Men had boasted to Marie about how sore they'd leave girls the next morning, making claims how -
"Baby, every time you move... you're gonna think about me."
The promises were empty, most likely futile attempts to make up for their weak dick game.
Nathaniel gave no warning. He didn't need to. Marie knew her shit was going to get wrecked the minute she stepped into the classroom.
It was a blessing that Marie had the weekend to recover to avoid walking around campus in discomfort. It was also a godsend that she had homework on top of homework, successfully keeping her mind off Professor Dameron.
Nathaniel Dameron.
A cruel sadist disguised as a gentleman professor.
Marie had a pit in her stomach as Monday approached, realizing she would have to sit through Nathaniel's class - in the same classroom he had made Marie tell him that she's his dirty little whore. The student cringed internally.
"You good?" Ashly's voice broke Marie's train of thought, as the beautiful blonde plopped down in the seat next to her. Marie had been busy staring at the desk at the front of the room...
"Yeah, sorry," Marie replied, running her hand through her unbrushed waves.
"You look like a mess, M," Caleb interjected playfully, sitting in the seat next to Ashly. Marie rolled her eyes.
"Sucks you couldn't come out with me and Caleb to lunch this weekend," Ashly prompted, her voice laced with playful sarcasm. "It's okay though, I know you must've had some very pressing plans..."
Ashly made an obviously targeted wink at Marie. Marie groaned, playfully nudging Ashly at her insinuation and attempting to hide her face in her sweatshirt.
"It was definitely the frat boy," Ashly remarked.
"Definitely," Caleb agreed, chuckling to himself while pulling out his laptop to do whatever last-minute homework he had due.
"No, it wasn't." Marie hated lying. But she also knew she couldn't tell the truth, so she tread carefully.
"Marie," Ashly sympathetically cooed, a mischievous grin on her face. "You're really shit at covering your hickeys."
Caleb let out a hearty laugh that had some of the other students surrounding them staring. Marie immediately put one hand up to her neck in embarrassment.
If only it was a hickey and not the skin above the airway Nathaniel had constricted so forcefully. It had completely slipped her mind to cover it up.
The thought of the bruised mark on her neck sent a rush to Marie's core.
"To catch you up, Caleb and I just talked about how hard that test was." Ashly pulled out her iPad to take notes. "I wonder if he's graded them already. I really wanna be in the top three. I've heard the conference is one of the most prestigious events the university holds... some of the best psychologists in the world are attending."
Marie had completely forgotten about the professor's proposition to invite the top three scorers to some academic event. And she was about to be reminded again as the doors to the classroom opened.
Marie didn't make eye contact. She couldn't. Instead, she opted to take a lot of interest in the drawstrings of her university branded hoodie.
The sound of Nathaniel walking down the ramp and stairs to the front of the class was enough to make Marie's thighs press together ever so slightly.
"Wow, look at that ass," Ashly whispered, low enough so that only Marie could hear.
Marie almost did a double-take. If only Ashly knew that the professor was handling an asset much better than that...
Marie had to internally shut herself up. No. This was a lecture on abnormal psychology. It's a class where a professor teaches a subject and the students take notes.
Yet, it was hard to stay focus when the same voice that had Marie begging filled the lecture hall. "Good morning, class. All the assessments are graded and those who scored the top three scores should've received an email - "
Nathaniel glanced at his watch.
"- 2 minutes ago. Scores should be in the grade book by the end of the day. Now, I hope everyone did the reading..."
Marie, along with everyone else in the class, whipped out her phone to check her emails. A majority ended up turning them back off after seeing an empty inbox. Marie refreshed the app and waited...
From: Nathaniel Dameron
To: Marianna Mor, Ashly Harmon, and Caleb Tanner
Subject: Assessment Placement and Invitation
Marie opened the email and was surprised to see a confirmation of her score placing in the top three, along with a formal attachment of an invitation to the event. When she scrolled down to the bottom, there was a note for those who received the email to approach the professor after class.
Marie looked around the room to gauge the reactions of other students. Ultimately, she looked towards Ashly and Caleb - the only two with their phones still out.
Not wanting to interrupt the professor's lecture, the three made a series of gestures before coming to the conclusion they all had placed in the top three.
While Ashly and Caleb silently celebrated the coincidence, Marie cursed at the thought of approaching the professor after class - in front of her friends.
And at the very suspicious coincidence.
✥ ✥ ✥
Nathaniel had managed to stay focused on the material and his teaching, not paying any attention to Marie. Although he could sense her discomfort... which tugged at his dominant side.
Marie did the same, focusing on the fancy terms and names being discussed to the best of her capabilities. It was hard to stop the mind from wandering...
After what seemed like the longest hour of her life, the class ended with Marie not retaining a single fact. Fuck. The class already wasn't easy and the fact that she was now struggling wasn't a good sign.
"Do you think I should ask him for a letter of recommendation? Or is it too soon? I don't wanna sound annoying. Ugh, he's just so intimidating," Ashly started rambling as the rest of the students started filing out. Caleb, Ashly, and Marie all stayed behind as they packed up to talk to the professor.
"Don't worry, ladies, I will do all the talking," Caleb schmoozed, swinging his backpack over his shoulder.
Ashly gave a disgusted look and Marie just scoffed in response, getting up from her chair and doing anything she could to not even look in the direction of her professor.
She just had to go, accept the invitation or whatever, and leave. It would take a maximum of one sentence leaving her mouth.
The three friends made their way to the front of the class, Nathaniel already cutting to the chase as they got close enough to hear.
"Now, I know the three of you are friends from the fact that you sit together every class. And you all scored in the top three." Nathaniel stood by his desk, arms crossed. "That's most definitely the grounds for academic misconduct... but I'll overlook it."
Marie heard Ashly give a sigh of relief.
"Now, I just need to know if you three will be able to make it? I'm assuming you took note of the date and time in the email."
The three of them nodded in response. Nathaniel's presence was dominating enough that it made anyone hesitate to say anything back.
Ashly mustered the courage. "Dr. Dameron, do you mind me asking which one of us scored the highest?"
Nathaniel's answer was surprising. "Caleb."
Even Caleb looked shocked... maybe not as shocked as Ashly.
"Then it was you Ashly, and third..." Nathaniel faltered for the briefest second but it was unnoticeable. "Marie."
"No way," Ashly muttered.
"Yeah, no way," Caleb seconded.
"That's how I graded it. Caleb, you have a very concise and direct way of communicating. You did well on the free-response section."
Marie could see Caleb's face light up slightly, the corner of his hazel eyes crinkling up as they always do whenever he smiles.
"If there are no more questions, I have one more. Do you three have transportation to the event?"
Caleb shot his hand up.
"I have my car on campus! I can drive Marie and Ashly," he replied, looking towards the two girls who nodded in agreement at the convenience. "Road trip!"
Marie, Ashly, and the professor gave Caleb an odd look at the giddy outburst. Marie focused in on Nathaniel though, whose eyebrows were slightly furrowed and mouth parted as if he wanted to object...
Jealousy?
Marie shook the thought away. Jealous of what?
Nathaniel continued. "Alright, I'll see you then. You can email me any questions you have. That's all I have for you three."
This time Marie let a sigh of relief out at the realization that she hadn't needed to even say a word. Marie was all ready to make a bolt for it when -
"Miss Mor, if you could please stay an extra few minutes."
Fuck.
Ashly gave Marie a quizzical look, Caleb on the other hand already making his way out the classroom with his headphones in. Marie stilled at the realization that Ashly could be catching on...
Feigning innocence, Marie just shrugged and Ashly said her parting words. Soon, it was just Nathaniel and Marie left in the room.
Taking a few steps towards her, Marie immediately felt herself tense up in Nathaniel's presence.
"Did I really score third?" Marie asked rather bluntly, doing her best to suppress any emotion in an effort to avoid any awkwardness.
"You tied with someone for fourth. I made an executive decision to take off a point on their paper for using the wrong 'there'. Any other questions?"
"Actually, yes," Marie retorted back, getting a boost of confidence. "You don't want Caleb to drive me, do you?"
Knowing Nathaniel had claimed her in the same classroom they were standing in now, Marie also knew he wouldn't hesitate to punish her as well. The thought excited her.
Marie didn't let Nathaniel answer right away. "I'm not sleeping with him if you're wondering."
"Marie, if it wasn't for the fact that I have a meeting in 10 minutes, I swear to God... I'd be putting your mouth to better use right now."
Marie felt the threat of the darks words peak her arousal.
Nathaniel continued. "I also want you to know, Marie, I don't usually do this. What we did... it's inappropriate."
Marie didn't back down. "I believe you. I'm not sure a lot of girls would put up with what you do."
Nathaniel closed his eyes, quelling his burning desire to punish the out-of-line student.
She wasn't wrong.
"Marie, just be aware I am keeping track of every disrespectful statement that comes out of your mouth"
"Keeping track?" Marie pushed on. "For what?"
"For after the conference."
Nathaniel fucked up.
His one goal - his only goal for the entire day was to shut down any more interactions he would have with the vixen of a student. And he failed. And Nathaniel never failed.
Yet when it came to Marie his judgment always crumbled.
Marie stood there, taking in the professor's demand. He hadn't even asked her. Marie loved that about him.
"I have nothing more for you. You're dismissed."
Marie couldn't even get a word or goodbye out. Why? Because she was filled with anticipation for the weekend.
Marie adjusted the strap of her backpack before turning around to exit the classroom. A voice called out, stopping her in her tracks.
"Oh, and Marie?" Nathaniel asked out, prompting Marie to turn to face him.
"Don't cover my marks on you. I like to see them."