Absolute Beginners(50)

“Hey,” she said, flashing her lopsided grin at me. “Just pretend that I’m your brother when we hang out.”

“Not if you ever want me to touch you again,” I blurted.

“Oh, I definitely want you to touch me again,” she said, smiling.

“That’s, uh, good,” I said, fighting with my nerves.

“It will be good,” she practically purred, twirling the pasta around her fork.

Is she flirting? And when did eating pasta become erotic?

Apparently, it had become erotic right around the time Julia parted her lips and slid the fork into her mouth. The fact that she let out a small moan when she tasted it didn’t make matters any easier for me and I shifted a little in my seat.

“This is delicious!”

“Thank you,” I said, completely mesmerized by her lips.

“You’re not eating,” she said, taking another bite.

“I know,” I replied, making no move to do so.

“So, I was pretty surprised that I didn’t hear from you at all this past week,” she said, changing the topic.

“You were?”

“Yes. I expected a text from you at least once. Why didn’t you write me?”

Because I was afraid you’d say no.

“Um, you didn’t contact me either,” I said, feeling very juvenile.

She shrugged. “I had my period. But I would have helped you out, if you’d been in the mood one night.”

I didn’t think it wise to tell her that ever since I’d started sleeping with her, I was in the mood every single night.

“OK,” I said and started eating.

“This works both ways, Stephen. You get that, right?”

I nodded.

“Good, just send me a text if you’re up for some fun one night. If I’m home, I won’t say no.”

I nodded again. “Did you…?”

“Did I what?”

“Did you plan what happened today? I mean, did you know you were going to invite me to your place after class?”

“Oh, yeah,” she giggled. “I had a good feeling you’d want to come over after seeing me in that outfit.”

“How did you know?”

“Stephen, please. I was playing the role of a naughty schoolgirl, and you’re a teacher. It doesn’t take a genius.”

Oh, God, I am such a pervert.

“There’s nothing wrong with having fantasies,” she said softly.

“I know.”

“I really liked what we did today. Didn’t you?”

“Yes, I liked it,” I said, lowering my eyes to my plate.

“Fantasies are a lot of fun to live out,” she continued.

“Is that what you’re doing with me?” I blurted out, lifting my gaze to her.

“What do you mean?” she asked, frowning.

“Am I your professor fantasy?” I whispered.

The thought came out of nowhere, but now that it had entered my mind, I couldn’t ignore it.

Will she get her fill of me soon and move on to the next one?

Her facial features changed from confusion to understanding. “No! I mean, yes, you’re my professor and I’ve wanted to fuck you since the first class, but it’s not a fantasy per se. If I’d met you somewhere else I still would have wanted to do this with you.”

I was flattered that she wanted me, regardless of my position. I wasn’t sure why she wanted me, though. I knew that I had many good qualities to bring into a relationship: I was loyal and honest, I liked taking care of others, I was a good listener, and so on. But I wasn’t sure of any of those merits really mattered to Julia. She seemed to mostly enjoy my body, which admittedly hurt a little, even though I knew that was the basis of our arrangement.

Or…was it? Here we were, eating dinner and conversing, like we actually were on a date.

“What…what is this?” I asked, unable to stop myself. “What are we? Sex buddies?” I’d heard Matt use that expression before when discussing casual sex partners.

“Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. We like having sex with each other and we hang out like buddies.” She nodded and smiled, but for some reason I couldn’t share her enthusiasm.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It just sounds so…impersonal,” I said, shrugging.

“You’re overthinking it again. You like fucking me, right?”

So blunt.

“Um, yes.”

“I figured as much, since you said the word ‘fuck’ earlier.” She grinned.

“I think that was the first time I’ve ever used that word,” I admitted.

“I bet I can make you say it again.”

“Is that a challenge?” I asked, feeling courageous.

“More like a promise,” she said nonchalantly, giving me a wink.