Learning Lessons
Summary: When student Bella Swan falls for her lecturer, she's going to have to take a leap of faith and trust in him to get what she truly wants... What they truly want. AH, AU.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I just like to play with the characters.
AN: Another idea that wouldn't leave me alone and thanks to my stupid occasionally-working internet let me go wild with the typing, instead of the instant uploading. So here's part one and I hope you like.
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My hand doodled unintelligible shapes across my pad of paper as I listened, although daydreamed would probably be a better word, to the voice of a god. His voice was smooth and soft, velvety, and just like the man himself, I couldn't get enough. It did make actual learning in his lectures hard to accomplish but seeing as the trade-off was time with him I'd gladly pay for it with having to spend twice as long cramming over textbooks. At least I knew I wouldn't be the only one; probably every female, and even a few of the males, that he taught had the same problem.
But that wasn't the only thing I was alone in.
I also wasn't alone in wanting the impossibly handsome music lecturer, and whilst some girls may have a shot at him I certainly didn't. Although it wasn't exactly accepted by the faculty, it wasn't against the rules for a lecturer to date a student. Something many of the female population had taken into account before throwing themselves at him. He hadn't responded to any of them, and it just made him wanted even more; to be the girl that cracked him. That wasn't why I wanted him, I just did.
I wanted Edward Cullen.
He was drop-dead gorgeous, with amazing green eyes and the sexiest copper hair, with pale skin and a figure worthy of a model, but that wasn't all there was to him. It annoyed me that most girls just wanted him for his looks. They didn't bother to see beyond that, to see him. To see that he hated it whenever anybody was late without a decent excuse; to see that he always wanted people to push themselves to be more; that he hated it whenever anyone said 'I don't know'; that his eyes lit up when he spoke about certain artists or songs, clearly marking them as his favourites; to see that he had the impeccable manners of a gentleman; to see that whenever he would mention someone from his life outside lectures his posture would soften ever so slightly, showing the importance of his friends and family to him; that he had a fierce temper that he controlled but which sometimes blazed from his eyes...
And saying all that, even if it was just in my head, didn't make me sound stalkerish at all.
I sighed as he began to wrap up the lecture and I glanced over at the clock, knowing it would tell me my day was almost over. No more lectures today but this was also my last music lecture of the week; I'd have to wait four days before I got to see him again. I dealt with this feeling every Thursday, and it still didn't get any easier.
"That's it everybody. Have a good weekend and I'll see you next time." He smiled as people began to scramble about, either grabbing their bags in their haste to get out of there or so they could hurry over to him before he disappeared.
I grabbed my bag and went to slide my folder into it when someone knocked me from behind, pitching my forwards and sending my folder and bag contents all over the floor. I looked to see who it was but they were already making their way down the steps, intent on the exit. I groaned as I knelt down, although I couldn't really blame the person; it was an accident and I probably would have tripped and sent it all over the place myself. Still it was annoying that the one time it wasn't my fault I was to be the only witness. Anybody turning around now would think I'd just slipped again or something like that.
"Are you alright?"
I jerked at the voice, especially from it being so close, and looked up to see Edward Cullen crouching down opposite to me, gathering up some of my papers.
"I'm f-fine." I stammered, somewhat in shock.
"Are you sure? I saw him bump you."
"It just made me drop my bag." I explained carefully, becoming very self conscious of the fact that he was handling my things.
"He should have at least stayed and helped you clear up." His brow creased and a flash of irritation flew across his features.
Was he irritated for how I'd been treated? Or that I was the one that was treated that way? It had to be the former, of course; Edward had a rigid gentleman complex. Besides, he couldn't possibly feel anything for me, much as my overactive imagination loved leaping to that conclusion. I was plain and simple Bella Swan. The Edward Cullens of the world did not fall for the Bella Swans of it.
No matter how much we may want them to.
"Thank you." I said as he handed me the last sheet he'd picked up from the floor.
"Not a problem." He smiled hesitantly at me, as if he wanted to say more but he stayed quiet and I silently told myself to stop being fanciful.
We rose from the floor together and I slung my bag over my shoulder. We were standing pretty close together and neither of us made a move to start away. I knew what kept me glued to the spot but I wondered what held him.
"Do you have any more classes today?" He asked abruptly.
"No, this was my last one." I replied confusedly, watching in a mix of nervousness and delight as his face lit up with a smile.
"Then maybe you could help me with something? From what you're written in your essays I've gathered that you have quite a wide taste in classical music. Is that true?"
"Sort of," I replied shifting as my body began to heat from his gaze."I don't know that much about classical but what I do know is quite intensive. It just happens that my taste is quite diverse."
"You still might be able to help me. If you're willing of course..."
"What would helping you entail?" I asked wetting my lips; spending time in close proximity with him often left me dehydrated or breathless. Luckily he hadn't noticed this yet. I did need to know the answer to my question though, even if part of me had decided I'd do anything if it meant longer time in his presence, the rest of me needed time to prepare.
"Right now, nothing more than accompanying me back to my office and listening to some music collections. I want to try some different approaches to the classical genre, and to make sure it's not a waste of time, I was thinking of approaching a student and asking their opinions. I wasn't quite sure who would be a good indicator of the class whilst having the appreciation for the music but when I was grading last night I came across your last paper."
"The one on Debussy." I murmured.
"Exactly. You seem the perfect choice Miss Swan."
"Bella." I corrected automatically and his answering smile sent shivers coursing through me.
"So would you mind coming back to my office now and listening to some music?"
How the hell could I say no that that?
Twenty minutes later we walked into his office, on the other side of the campus situated in the old church renovation. It gave the whole room a gothic feel, with low ceilings, small windows and emphasised archways. Bookshelves lined every wall possible, with books, cds and DVDs crammed in next together, as many as could fit. A small well-used couch was behind the door and Edward tossed his bag and coat onto it, motioning for me to do the same as he went straight to one of the bookshelves and running his fingers along the index of cds until he found what he was looking for.
He waved a hand at me to sit at the big desk in the centre of the room as he popped the cd into the player. Grabbing the remote he turned back towards me. Instead of sitting behind the desk as I thought he would do, he came and leaned against the front of it, barely an arms length away from where I was sitting.
If I thought concentrating in lecture halls was hard, this was impossible.
His presence seemed to fill every one of my senses and as hard as I tried, I couldn't even hear the music he had playing in the background. He was just so powerful and beautiful and it took all my effort to remember to breathe. Then he turned his gaze to mine and his eyes almost burnt through me.
There was fire in the green depths, causing flickers of darkening passion as he stared at me. I was seeing a part of him that not many others had, I knew, and even though it was thrilling and reckless and made my heart race it was also terrifying. Because I also knew he was showing me on purpose, that he wanted me to see this side of him.
And I didn't understand.
Edward Cullen couldn't possibly be showing this to me, let alone intentionally. Yet here he was, staring me down with eyes that were almost hypnotic. Dark and smouldering, they were pulling me in, making what little fight I had vanish completely.
"Prof-" I began hesitantly.
"You shouldn't have come," He interrupted, his voice hoarse. "But I couldn't stop myself from wanting to spend some time with you, just you."
My mouth hung open in disbelief as his words washed over me.
"From the second you walked into my classroom I knew there was something special about you; I just couldn't keep myself away. Every class I snuck glances at you, wanting to see more, almost needing to see more. I wanted desperately to hear your opinions but you kept quiet, never volunteered anything. And it felt like a physical loss that I couldn't get to know you; couldn't get inside your head. Then I got your first paper..."
I stared at him speechless, my mind unable to form any thoughts as he gazed back at me. What was he saying? What did it mean? Was I dreaming...?
"It was like I was reading an insight into your soul," He whispered, lowering himself so he was staring directly into my eyes. "And it just made me want even more. Everything I read was so perfect, was just so you. But then I started to feel guilty because I was helping myself to all this information, felt like I was getting to know you, and you didn't know a thing." He tore his eyes off me and laughed at himself self-deprecatingly. "And of course, I am your professor and whilst there's no rule against that per say... It's still-"
"But how can you?" I burst out.
He stared at me unblinkingly and I blushed at the intensity.
"How can you feel... feel anything for me?" I swallowed. "I'm me; plain Bella Swan who isn't anything special, the utter embodiment of normalcy. And you... you're not! You're this amazing, gorgeous insightful teacher who-"
My words were cut off suddenly as his lips crashed onto mine. All breath left my body and my blood rushed to my head, causing my only thought to be of whether I would faint or not.
"Don't ever speak so lowly of yourself," he whispered against my lips harshly, his voice rough. "You are one of the most caring and selfless people I have ever met. And on top of that you are absolutely stunning. Do you know you knocked the breath from me when you walked in class that first day? All I could see was this vision before me, I could barely concentrate."
"You did the same to me," I whispered back, a sudden memory forcing its way past my feelings of surprise and desire. "You looked at me, straight at me, on that first day. I felt like you were burning me alive, trying to see into my soul."
"I was," He whispered fiercely. "Every part of me was."
"Can y-you," I sucked in a breath as my hands rose to his shoulders hesitantly. "Can you k-kiss me again?" I asked breathlessly.
"You want me to?" Edward asked, his voice uncertain. "I don't want to force anything on you. God, I shouldn't even be trying anything, I should-"
"You should kiss me," I said boldly gripping at his shoulders. "Now."
His lips crushed mine and I was sent into heaven, the feeling was so divine, so exquisite. His body was still crouched over mine as our lips moulded together and that was too far away. I pulled at his shoulders and brought his body into contact with my own, eliciting moans from both of us as soon as we touched. His hands shot out and then grabbed my waist, pulling me upwards and back against him as he resumed his position of leaning against his desk. Wrapping my arms around his neck and up into his hair I pushed my body into his as our lips finally parted.
Gasping for air I gripped at his hair and shoulder, holding tightly as his lips moved down my jaw and onto my throat. The feel of his warm lips was undeniably good but when he licked at me with his tongue I couldn't stop the groan from my lips or the sudden wetness in my panties. His touch sent shivers to every part of me and I couldn't ever remember feeling this alive.
"Bella," he whispered against my skin. "God, I can call you Bella? Like this?"
"Urnngh, yes!" I moaned pushing myself tighter against him, feeling his hardness in my junction and practically collapsing against him. "Yes."
His hands shot to my waist and pulled me against him roughly, causing friction between our heated bodies and sending electric tingles running through me. I gasped as his hands slid to my backside and started massaging my cheeks, pulling me against him again and again in the process. Fisting his hair around my hand I yanked his head up and brought his lips back onto mine, needing something to distract me from the pressure building below. Our tongues battled for dominance whilst our hands roamed each others bodies, gripping and pulling wherever we could. I needed to be closer to him, needed more contact, and I could tell he did too.
"We need to stop," he panted in my ear as my lips attacked his neck. "I won't be able to stop soon and I don't-"
"So don't stop," I mumbled. "I don't want you to stop..."
"Bella..." He groaned, his hands gripping at me tightly. "I don't just want this though," He panted, using a hand to lift my head away so we could stare at each other. "I want it all, everything. I want your body and your soul and every part of you. And I know that sounds crazy and probably obsessive but I don't care. I just want you."
"Then take me," I whispered, my heart swelling at his words. "I'll give it all to you. I'll give it to you just as long as you return it." I wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed myself against him. "I want to have you just like you have me."
He growled at my words and the very sound sent a fiery inferno rushing through me and I clutched tighter to him, our lips going crazy against each others.
"Not here," He whispered into the skin of my neck as I panted for breath. "I'm not taking you on my desk like you're some worthless thing just here for a fuck." I gasped at his use of the word and then moaned as he ground into me harder. "Although I'm sure someday we'd both like that."
"Yes..." I whispered, half-forgetting his point as my mind started wandering to what we could do against his desk now.
"I want our first time with you on my bed," Edward said huskily, his teeth now grazing my collar bone. "What do you say? Will you come with me?"
I moaned at his unintentional double meaning and he chuckled against me, the vibrations creating the most delightful sensations.
"Naughty girl Miss Swan. Although I do like the way you think. Right now however, I just want to know if you will return to me to my home, where we can continue this where you are meant to be."
"Meant to be?" I croaked as he pulled us both upright and ceasing all contact between us even though our eyes locked and the heated intensity flowing between us was even more profound than the feeling of his touch. And that was really saying something.
"In my bed," He replied, his eye almost burning with sincerity and desire. "In my arms."
I almost jumped him then and there but his powerful gaze had me leaning in slowly instead, our lips moulding against each others sensuously.
"Let me take you home." He whispered passionately and although I knew he was talking about his home, and that it was far, far too soon to be thinking about that, even though I'd wanted him for ages, my heart still leapt.
"Yes," I whispered against his lips as he stroked my cheek gently. "Anything Edward."
He smiled magnificently at me and I couldn't hold back my answering grin. Our lips met once more, not slowly but not fiercely either and somehow I just knew that this would be the way we would always kiss.
I watched him as he quickly tidied his office and shut everything off, his eyes never leaving me for longer than a few seconds and I couldn't stop the blushes and shy smiles at his attention. But being away from his touches and not having his words to dazzle me I started to wonder what was really going on here. I couldn't doubt that he wanted me, I'd felt his body against mine, responded to his touches and heard his moans, but my brain started warning me that that might be all he wanted. Yes, he had said he'd wanted more but could he really? I was so ordinary next to him, so plain compared to his brilliance. I wasn't going to turn this opportunity down, hell I'd be crazy to, but I also started to prepare myself. This couldn't lead to anything real, anything that I wanted; it would be too much like a fairytale.
He snapped his briefcase shut and held his hand up to me, wiggling his fingers as he grinned. I tried to sound as carefree as I could as I laughed but it was very difficult. His hand in mine spread warmth through me and I started to relax, ridiculing myself for my silly thoughts.
A small part of my mind wouldn't be won over though and as I left with him, determined to spend all the time I could get with him and happily so, I started to despair that I couldn't possibly have him for as long as I wanted.
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So hopefully this won't be seen as your typical student/teacher romp as, as much as I like that story idea, I really wanted to get under the characters skin and explain it. Any thoughts or comments would be, as always, greatly appreciated – so review!
