FIVE. THE COLD PROFESSOR

“He'll know that we're not really married if you're this stiff.”

“Sorry, but I'm really nervous.”

"Don't worry, my grandfather won't eat you."

“But he looks like the wild type.”

“He's just disciplined. Put your hand on my arm?”

“Wh-what?”

“Put your hand on my arm and act as if you were a lovely wife.”

Shanon wasn't used to any kind of intimacy with Anthony. All afternoon, she locked herself in her room to avoid Anthony. Even though she knew that Anthony had just stayed at home all day. The car was parked in the carport and hadn't moved an inch since they arrived from City Hall. She only met Anthony around five o'clock, when Anthony knocked on her bedroom door and asked about the outfit she would wear to go to dinner with him and his grandfather.

Shanon was very embarrassed when she remembered when Anthony opened the wardrobe in her room and chose all the clothes she needed to wear tonight. Including the bra and panties she was currently wearing. It was all Anthony's choice.

“I filled the wardrobe with some women's clothes. Just in case my bride hasn't had time to pack her things. You can see it.”

“Umm... Thank you.”

“My grandfather had expensive tastes. You have to look elegant tonight. Try on that sapphire blue dress.”

"Are you sure your grandfather will like this dress?"

Shanon picked a long-sleeved dress with a very low V-neck.

“That dress suits you. And wear this silk underwear. That would be great for our first night.”

Shanon's cheeks flushed as she remembered Anthony handing her a pair of nude silk underwear. There was no awkwardness on Anthony's face at all. The awkwardness actually came from Shanon. She was one of the women who rarely had too intimate physical contact with men out there. She thought that what Anthony did was very obscene. But she reminded herself once again that Anthony was her husband. She had to get used to the intimate things she would do with Anthony.

“Good evening, Mr. Bruce.”

A waiter greeted them as soon as they stepped through the main door of the very luxurious restaurant.

"Is my grandfather here yet?"

“Mr. Jefferson is waiting for you in the VIP room. Please, follow me.”

The waiter took them to one of the VIP rooms on the second floor. Anthony heard Shanon murmur several times in awe as they passed the main dining area whose ceiling was decorated with giant crystal chandeliers.

“Act elegantly. Don't show your tackiness in front of my grandfather."

“Noted. This is my first time eating at a restaurant this luxurious.”

"I see that Yvone really maintains her attitude at every formal event. I expected you to show at least as good manners as Yvone."

“Yeah, why don't you just marry my stepmother? I can't be as elegant as her because I never attend any formal events."

“Yvone is too old for me. And she's not my type. Although I saw that she really wanted to propose herself, instead of her stepdaughter."

“You told me to pretend to be a lovely wife who is crazy about you. But look, you ruined my mood with your comments that annoyed me."

“Well, get yourself used to those things.”

Shanon was just about to argue with Anthony, but the waiter had opened the door to the VIP dining room and invited them in. Jefferson and his assistant had been waiting for them and were enjoying a glass of wine.

“Newlyweds sure are busy, huh? You’re usually never late."

“As you said, we are very busy. There are a lot of things to do in bed."

It was strange because Anthony was able to say it as if it was nothing, while Shanon was blushing, and she was trying to hide her face behind Anthony's back.

"This time I understand it. You deserve to spend time with your bride. Sit down, Avery.”

Shanon looked at Anthony hesitantly. Anthony caught Shanon's unease, and he turned to his grandfather.

“You can call her Shanon.”

Mr. Jeff raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“That's her nickname from her late mother. She is more comfortable with that name.”

"Okay. Sit down, Shanon.”

"Thank you, Mr. Jeff.”

“Call me grandpa. You are my grandson-in-law now. And I hope you are happy with your marriage."

“I'm sure I'm happy. Anthony is a kind and loving husband. I'm lucky to have him.”

Jefferson raised his eyebrows at the intimacy between his grandson and his wife. He had to admit that Anthony married a different woman from all the girlfriends he had ever brought to meet him. This time he had a good feeling about Anthony's wife.

“So, Fizto, tell the waiter to serve all the food right now. I can't let the newlyweds starve.”

Anthony turned to look at Shanon and smiled faintly, seeing how Shanon was able to handle the situation well. His grandfather was impressed by Shanon's innocence and outspoken attitude. He believed the assets would fall into his hands as soon as possible. He would easily kick the illegitimate child out of his family's life once he was appointed as the sole heir of Jefferson Alexander Bruce.

-00-

“Wow, a pool with a fountain. It's really hot tonight."

“Oh, shit! What would you do?!"

Anthony jerked his seat belt off roughly and tried to chase Shanon who had just bolted out of the car. He didn't expect Shanon to be able to run that fast while drunk.

"I want to take a bath. Let me go. What are you doing?”

“I won't let you ruin my cherubim.”

“You cold, stingy man. Let me go. Let me walk inside myself."

Anthony didn't care about Shanon's loud screams. He carried her to her room on the second floor and occasionally cursed harshly because Shanon almost made them both fall down the stairs.

“Shut up! You'll hurt us both."

"You... Why are you so fierce?"

Suddenly Shanon's expression turned sad. Her eyes filled with tears, and suddenly she beat Anthony's chest brutally at the top of the stairs.

“You damn bastard. You don't have a heart. You evil. You cold-hearted devil.”

“Stop it! You hurt me."

“Put me down. Don’t touch me."

Anthony gave up on carrying Shanon to her room. He put Shanon down and let her stagger towards her room. Next time he would remind himself that Shanon was a really bad drinker. She had just finished two glasses of wine and a glass of whiskey before she suddenly turned into a brutal wild woman.

"What are you doing here? This is my room?”

“This is my house. This room is my room too.”

“Fine. Every place in this house is yours.”

Shanon bumped into Anthony's shoulder roughly as she was about to go to the bathroom, but Anthony grabbed her wrist.

"Where are you going?"

“I told you it was very hot tonight. I must take a bath."

“You're going to need my help,” Anthony grinned slyly.

“No way. I can do it myself. I'm not a child.”

“You are. You look so young, naive, and clumsy.”

“You say it as if you are the most perfect man in the world.”

Anthony didn't say anything, but his face wore a grin that made Shanon want to punch him. She jerked Anthony's hand away from her wrist, intending to run as fast as she could to the bathroom. But Anthony grabbed her shoulders and pushed her hard backwards. Shanon choked and screamed softly when her back hit the bed.

“Ouch! What are you doing? You want to break my back, huh?”

“Way better. I want to have our first night. I told you this morning, in case you forgot.”

"I can't do it now."

Anthony didn't care about the rejection. He pinned Shanon's shoulders to the bed and his eyes began to mist at the sight of Shanon's entire, seductive profile. Actually, Shanon looked very tempting from the moment she came out of her room in the sapphire blue dress he chose. With the right makeup and the right clothes, Shanon looked more beautiful and sexy than her very plain appearance on campus. He restrained himself from fondling Shanon during the dinner session with his grandfather. The sharp V-neck of her dress gave unrestricted access to her stunning cleavage. Shanon had breasts that were not too big, but they looked fit in his hands. Anthony tried to touch her for the first time, and it elicited a sharp moan from Shanon's lips.

"What are you doing?" Shanon's voice was hoarse and low.

“Tasting you. You'll like it later. Trust me."

“I... It feels good when you touch it.”

“I can do it again for you.”

Shanon closed her eyes and her cheeks flushed. She didn't want to see directly what her professor was currently doing to her. Anthony easily pushed her dress down over her shoulders. The V-neck of the dress exposed the pale skin of her breasts. And who knows what Anthony was thinking? Shanon tried to open her eyes to see Anthony who was lowering his head over her body, which was only clad in a silk bra.

“Professor Anthony?”

“Call me just Anthony. You've been hiding the naughty beauty all this time, huh?”

Anthony's eyes grew misty as his nose inhaled Shanon's intoxicating scent. One of the expensive perfumes he provided worked very well on Shanon's body. His lips landed on her pale, fragrant cleavage. He growled because of the rush of lust that flowed through his body every time his lips moved to taste his wife.

“Ssshh... Anthony.”

Anthony knew he had turned Shanon on too. Her body shifted restlessly beneath him. Her knee accidentally rubbed against his groin and Anthony let out a muffled growl.

“Calm down. You will get what you want.”

“I don't know what happened to my body. You make me crazy."

Shanon grabbed Anthony's nape and pulled him towards her lips. Anthony happily devoured those pink lips and crushed them roughly. Their lips moved wildly to satisfy each other. Anthony slipped his tongue into Shanon's mouth to caress her. Shanon moaned, trying to keep up with Anthony's incredibly perfect lips.

Anthony's palms weren't just still, he was pleasing Shanon and caressing her in places that Shanon liked. He touched her breasts gently after throwing the silk bra on the floor. Shanon's body squirmed beneath him every time his palms gently squeezed her breasts.

"You like it?"

“That was amazing,” Shanon gasped when Anthony broke the kiss.

Anthony half-smiling at how disheveled his bride looked beneath him, but voluptuous. He had to thank the liquor Shanon had a few hours ago. That made her bolder.

"Okay. Take off all your clothes. I want to see you," whispered Anthony sensually.

Like hypnotized. Shanon obeyed Anthony's orders easily. She slipped the dress past her legs, then spun around in front of Anthony, giggling in amusement.

“Do you like what you see?”

“Nude is perfect for your pale skin. Come here. Do me the honor of removing the last layers of your body.”

Shanon threw herself happily into Anthony's arms. She didn't know what pushed her to be such a bitch tonight. She blamed the liquor she drank at dinner. Shanon felt like she didn't recognize herself. But it felt too delicious to ignore.

“I want to see you too, professor.”

Shanon raked her nails across Anthony's hard chest. Her heart cheered with joy because Anthony didn't stop her hands from unbuttoning his shirt.

“Wow, all the women on campus would kill each other for this sight.”

Shanon was drooling at Anthony's sexy muscular body. His muscles were covered in healthy brownish skin. Her pale palms contrasted with his tough muscles.

"How about this one?" Shanon dragged her fingertips lazily along the narrow curve of Anthony's hips.

“Undo it.”

Shanon loved challenges. When Anthony openly challenged her to take off his belt and pants, she immediately did so without having to be told twice.

“You are a good girl.”

Shanon moved very deftly as she pulled off his belt, then took off his expensive trousers. She threw them on the floor along with her clothes and only left Anthony in a pair of tight black boxers that did little to hide the bulge between his legs. Shanon's mouth watered at the amazing sight.

“Do you like what you see? Now lie down.”

Anthony pushed Shanon onto the bed and knelt over her. Shanon didn't know that he almost burst in his pants just by seeing her naked beneath him. Her slender fingers moved across his stomach, tracing the muscles that trembled under her touch. Anthony growled and buried his lips in the crook of Shanon's neck. He inhaled her intoxicating scent before using his lips to give her more pleasurable stimulation.

“I don't regret buying you from Yvone.”

“I guess this marriage isn't that bad.”

Shanon squirmed in amusement as Anthony's tongue caressed her earlobe. His hot tongue created a wet trail on the surface of her pale skin. Shanon squealed in surprise when Anthony devoured her pebble nipple. She had never felt anything that great before. Her arms moved to hold Anthony tighter, pushing him deeper into her breast.

“Ohh... Anthony... You, oohh...”

"Easy, we haven't gotten to the main game yet."

Anthony took off his boxers, which felt tight around his hips. Shanon gasped when she felt something hard stabbing her groin. Anthony calmed Shanon, who was getting restless down there with his fingers. Shanon did nothing but squeal and moan every time Anthony stroked her. She wanted more and more and didn't want Anthony to stop.

“Anthony, I want you.”

Shanon caressed Anthony's face gently after a storm of pleasure hit her. Her whole body became very sensitive, as if thousands of volts of electricity were vibrating all her nerves.

“Spread your legs for me.”

Anthony was as excited as Shanon. He also couldn't wait to plunge himself as soon as possible into Shanon's hot density. Her innocence and stiff movements sent a rush of passion through his body.

“Hold on, Shanon. Let me do it for you.”

Anthony pressed Shanon's hips against the bed and positioned himself into Shanon's enticing tightness. He growled every time his core rubbed against Shanon's. Anthony had to push harder and growl. He frowned as he discovered something odd. Anthony gasped at what had eluded him all this time.

"Are you still a virgin?"

“I-I...” Shanon started to worry as Anthony slowly distanced himself from her.

"Why?"

"I can't. I have no right to break your seal.”

“But, I want you tonight. We're married. You have the right to touch me.”

Anthony shook his head hard. He got out of bed and put back on his clothes that were scattered on the floor.

“Go to sleep. Just pretend tonight never happened.”

A tear fell down her cheek seeing Anthony move away. Shanon rolled herself into a ball on the bed, lamenting her misfortune at being left horribly in bed by her husband on their first night.