The sound of a blaring alarm ripped Eve from her slumber. Her hand instinctively hit the snooze button before she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. It was her one day off from teaching, and Eve groaned at the ambition she had earlier this week. She needed to get up not only for the additional office hours she was holding for students before their midterm papers were due, but also so she could attend a virtual meeting that Carolyn had scheduled.
Eve detested virtual meetings, usually just opting to have them in person or ideally by email. However, she couldn't control what meetings the head of the psychology department, aka Carolyn, wanted to hold or how they were held. Eve knew it would be a standard check-in/staff development type meeting that involved painful ice-breakers and "team-building" that most of the department–well at least Bill and Eve–felt was unnecessary. However, this year's department meeting would be different from past ones for Eve. Eve knew Carolyn liked to have tenured professors who had teaching assistants have a one-on-one session toward the end, and she had been dreading it since she read the meeting agenda.
A groan slipped past Eve's lips as she finally gathered the strength to pull herself out of bed. She hoped an early morning shower would be enough to prepare her for the long, and emotionally taxing, day she knew was ahead. Hell, she thought, that's what the entire semester had been so far. And it wasn't from the usual drain from incoming first years; no, a majority of Eve's mental energy was being spent on interactions with Villanelle.
It was already a few weeks into the new semester and it had been exactly how Eve had expected. Sure Eve had been working with Villanelle for a bit now, but it still didn't lessen the tension between them. Nearly every 'Intro to Psych' class, Villanelle had tested Eve's patience. Somehow she'd find a new way to push Eve's buttons regardless of the boundaries set in place. Somedays it'd be a simple question she'd ask toward the end of class that loosely related to lecture, but it somehow had a double entendre Eve was sure every student could see through. As a result, each day Eve felt herself slowly breaking. But Eve wouldn't admit that out loud to anybody, especially not to herself.
Eve shook her head to clear her thoughts as she walked to the bathroom. It was far too early to be entertaining thoughts like that, and Eve did not want to unpack that box yet. The cool metal from the shower handle made Eve shiver when she turned it. While she waited for the water to warm up–which Eve was positive took longer every shower–Eve quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face. Once those tasks were done, she quickly stripped and stepped into the shower.
After a stressful week of students worried about their midterm assignments, and Villanelle's ever constant presence, Eve quite literally felt the stress melting from her body. As she let her mind wander, thoughts of Villanelle filtered in. Eve huffed, as she always did when Villanelle filled her mind like this, and tried to push it away. But the more she tried to ignore it, Eve couldn't deny the effect Villanelle had over her.
Whatever it was, Villanelle's presence in her 'Intro to Psych' class–which was the only one Villanelle could sit in on due to her own class schedule–and her mind wasn't totally unwelcomed. Despite that, Eve didn't want to put too much thought behind why she still hadn't mentioned to Villanelle that her being there wasn't necessary. Maybe her presence helped keep Eve on top of it and fully aware at all times, she thought. Whether that was from Villanelle's demeaner or the way she kept her attention fully on Eve during lectures, she didn't want to put more thought than needed into it.
However, as the water pounded over her back, a sigh escaped Eve. As hard as she tried, or refused to admit it, she couldn't escape thoughts of Villanelle. While she washed her hair, Eve began to imagine Villanelle there with her. Both their bodies pressed close, water from the shower pouring over them, and Villanelle's fingers tangled in her hair instead. It wasn't the first time Eve entertained the idea of them being intimate again. Fuck, it happened at least once a week, but this morning she couldn't stop the incoming flood of thoughts. There was no way in hell she wanted to unpack the feelings that were beginning to threaten her mental barriers she had in place. She'd already been pushing it off for weeks, but it seemed like she'd have to at least acknowledge the box that they were in sooner rather than later.
Rather than actually unpack it though for further examination, Eve found herself thinking of Villanelle and how she made her feel that night. The way Villanelle's hands were everywhere, how she kissed her, feeling her inside herself; it brought up those obsessive thoughts Eve couldn't control a month and a half ago. Her hands slowly drifted southward and lingered on her abdomen.
She teased herself like Villanelle had that first time. Eve closed her eyes and imagined it was Villanelle's hand, and only let her finger brush against her entrance. Eve's breaths were shallow as she leaned against the shower wall to give herself some stability. Her head dipped back while her fingers slipped through her folds. A groan escaped when Eve brushed against her clit, and the thought of Villanelle kissing her again was enough for Eve's blood to rush.
Instinctually Eve moved her free hand to cup her breast. Eve began to fantasize about Villanelle pinning Eve against the shower wall, leaving love marks all over her body again, and it was enough for Eve to swiftly push into herself. Her fingers curled as she pumped in and out, and the only thought on Eve's mind was Villanelle. It didn't take her long to bring herself to the edge, and right before her descent a strangled moan slipped out.
"Villanelle," Eve breathed in her post-bliss.
Eve's eyes snapped open when she realized what she had done. Shit, she thought while composing herself. She quickly cleaned herself up and turned off the shower. There was absolutely no way she could ignore what she had done. But right now she didn't have the time to examine it and put her energy toward focusing on getting ready for the day instead.
Eve sped walked across campus. The perks of living close to a job, she thought, were that if she was running a bit behind she wouldn't ever have to worry about traffic. She wasn't too far off from her schedule, but the detour in the shower Eve took this morning wasn't helping make a strong case for any potential tardiness. Surprisingly though, when she checked her watch she was well ahead of schedule.
"Thank god," Eve muttered, pushing the door open to the psychology department. She wasn't a stickler for time by any means. Eve found herself cutting it close to pre-decided meeting times, but no matter how old Eve got she'd always hear her mother's voice say, "There is happiness if you get up early." It was an old, Korean proverb Eve had drilled into her from an early age, but could never fully follow it. She did, however, internalize that proverb her mother nagged her with when it came to communication with others. Particularly, Eve applied it when regarding deadlines, specifically with grading.
Thankfully Villanelle's punctuality in keeping up with the grading schedule was a pleasant surprise for Eve. After the first assignment–which Villanelle had uploaded earlier than Eve anticipated–Eve was temporarily relieved she wouldn't have to make that a cause for tension with Villanelle. Especially after their pre-semester meeting, but Eve felt relief when Villanelle seemed to be on the same page as her, acting as if they had only met on campus for the first time.
At least that's what Eve kept telling herself when she'd consistently see Villanelle in her office at various times throughout the week. Eve never knew exactly what time Villanelle would show up, but every time Eve was puzzled by how she'd gotten into the office. The door was always locked when Eve wasn't using it, but somehow Villanelle would always be waiting for Eve when she returned.
Today when Eve opened the door Villanelle was sprawled out on the couch with her phone above her. She couldn't look Villanelle in the eye yet–thanks to the morning shower fiasco–so she was grateful Villanelle was distracted.
"Villanelle, how do you keep getting in here?" Eve asked. It was the same question she asked every time, but could never get a straight answer from the blonde.
"What?" Villanelle asked, drawing the word out and not looking away from her phone. "I get bored waiting between my classes."
"You could literally wait anywhere else," Eve said as she closed the office door.
"But then we wouldn't get to see each other as often."
Eve rolled her eyes and walked over to her desk. She was surprised Villanelle hadn't unexpectedly shown up at her flat yet. It was a thought that always crossed Eve's mind when she'd find Villanelle in her office like this. Though Eve didn't want to question how or why it hadn't happened and not tempt fate.
"We see each other during at least class twice a week, and our weekly office hour meeting to make sure everything's going well." Eve said and placed her bag on her desk.
"I like spending time with you though," Villanelle muttered.
Eve pretended she didn't hear the last part or how it made her stomach flip. She let Villanelle's words hang in the air while she unpacked some of the student papers she hadn't gotten to yet.
"Give me your phone number," Villanelle said, breaking the silence.
"You know I'm going to say no again," Eve replied. It was one of her few last defenses from letting Villanelle in completely.
"Come on," Villanelle said as she sat upright on the couch. "I'm going to be bored during that virtual meeting since I can't make it back to campus in time to sit in here with you."
"Well that's not my fault."
"Eve," Villanelle pressed with a pout on her face.
"Villanelle," Eve started, "There's no reason you can't send me a private message over the virtual chat function."
"But those chats can be seen by the host at the end," Villanelle said.
Eve stilled a bit at Villanelle's words. She didn't know that was a thing. Eve ran her fingers through her hair, thoughts racing at what Villanelle had mentioned. Lost in her despair, Eve hadn't noticed as Villanelle got up from the couch and was suddenly in front of her desk.
"What if we said something naughty?" Villanelle asked, emphasizing the last word. "Then it's there forever and others can see it."
Fuck, Villanelle had a point. Though she'd also have to let Bill know about the chat function, based on a few snide comments they may have typed during the last virtual call Carolyn held.
"Fine," Eve said. "You can have it, but only because of the chat thing."
Eve pretended to not see how Villanelle's eyes lit up at finally giving in nor how her heart pulled in her chest. She quickly wrote her number down on a sticky note and handed it to the blonde. When she felt Villanelle's hand brush against hers, that same spark she felt in the bar coursed through her body. Their hands lingered for a bit–longer than Eve originally planned–before Eve pulled hers back and cleared her throat.
"Anyways," Eve said and pretended to be busy by rummaging through her work bag again. "It's about time for you to head out right?"
"Yeah," Villanelle said and stuffed the sticky note in her pocket.
Before Eve could look up from her bag, she saw Villanelle's hand reach out for hers again. Without a moment to protest, Villanelle took her hand into hers again and gave it a squeeze. This caused Eve's breathing to grow short and it almost left her body when she looked Villanelle in the eyes. Every muscle in Eve's body tensed as hazel eyes stared into her.
"À tout à l'heure," Villanelle said, placing a kiss on the back of Eve's hand.
If Eve hadn't already felt like she short circuited from the stare alone, this gesture would have done it. As suddenly as Villanelle grabbed her hand, she dropped it, headed toward the door, and tossed a wave over her shoulder on her way out.
It took a solid minute before Eve could move her limbs and calm her heartbeat. When she gathered the strength to look at her hand, Eve saw there was a light imprint of baby pink lipstick on it. She quickly rubbed the back of her hand, removing any evidence that Villanelle had been there. Right now though, Eve didn't think too hard about what floodgate she had opened. Instead, she figured that was for future Eve to worry about after she got through the day.
Eve leaned against the break room counter, listening to the hum of the microwave. She needed a moment away from her office where students couldn't find her, and the consistency of shitty, reheated microwave tea from a shabby break room could provide that opportunity. While the minute counted down, the door to the psychology department lounge opened. Eve looked over and waved when she saw it was Bill.
"Well hello," Bill said while he walked to the fridge.
Before she could respond the microwave dinged. Eve quickly removed her mug and took a cautious sip.
"So, how's Miss Delicate Features doing?" Bill asked while he grabbed a drink.
Eve nearly choked. "Please, a bit of warning first before I take a sip."
"What?" Bill teased, closing the fridge to look at Eve. "Am I not allowed to ask my friend about her life?"
"Not when it involves that situation."
Bill laughed as Eve tried to clear her windpipes of tea.
"Seriously, Eve, you can't keep avoiding it."
"Oh I can, watch me," Eve chuckled.
"Well when you do confront it," Bill started, "Don't say I didn't tell you so."
Eve took a long sip of her tea and hummed in response. "I wouldn't hold my breath."
Bill gave Eve a knowing stare, but she ignored it and took another sip of her lukewarm tea.
"Hey," she said after a moment. "Did you know those virtual meetings keep a record of the private messages?"
"No," Bill responded.
"Well, I've got some news for you," Eve said.
"Oh bollocks," Bill responded.
Eve looked over at Bill and it only took seconds before laughter erupted from them.
Eve opened her laptop and waited for it to boot up her email. After her quick break, and the final students had filtered out for the day, she felt as ready as she could before a virtual meeting. At least she'd have an easy weekend ahead, Eve thought, when she clicked on the meeting link.
The waiting room screen loaded right as her phone pinged. She dug her phone out of her pocket while she waited to be admitted into the meeting. The message on her lockscreen was from a number she didn't recognize, but based on the content of the message Eve made the safe assumption that it was Villanelle.
From: Unknown
bonjour, eve 😏
An automatic eye roll–and a small smile–followed the reading of Villanelle's text. Once Villanelle's number was added to her contacts Eve saw she had been admitted to the meeting room, and she muted her microphone until it was time for the meeting to start.
From: Unknown
eve, please, it's rude to react to someone like that
Eve looked up at her screen and saw Villanelle giving her a snarky smile through the computer screen.
From: Eve
You wouldn't even know how I had reacted if it wasn't for this meeting.
From: Villanelle
touché, eve
"Well, I think that's everyone," Carolyn's voice said over the computer speakers.
Eve set her phone face up on her lap for easy access to text Bill about any of their grievances during the meeting, and not because she was expecting a continuation from her texts with Villanelle.
"Thank you for joining us today," Carolyn started. "I apologize for switching to a virtual meeting at the last minute, but Geraldine was having a crisis."
Despite knowing the complicated relationship between the two, Eve couldn't help but feel a little sympathy toward Geraldine. She knew all too well what it was like to grow up with an emotionally distant mother, and it was probably why she developed some kind of a kinship to Carolyn's kids over the years.
"We'll get started by going over the email I sent out with today's agenda," Carolyn said.
If Eve could look at herself from an outsider's perspective, she knew her eyes were starting to glaze over the more Carolyn talked. It wasn't anything she wasn't already aware of; a lot of repeating about general policies, how the department was doing, and general information Eve had heard multitudes of times over the years she'd been a professor.
Her saving grace was the alert tone from her phone that pulled Eve out of her trance.
From: Villanelle
this could've just been an email
Eve chuckled as she typed her response.
From: Eve
But you can't get "team-building" via an email.
From: Villanelle
team-building my ass. i'd rather hear konstantin give me a lecture about proper usage of a toilet brush
From: Eve
Sounds better than how this meeting's going to go.
From: Villanelle
i know and that lecture bored me to tears last time so i may die during this one 💀
Eve pretended to wipe her nose to hide the visible smile she had on her face. Maybe she had been wrong to not share her number with Villanelle at the beginning of the semester.
From: Villanelle
though, i know a way we could make this meeting less grating, mon coeur
And there it was, Eve thought. Her face felt flush as she stared at the image that was attached. Attached was a picture–clearly taken right before this meeting based on the outfit–of Villanelle with her shirt unbuttoned enough that Eve could see her bra. If Eve wasn't paying attention to Carolyn earlier, she sure as hell wasn't now. With shaky hands, Eve typed out her reply.
From: Eve
Did you, uhm, mean to send that to me?
From: Villanelle
no accidents here, baby 😉
Eve ran her hand through her hair to try and calm herself down. She knew she needed to shut down Villanelle's behavior before this went further, but with the way everything in her body rushed to Eve's center didn't help her decision making skills.
From: Villanelle
can i send you more?
Eve desperately wanted to say no. Everything in her body was screaming it, telling her to stick to her boundaries, and not let whatever lust was possessing her to encourage Villanelle.
From: Eve
Yes.
It was all she could muster as a response and hit send before she could regret her decision. When she turned her focus back to the meeting, Eve saw Villanelle looking into the camera with a smile on her face Eve knew was meant just for them.
"And so compared to last year, we had an uptick in students, which meant we thankfully had enough to cover the few remaining teacher assistant positions. Lucky for everyone, yes?" Carolyn said.
Lucky her ass, Eve thought, not sure if she meant it sarcastically or not. Eve nodded along with everyone else while her body vibrated with anticipation.
When her phone finally pinged Eve tried to play it cool by casually looking down at her phone. The sight that greeted her made her thankful that she was in her office alone. This photo of Villanelle was innocent enough–at least that's how Eve was trying to justify it–of her lying in bed with the same level of exposure. However, this time her shirt was untucked and exposed a bit of her midriff as well. Before she could even think of a response a new message appeared on her phone.
From: Villanelle
professor polastri, do you think i could get some extra assistance after class next week?
Reading the new message that came through made Eve morbidly curious as to how Villanelle could deliver–well destroy–Eve this time. Her jaw went slack when she finally opened it. This time the attached photo was far more lewd than the previous. In this photo Villanelle was laying on her bed clad only in her bra, biting her lower lip, and eyes closed. Once her brain recovered–Eve didn't want to think about how long she had already been staring–Eve noticed Villanelle's free hand was tucked under the bra's fabric. There was no way Eve could hide the blush on her face, let alone hide the groan she produced if this meeting was in-person.
"Eve."
Her head snapped up when she heard Carolyn's voice. Eve quickly unmuted herself.
"Yes?"
"Oh thank heavens, I thought you'd gone deaf for a moment. Villanelle's already in your breakout room."
Eve nodded her head–hoping she could ground herself–and clicked the button on the side of the screen that would lead her to her demise.
When she popped in, Eve was met with a smirking Villanelle.
"So," Villanelle said, "What are we supposed to be talking about, boss?"
That damn nickname again, Eve thought. She hated how it always sent tingles all over her body.
"Honestly, I have no idea what we're even supposed to be doing," Eve joked.
"Ahh," Villanelle mused as she placed her chin on her hands. "Was someone distracted?"
Eve's refusal of an answer was incriminating, she knew that, but there really wasn't any other way to respond that didn't involve Eve tossing caution to the wind.
"Well, I guess we could just sit here and wait for the time to be up," Eve suggested after a moment. "It's not like we aren't ahead of schedule and for better or worse have some kind of," Eve paused, trying to think of the right words. "Established relationship."
"Relationship," Villanelle repeated back with a smirk.
Where this was potentially going didn't concern Eve in the least, even though she knew better. Clearly, she thought, she wasn't thinking with her head.
"Professor Polastri," Villanelle purred. "You never did answer my question."
"And what was that?" Eve choked out, slightly caught off guard by the instant change in the mood.
"I said I needed help," Villanelle said with a pout.
Eve ignored how her first gut reaction was to kiss the pout off of Villanelle's face.
"How exactly can I help?" Eve knew she was dangerously close to losing it.
"I think you know," Villanelle said.
Before she could protest, Eve clenched her teeth when she saw Villanelle slowly unbuttoning the first few buttons of her dress top. Eve wasn't a religious person, but if she was she'd be positive this was a test from some higher being.
"J'aimerais que vous me touchiez," Villanelle moaned when her hands skimmed over her now visible bra.
It'd been weeks since Eve had heard Villanelle speaking in full French, but instead this time she was sober and able to let it fully sink in. Even with her three semester's worth of French, Eve knew what Villanelle had said and god did she wish she was touching her.
Eve made no motion to stop Villanelle from continuing whatever she had planned, but Eve also decided she wasn't going to exactly encourage her. Her brain was too fried to even think of whatever could possibly happen next.
Thankfully, Eve didn't have to imagine too hard because Villanelle's hands slipped under her shirt to hold her breast like she had in the photo. Rather than imagining later what Villanelle may have felt in that photo, Eve was given the delight of seeing it first hand. Villanelle's mouth was partially opened when her hand slipped just under the cup of the bra, and it turned into an 'o' when she made contact, Eve assumed, with her nipple. The gasp that escaped Villanelle made Eve's body throb all over.
Something switched in Eve when Villanelle's eyes fluttered shut.
"Say my name," Eve said.
Villanelle smiled. "Eve," she whispered.
There was a shift in the dynamic and Eve couldn't deny that whatever it was she quite enjoyed it. Every second she spent with Villanelle that resulted in this high-strung energy was one where Eve felt herself free from insecurities, self-doubt, and just who she naturally wanted to be as a person. Being with Villanelle made her feel awake deep within her bones.
The sound of a ping from someone entering their room, however, pulled Eve back to reality. She quickly cleared her throat and hoped her screen was the first one that was seen to give Villanelle time to adjust herself. Not only was the last thing she needed was people knowing of their prior entanglement, but Eve didn't also want to be seen actively engaging in whatever it was they were doing now.
Just as Villanelle had straightened herself out, Carolyn had loaded into their virtual room.
"I assume all is going well here," Carolyn said.
"Better than good," Villanelle said with a cocky grin.
Eve wanted to bang her head on the desk.
"Well," Carolyn said. "If all's good then you're free to go." And with that, Carolyn left without another word.
"I should, uh, get going. Lots of papers left to give feedback on," Eve said awkwardly.
"Uh huh," Villanelle said.
"Uhm," Eve paused.
Neither one of them made the first move to leave.
"Au revoir," Villanelle finally replied before her screen disappeared.
Eve exited out of the meeting, and once the window closed she shut her laptop. She leaned back in her chair and let out an exacerbated breath. After today's events, and no matter how hard Eve wanted to avoid it, she couldn't ignore what happened. Her final mental–and now physical–barriers were broken. Come Monday, Eve knew both of them needed to talk about what was going on between the two of them.
Once she sat up from her chair, Eve grabbed her phone to type out a quick text to Villanelle.
From: Eve
Monday. After class...we need to talk.
She locked her phone and pushed it away with no plans of looking at it for the rest of the weekend. Let alone did Eve want to even think of how Villanelle would respond. Her phone pinged–she assumed it was Villanelle–and gave in to temptation.
From: Villanelle
Looking forward to it, Professor Polastri 😉
A shiver went down Eve's spine as she read Villanelle's text. Before she could change her mind, Eve shut her phone off and leaned back in her chair. She was for sure opening a bottle of wine tonight and maybe taking another shower when she got home.
A/N: phew, besties this one's a long one!
this chapter is solely dedicated to my hatred of laura neal and how she didn't give us shit meanwhile sandie and kayleigh fed us uwu
but seriously, ya'll have been so kind every update 😭 💖 i appreciate every single comment, kudo, subscription, etc. everyone has given to this fic 💖 ya'lls love means so much.
yet again i know i don't promise weekly updates, but as of now i guess just go ahead and expect them until otherwise LOL i will, however, not make promises of a regular upload schedule ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
yet again thank you agaywithcoffee for beta-ing this beast of a chapter. next time ya'll aren't ready for what's waiting 👀👀👀
i also went a bit rogue without having my friend rinnie double check the french this time so if it's off please kindly let me know! ^^
as always you can find me on tumblr and ao3 under the name rainbowinbeigeboots ^^💖
—
french translations:
À tout à l'heure = See you later
Mon couer = Sweetheart
J'aimerais que vous me touchiez = I wish you were touching me
