she doesn’t.
“Professor Rutherford?”
“What, Mila?” I practically growl. Too much pent-up frustration. I need to ride home and rub one out. Keep her in the only place I’ll ever have her… my mind.
“Nothing.” She turns quickly and slams into the doorway.
Somehow, I’ve gotten up, rounded my desk, and have her arm in my hand.
Her eyes are wide. I loosen my grip and nod for her to come back in my office. “You okay?”
She nods.
“What were you going to say? I didn’t mean to have such a harsh response.”
With her binder clutched to her chest, she looks up at me through her lashes. “It was nothing.”
“It was something.” My cock throbs at having touched her.
“It’s silly.”
“That’s one of the things I love about you.”
Our eyes remain fixed, even as I say too much. She doesn’t back down and I love that too.
“What were you going to say?”
“I’m glad Belova dared me.”