Read The Professor for Free Online Page B

his hand between us, "can't happen."
    "I…," I fumbled for something to say.
    I was supposed to be seducing him, driving him mad with lust so that he'd throw me over the desk and have his wicked way with me right now, graduation date be damned. Instead I was in real danger of scaring him off for good. This didn't sound like two steps back, this sounded like total derailment. A complete reversal of all his promises from last night. How was I blowing this so hard? Where was my legendary guy intuition? Where there fuck was my Lizzy mojo? Stupid, irresistible, enigmatic Professor!
    Think, Jane! Think!
    "Jane you're incredible, charming, delightful--."
    "But," I said, bracing myself.
    Here it comes, here comes the blow off. Fuck!
    "We don't actually know anything about each other. And what you don't know about me is that this little flirtation..." he said, and I winced at his flippant characterization of our attraction, "is a huge distraction to me, at a time when I cannot afford a misstep. I'm in the midst of negotiating some very complicated and exhausting personal matters. And I just can't, I don't know..." his took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, massaging the space between his eyes.
    He looked weary, and suddenly I felt ashamed. He did have a small point. I'd heard his phone conversation, obviously there was something heavy going on in his life, and that could explain why he'd been wishy-washy with me.
    "You can't do this," I finished his sentence for him. "You can't get involved with me, even after I graduate. That's what you’re saying? Right?"
    "I'm sorry," he said, returning his glasses to his face.
    "No, I'm sorry," I said. "You've sort of tried to tell me to back off." I stood up and walked towards the door of the office. "I mean you also promised to fuck me hard and slow," I laughed, "but yeah I admit I've been provoking you. You've been a bit hot and cold, and I've been doing the best I can to keep you hot."
    "Your endeavors have been both admirable and effective." he smirked and folded his arms across his chest.
    "Gee, thanks," I rolled my eyes.
    "But it's just," he shook his head, searching for the words.
    "It's a distraction," I said.
    "Yes"
    "Your life is complicated," I was talking for him now, echoing his words, writing my own rejection speech.
    "Yes."
    "You've got a lot of stuff going on."
    "Yes, I've got a lot of stuff ," he nodded, and lifted his fingers, making air quotes around the last word.
    "Well, I'll just leave you alone then," I said, trying to keep my tone nonchalant.
    "Jane, if I may," he said, walking around the desk, to stand in front of me. "This infatuation you have with me, it's an illusion, it's temporary, and it's really very common. I've seen it, time and again."
    "I've? You've? Time and again?" I said, raising an eyebrow at him, my breezy facade was starting to fade.
    Where was this going? And WTF? My infatuation with him? If I recalled correctly he was the one that had me pinned against a dryer last night, promising all manner of indecent behaviors that would have had the Dean frowning. This electricity between us was most definitely mutual, and while I'd been pushing the envelope, last night he'd practically licked the stamp.
    "I've never been involved with a student, or a former student for that matter," he said, his hands raised, anxious to clarify. "But I've witnessed it and the truth is, I don't respect that kind of relationship."
    "I see."
    "No, you don't. This is an impressionable time in your life. You're young..."
    "I'm not that young," I said. "I'll be twenty-five in July." I could see where this conversation was headed now and I wasn't having it. If he wanted to let me down over "life complications" and "his job," fine, but I wasn't about to be lectured to.
    "Oh," he looked surprised. "I didn't realize."
    "Yeah, I started college a little later than most. Took some time off first," I shrugged.
    "And you're graduating earlier than most. That's