NINE. MAKING LOVE WITH THE PROFESSOR

"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you inside?"

“Nope. Thank you for worrying about me, but I'm fine. See you tomorrow on campus."

Shanon waved gently at Sarah and got out of her car. She walked straight towards the glass door, which opened automatically as she approached. The smell of carbolic acid and sterile objects greeted her. Shanon had to get used to everything about the hospital while Avery was still lying in a coma in her treatment room.

"Excuse me, I want to pay Avery Wilson's bill."

"Okay, wait a minute. I'll print the receipt."

She clutched Anthony's black credit card tightly in her hand. That would be her first payment with Anthony's credit card.  She would try to be frugal with other expenses and use her savings for personal needs. He wouldn't make Anthony suspicious about his credit card bill, which kept increasing every month.

"Your card, Ms?"

“Here.”

The administrative officer did it quickly and handed Anthony's card back to her after all the payments were made.

"Sign here."

“Done.”

"Thank You."

"You're welcome."

Shanon gripped the card tightly and smiled in relief. Things could be quicker and easier if she had money. Sometimes, she missed the ease she had before her father died. But all that convenience evaporated quickly after Yvone came into her life and manipulated her father. She hoped Avery would wake up soon and recover. Shanon felt lonely without Avery.

“Hello, Ave.”

Shanon stepped into her sister's treatment room, which was very sterile and cold. Avery lay weakly on a gurney in the middle of the room. Her skin was pale, her head was covered in bandages, her arm was broken, and Avery had several other invisible injuries. Shanon tried not to cry, seeing her sister's very bad condition. She held Avery's hand gently, hoping for a miracle to come right then and there.

“I miss you, Ave. I am lonely without you. I'm afraid to face this cruel world alone.”

Shanon's tears fell onto Avery's pale, wrinkled palms. Shanon couldn't imagine Avery's condition if she had to lie in that place for weeks. Avery had only been there for three days, and her skin had already turned very wrinkled and pale.

“You should have told me if you had signed an agreement with that annoying professor. He's so terrible. I can't imagine if you were in my position right now."

Shanon felt her bruised forehead. Anthony pissed her off because he accused her of being an attention seeker, instead of sympathizing with her because she got a ball thrown in the head.

“He is a heartless man, a cold and arrogant man. He had the heart to cheat his good grandfather to get his inheritance. Isn't that very petty?”

Shanon sighed softly. “Okay, I did the same thing. I accepted the marriage because I needed money to pay for your medical expenses.”

Shanon massaged her tired eye sockets. She knew Avery would never hear her, but at least she could pour out all the contents of her turbulent heart. If she could, she would want to shout to the world how miserable his life was right now. She wanted to tell everyone that she had the misfortune of marrying her shitty professor.

“I can't just let you go, Ave. Yvone doesn't want to pay for your medical expenses, even though she stole our father's money. Our money! She… She would rather let you die than save you.”

Shanon put her forehead on the edge of Avery's bed and cried silently there. She hated her very unlucky fate.

“The man who was supposed to marry you fucked me. He kept saying that I should be put to good use because he had bought me from Yvone. What a jerk he is. He even asked me to be his servant. There's nothing left of me now, Ave. I'm completely devastated.”

All the anger and sadness mixed together in her heart. Shanon felt unable to return to Anthony's house and continue their marriage. She wanted to run away right then and there and find a better life somewhere in another city, where no one knew her.

“But I can't leave you here alone, Ave. You are the only family I have. You have fought so hard to raise me since mom died. You always protected me when Dad preferred that evil woman. I will only survive for you, Ave. I promise, I will try my best until you recover."

Shanon held Avery's cold palm tightly. She looked at her sister's face sadly and full of determination.

“I will visit you again tomorrow. Take care of yourself, Ave. Get well soon.”

Shanon planted a soft kiss on her sister's bandaged forehead. All their beautiful memories emerged in her brain, adding to the deep sadness in Shanon's heart. If one day her sister didn't wake up, Shanon didn't know what would happen to her life. She was able to survive this far because of Avery's care and love. Without her sister, she was directionless and blind.

-00-

The luxurious house with an iron gate looked boring and quiet. Yeah, the house was beautiful but soulless. Shanon entered through a small door beside the main gate. Anthony gave her a brass key before they left for campus this morning. Shanon didn't have to bother carrying a remote to open the main gate.

Shanon clutched the groceries in her chest. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and sighed in relief because she arrived thirty minutes earlier than Anthony's home time. Anthony told her he would be home at eight. Shanon rushed into the house because she had to prepare dinner before Anthony came home.

"Where have you been?"

“Kyyyaa...”

Anthony suddenly appeared from the darkness and surprised Shanon, who had just stepped into the house. Her groceries fell all over the floor. An apple rolled across the room and stopped right at Anthony's feet.

“You-you surprised me.”

"Where have you been? I saw you leaving campus with your best friend at one p.m. Where do you go all the time?”

Shanon groaned in annoyance. She squatted down to pick up her grocery items which had fallen along with her duffel bag.

“I went home to get some clothes and went shopping.”

“For six hours and thirty minutes?”

Anthony walked over to her and crouched in front of her. His eyes stared intently into Shanon's trembling eyes. Shanon was lost in his ocean blue eyes. Beautiful, clear and...

“I'm talking to you, Shanon.”

Cold! You bastard!

“I was in my house long enough to tidy up my room. I said goodbye to some of my neighbors. And I went to the supermarket to shop. Are you satisfied now?”

Anthony handed Shanon an apple, then stood up arrogantly.

“You said you wouldn't be home until eight? Why did you come home before eight?”

“I didn't say I'd be home at eight. I told you to prepare dinner because I will have dinner before eight. I came home at six, and you weren't home. I don't have your phone number.”

Shanon just realized that they hadn't exchanged phone numbers. That should have been the basic thing they had to do when they were officially married.

“Give me your cell phone.”

Shanon reached into the front pocket of her bag and placed her white cell phone in Anthony's palm.

“I don't think we need it because we will often meet on campus. At least, you have a schedule twice a week in my class."

Her phone was ringing. Shanon saw Anthony doing something with his own phone before handing her phone back to her.

“In reality, you are not on campus all day. You are harder to find than me.”

That was right. Anthony was easier to find because he would be in his office if he wasn't teaching. Meanwhile, Shanon could be anywhere. Especially if Sarah had dragged her to go to her favorite places. Clubs, pubs and bars.

“Sorry because I came home late today. I'll prepare dinner quickly. I'll call you when dinner is ready.”

Shanon was busy unpacking the groceries in the kitchen. She took out the chicken fillet and potatoes, then moved to the kitchen cabinet to get a knife and several bowls.

"Wait a moment."

Anthony suddenly grabbed her wrist and stopped her near the kitchen island. Shanon raised her eyebrows in surprise when Anthony brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.

“You have a bruise on your forehead. Have you seen a doctor this afternoon? You might have a concussion.”

"I'm fine. The ball did land hard on my forehead, but so far I don't feel nauseous or have a headache."

“But these bruises need ointment. I'll get it in my room.”

Anthony dashed quickly towards his room, leaving Shanon stunned in the kitchen. Anthony confused her with his change in attitude. Shanon still clearly remembered when Anthony blamed her and even humiliated her in front of all the students who packed the basketball court.

"Sorry, but as far as I remember, you called me an attention seeker, and I was a careless woman."

“You were.”

Anthony grabbed Shanon's shoulders and pushed her to sit on the stool. He squeezed the ointment from the tube and used one hand to brush back the hair on Shanon's forehead, while his other hand applied the ointment to the bruise on her forehead.

That closeness created hot steam between them and awakened all the hot memories of the previous night. Shanon cleared her throat softly to get rid of her nervousness as Anthony thoughtfully applied ointment to her bruises. Anthony's masculine scent wafted through her senses. Shanon found herself lulled by Anthony's scent. She subconsciously raised her palms and pressed them against his hard broad chest. Her palms moved gently across Anthony's chest, rising and falling constantly. Shanon closed her eyes, enjoying the soft vibrations that ran through her body. Anthony was still wearing the same shirt he wore to campus. But strangely, the shirt remained smooth without the slightest wrinkle.

"What are you doing?"

Anthony's cold voice snapped Shanon out of all her erotic fantasies. She jerked back and almost fell out of her chair because she was so shocked by what had just happened.

“I-I…” Shanon's eyes shifted restlessly to find the right reason.

"What?" Anthony lowered his face. He studied Shanon's face seriously.

Her eyes were brown like hot melted chocolate, which was delicious and tempting. Her skin was pale, but it would glow beautifully when she blushed. Her lips were something magical. Bright pink, not too full, tended to be thin, but the lips were very beautiful. Anthony flashes back to their first kiss at City Hall. The first time he found out that his bride was not the woman he was supposed to marry, he felt reluctant to go through with the marriage. He planned to sue Yvone after her grandfather left. But all his plans changed after he kissed her thin and luscious pink lips. Those lips sent shivers of pleasure throughout his body. One kiss at City Hall wasn't enough to satisfy him. He decided to taste it again after having dinner with his grandfather. And strangely, even though he had kissed those pink lips many times, he never had enough. He always wanted it again and again.

“Your eyes are saying something.”

Anthony touched Shanon's cheeks gently. Shanon stiffened under his touch. Her cheeks flushed even redder as she tried to look at him shyly.

“I... just wanted to thank you. Thank you for the ointment.”

“And?”

“And?” Shanon raised her eyebrows in confusion.

“Just thank you is not enough for me. I want my prize.”

Before Shanon could say anything, Anthony's lips landed on hers and he kissed her gently. Shanon's eyes almost jumped out when she felt Anthony's kiss, which was different from her previous kisses. The kiss was gentle, unhurried, and pleasant. Shanon closed her eyes when she saw Anthony also close his eyes as he kissed her lips. She put her arms around Anthony's neck and Anthony leaned closer to her.

They were lost in the tender kiss for a few moments. Anthony was the first to open his eyes and move his lips away from Shanon. He didn't realize that he had hugged her tiny waist tightly, while Shanon almost collapsed on the kitchen island. Shanon's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck to prevent her from falling off the stool.

“I'm starving.”

Shanon snapped out of her entire erotic fantasy. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to escape Anthony's grip. But when she was about to get off the stool, Anthony held her waist in place.

"I'll cook dinner for you."

“No. I'm hungry for something else.”

His index finger moved along the bridge of Shanon's nose and then down to her lips, which were swollen and glistening with their saliva.

“I want to eat you.”

Shanon's breath hitched when Anthony pushed her back to lie down on the kitchen island. Her heart was pounding in anticipation of what would happen next. Anthony's fingers moved quickly to strip her clothes. Anthony gave a half smile as he pushed aside her blouse and found a pair of black lacy bras.

“Lovely. This skin looks perfect with something black and lacy.”

Her breath hitched when she felt Anthony's index finger touch her cleavage. The touch was as light as cotton, soft and seductive. His index finger then slid down to her stomach. Her palms clenched into a ball as Anthony began to land his lips on her shaking stomach.

“Oh my... Professor Bruce.”

“I like that. But I prefer you calling me by my name outside of campus.”

"Anthony," Shanon whispered huskily as Anthony started kissing her stiff, pointed breasts. His teeth grinded against her pebbled nipple. Her heels pressed tightly against the surface of the table every time the delicious tingle spread to her core.

"Why didn't you tell me you were still a virgin?"

Anthony looked up and looked at Shanon's face, which was very red. Her eyes were clouded as passion took over her completely.

“I thought you wouldn't like it.”

“No way. Every man likes to be first. You should have told me, so I could be gentler. I was a fucking dick yesterday. You must be in pain."

Anthony put his hand on her thigh, which was still clad in jeans. Shanon felt that the palm of his hand was very hot and could melt her jeans. She couldn't wait to feel the touch of that palm on her skin. It was burning hot and yearning for his touch.

“I'm fine. It felt like a sting when I went to the bathroom this morning.”

“I promise, this time I will be gentler. You deserve something better.”

Anthony slowly stripped Shanon of all her clothes. His gaze never left Shanon's eyes, which were clouded with passion. Anthony's intense gaze and skillful hand movements while stripping her clothes were a deadly combination. Shanon seemed to be flying to seventh heaven because she was so happy. But she also felt hypocritical because she always told Sarah that she didn't like Anthony. While now, she was letting Anthony touch her and was really anticipating it.

"How about you? You're still dressed, while I'm... plain.”

“Later. Now it's about you. Let me please you tonight.”

Shanon had no idea that it tasted so good and felt wonderful. Anthony kept his promise to touch her gently. She came multiple times and panted over the kitchen island as a storm of pleasure swept through her. Anthony showed a very strong sensual side in front of her. Especially with his messy hair from her fingers and the lipstick marks on his jaw. Shanon never imagined she would do that to her professor.

“Let me do something for you.”

Shanon tried to get up and grabbed Anthony's hips. She knew that Anthony was just as passionate as her. She wanted to please Anthony in return. But Anthony shook his head and helped her to stand up.

“I can wait. You’re hungry, and you need more than just sex to fill you up.”

Shanon's cheeks flushed. Anthony must have heard the sound of his stomach snoring noisily.

“I promise, we will continue this after the worms in your stomach are fed. I have a crazier and rougher idea for our second round.”

Anthony moved away after planting a wet kiss on her cheek. Shanon was left alone in the kitchen, this time with a smile and a blush on her face. Her heart was pounding just by imagining something rough, but exciting.