Chapter Three: I Crave You

Alina

I watched as the car sped off. I held on the hem of my skirt and fumbled it gently until I heard my cruel stepmother's voice from the window.

"You good-for-nothing! Where were you last night? Messing around with men huh? Your pathetic mother should be proud of you. Birds of a feather!"

I stayed quiet. I wasn't ready for her tantrums otherwise, I would be late for school.

In no time, I'd taken a bath and switched into a floral dress plus a whoppy hat over my head.

My mates complained about my dressing but I could only use what I could afford. I wore a sunshade since I didn't want to be noticed by people, especially Nathan and his newly found lover.

My step mother didn't let me eat at home. Thanks to the stranger from the clubhouse, I had enough money to get my self a portion of burrito with eggs, cheese, and veggies at the school's Cafe.

The school environment was rowdy with returning students since we were just starting a new session. New students were receiving an orientation in time in order to prep for their induction before they officially commenced studies.

When I looked to my side, I saw Nathan approaching with Natalie right by his side. His hand was fastened about her wrist as one would hold a trophy so that it wouldn't slip off.

When Natalie spotted me. She always recognized me no matter how much I disguised. She pressed her lips to Nathan's and kissed him. I looked away immediately.

Thanks to the sunshade. It helped to conceal my facial reaction. My soul appeared to be leaving my body. I was in a deep pain. The guy I once cherished and adored was now in the arms of another.

As if the kiss was not enough, Natalie drew Nathan's attention to me. In a split of seconds, I was surrounded by some students and Nathan was there to ignite their fire.

I was mocked, kicked on the leg and some others dragged my hair. "Loser, golddigger!" They accused me and said all whatnot!

I stood there shamefully like a big billboard while the students hurled abuses at me as much as they wanted. Just when I thought my breathe would cease, something happened.

"Stop that at once!" We heard a strong masculine voice yell from a track by the field. "One more nonsense from any of you, you'd be expelled from school today!"

Who was this man? What gave him the confidence to say that he could expel a student from school?

Everyone paused to look. His hair was really scruffy, his face bushy with moustache, a shirt worn inside out or so it appeared. His trousers wasn't even ironed and then, an old briefcase clung to his hands. He looked more like a caricature than anything he thought he was.

Another look on his face, I saw black glasses there, then I looked around me. Even though the students were skeptical about who he was or the kind of influence he might possess, they started to disperse.

"Are you okay?" He came closer and stood before me. He was a bit uneasy as though he wanted to reach out and pat my shoulders.

"I am. Thank you for coming through." I said with a slow nod, my eyes never leaving his face.

"Anytime." He smiled. I could only imagine how pretty his eyes would be if he didn't have the glasses on.

"May I know you?" I asked because something about him seemed familiar. The smile, the strong, masculine cologne, and his towering physique. It seemed dreamy, bringing back the memories of last night.

No! What I met last night was nothing compared to what stood before me. Here was a man who was struggling to survive on the peanuts he earned as a lecturer. His appearance made a clear indication.

"I'm Clarence and you are?"

"I'm Alina. A student from the Anatomy department. It's my final year in college. I'm sorry, you seem familiar."

He shook his head abruptly, "No I'm not." With that said, he strode away.

I was now left alone, so I gently made to the lecture hall. Christy, my best friend was there. She wore a blue jacket over a white shirt with a palazzo.

"Hey, Alina!" She came running toward me and soon, enveloped me in a hug.

Christy was engaged to be married to Mr Austin, the man who taught us histochemistry in our third year. A few times, they have had an affair right in his office, something she doesn't regret doing even though they were almost caught. They were so much in love with each other.

"How was your holiday, Christy?"

"Beautiful. How was yours?"

I smiled, "Not the perfect type but, yeah, it was awesome!"

She hugged me again before we got talking about her fiancee. That moment, the lecturer walked inside the class.

It was the same man from moments ago. Everywhere was silent. If a pin were to be dropped, it would have been possible to hear the sound of it.

Without saying a word to the students, he turned to the board and wrote, ANA 411: REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY.

He was there, talking and interacting with the students while it seemed like I was experiencing a soul travel. I was just overwhelmed with the feeling of dejavu. I couldn't concentrate on the teaching.

Was he playing games with me? It was him! The man from the club. I could swear with my life that I wasn't being delusional.

"Okay you, tell us what you understand about the teaching." He said suddenly not to me though, or so I thought until all eyes fell on me.

I briefly glanced at Natalie. I could swear that she was feeling so good. Yeah! She doesn't know what to say! Shame on her. I could read her thought off her facial expression.

I racked my brain while standing. No matter what I was thinking, I knew I wouldn't know what to say.

"You were mostly distracted during my class. I don't tolerate such behavior in my class. I graduate those who deserve it while the others repeat the session. Is that clear?"

I nodded, "yes, please. Pardon me Sir, I got a lot to deal with."

"I want to see you in my office immediately after the session." He ordered, slamming his palm on a desk.

"Noted, sir."

Natalie gave her boyfriend a satisfactory smile before whispering in his ears, afterward, they laughed.

Christy moved over to me desk, she shoved a strand of hair off my face and exhaled.

"Sorry, Alina. It's a poor start for a new session and with a new lecturer. Why were you distracted? I believe you would have said something if you were attentive."

"I couldn't stay focused, there's something I don't seem to understand. I... I.." I couldn't say a thing even though I knew she wouldn't judge me if I did.

"We can talk about it when you are back from his office."

I nodded.

The corridor stretched further and further as I walked down trying to identify his office from among the offices meant for the staff of our department.

A lecturer was just leaving her office and I decided to ask her for directions.

"Sorry, but the lecturer you described doesn't own an office but a residential apartment and that would be after the staff club. Also, he's a professor, so you must be mindful of how you address him."

What? Did she know what she was spewing? I wanted to laugh but composed my self. A residential apartment in the school by someone like Mr Clarence? How ridiculous! "Thank you very much ma'am."

"You are welcome Dear."

Well, I retreated and took a cab at the park and headed for the staff club.

Soon, I was redirected to a house rather than an office. I was received in and led to an office.

There he was, sipping red wine from a glass cup. Something else grabbed my attention. A plate of raw, untouched meat right in front of him. I scanned around briefly with my eyes.

Oops! He probably needed them for experiments. I deduced.

I bowed my head, "You asked me to meet you, Sir."

Silence prevailed for a while until I heard him say, "look up and tell me what's the cause of your distraction?"

His glasses were still intact, the lips were the same, everything about him was just a reminder of the last night.

"I don't have any distractions, Sir. I was only inactive today but I promise you a better performance in the next class."

"Come forward," he slowly gestured with his right index finger.

I didn't move an inch, I couldn't think of it even though I wanted to. It wasn't even advisable to be in a confined spot with a male lecturer especially one that was unpredictable like this one.

But then, he got up and made toward me. When he got closer, he leaned forward to my ear, "I brought you here to help with your distraction."

My breath stopped for a few seconds and started quickly after! What did he think caused my distraction and how was he planning to help me?

He made to the door and bolted it. "Get on the table, Alina. Should we commence with a foreplay or we should get straight to the exercise? Don't fret, I want everything to be on your terms." He spewed, thoughtlessly.

My mouth was agape, my body convulsed as his words replayed in my mind.

Was this man joking? Damn no, he was serious! He was taking off his suit while I stood by the wall, hands wrapped across my breasts. It was more like a defensive mechanism.

Screaming wasn't an option. He was already acting like a psychopath and might as well careless even if I screamed.

The next second, I saw him taking off his cufflinks. "Aren't you going to take your pretty dress off too? Or, do you need me to assist you?" He smiled. The sexiest smile I had ever seen.

He retreated behind me and then I started to hear the sounds of books and folders being stacked up.

I was both scared and confused at the same.

When I turned to rebuff him, I was met with a broad chest full of hairs. Pink nipples, with tiny hairs roundabout them. His insides were more palatable than his fashion sense.

His abs and triceps were conspicuous, right there before me. Making me yearn for a hug.

I couldn't take my eyes off his body until he cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry," I apologize but regretted immediately after. It was obvious he brought me here to sexualize me and it was working.

He made toward me and swept me off the floor. I felt like a baby in his arms. It was a tantalizing experience for me. It felt good, like a beautiful dream.

He placed me on the his desk and pulled me into a hug. He held me close for minutes and I could hear the rapid beat of his heart.

"Save me, Alina." He whispered in my ear.

If there was anyone who needed salvation, it was me. What the hell did he mean by asking me to save him?

My heart was thumping like a drum in my chest. "Wait, are you very sure that we haven’t met before? Like… really met?"

He leaned back, one eyebrow lifting just enough to look amused. "I don't think so. I don't remember seeing anyone like you." He shrugged casually. "Humans got lookalikes all the time. Same face, same vibe… doesn’t mean it’s the same person. Could just be a weird coincidence."

He reached over, brushed a strand of hair off my cheek like he had every right to touch me. "Forget whoever you think you saw in your head, Alina. That ain’t real. This is real. Me. Right here. Focus on me."

I gasped and took a deep breath. "Okay," I nodded.

His voice dropped lower, more gentle. "I’m the one who is going to keep you safe. The one who is going to help you relax. Do let me, please."

I swallowed hard. Believed him. And maybe that’s exactly what it was.

But damn… why did my gut keep screaming that I knew him?

I was scared to wrap my arms around him so he helped raise my arms around his body. I felt safe, it felt right even though it wasn't.

He leaned forward and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Please," I mumbled. "Don't hurt me."

"Never! I want to excite you. You are needy, I see it in your eyes."

My heart beat heightened. I was trying everything I could to act uninterested. How could my body betray me?

"You are a professor. We have school rules, you don't want to break them."

"Unless I made the rules. So I can break them and no one will point a finger of accusation at me."

I squinted, was he disguising or pulling my legs?

"Your scent is different and I crave you badly, Alina. Do you want to please your Prof?"