Page 13 of Pleasuring Professor Pisces
Her friend, Emory, slipped her arm through mine. “That’s too bad because the four of us were thinking about having some fun together tonight. You would be the perfect addition to that,” she remarked with a wink and licked her lips.
I smoothly removed her arm from mine and apologized sincerely. “Sorry, baby girl. Lemme get a raincheck.”
“Aww, that’s too bad,” Tiffany moaned.
“Badass princesses like us don’t stand a chance when desperate bitches are giving away A’s in exchange for dick tossed their way,” Trista murmured. I mugged the shit out of her.
“Watch that shit,” I warned, hoping that Koi didn’t hear her.
When I turned back around, I noticed that Professor Hall watched us over the mug of her coffee, but I didn’t think she heard what was said. I wondered what thoughts flowed through that pretty little brain of hers. I was satisfied that for a few minutes I had her undivided attention. For those few minutes, she was able to drop her guard and be confident. It was just a matter of time before she would be mine.
I finishedmy drawing and placed my tools away. Everyone was moving around the room, putting their items away or chatting with each other. It had been a productive night. I had gotten further in my drawings than I had on previous occasions. But I attributed that to the peace that I made in my mind.
Two weeks had passed since I first saw Salem Gates in my evening art class. I had finally returned, though it had been hard at first. I didn’t return simply because I promised him that I would, but because I promised Chelsea that I would.
I had a bad habit of overpromising things and situations that weren’t comfortable for me because I didn’t like saying no. That was how I found myself attending art classes again. I had finally gotten past my apprehension of being in an intimate yet publicsetting with Salem. Over dinner, I shared my predicament with Chelsea. She understood the implications of me drawing my student nude and how it posed a challenge when considering the ethics of it all.
As the days passed, I grew more comfortable with drawing Salem and seeing him as just another model. I was here for relaxation and art therapy, and he was here to make some money. Neither of us could begrudge the other of our needs.
“Bestie, how are you feeling tonight? Sorry that I didn’t get to greet you before. I had an emergency with one of the installations that needed to be handled for this weekend’s art showing.”
“Girl, you’re fine,” I stated and waved a hand dismissively.
“So, have you made peace with Salem’s presence?”
“I have. I honestly don’t even think about the intimacy of it anymore.”
She smiled brightly, showing off her braces. “Good,” she remarked, clapping her hands. “I was concerned that you were going to give up, and I don’t want that for you. This is important for you. This space helps you find the healing that you didn’t find in therapy. You deserve this, friend. If I knew that he was your student before I gave him the job, I never would have done it.”
“You had no way of knowing because I didn’t share that with you. That’s on me. All three of us just found ourselves in an odd situation that we have to make the best of.”
“Definitely doing that.” She smiled. Chelsea looped her arm through mine and led me toward the door. “You have to admit that he’s fine, though, right?”
I held my hands out with my arm still looped with hers. “I admit no such thing.”
“Please. Girl, that mine is finer than fine.”
Laughing, I replied, “You said it, not me.”
“You have to admit it.”
“I admit no such thing. Hell, I’ve already gone through a situation. I don’t need another one.”
Chelsea pulled her arm free of mine. “Lies! You did nothing wrong.”
“Well, unfortunately, no one believed me.”
“Those who counted did.”
“If onlyyouwere the dean of the college.”
“I would already have you as a tenured staff,” Chelsea stated affectionately when we stopped at the front doors.
“From your lips to God’s ears,” I replied and pushed the door open to step out into the humid night.
“Professor Hall.”
Chelsea and I both stopped. I turned to my right and spotted Salem standing off to the side.
