Voyeur, p.9
Voyeur, page 9
Some of his friends cheered, “Yeah, bro. Nice catch for the night.”
“Sexy fuck for later.”
“Send us pics of those tits man. Or better yet, a video of them bouncing as you fuck her.”
Olivia’s tired eyes popped open, and she began to wriggle her arm free, but his grip tightened, and she winced in pain. These people were fucking pigs, and I was done with this shit.
“Let her the fuck go.”
“No need to be jealous. I’ll fuck you too.”
"No way, man.” My heart shot into my throat when an arm banded around my waist and hauled me back against a hard body. The stench of pungent beer burned my nostrils and churned my stomach. “Would that make you feel better, baby,” he spoke softly against my neck, and I tried to curl away from him. “We can always share, too.”
He stretched his arm in front of me and held up his hand. The goliath that was holding Olivia high-fived my captor. Olivia’s glazed eyes met mine and began to fill with tears.
No. No, no, no. Adrenaline shot through my body. I used all my strength and slammed my heel down on his toe. He cursed in pain and pulled back, but still held tight to my arm.
“You fucking bitch!” He tossed me behind him, and with no one there to catch me, I fell, landing against a table pushed off to the side. Pain shot up my arm as it scraped against the corner. My head thudded hard against the edge, and I blinked to clear the black dots before me. Why wasn’t anyone doing anything? Tears burned my eyes in fear, embarrassment, and rage.
Ready to get up and fight him with an epic warrior cry, going down fighting for my friend, I was stopped when three guys stepped into the circle.
“Let her the fuck go, dickhole,” Connor said, his two friends at his side. One reached back to help me up. “Or we’ll report you to Coach and get you kicked off the team.”
I stood next to one of our heroes, still burning with rage, when the asshole tossed Olivia at Connor, where she stumbled into his arms.
“She’s not fucking worth it. Too fat.”
I stepped forward, aiming for his balls, but the guy who helped me up held me back, shaking his head. “Let’s just get out of here.”
They walked us out to our car, helping a sniffling Olivia into the front seat.
“You okay to drive?” Connor asked me.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. Thanks for your help in there.”
“Evan and James are cunts and deserve to be kicked off the football team. I’ll be telling the coach anyway.”
“Thank you,” I said one last time before I got in and drove off.
I parked in the teacher lot outside of the science building because it was the closest to Olivia’s dorm. When I walked past, I looked up at Dr. Pierce’s office and saw the light on. What was he doing here so late? Looking at my phone I noticed it was only ten-thirty. Still late, but I almost laughed at how short a time we lasted at the frat party. Less than three hours and we’d already checked that off as an experience we’d never want to repeat again.
I got Olivia settled and tucked in with no protest and very little help on her part. The alcohol was hitting her. I left a bottle of water and some aspirin on her desk for the morning.
“Guys are jerks. Thanks for being my friend, Oak.”
“Any time.” I kissed her forehead. She was out before I even reached the door.
When I walked past the science building again, Dr. Pierce’s light was off. I must have just missed him.
Walking back to my car I remained vigilant. Looking around, partly scared that someone might have followed us for revenge or something equally dramatic. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the stinging in my arm increased. I needed to get home and take care of whatever damage was caused. The pain stretched down my arm and up into my shoulder. My head ached and each throb was a reminder to how vulnerable I was. Only ten more feet to my car.
I almost swallowed my tongue when a dark figure emerged from around the corner.
“Oaklyn?” a familiar voice asked.
My whole body shook as I fought off the fight or flight that gripped me. I was sure he heard it when I said his name.
“Dr. Pierce? Hey.”
He stepped into the light and his eyebrows furrowed. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.” I took deep breaths to get my heart rate back to a normal pace. Tonight was turning out to be hellacious on my nervous system. “You just scared me.”
“Sorry about that,” he said looking unconvinced. “What are you doing on campus so late. You don’t live in the dorms, do you?”
“I was just dropping my friend off. Coming back from a party.”
He nodded his head, but still watched me closely. “I thought those ran later than eleven.”
“Maybe. I guess it just wasn’t for us. Especially when it’s filled with dickholes. Sorry,” I finished, apologizing for swearing in front of my professor. However, he didn’t seem concerned about that.
He walked a few steps closer, looking me over with obvious concern. “What do you mean? What happened? Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I answered weakly. “Some of the guys were just getting handsy with Olivia and me, threatening things. So, I tried defending us.” I laughed humorlessly. “But you know, it’s hard to be five-five and move a mountain. I got shoved and fell pretty hard.” I gestured to my arm and watched his jaw harden. A muscle twitched in his cheek, and I rushed to explain the ending. “Some other guys stepped in to help and got us out of there.”
I looked down, too ashamed to meet his eye. Ashamed that we’d fallen into the assaulted girl category. Ashamed I couldn’t do more to defend myself and my friend.
“Let me see,” he said, his voice hard.
My head shot up. His usually bright eyes were dark and looked to be barely restraining his rage.
“I’m fine.”
“Let. Me. See.”
Taking a deep breath, I shed my coat and exposed my arm. I think we were both shocked to find dried blood that had dripped down my elbow and a decent gash.
“Mother fuck,” he muttered.
I almost laughed. Dr. Pierce was light and happy when he taught, and in my slightly manic state, his cursing was funny somehow.
“Follow me. We have a first aid kit in the department.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to do—”
“Oaklyn, please.”
Despite his anger, his eyes seemed pained.
“Okay,” I agreed, not hating the idea of him tending to me.
I followed him into the building. We didn’t speak at all until we reached his office.
“Take your jacket off. I’ll be right back.” His voice seemed brusque and loud after the silence.
I did as he asked and sat in the chair in front of his desk. When he returned, he carried a first aid kit and sat in the chair next to me. While he searched for what he was looking for, I looked him over. He’d lost the tie he usually wore in classes, leaving a few buttons open, exposing a smattering of chest hair that screamed masculinity. It was crazy, but I had to fight to keep from leaning forward and touching it. His hair was more mussed than usual. Like he’d spent the evening running his frustrated fingers through it. It was a good look on him.
“Alright,” he said. “Turn a bit so I can see.”
When he got a good look at the injury, his eyes closed, and he swallowed hard. His concern caused a burning behind my eyes. How long had it been since someone had been upset by my pain? Maybe I missed my family more than I thought.
“It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“It’s going to look worse tomorrow,” he said through a clenched jaw. “This is going to hurt a bit.”
His long fingers wrapped behind my arm, brushing against the tender skin, sending goose bumps down my arm and up my neck. It was the first time he’d touched me, and the heat from his skin seemed to burn the memory into my brain. The light pressure was more erotic than any touch I’d ever had. Was it only the forbidden aspect? The fact that I couldn’t have him, made every touch all the more intense?
Suddenly, I sucked air in through my teeth as he wiped around the wound with alcohol and then poured peroxide over it. Instead of erotic tingles from his touch, the fiery burn had my own jaw clenching.
“Sorry,” he whispered. Gritting my teeth, I nodded as he continued. “So, what exactly happened tonight?”
“We went to a frat party,” I said, shrugging like it explained everything.
“Did anyone . . .” I could hear his deep breath before he spoke again. “Did anyone touch either of you? In any other way.”
“No, not really. Olivia was dancing with this guy and he got a little more handsy than she wanted, so I came over to try and rescue her.” I laughed humorlessly at how dumb I sounded. In hindsight, it was stupid to think I was going to make a difference. “Thank god for some of the guys we knew there. They stepped in after my rescue attempt failed.”
I shook my head, recalling the night. Frustrated with how it all had played out. “There were so many people who did nothing. Just stood there as he threatened to-to rape her.”
His hand clenched around my arm, and I jerked. “Ow.”
“I’m sorry. So, sorry,” Dr. Pierce said. I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was taking heavy breaths, looking like he was trying to collect himself. When he noticed me staring, he grabbed a Band-Aid. “You should report it.”
Another humorless laugh. “There’s no point. Nothing actually happened, and no one would be able to do anything.” I furrowed my brows at the sad truth. “That’s just the way the cookie crumbles.”
I looked over my shoulder again. He looked up as he stretched the last Band-Aid on my arm. His eyes shot through me, so intense with how close we were. So blue, I felt like I could drown in them. The Band-Aids were in place, yet he hadn’t moved away. My heart was beating double-time, pumping a fiery heat through me.
“If you ever find yourself in a situation like that again, you can ask me for help.”
His eyes flicked my lips as I slicked my tongue across them.
“Thank you,” I said on a breath, dropping my eyes to his mouth. Maybe if I leaned in a little closer, he’d meet me halfway. My eyes began to droop closed, my mouth drawn to his.
He jerked back, turning away from me to clean up the trash. He cleared his throat. “That’s going to be sore tomorrow. Have a friend help change out the Band-Aids and keep it clean. Should be better soon.”
“Yeah.” The word barely escaped my parted lips. My eyes dropped to my lap as tears threatened.
What the fuck was I thinking? What had I been doing? Fuck, I was so dumb. So fucking dumb.
The self-ridicule kept coming, and I couldn’t deny any of it because I felt like a predator, and there was no hiding my attraction now. How was I going to spend the rest of the semester with him after this? Fuck.
Embarrassment seared through me. When he left to go return the first aid kit, I quickly put my jacket back on and tried to leave before he came back, not wanting to face him. I got as far as the front office door before he came back in.
“Wait for me. I’ll walk you to your car.”
I couldn’t turn and look at him. With my hand on the knob, I said, “You don’t have to do—”
“I do. Please.”
I kept my distance and my eyes down as we walked toward the parking lot. At my car, I muttered a quick thanks and tried to get in, but a hand pressed the door back closed. Finally, I turned to look into his eyes. I tried to read them, tried to understand what he thought of me, of what had just happened.
They looked. . . regretful?
“Here’s my number, should you ever need it.”
I took the card he extended to me, taking in the masculine handwriting.
“Thank you.” I looked at him again, trying to find the regret again. Trying to find out if I was right or just crazy.
Maybe he was just as attracted to me as I was to him.
He was just so much smarter than me to not act on it.
13
Callum
Oaklyn walked into the office the following Monday and gave me a timid smile. Probably unsure of exactly how I’d act after Friday night.
That night . . . That night had split me open. Seeing her jump when I said her name. Seeing the lingering fear and frustration in her eyes. Then seeing her arm. I didn’t know how I’d kept a lid on my anger. To find out it was from some asshole threatening to sexually assault her and her friend? My stomach churned remembering the wave of nausea that had hit me when she’d said it. I’d managed to hold it together enough to take her upstairs and take care of the wound. As I’d bandaged her arm, I salivated over the feel of her flesh beneath my fingertips. Even if it was just her arm.
There was nothing sexual about what I’d been doing, but the tension had crackled between us, heating up the room. She’d turned to look at me, so close, her deep golden eyes had fused onto mine. Her tongue had peeked out to slick across her lips, pulling my gaze to the soft pink flesh. I’d wanted to lean in, taste them, flick my own tongue across them. I’d been so entranced by the way she’d leaned toward me. I’d thought of nothing else but moving closer too. I’d watched her eyes drift close, and I was ready to say fuck it and give in.
Then the alcohol pad began to seep through my pants, the cold tickling at my thigh. It’d been minor, but enough to snap me back to reality. It might as well have been a bucket of cold water doused over my head.
My chest had clenched when I saw her eyes widen in confusion, when I saw the sheen of tears before she’d looked down in embarrassment. I’d given her space to collect herself, taken a walk to replace the first aid kit, calling myself every stupid name in the book. I’d resolved to apologize when I’d returned, determined to take responsibility for leading her on. Then I’d seen her trying to bolt, and I’d forgotten my whole plan. Scratched everything and instead pretended like nothing had happened.
Which is exactly what I’d continue to do today too.
“Feeling any better?” I asked when she stepped into my office.
“Yeah,” she said, moving to sit in the chair in front of my desk. I fought to keep my eyes from trailing down to watch the way her skirt rode up her thighs as she sat. “A hell of a lot better than Olivia. I think she was still hungover yesterday.”
“I don’t miss those days,” I said, cringing.
“What?” she mock-gasped, pulling her hand to her chest. “You? A rowdy boy in college?”
Laughing at her dramatics, I shook my head. “More like rowdy high school boy.”
“Was this before or during the class presidency and physics club? I won’t judge,” she held up her hands. “Physics club would drive me to drink too.”
“You’re very funny, Miss Derringer.”
She gave a shameless shrug, and I loved the way it made her ponytail sway. Maybe I could blame that for putting me in a trance long enough to allow the next words to pop out.
“I struggled a little as a teen. Drinking helped.”
She hid her shock at my confession pretty well. Not that it was much of a confession, just probably not something a teacher talked about with his student. I could see her eyes widen a little before she nodded her head like she understood.
She had no idea how much was really behind those two sentences. I’d struggled with my anger—my loss of control—and drinking helped me numb myself enough that I didn’t find the need for an outlet. But it wasn’t long until my parents had had enough and got me into therapy. My therapist recommended getting involved in school and then came physics club. As lame as it sounded, it was the first thing to get me excited about something in years.
Fucking stars, man. Saved my life.
I laughed at that, then admitted, “Physics club was my jam. Gave me something else to focus on.”
I didn’t know why I’d shared so much of my past. Something about her, the innocence and acceptance that emanated from her made me want to confess all my secrets. I needed to change the subject before more word vomit came out.
Thankfully, Donna popped her head in. “We’re getting lunch from the sub shop. You want anything?”
Oaklyn’s stomach growled right on cue and her cheeks blushed.
“I’ll take a large club and two bags of potato chips.”
Oaklyn’s head popped up at that. “Dr. Pierce, no. I packed a PB&J. I’m go—”
“Two, Donna,” I interrupted Oaklyn and held up two fingers to Donna. She gave me a nod, smiling at Oaklyn’s protest.
“Let us treat you every once in a while,” she said before walking out.
Us. Like it was the office that wanted to gain pleasure from watching Oaklyn’s lips move with every bite, and not just me.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Oaklyn said, hopping up from her seat and whirling around to dig in her bookbag.
My eyes trailed to the way the soft material of her skirt swayed higher as she moved. The expanse of thigh entranced me and shot straight to my cock, making it twitch under my slacks. She stood, and I looked away before she fully turned and faced me.
“Brownies!” She held up a Tupperware container victoriously. “And I made sure to add peanuts just for you. Although I hear Mr. Erikson likes them too, so you may have to share.”
“Hmmm.” I pretended to think about it. “I don’t think so.”
Her soft laugh filled the office, and I couldn’t help smiling too.
Oaklyn set some brownies on my desk before taking the rest out to the main office for everyone to share.
After lunch, I put on some music to help distract me from the soft noises she created as she filed. It seemed every swish of paper drew my eyes to her, like she was shouting at me, demanding my attention. However, the music backfired on me when I glanced her way to find her standing in front of the cabinet, swaying her hips to the beat of the song.
I wasn’t even sure she was aware of what she was doing, but the motion sucked all the moisture from my mouth and I struggled to swallow the desire choking me. Fuck. I wanted to place my hands on her hips and inch the skirt up until the cheeks of her ass peeked out. Then I’d rub my hand across the soft skin and sway with her. Work my hands around the front as I pressed my cock against her soft globes and buried my fingers between her thighs.
