"The Appetite"
He knew this lecture by heart. He had written and rewritten it so many times, it was like a prayer to him now. But the red head in the third row did not help his memory at all. He could still smell her shampoo. Almost taste it. Vanilla. His mind wandered to the feel of her waist in his hands and he realized how greatly he had neglected the male need for a woman's company. Not since...well, not since he had been forced to leave France. He had not yet found interest in any women that surrounded him.
His mind was dead set on his studies, his lectures, and his...work. His free time was not free, but was spent with his hobbies. He had pretty much kept to himself, and still attended the bland social occasions, only which he used to advance his access to further his career in medicine or to expand on his increasing list of recipes.
Hmmm, no, this would not do. He did not have time for a fascination or any obsession of any sort. It had nearly gotten him caught last time. But still his mind wandered to her eyes and her soft pink lips. He wondered what they felt like. His eyes fell onto her again. Her head was bent and she was writing in her notebook, but her pen was not making any real words. No. Mainly just scribbling or drawings, he could tell. He knew her mind was off into some other realm. He wondered what it was like in that realm.
Her legs crossed under the desk and he realized how very inviting the curve of her calf was.
No, this would not do.
He finished the lecture without default and was instantly distracted from his fascinations and wondering by Professor Langdon, which he was most thankful for. Thankful until the professor told him her name.
"Dr. Lecter, I would like you to meet one of my favorite students, Lillian Warner. She is very intelligent and eager to learn."
'Oh I bet she is' he thought to himself. He mentally chastised himself for such terrible thoughts upon first introduction of this woman. Young woman. Very young.
"Yes, we met earlier, but I hadn't the pleasure of catching your name."
He reached out his hand, begging for some sort of contact again. Her hand fit into his and her skin felt so soft under his fingertips. He could not help allowing his fingertips to caress the inside of her wrist and feel her pulse. How tempted he was to just have a taste of that skin. But oh, not in any sort of way that he had tasted that flight attendant. Such horrible customer service.
"It's a pleasure, Doctor Lecter. I'm an admirer of your manuscripts." Her smile lifted him, but brought him back down as she removed her hand from his. The cool air of the room rushed up against the warmth which her hand left. She was pushed aside by some eager students asking too many questions, and while she disappeared her scent and touch still lingered.
He would need a nice glass of wine and then to go back to his hotel room. He would be here one more day, but he had no interest of seeing any sights or entertaining himself with the night life. All he had wanted was to get this lecture over with, perhaps have a good meal or two, and get back to his studies. But now this - This fascination just filled his senses and overtook him faster than he would've expected.
It was not that she was outrageously beautiful - although, she was definitely gorgeous - there was just something in her aura and her presence that intrigued him and tempted him to open her up to him. To enter her mind as he would hope to eventually enter her body and to consume her fully. Yes, the old manly want of ownership of an untamed being. To cage it and watch it, bring it out to pet it and caress it, but put it back in it's cage before it tried to fly away.
There was no denying that he wanted her as his. He watched the rain fall down the window of the cab while he decided on a wine to order once he arrived at the restaurant. The cab came to a stop and he paid the driver, while he quickly made his way under the awning of the restaurant. He shook the rain off of his coat before walking through the glass doors and taking a seat in a booth in the corner. His wine was set in front of him, and as he took his first sip, a flash of red caught his eye and his smile returned.