My office.
Marie got the text from Nathaniel and immediately started making her way there. She didn't know if she was going to implode on him, kiss him, hug him, or just slap him.
Yes, Nathaniel loved her. She loved him. But something changed things and Marie couldn't...
Theodore.
Right when the name occurred to Marie, she saw the suited man step out and exit from Nathaniel's office. Marie had been too caught up in her thoughts on the way over to the psychology building, she hadn't realized she was already at her destination.
As their eyes met, Marie didn't think twice about her actions.
Right as Theodore was an arms length away, the young student impulsively made direct contact with his chest and pushed him against the wall. It wasn't in an aggressive or rude manner - just very urgent.
Theodore chuckled, surprised at the student's boldness but not offended. "Look, I know you're with your professor but this is still pretty indecent."
"Don't lecture me on indecency."
"Then let me go, darling."
Slightly embarrassed, Marie pulled back - but still kept Theodore in her sight. She wasn't done.
"What the hell happened?"
Theodore couldn't help but tease the emotionally heightened girl. "Oh, Nathaniel just needed some help packing."
"Yeah, packing because he quit his job."
Theodore got serious quickly.
"For you."
Marie shook her head, almost as if she were in denial. "No, I... I said it was fine...I didn't - "
"Marie," Theodore soothed. "Nathaniel made this decision because he wanted to."
Marie's expression wavered between concern and disbelief. She had immense respect for Theodore, so she had to ask...
"Last night... what did you tell him while I wasn't there?"
Theodore looked down at the curious, slightly shaken young women before him. It was then he realized Marie had never quite fully understood her effect - her power - over the professor.
"I didn't tell him anything, Marie."
Marie tilted her head slightly in doubt, waiting for Theodore to elaborate.
"I just listened."
No. Marie didn't believe it, shaking her head in disbelief. She felt like the walls of sanity around her were falling apart and she desperately needed an actual answer.
"Then what changed his mind?"
Theodore couldn't resist a small smile, charmed by Marie's incapability of grasping the truth. Nathaniel may be the intimidating and dominant professor that he is, but this one student had him completely wrapped around her finger - and she had no idea.
"You changed his mind, Marie," Theodore spoke, before motioning to Nathaniel's office. "And if you don't believe me, let him tell you."
Not letting the student respond, Theodore left Marie to her own devices. She didn't move for a few seconds, instead contemplating Theodore's words.
Finally, Marie pushed open Nathaniel's door - asserting her presence in his office by going straight up to his desk.
The professor's office was already stocked with boxes and open drawers, the ambiance of his previously organized and academic room now slowly being emptied. A good third of the bookshelf behind his desk was now gone.
Nathaniel looked over to Marie, choosing to act oblivious.
"You wouldn't happen to want a first edition copy of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, would you?"
Marie stared at her professor and his completely uncalled-for remark given the events of the past hour.
The young student didn't even know where to begin, hoping Nathaniel would've been the one to take control of the conversation. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
Marie began contemplating her previous urge to slap the man. She didn't think she'd have to explain herself.
"You changed your mind. That was your life's goal."
"Was."
A wholly exasperated escaped Marie's lips. Nathaniel's cryptic answers were driving her up the wall at the moment. Eventually, she snapped.
"You didn't have to," Marie angrily scolded, clearly having no effect on Nathaniel. "Not for me."
"Except it wasn't for you."
The professor leaned over his desk, his forearms exposed and tensed - the way Marie loved. She couldn't help how her heart jumped at Nathaniel's slightest transition into dominance.
"It was for us."
Marie couldn't find a response within her.
Nathaniel walked around his desk towards Marie, closing the distance between the two. He didn't waste any time, pushing Marie up against the wooden ledge and trapping her with his strong stance.
Marie shied away from looking into the professor's eyes as he looked down at her. Regardless, Nathaniel could tell she was holding back tears and hiding a tempest of emotions.
"Look at me."
Nathaniel's words immediately sent Marie to the fateful day she had met him for the first time. It remained such a vivid memory to her that she could easily relive the moment - how intimidated, aroused, and curious she had felt standing before the dominating professor.
But nothing could have prepared her for this very moment - or anticipated it.
Marie's head jolted up and her eyes met the professor's. The intensity in them used to frighten the young girl, but now Marie found comfort in Nathaniel's authority.
"I changed my mind, Marie, because it was worth it."
Nathaniel pushed Marie's hair behind her ear so it didn't mask her face, letting his hands cup the sides of her neck gently. He made sure her eyes never left his. The professor wanted his sincerity to be crystal clear.
"I want to take you out, have you by my arm, say you're mine, even meet your Goddamn family - and now. Not in a few years."
Marie couldn't stop the tears from welling up in the waterline of her eyes, eventually falling freely down her cheek.
"We could've made it work," Marie attempted to reason, choking on her words. She attempted to raise a hand to wipe the tears staining her face but the professor beat her to it.
"Maybe you could've, but not me," Nathaniel spoke, shaking his head firmly as he let his thumb run over Marie's dampened cheek. "I couldn't imagine living with myself knowing I took all that away from you and myself."
Nathaniel continued on, knowing that Marie's words and tears were fighting with each other. They knew if she let a word out, it would be followed by an uncontrolled sob.
"I'm happy where I am. I have my doctorate. I've made my parents proud. I'm doing what I love. The next step was finding you."
Marie finally wiped her tears herself, noticing Nathaniel holding back his own. A newfound sense of comfort washed over her from hearing the professor's affirming words.
But Nathaniel wasn't done. He wanted Marie to know exactly what she meant to him - something he had yet to fully express.
"Do you remember that night on the terrace, during Theodore's event?"
"I do," Marie answered.
"I asked you why you were choosing to stay with me," Nathaniel continued, unconsciously pushing Marie further up against his desk. "What was your answer, Marie?"
Marie's hands steadied herself on the cool surface behind her. She wanted Nathaniel closer, as close as he could get - bodies and lips pressed up against one another.
"Answer me, Marie."
Holding back more tears, Marie did.
"That I'm in love with you."
Nathaniel caved at her words. He swiftly lifted Marie up onto the desk, letting her legs straddle him as their bodies were now close enough to feel each other's heartbeats.
Marie meant what she said, in that moment and right now. She meant it with all the meaning in her soul. Once only seeking out someone who could finally please her, Marie had found someone who loved her as well.
It was only then she realized the professor was just the same.
The young student felt a warmth spread through her, replacing the tension and turmoil that was once there. She braced herself against the professor's toned upper arms, wanting to feel more - to drown out all her previous tears and worries.
"I spent a lot of nights thinking about this day, Marie," Nathaniel explained, his voice soft and almost a whisper. "Even during our first night together, after you thanked me..."
"Before I used my safeword," Marie quietly pointed out.
Nathaniel nodded. "You weren't the only one who was scared."
Marie wanted to lean up and press her lips against the professor's and ease his pain, but a firm grip on her waist kept her down. Nathaniel wasn't done.
"So I tried to find answers in what I know best - which is my own field of study. But no amount of years of studying or researching psychology could give me an answer to this."
Very rarely did Nathaniel expose his vulnerable side, but when he did, it made Marie want to fall in love with him all over again.
"How did you find the answer then?"
"I stopped being scared."
Nathaniel and Marie's lips were practically grazing each other.
"While you weren't there, Theodore asked me to tell him about you," Nathaniel spoke, answering Marie's earlier question to the professor's friend. "So I told him - about your beauty, your strength, your love. I couldn't stop talking, Marie."
Nathaniel paused. "That's when I realized I wasn't scared anymore and I knew what I had to do."
Marie smiled wistfully, with both the corners of her mouth and eyes. She held her breath as she anticipated the words she had yet to hear.
"I love you, Marie - more than my own mind can comprehend."
Nathaniel pressed his lips against Marie's, letting her softness flood his senses. They stood still for a moment, just feeling each other's presence. Marie felt a true sense of security and comfort for the first time in a while, all in Nathaniel's arms.
The professor deepened the kiss, letting his hands pull Marie in by the waist as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to keep balance.
Marie didn't want to run away or let go. She wanted to stay in this moment forever.
And now, Marie felt like she could. She let herself be vulnerable - out of love, but more importantly out of trust.
Neither could stop the heat of the moment from intensifying further. Marie's legs hooked around Nathaniel's waist, allowing him to grab her thighs and pull their bodies closer together.
Marie gasped as she began feeling Nathaniel everywhere. He kissed along her neck and collarbone, exploiting the extremely sensitive areas. His hand trailed up her legs, along the outside and eventually along the inside as well - making Marie moan and fill the professor's office with his favorite sound.
Everything was fast, in a daze, and drunk off fervor - just like the couple's first kiss in this very office. Marie's hands were in Nathaniel's hair, tugging as he found his way under her shirt, exploring her bare body. Marie pulled Nathaniel into her harder, pressing their bodies together so there was no room left to breathe.
The couple's devouring act eventually slowed down, allowing both to catch their breaths and immerse themselves in the sacred moment.
"I'll do anything for you, Marie," Nathaniel comforted, breaking apart the kiss. "I'll give you everything."
"You already have." Marie smiled shyly, her hands against her professor's chest. But there was now a humorous glint in Nathaniel's eyes. Curious, Marie awaited his next words.
"Everything... but any exemptions on my final. You still need to take that."
A much-needed laugh escaped Marie, perfectly breaking the previously sober and tense atmosphere. She loved the professor's wit, and especially needed it to bring her back to a sense of normalcy
Marie rested her forehead on Nathaniel's chest, attempting to hide her smile as he chuckled. She felt so at comfort in his arms it almost felt surreal.
But this surrealism but now a reality.
Finally, Marie looked back up at the professor. While she had always found him exceptionally attractive the minute he walked into class and into her life for the first time, he was even more beautiful to her now.
Unable to help herself and continue on with the banter, Marie played along.
"Would you mind holding some private office hours to help me prepare for the exam, professor?"
Nathaniel did his best to hold back a laugh.
"It would be my pleasure, Miss Mor."
Marie kissed Nathaniel softly on more time. She let her lips linger on his for a second before responding.
"Mine as well."
✥ ─────────── ✥
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃