The Professor

Chapter Nine

I wake up the next morning happier than usual and get ready for my classes. A small part of me was disappointed when I checked my phone and didn't see a message from Collin. I tend to overthink sometimes and was hoping that he would text me and tell me that he enjoyed last night or something. 

When I get to Brit Lit, I walk in and see Collin sitting in the same seat as last time. His gorgeous blue eyes find me immediately and he smiles. It makes me smile too and eases the bad thoughts I had... a smile is a good sign, right?

I walk over to the desk I sat in last class beside Collin. "Hey." he says with a smile. 

I slide into the desk and smile back at him. "Hi." I say sweetly.

"Ready for this discussion?" He asks.

I nod my head and open my mouth but i'm silenced when Professor Underwood walks into the room. His presence is just so... consuming?

He's wearing dark jeans a white t-shirt that defines his arms really well. Along with his dark hair and stubble, I can't peel my eyes away. I'm lost in the beauty of him and how incredibly hot he is. There's something about him that makes me ache in a way i've never ached before. His back is to the class and he writes the title of Pride and Prejudice on the chalk board. Watching his arm lift, I see the curve of his bicep and the slightest bit of his back muscles through his shirt. God this man is sexy as hell.

I bite my bottom lip as images of him hovering over me shirtless fills my mind. His hands grab mine and he lifts them above my head as he continues to penetrate me, making me feel so deliciously full. His hips grind into mine making me moan and gasp as I lose my breath at how incredible the sensation is. He releases my hands and grabs my hips. He flips me over onto my stomach faster than I can blink, making me whimper, and he pulls my hips up before sliding his--

"Miss Holbrook."

I hear my name called from a stern voice and i'm immediately thrown out of the little dream I was just having. My breathing is ragged and shallow and it's quiet in the room. What the hell was that?! Professor Underwood is looking at me with a blank expression and I look around the room, all eyes are on me. Oh God. What did I do...

I sink in my seat and avoid looking over at Collin even though I can feel his eyes on me. I am completely embarrassed right now. I can't believe I thought about my professor like that and moaned in class... I really want to leave.

Professor Underwood clears his throat and begins the lecture. "I told you all last class to start reading the beginning of Pride and Prejudice for our discussion this week. It's a commonly known book so i'm sure a lot of you knows what happens in the end but before we talk about the plot and story line, does anyone want to share who their favorite character is?"

Several people, including Collin, shout out that Elizabeth is their favorite. Even though I don't want to talk anymore due to my embarrassment, I raise my hand. The class is silent and Professor Holbrook looks right at me, making me lose my breath slightly because of his intense eyes.

He points to me without saying anything and I answer his question. 

"My favorite character is Mr. Darcy." I say proudly. He doesn't look shocked. Instead, he nods his head slightly and leans onto the podium. "Care to explain why?" He asks me. I clear my throat and sit up straighter in my seat, looking into his eyes as I give him my explanation.

"I think he's underestimated. Everyone views him as this brooding, arrogant man but he was like that so Elizabeth wouldn't see his true feelings because of his pride. It's cute and sweet even though he was a little mean."

Professor Underwood snorts and my cheeks get hot. More embarrassment grows now that he's laughing at me. "Cute and sweet?" He asks in a ridiculous tone.

I nod my head and fold my arms across my chest. "Yes." I say it in a firm, as-a-matter-of-fact voice.

Professor Underwood scoffs. "If that's your idea of romance then..." His voice trails off.

"You don't agree? That it was because of his pride?" I ask.

"I think that if a man wants a woman, the correct way to pursue her is by being nice and romantic which is the complete opposite from what Mr. Darcy did."

It's my turn to scoff. 

"Well, I don't see a ring on your finger so you must be doing it the wrong way."

Gasps are heard throughout the class and it falls even more quiet than it already was. My eyes grow wide and I feel hot. Did I really just say that? I'm shocked at myself and can't find anymore words to speak. Professor Underwood has a blank expression on his face. His mouth is in a hard line and after looking at me in silence for a few seconds, he looks down at his podium and shuffles the papers.

"I think that's enough discussion for the day. Class dismissed."

Other students in the class hesitate to get up. I feel frozen in my seat and I see Collin turn to look at me out of the corner of my eye.

"Claire?" he asks in a whisper. I have to force my head to look at him. "Are you okay?" He sounds concerned. Today has just been the most embarrassing day and I want nothing more than to run to my dorm room and crawl in a hole. Maybe I can drop this class. I think I need to now after the two incidents I caused.

"Yeah." I say lowly. I climb out of my seat with shaky legs and start to follow Collin out of the classroom.

"Claire. A word." I hear Professor Underwood's chilling voice say. 

It makes me stop in my tracks and Collin turns to look back at me. 

"Go ahead. I'll talk to you later." I tell him with the best reassuring smile I can give him. He smiles a small smile at me before disappearing around the corner, leaving me alone in the room with the man I envisioned fucking me a few minutes ago.

I turn back around and jump, he's walking to me briskly. 

"My office." He says, zooming past me.

I have to walk fast to keep up with him. He leads me to the stairs at the entrance of the hall and we walk up to the second floor. My nerves are starting to take over and I know i'm in big trouble. What I said was way out of line and i'm even shocked I said it.

Why am I so different around him? He makes me feel and think differently than i've ever done before. I've never had a day dream of someone fucking me. I've never even messed around or had sex before. I've also never been so easy to snap like I did when we were going back and forth. What is it with me?

He walks farther down the hallway of the second floor before cutting down a corner and into a dark room. I step in after him and he turns on the lights, shutting the door behind us. It causes a loud bang and makes me jump.

Professor Underwood walks by me and around his desk. He bends down and grips the edge with his hands, looking me with the darkest gaze i've ever seen in my life.

My stomach turns. Not in a nervous way but in hunger. Hunger for him. Looking back at him, I picture myself below him on this desk...

"We need to talk." He says lowly.