9. Elle
Chapter 9
Elle
T he following weekend, I stumbled across a pop-up job fair on campus. My steps slowed as I browsed the table full of fliers for job postings applications. Vincent’s question kept replaying in my mind, and I still didn’t have a solid answer for it.
What kind of future do you envision for yourself?
I knew I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. I had no desire to run his company alongside my sister. I wanted…something else.
My entire life had always been about my father—his goals, his dreams, his aspirations. A dozen available job positions were spread out before me now, and I felt lost. What were my dreams and aspirations? What did I want to do with my life?
“Hi!” A volunteer approached with a bouncy ponytail and a megawatt smile. Her name tag said Becky. “Can I help you?”
I hesitated.
“I don’t really know what I’m looking for, to be honest.”
Becky waved me off.
“Oh, that’s not a problem. We have a variety of positions to choose from, and we try to pair you with a job according to your strengths.”
I scratched at my ear as shame prickled my cheeks. I had no clue what my strengths were. Becky skated seamlessly over my pause.
“Why don’t I give you a rundown of what we have available?” She started rattling off jobs. “Research assistant at the bio-chem labs here on campus. Seasonal worker at the local apple orchard in Port Crowne. That was a fun gig. I did it last year, and you get all the free pumpkin spice latte you can drink. Oh, we also have a brand-new position that opened up at the Port Crowne Public Library.”
My ears perked up.
“The library?”
Becky nodded and plucked a file folder from the stack on the table.
“The children’s department needs an assistant librarian to help with planning programs and reading to the kids. There’s some cataloging work in there as well. It can be tedious if you’re not into it, but some people like how detail-oriented it is.”
I accepted the file and scanned the job description, feeling a curl of warmth take root in my chest. Maybe this was something I could do. Since it was off campus, there was a better chance my father wouldn’t find out about it, at least for a while.
Smiling to myself, I thanked Becky and hugged the file to my chest with a bounce in my step.
“You sound really happy,” Vincent said.
I dumped my backpack on my bed, wedging the phone between my ear and my shoulder. Dozens of brightly-colored picture books spilled out. I’d visited the Port Crowne Public Library that afternoon to take a look around and drop off my application. It was a quaint little place—perfect for small town living.
“I shouldn’t get my hopes up though,” I countered. “There are probably dozens of people applying for the position.”
“But this is something you want,” Vincent pointed out.
I stopped and sank onto the edge of the bed. He was right. This opportunity tugged at my heart in a way that running my father’s company never did. I picked up one of the picture books, bursting with illustrations and lines of text that seemed to skip and dance and whirl across the pages. They were full of wonder and joy that I’d never experienced as a child. It had been crushed out of me at such a young age.
Vincent’s class made me feel alive because of books, poetry, and the written word.
These books made me feel a different kind of connection, guiding me toward a future of my own choosing.
“It’s just a part-time gig,” I said, smoothing my hand over one of the pages.
“Don’t do that,” Vincent replied softly.
“What?”
“Downplay yourself. You never know where a part-time gig could lead you.”
My throat tightened to hear Vincent’s optimism and encouragement. I fully expected my family would hate this job when they found out. My father would do everything in his power to sabotage it, as usual. But for now, the future looked like it was mine for the taking, and that felt…good. That felt incredible .
“Why don’t you come over?” Vincent added. “We can celebrate. Open a bottle of wine. Order takeout, or cook something together.”
I breathed a faint laugh, despite the butterflies that erupted in my stomach. Was this…a real, genuine date he proposed?
“I didn’t get the job yet.”
“That’s not the point. This was for you, Elle. Your grades are improving. You’ve found a job that you’re excited about. You should be proud of yourself.”
A pleased blush warmed my cheeks.
“Is this just an excuse to see me again?” I ventured.
Vincent chuckled—a low, soft rumble that had my heart turning somersaults.
“Are you saying you don’t want to come over?”
“Oh, I do. But it’s only been four days since our playtime at the library and I’m surprised you’re not making me wait longer. I’ve figured out you’re a bit of a sadist, Professor.”
“What if I told you I wouldn’t make you wait anymore?”
My breath caught in my throat. I grabbed my purse as I headed for the door.
“I’m on my way.”
When I arrived, Vincent met me at the door. He cupped my cheek in his palm and pulled me inside for a scorching kiss. The hot, wet glide of his tongue made my knees go weak. I dropped my purse and clutched the front of his shirt, stumbling over the threshold.
He shoved my coat off, immediately tangling his fist in my hair with a sharp tug.
“We should eat first,” he said.
“In a minute.”
I yanked his belt buckle open, followed by the gritty rasp of his zipper. Vincent gazed down at me and his chest swelled on a sharp intake of breath when I rubbed my palm against the rapidly growing bulge in his slacks, squeezing his throbbing length.
“You want to worship it, don’t you?” he murmured, his voice dark and low.
The breath punched out of me. It still shocked me to hear him talk like that—arrogant and possessive. Although the immediate ache between my thighs was proof that I loved this filthy side of him. I nuzzled into his neck with a kiss.
“Ruin me,” I whispered. “Make me think of nothing else but you.”
Vincent grasped my chin, sealing his mouth to mine. He swept his arm across a nearby end table, scattering the contents across the floor—keys, a scarf, the day’s mail.
Guiding me with his body, he bent me over the table with his big hands clutching my hips so tightly that I felt every fingertip with bruising insistence. He dragged one palm down my spine.
“Unzip your jeans.”
I hurried to obey. Vincent tugged my jeans down, exposing my panties. He smoothed his hands over my ass—his skin hot and rough. Dipping two fingers between my thighs, he stroked along my fabric-covered slit.
“Tell me to stop and I will,” he said. “Do you understand?”
I nodded. Vincent cracked his hand against my ass with a sharp sting that made me gasp.
“Speak up.”
“Yes! Yes, I understand.”
He leaned over me, sinking his teeth into my shoulder until it burned. Then he brushed the tip of his nose against my ear.
“Good girl. Now, let’s see what you can handle.”
The warm weight of Vincent’s palm settled on my lower back. He shifted, drawing my panties to the side. I felt the press of his fingers a moment before he pushed deep.
“Has the emptiness been driving you crazy, love?” he asked with a smirk in his voice.
I wiggled my hips, desperate for him to go faster, harder. But he stroked and stroked at a leisurely pace, only occasionally brushing my clit with his thumb.
Vincent used his knee to nudge my legs further apart. I gripped the edge of the table, my cheek pressed to the cool surface.
“I wish you could see your sweet little pussy right now,” he said. “Dripping down my fingers. Grasping for more.”
“I thought—thought you weren’t going to make me wait,” I said with a hiccup.
Vincent pressed his fingers against my walls with a firm thrust. My whimper echoed through the entryway.
“Don’t backtalk your teacher.”
He pulled out and delivered a merciless smack to my clit. My knees buckled as a spark of pleasure shot through me like lightning. The pressure of Vincent’s palm increased, keeping me against the table so I didn’t slide straight to the floor.
“Yes, sir,” I stammered, breathless.
“Show me you can be obedient—a quick learner. Suck me off.”
Vincent cradled my elbow, stabilizing me as I rose from the table. I felt hazy with ecstasy, lightheaded and delirious, and this was just the beginning. His gaze swept over me, assessing, searching to make sure I was all right. I placed a hand on his chest to reassure him I was fully on board with this, and I lowered myself to my knees.
When I tugged his pants and boxers down, his cock sprang free—gloriously thick and heavy. Vincent brushed his knuckles against my cheek, smoothing his palm over my hair. I grasped the base of his cock, flicking my tongue along the crown. A moan rumbled like thunder in the back of his throat.
I teased at his slit, savoring the way his abs flexed when he inhaled a sharp breath. With my free hand, I reached down and cupped his balls.
Vincent braced his forearm against the wall, arching his hips forward.
“That’s it,” he rasped.
I gazed up at him as I swallowed down as much of his cock as I could. I loved the weight of him on my tongue, pulsing with a salty, masculine flavor. When I flicked my tongue along a fat, throbbing vein underneath his cock, Vincent hissed under his breath.
“Fuck, baby, right there.”
Slowly, I dragged my tongue back and forth over that vein, swirling around. He bowed his head, trembling. When his balls contracted, I sucked hard on the head of his cock. He emptied in my mouth, twitching, as his whole body shuddered.
Pleased with myself, I released his cock and pressed a kiss to his hip. Vincent hummed with satisfaction. He toed off his shoes, kicked his pants and boxers aside, then scooped me up into his arms.
“Just for that pretty, perfect mouth of yours, I’m going to fuck you into the mattress until your legs turn to jelly.”