"Hello Kate. And yes it's Dr. Shephard." His voice sounded cool and exact - as usual.
Kate took deep, Lamaze breaths in order to avert what quickly began to feel like panic.
There was a pause and sensing that Kate was not about to respond, Christian broke the silence.
His laugh was deep and rich, "You're probably wondering why I'm calling you."
"Yes." She breathed, heat beginning to cling on her cheeks. The fact that he was calling her could not be a good thing she thought. Did something happen to Jack? Did Christian want to say something about their relationship?
"Kate, please relax. I am in town to attend a medical conference and want you to accompany me to dinner tonight."
Kate nearly fell over.
This 'invitation' didn't sound like one at all. Christian had a way of making a request feel like a directive. She knew that she wasn't being asked, he was expecting her to go and that unnerved her to no end. But she would still try to get out of it. Nervously she tugged at a loose unraveling thread at the hem of her sweater before opening her mouth.
"Ummmm. Actually -"
"Excellent Kate. I'll have a car pick you up at your dorm at … let's say 7:45."
So he had managed to force her into a corner. A part of her thought to just not show up, but she knew she couldn't simply blow off her boyfriend's father, so she nodded, "Okay. Let me give you the address -"
"I already know where you live Kate. I'll see you tonight."
"Dr. Shep-"
But he had already hung up. She wanted to ask where they were going, so she could dress appropriately. But who was she kidding? It was Christian … it would be nice.
As promised, the car picked her up on time and she was dropped off at a French restaurant. It was formal and Kate was grateful for choosing a conservative sleeveless black dress and kitten heels. She wore her hair back in an attempt to look mature and …in control.
Kate followed the maître d' to a table where Christian sat waiting. The restaurant was crowded as were all top New York City restaurants, Kate noticed. It didn't matter what time or day of the week, if it was rated high by Zagat's, the restaurant would be packed. He stood when he saw her approach and extended his hand to her as the gentleman pulled back the chair for her to sit in.
He wore a smile and actually appeared pleased to see her, "Kate, thank you making it tonight. And especially on such short notice. I hope that I didn't disturb your schedule too much."
Kate offered a tight smile, "No, everything is fine, I mean you're welcome. Ummm… thank you for inviting me…." Her voice trailed off, she wasn't even sure why she was here, having dinner at an insanely expensive french restaurant with her boyfriend's father ... odd and uncomfortable is what it was.
The waiter promptly came with the menus and Christian ordered a bottle of red wine for the table. Christian looked at her, noticing the platinum locket his son gave her as a present. Each and every time he had seen her she was invariably wearing it. Evidently, Jack had hit a home run with that gift choice, he thought. He smiled again and was about to speak when the waiter came back to the table, presenting two glasses and pouring a dash in each glass for them to taste. For Kate, it would make no difference, she was hardly a wine connoisseur, the absurdity of it almost brought a giggle to her lips.
"Do you like it, Kate?"
Kate nodded and shrugged her shoulders slightly, "Sure. It's … lovely." Her highbrows rose at the loss of what to say.
He ordered the foie gras to start and she selected scallops served on a leek confit puree. The menu was formal and in French. She breathed a sigh of relief, her language classes finally came in handy. It was surreal sitting here across from Dr. Shephard and out of habit she took a scan around the trendy restaurant. She briefly wondered, if the other patrons thought that she was with him, as in ... with him. She shuddered, that was just ... weird.
While they ate, he studied her. How she had changed since they first met and the ways in which she hadn't. Christian could see how very innocent she still was. Granted after sleeping with his son for nearly three years, she could hardly be described as sexually inexperienced, but she had an innocence about her that was blatantly obvious to him.
They shared some pleasant small talk, Christian asking Kate about school and her father. He talked about a patient with a brain tumor, or rather an oligodendroglial tumor, to be exact, that he recently performed surgery on.
But the growing tension was beginning to eat at Kate. She wanted him to get to the reason why she was here. Because there was a reason he asked her to come ….
They were almost finished with their entrees when Kate heard Christian clear his throat. He took a hard sip from his glass of Cabernet and Kate watched the liquid tumble down his throat. She could tell he was just about to get to the point of all of … this. Her heart released a spate of distressed beats.
"So Kate, Match Day is coming up in a few months. And I'm not going to mince words, I want you to talk to Jack and convince him to do his first year of residency at St. Sebastian's."
"Now, why would I do that?!" She practically scoffed.
"Because, you love him." He replied easily and went right on eating his tender boeuf bourguignon.
Boom! At least that is the sound she thought she heard in her head.
Kate could feel the composition of her face dissolve under his stare. So he was going to lay it all on her? Make her the sole reason that Jack wasn't going to do an apprenticeship with him, instead of seeing that Jack didn't want to be under the thumb of his father. Heat began to rise up the back of her neck.
Without meaning to or wanting to, Kate stabbed the fork toward her mouth and chewed angrily. Her mind was working in overdrive, trying to come up with a response.
Finally, she told him, "Maybe he just doesn't want to work with you." There was an unintended air of impudence with her statement that forced her to look down at her plate.
"You're right, he doesn't … now. Or at least he thinks he doesn't."
Kate shook her head and considered the breadth of the task he was requesting, "What makes you even think I could make him do such a thing? You know your son, once he makes up his mind-"
"The only reason he is going to New York is for you, but I know that if you reassured him that you would wait for him, he would re-consider. To be perfectly honest, I'm hoping that you will consider UCLA for medical school." He then released a heavy sigh, one that indicated that he has struggled a long time with this. "Kate, my son will learn twice as much in half the time if he were to work with me. Think about that. Do you know what that could mean for his career?"
"Jack is brilliant, he would do well anywhere!" She choked out defensively.
"That's true, he would do … well. But with me, he could be the best. Because I would give him opportunities and cases that no other Chief of Surgery would let him near. And I can tell by the way you are looking at me that you know what I am saying is true."
Kate's heart dipped along with the ends of her mouth. She hated that he was right. She knew that no one else would be as invested in Jack's career as Christian. She knew that by working alongside his father, Jack's intellect and skills would be sharpened in an unprecedented way. To pretend otherwise would be just plain … obtuse or worse ... selfish.
And ... she loved him.
But it would mean another year … another whole year they would be apart.
Reading her expression and seizing on her apparent moment of weakness, Christian plodded on, "Kate it's for only one year. And then I will make sure he finds a residency here in New York. You will be so busy studying for your MCAT anyway. And then all your free time will be devoted to applying to medical schools. Meanwhile, Jack will be working non-stop at the hospital. You would barely spend time together …"
Kate rose her hand to interrupt him from saying another word. She choked out a simple and quiet, "Stop."
One year.
Kate was in the hotel room's bathroom pacing back and forth. She must have been in there for over an hour and a half wasting time by taking a long lingering bath and then arguing with herself. She stopped and looked at herself in the mirror. She had no make up on and her freshly shampooed hair was close to dry at this point. Jack had even knocked on the door a few times, asking whether everything was okay. Each time she answered, "I'll be out in five minutes."
She blushed again, probably for the twentieth time that day. She stared at what she was wearing or rather what she wasn't wearing. She was being ridiculous, acting like some virgin bride, which was absurd considering that she and Jack had pretty much done everything at this point, or so she thought. She looked again at the mirror and sighed. It did look pretty on her.
Today, she had finally turned twenty-one, Jack had made sure to make it to New York, even skipping a half week's worth of classes. As was their tradition, he brought a present. Kate had told him long ago to not get her anything, that the only present she wanted was him, but that didn't stop the gifts from becoming more generous and expensive. Jack was funny that way, he hated shopping and had little interest in clothes or material things. He would wear his jeans until they were close to dissolving at the seams and only then would he drag himself to a Levi's store to purchase a few new pairs. He wore mismatched socks because invariably after a month or two of washes, one sock of each pair would disappear. It became an inside joke between them and Kate began buying him bushels of socks. But when he did shop, he spared no expense. Jack's taste was generally simple, but certainly defined by his privileged upbringing. Golf club memberships, European vacations, shopping trips to Neiman Marcus - this is what Jack knew, it was how he was raised. And it showed in the presents he selected for her. This year he bought her a wallet to match the designer handbag he gave her for Christmas.
Earlier today, she smiled and kissed him a thank you after receiving the leather wallet. She then watched him tentatively pull out another box from his suitcase. It was a thick and rich looking ivory cardboard wrapped with a large black silk bow. Balancing it on her lap, she pulled at the silken edge and it unraveled. The box was embossed with some italian name she didn't recognize, but judging by the quality of the box and the mountainous delicate tissue paper inside, she could only fathom what he must have spent.
Her fingers slowly made their way through the paper and stopped when they reached the dainty fabric inside. It was lingerie and the mere idea of it was enough to heat up her cheeks. She paused and remained still as she nervously chewed on the inside of her mouth. She felt … embarrassed. And Jack must have detected it because when she turned to him, he blushed too. He had never given anything like this to her before. She bit her bottom lip in consternation, this was a gift to her that seemed like what mature men gave to women ... it was a ... sexy gift.
Trying to lighten the odd tension, she quirked her eyebrow and asked playfully, "Is this gift for me or for you?"
He gave a few unconscious rubs to the back of his head before releasing a breath. With a little hopeful grin, he answered, "Maybe … both?"
So here she was on the evening of her twenty-first birthday, sitting on a toilet seat cover, nervously chewing at a fingernail while the other hand ran along the intricate lace at the top of the stocking. As far as undergarments went, the set was beautiful. She had to hand it to Jack, he had great taste. It was made of a soft pale pink floral lace that almost blended in with the color of her skin. The dainty sheer fabric was punctuated with long silver grey silk ribbons that tied at the back of the bra and the hips of the panties. She could confidently say that the set was practically made for her.
Upon initial inspection, she found that there were no hooks or underwire, making it evident that there was no "practical" use for the underwear which had made her blush again. She had been extra careful with slipping on the pale grey stockings, not wanting to cause a run. She briefly thought about getting fully dressed again. Because, wasn't he supposed to undress her and find her wearing this? She didn't think that she had the courage to step out only wearing this. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Jack's button-down shirt bunched up sloppily in the corner. She walked over and decided to put it on. She felt better … or at least less …bare.
She fiddled with her hair once more, took a deep breath and reached for the handle.
She found Jack shirtless sitting up in bed, his bottom half covered by the sheet while his face was submerged in his medical text book. The room was dim but for the light on the nightstand and the flickering emanating from the silent TV.
Playing nervously with her fingers that were partially covered by the cuffs of his shirt, she padded quietly across the carpet. Kate noticed that he looked like he was squinting uncomfortably as he read. With a deep giggle she told him, "You're squinting, you may need glasses, Jack."
He put down the book to watch her walk over to him, finally managing to get a glimpse of what she had underneath his open shirt. He swallowed hard, sat up straight and then rested his elbows on his bent knees. So she had decided to wear it after all. Jack had been convinced that he managed to inexplicably frighten her off with that present. She stopped in front of him, chewing her bottom lip.
He leaned forward and without taking his eyes from hers, he touched the hem of the shirt and whispered coaxingly, "Are you gonna let me see?"
Perhaps it was the look of pure raw desire and adulation that gave her the strength to do it. But she nodded slowly and shrugged the shirt off her shoulders so that it slipped quietly to the floor.
A loud sucking inhale broke the silence of the room, just before his jaw dropped and remained slack. The lace underpinnings were soft, delicate and sexy, just like the woman who wore them. The sheer fabric covered, yet revealed enough. Her soft, but toned thighs and legs were accentuated by the grey silk covering them. It was an image that would be emblazoned into memory forever. She was perfect.
"You're beautiful." It was all he could utter and she reveled in it. She inched up closer allowing his palm to cup her hip. She tugged at the sheet and wasn't surprised to find that he hadn't bothered to get dressed after his shower. She smiled at the erection that bounced up and seemed pretty happy to see her.
Using a low husky voice that she didn't know she even possessed, she asked, "What do you want?"
Maybe French women were really onto something with this whole sexy lingerie thing, she wondered. Because she was feeling pretty hot and bold at the moment.
"I want you to suck it," he whispered slowly.
An impish grin twisted her lips, because, evidently, Jack was feeling pretty bold and hot too. Pushing her hair aside past her shoulder, she kneeled onto the bed and began to crawl over to him.
Jack was going back to LA tomorrow and she was fully aware then she would have to make him very happy and reassuringly content if she was going to convince him to work at St. Sebastian's.
Jack was bent over tying the laces to his sneakers in the gym locker room.
"So I can't believe your dad actually released you from your shackles and gave you a day off." Marc said, standing nearby, freshly showered and patting himself dry with a towel after their earlier sweaty Spin Class.
Laughing, Jack shook his head, "Very funny. Well, sorry to tell you, but the hours are ticking away before the shackles are back on, my shift starts at 5:00 am tomorrow."
"Ouch."
It was now September, his residency had started the first of June and he had barely had a day to himself. Kate managed to squeeze in a visit for a week in August just after her MCAT exam and before her classes started, but even then he was forced to work during half of it.
After they finished getting dressed and walked out onto the sidewalk, Marc offered a suggestion. "Jack, let's grab a quick beer down the street." Tipping his chin, he gestured to the generic looking sports bar on the corner.
Jack looked at his watch and shrugged, "Yeah, why not? It's been a while."
As they started to make their way in the direction of the bar, Jack caught sight of a jeweler's window, he paused to look at the display. "Marc. Can you hold on a sec? I just want to go inside and check something out."
Marc shrugged his shoulders as he followed Jack through the air-conditioned store entrance. Marc immediately beelined to examine the cabinet containing a collection of fine Swiss watches, "So are you in the market for a new watch Jack? Cause if you need to unload your Rolex, I'm right here."
Jack didn't respond and Marc looked over his shoulder to see Jack engrossed in deep conversation with the saleswoman. Marc walked over and began to eavesdrop on the discussion.
"That's nice, but I think it may be too large." Jack commented.
The woman gave a deep chuckle, "Oh, I don't think you'll find a woman around here who would think a ring of two carats is too large."
"No, I mean she has small hands ... Kate has little fingers." Unconsciously, Jack tried to demonstrate with his own hands as to why the ring wouldn't work. "Plus, it's not her style, she likes … simpler things."
Incredulous, with eyes nearly popping out of his sockets, Marc looked at Jack, "Duuuude, you're not doing what I think you're doing. Tell me you're not gonna propose to Kate?"
"Shhhhh." Jack shushed dismissively trying to resume his quest for the perfect ring.
"Jack, you're not even thirty yet and Kate's in college."
Jack threw Marc a reproachful glare before turning back to the saleswoman. He politely apologized, "I'm sorry miss. I think I'll have to come back later … alone."
Jack handed back the ring before exiting the shop, Marc followed closely behind.
"Are you for real Jack?"
Jack was now beginning to get pissed off with his friend. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face Marc, "What's your problem, man?"
Marc lifted his hands in a defensive gesture, "Hey, don't get mad at me. I just think what you're planning is crazy-"
Jack squinted and tipped his head slightly, "Why is wanting to marry a person you love crazy, Marc? Can you answer that?"
"Well for starters, she's a baby."
Marc's words felt like a swift kick to the groin. Jack grew angry and defensive at the same time, "Screw you Silverman. I'm not some … pedophile."
Marc winced and immediately wished he could retract his statement, "Sorry man, wrong choice of words. I guess … all I'm trying to say is … she's twenty-one."
"Why don't we just skip the beer?" Jack frowned, no longer feeling in the mood to hang out with his friend.
"Nah. C'mon." Marc put his arm around Jack's shoulder, in typical bro fashion.
Marc managed to steer him to the bar and they both sat at one of those high tables with stools. There was a quiet lull punctuated only by the sounds of a baseball game on one of the large TV screens. Jack noticed Marc make some eye contact with a pair of pretty girls, with long legs and ribbony arms on the other side of the room. Ordinarily, Jack would laugh at his friend's one-track mind, but he wasn't in a laughing mood.
The waitress delivered their pints and Marc began to talk. "So it's getting serious between the two of you, huh?"
Jack rolled his eyes before giving him a deadpan look.
"Okay. Listen, I'm sorry about what I said back there. I'm just thinking about your best interest -"
Making air quotes with his fingers, Jack ground out, "Best interest"? You're fucking kidding me, right?"
"Listen. Just listen to me for a sec, Jack." Marc paused, trying to gauge Jack's level of amenability to having this heart-to-heart. Jack was his very best friend and, well, he was worried that Jack would likely end up heartbroken.
Jack's chin was still set obstinately hard as he looked around, avoiding eye contact with Marc.
"Jack. Kate is awesome. She's smart, sweet … gorgeous. But she just started her senior year in college, she's twenty-one, man. Do you remember what we were like at that age? We were idiots."
Glowering, almost talking into his beer, Jack interjected, "Kate is different."
Marc nodded in concession, "She is. But she's young and you can tell me to shut the fuck up, but hear me out. And I'm just reading between the lines here, 'cause you never mentioned it - you're a private guy … I get it. But I kinda get the sense that you were Kate's first -"
Jack lifted his chin stubbornly, "So? What does that have to do with anything-"
Jack's self-denial was finally enough to unleash Marc's suppressed frustration. Marc slapped his palm forcefully on the table, "I call bullshit. You're being indignant. You're the smartest guy I know … you understand what I'm saying. What if you were in her place? Wouldn't you get curious? Want to experiment?"
Visibly upset, Jack pushed away from the table and stood up, "This was a mistake." He reached into his pocket to retrieve a few bills and placed them down. He left without saying another word. A panicked feeling resembling what he thought an anxiety attack would feel like came over him. He grabbed at the short hair on the back of his head and briefly clenched his eyes. He was so tired of feeling overly frustrated and missing her all the time. This long distance relationship was now into its second year and it was only getting harder. Too many trips were postponed or canceled because of his residency schedule or Kate's studying for the MCAT or … just something.
He wished that he had never let Kate convince him to stay and work with his father.
Barely able to contain her excitement, Kate was waiting at the arrival terminal at LaGuardia airport. Although they had spoken as recently as last night, it felt like forever since she had really connected with him. She was coming back up for air, this, the fact that she was moments away from seeing him is what she lived for - as for when it would be time for him to leave again, she pushed those thoughts out of her mind. She didn't want to think about the fact that she would mourn him for days, barely having the energy to leave her room.
She looked up at the monitor and saw that flight 316 from LAX had arrived. Groups of people began their descent down the escalator and that is when she easily spotted Jack who stood nearly a head taller than those around him.
She stepped forward and extended her right arm. A huge smile broke across his face.
Impatiently, he waited for the people in front of him to step off the escalator. As he reached the landing, he lifted his carry-on bag and rushed towards her. She burst ahead with eager arms and hungry kisses as she flung her petite frame into him, her enthusiasm nearly knocking him over.
After he dragged himself away from her face, Kate looked up wide-eyed and breathless. His deep kiss taking her by surprise, Jack never being one for such displays.
"Hey," he said after stepping back to take a good look at her.
"What's up with the PDA, Dr. Shephard?"
Playfully, he shrugged his shoulders and pretended to look around for the outwardly affectionate clone of himself, "I know, who was that guy?" His smile straightened and eyes softened as he stared at her.
Jack then whispered, "I've missed you."
Her eyes watered, "Me too."
As they rode the taxi to the hotel, they sat in silence for nearly the entire ride. She rested her head against his left shoulder with his arm wrapped around her. With their thighs pressed next to one another, they could barely breathe under the weight of their mutual sexual tension. Using his right hand, he began to stroke her warm jean-clad inner thigh and slowly inched it upwards. Instinctually, she adjusted to allow him more access and she cursed herself for not wearing a skirt.
Check-in at the hotel was excruciatingly slow and Jack's lack of patience was evident in his curt responses to the poor concierge. No, he didn't care what floor to be on, it didn't matter what direction the room's window was facing, he didn't need help with the luggage.
Kate nearly burst out laughing when the concierge stepped away to pick up the ringing phone. He looked down at her not too bemused.
He grinned, "You think this is funny? We'll see how much you're laughing when we get upstairs and I leave you to fend for yourself."
Kate rolled her eyes at his empty threat, "Yeah… whatever. You won't make it more than five steps inside."
She was right.
They laid entangled in one another's sweaty limbs. Their clothing strewn in every direction on the carpeted floor.
She exhaled, "Oh my god, that was the best - ever."
He tilted his head back and roared out a healthy deep laugh, "You say that EACH time."
She quirked her eyebrow, "What? Are you actually complaining?"
"Naaaaah. I can't help it if I'm the best you ever had."
She swatted him playfully as she reminded him, "You're the 'only' I've ever had."
He stiffened ever so slightly, so subtle that Kate didn't even detect it. This wasn't the time to think about his conversation with Marc. Everything was good, great actually. Leave it alone, Jack. He said to himself as they cuddled in silence.
"Jack?" Kate's voice stirring him before he nearly fell asleep.
He replied with a groggy, "Yeah?"
She rolled over and rested her head on his chest, with hands under her chin, "I have to leave for a little bit."
"What? I just got here, Kate." he groaned.
"I know, I know. The professor that I'm a TA for invited his assistants to happy hour. I really don't want to go either, but I have to." She sat up quickly, "I have an idea, I need to be there at 5:00, why don't you meet me at the bar at 5:45? That way I have a convenient excuse to leave early."
"Grrrrrr. Alright. But, just so you know, I'd much rather be right here alone with you trying to beat my personal 'best' record," he said with a mischievous smile.
She crinkled her nose before nuzzling it against his, "Mmmmmm. You're so competitive, but that's what I love about you."
Jack strolled into the local Columbia bar. It had been a few years since he'd been there, but nothing had changed. Still with its oak paneling, faded black and white photos of various University sports teams that spanned over decades and pennants sprinkled throughout in the school's traditional "Columbia blue" and white. He scanned the room and saw Kate sitting at a rectangular table with five others, 3 men and two women. As he approached, Kate glanced up and gave a big smile and waved him over.
He neared the table and she moved over so he could take a seat next to her on the long bench. Kate made brief introductions and Professor Atkins asked him to stay for a beer. The professor sat at the head of the table to Kate's right. He gestured to her and bent over to tell her something.
The professor wasn't much older that him, Jack speculated when he watched him talking to Kate. And, if he were to be honest, he would probably also describe him as handsome, something Jack didn't expect from a Biology professor. The mutual expressions and behaviors of the two women sitting across from Kate made it obvious that they had an eye for their professor. Kate discreetly rubbed the top of Jack's thigh as she turned to look at him briefly, the gleam evident in her eye that she was happy to see him.
"So Kate has told me much about you and mentioned that you're a first year resident in neurosurgery and that you are a Columbia alum as well," the Professor noted, his tone somehow indicating he wasn't too impressed.
"Yes, that's right Professor." Jack nodded, but wondered why he would know that and what other personal information Kate shared with this man.
"Jack. Please … call me Lee," he waved dismissively. Jack didn't like the smug blond man already. After they were close to finishing a round of beers, that is when Jack caught him taking a fleeting glance at Kate's breasts. Kate was oblivious, busy talking to one of her fellow TAs. Kate was dressed modestly, a long-sleeved fitted grey t-shirt and black skinny jeans - nothing that would draw any attention except that it was a little chilly in the bar. Jack took another sip from his beer and from the corner of his eye he could see him take another glance. Jack gently placed his palm on her lower back, trying to signal that he was ready to leave. And when the professor did it again, Jack stiffened his back and glared at the man, who didn't notice because he was too busy staring at Kate's peaked breasts.
Clenching his jaw, he was about to lean into Kate's ear and tell her it was time to go when he spotted her black cardigan next to her. Instead he lifted it and indicated for her to put it on, while whispering in her ear, "You look a little cold."
Apparently that gesture was enough to break Lee's focus because he looked up at Jack and saw his reproachful glare. Lee smiled back and nodded. Jack stood up and quickly dug into his pocket and pulled out a fifty dollar bill and dropped it on the table near Lee, "Next round's on me, Professor." Jack looked at the others and gave a polite goodbye.
As Jack hailed a taxi to the hotel, Kate asked over the sounds of the loud street, "Don't you think you were a little rude in there?"
A yellow cab pulled up before he had a chance to answer, he opened the door and waited for Kate to step in first. They rode in silence. He looked over at her profile a few times. She was so, so beautiful, with her long brown hair blow-dried straight and subtle make-up bringing out her fine features.
Kate looked over and he jerked his head to look out the passenger side window. The back of his neck looked stiff, like he was angry and Kate couldn't figure out why he suddenly seemed agitated.
Once they entered the room and she could hear the heavy door shut, she whipped around to face him, "Are you going to tell me why you're so grumpy all the sudden? Or are you going to give me the silent treatment all night?"
Jack didn't answer. Instead, he walked past her and emptied his pockets and placed the contents onto the desk. She stared at his muscular back under his fitted navy cashmere sweater while waiting for a response and the longer she waited the more she felt like she was about to explode.
"Well?!"
He didn't turn around, instead, with a flat voice he asked rhetorically, "Well what?"
"Jack. Don't play head games with me."
Those words seemed to spark a response because he spun around and frowned at her.
"Maybe I'm 'grumpy' because your 'Professor' wants to fuck you."
Kate was too taken aback to even let out a gasp. Jack was rarely vulgar and this seemed to come out of nowhere, "What on earth are you talking about, Jack?"
He narrowed his eyes, "That asshole was staring at your breasts the entire time I was there, RIGHT in front of me, Kate. And he saw me catch him, I might add. And he had no qualms about it. And you were OBLIVIOUS to it!"
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks and looked down at her nipples poking through her shirt. She was embarrassed.
He barely looked at her face before he tugged off his sweater and tossed it on the armchair as he headed to the bathroom.
She stuttered, "Well, it was cold in there and, and you as a doctor, know I have no control over something like that -"
"Well, as a 'doctor', my recommendation is that you wear a sweater in the middle of October," Jack retorted with dripping sarcasm as he continued in his direction.
Kate stared wide-eyed. She was completely unprepared for his unexpected and irrational outburst, "Are you serious?"
He whipped around, eyes blazing, "I damn well am! If he acts like that in front of me, it makes me wonder what he does when I'm not around. What he does when he is alone with you. Also, what sort of things are you saying about me to him? He seemed to know an awful lot."
"You're crazy!"
He stepped towards her, using a low voice, "Am I? Do you want to sleep with him, Kate?"
She riled at his wild accusation, "Absolutely not! He's a professor and I'm his student-"
"Precisely." He returned contemptuously.
That kicked her in the gut ... hard, she nearly doubled over from the force of it, "How could you say that to me, Jack? I don't deserve that and you know it!"
She looked away, feeling so, so hurt. But seconds later she felt the heat of her anger rise up her neck and she mustered up the most venomous tone she could, "Is it that time of year, Jack? Your annual senseless fit of jealous rage. Well, thank you for not punching him out and getting yourself arrested this time."
Jack's eyes widened and she began to head towards the door, but within a second he was in her personal space, blocking her from leaving, "You know, for the longest time, I raked myself over the coals about sleeping with you when I was your teacher. Thinking I was maybe some kind of sleaze, but maybe it wasn't only me. Maybe you like that kind of attention- from a male authority." He even felt the hollow meaning in his accusation as soon as it was out there. His mind told him that these words were borne of his frustration, insecurity and he was now unfairly lashing out.
Kate raised her palm towards him in a gesture telling him to back the fuck off and keep his distance.
"Don't you dare project your guilt over a schoolgirl fetish on me. I've done nothing but love you. You think I was turned on because you were my teacher? It was always just about you … just you, Jack. Maybe you can't say the same about me."
The harsh words that spilled from her lips froze him and he stood speechless as he watched her head to the door. He wanted to tell her stop, but his throat locked.
Later that evening, Jack made his way up the 3rd floor walk up and rapped his knuckles on the door to her apartment. No one answered so he knocked again, louder this time. She swung the door open, her angry green eyes burning into him.
"You really should find out who is at the door before you open it. It's New York City." He deadpanned.
Kate twisted her mouth and rolled her eyes at him. Jack looked at her sour expression and realized that this moment was probably not the right time to lecture her about personal safety.
"What do you want, Jack?" She asked icily.
He pressed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and leaned back on his heels a little, "Can I come in?"
She didn't answer and instead moved herself to the side, giving him enough space to enter. He looked around the tiny living room and asked, "Are you alone?"
"Yeah, my roommates went out, it's Thursday night, you know."
She stood with her arms folded across her chest and looking impatient. He was about to sit down on the worn-looking sofa when she asked, "Do you want to see my room? Besides it's more private - in case one of the girls comes home early. And interrupts our talk." The last part she hastily added, wanting to make it clear that he wasn't supposed to read too much into her invitation. He followed her, inhaling the trail of the scent of her freshly shampooed hair mixed with soap. He noticed that her curls were slightly damp and hadn't fully formed yet.
Kate's room was tiny, the full size bed, dresser and small desk occupied most of the floor space. The wall behind her bed was exposed brick and she had an elegant looking wrought iron headboard and soft grey bedding mixed with blue. She flopped onto the center of the mattress and sat cross-legged, as she observed him look around. She quirked her eyebrow at him, "So?"
He exhaled, "It's tiny."
Kate flared back, "Well, we all can't afford to live in a luxury hi-rise apartment. For some of us, student housing has to do -"
Jack didn't want to argue with Kate. He was leaving on Monday and wanted them to enjoy every second together.
His shoulders dropped and he sighed heavily, "You know that's not what I meant. I like it, it's cute, it's cozy ... like you," he carefully moved to sit next to her on the bed and face her. He wanted to kiss her. Her full lips half open, almost expectant looking.
Liquid heat began to pool and dampen through her pajama shorts. As it did every single time he would look at her like that. It was that look, with its long, slow half-grin that she knew he only gave to her and he knew she always succumbed to it.
"Don't do that," she huffed and lifted her chin stubbornly.
"What're you talking about?" He whispered with a sly grin and moved himself closer to her.
She pointed to his face, "That. You're giving me that look. I'm angry at you Jack!"
Absentmindedly, he pushed the damp, heavy curls back and off her shoulder. She could feel the small puffs of his warm steady breath on her neck while her nostrils filled with his personal scent of toothpaste mixed with some raw earthy smell she couldn't identify. Without waiting for permission, he began unfastening, one by one, the buttons of her top. Her breath hitched as she watched his fingers work away. When he finished with the last button, she felt his fingers push the fabric aside so he could look at her bare left breast. Jack felt her quiver underneath his fingers and could barely contain the small smile from forming on his face. That after all these years, he was still able to make her shudder from a simple touch.
He watched her chest rise with each inhaled breath and then he carefully bent over to flick his tongue across her nipple. The sensation made Kate release a shuddered sigh, but she forced the feeling away nonetheless. She retreated on her bed, practically yanking herself from his magnetic pull.
She was a vision with half her pajama top hanging off her shoulder while staring hotly at him. Looking so tantalizing while simultaneously furious with him. Kate had a way of making him crazy and her justifiable anger towards him made her all the more tempting and sexy. But he saw the little hints that her body was betraying her angry mind. Her expression softening ever so slightly as he crawled his way closer to her and then gently pushing her back onto the pillows. He brought his face to hers so he could kiss her but she turned her head to the side, not willing to give in so easily. Jack withheld a small chuckle and then focused his gaze on her chest, then stomach and down to her tiny white cotton shorts. He wanted her.
With a husky and hungry voice, he stated flatly, "I want you."
Those uttered words made Kate bite her bottom lip and she felt her wetness pour through her shorts. Jack placed a flat palm against her sex and rubbed his fingers along the damp cotton as he searched for that spot.
"You want me too," he whispered as he found what he was looking for. Through the fabric he rubbed her with an insistent and circular motion. Against her better judgment, her hips started responding and moving in encouragement. He could see the battle she fought to not part her legs for him. That she was wanted to keep pushing him away.
He harshly sucked her nipple and she drew her chest up in response. The dark and dominant way he looked at her and his persistence made Kate know that he would be hard and demanding tonight, the force of him would make her grip onto the headboard while she came. But, she wanted to hold onto the headboard, she wanted him to drive her to a point of wild acquiescence. The familiar feeling, the melting of her core made her impatient, she reached behind him to find the hem of his shirt so she could yank it over his head. All the while ignoring the voice in her head that told her to stop and talk to him. It seemed their arguments always led them to the same place, no resolution, but inevitable mind-blowing sex. Jack stood up and began to undo the button-fly of his jeans. He kicked off his shoes and the socks, his undershirt and boxers quickly followed. He stood there and Kate took all of him in. Unlike her, he never showed self-consciousness or bashfulness about his nudity. Instead he looked completely at ease while his member stood hard and proud. On her knees, she moved towards him and grasped him in her hands, her touch making him instantly groan.
Kate bent her head and ran her tongue on the underside of his shaft before taking him fully in her mouth. Dead set on taking over and setting the pace, she began to work on him. His groans and gentle pushes on her head confirming that she was in control. His cock moved in her mouth and she moaned as her tongue swirled around it, the rushing sensation of more wet heat traveling below her navel followed. She released him and saw the slightest hint of his disappointment, but then quickly tugged him forward, panting for more and soon had him lying flat on his back. She crawled over him and straddled his legs so she could finally resume her task.
He looked down and pushed away the long damp brown curls that blocked his view. The sensations and visual of her mouth on him slowly taking him to the edge.
"Oh god, Kate. I'm gonna come," he groaned. He tried to pull out, but she gripped him harder at his waist and he succumbed. Soon she felt his hips tighten and jerk. She heard him shout an 'Oh, fuck!' before he released. She slowly pulled herself away, feeling a bit proud of herself for bringing Jack to the edge. Most of her friends hated giving blow jobs, considering it an obligation as about as titillating as midterm exams or doing taxes. Meanwhile she loved doing that to him.
Kate eased her chin up to find his eyes closed and a content looking grin shaping his mouth. She then slid up next to him so she could kiss him on his neck and collarbone before nestling herself into his arms.
They laid like that for a while, their steady breathing filling the room, before he broke the silence, "You're gonna have to give me a few more minutes. That was amazing, Kate," he blurted out. "I swear, it should be a crime to be so good at that."
Kate let out a warm chuckle, "Well then you should cuff me and read me my rights." Her suggestion must have spurred him on because she felt a movement on her leg and saw that he was already standing at attention.
In a swift motion, he was above her and impatiently tugging at her skimpy shorts. He looked at Kate now splayed before him, her green eyes dark, her unruly chestnut curls spread across the pillow, her sex wet and inviting. He placed his hand on the side of her small face as he entered her and began to push in and pull out slowly, taking his time, wanting her to feel every inch of him.
Just as she predicted he was hard and unrelenting. His long, deliberate strokes making her raise her hips and swivel them to meet him at every hard thrust and she let out expletives that would shame her in any other situation. But what she was not capable of knowing was that as he made love to her with this sort of urgency, while he repeated her name "Kate. Kate. Kate," his thoughts were untamed and scattered. Her naughty words exciting him in a way that made him feel crazed. He looked down at her face and it was beautiful - her eyes closed and mouth half-open and rapt looking. Desperately, he adjusted her thighs, pushing them back so he could drive himself in further. The new angle, the deeper thrusts forced a whimper from her.
For the first time, he wished she wasn't on the pill, he wanted to get her pregnant tonight. So he could marry her and bind her to him for always.
A/N: DAMN! My longest chapter EVER. Over 8K words! And so soon after my TTR update, no less. I think that deserves some recognition guys ;) LOL! I could have divided it into two chapters, but I didn't like how it would be bifurcated and left off. Especially since some big game changers are on the very near horizon for these two. And, this chapter may seem a little strange, but I'm trying to underscore a lot of underlying tension and obstacles in their relationship. I hope I accomplished my mission.
Paige031: LOL, I am SO jealous of Kate too. I'm assuming most of the readers are female (and if there are any guys, I mean no offense), so I am hoping that there is some character identification and relatability to Kate.