Chapter 2

Professor Bell placed a printed copy of BODY SPEAKS on the table and spread it out. The pages were filled with enough red markings to make Erin’s heart sink a bit.

“I know the look you’re giving me,” Professor Bell sympathized. “Don’t be discouraged. I’m giving you extra criticism because you want to work in the industry. So I feel obliged to take you under my wing, so to speak.”

Erin flashed an understanding smile. “Thanks, that means a lot. At first, I thought you hated me.”

“I don’t hate anyone. If I did, it certainly wouldn’t be you.”

Erin laughed. “Some of my classmates then?”

“Does it seem like it?” the professor replied, making a joke of her hardline reputation. “I know I come off as abrasive sometimes, but we’re in a university.”

“I know. And I’m sorry for saying that.”

The professor waved her hand. “Think nothing of it. Now, onto your paper.”

For the next several minutes, Professor Bell gave a quick rundown of all the red markings, giving a brief analysis on the matter. Erin listened attentively as if this were a real job. The rest, the professor said, would be for Erin to read later.

“Thank you,” Erin nodded appreciatively.

Professor Bell sat upright. “And then there’s your eroticism. Or romance, whatever you want to call it.”

“Is something wrong with it?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it, per se. I just don’t think it’s professional caliber yet, which is what my former colleagues are looking for. They want someone who really gets it.”

“Oh,” Erin nodded, when she really wanted to say, god damn it.

“I didn’t want to leave too many markings on your paper, regarding the romance/erotica aspect. I want you to figure that out for yourself, since those are the skills you’ll be needing. Plus, it might violate university policy, wouldn’t you say?”

“Are you kidding, Professor Bell? I’m not the least bit rigid. And I’m not going to tell. My roommate doesn’t even know.”

The professor smiled. “Scoot over here, then. Let me show you a few things.”

Erin scooted her chair over to sit next to the professor, who was sifting through the small stack of papers. When she moved, Erin looked closely at the side of the professor’s face, noting how attractive and charming this lady could be. There were a few strands of grey along Professor Bell’s hair bun, which gave her a sophisticated and elegant look. Erin liked what she saw.

“Now, let’s go over this briefly,” the professor said with a pen in her hand.

So they did. Professor Bell sifted through several of the pages and made even more red markings, giving little notes and tidbits for improvement. Erin’s eyes shifted back and forth, from the pages, to the professor’s pretty face as she spoke.

The professor eventually put the pen down and leaned back. They looked each other in the eyes, this time, only a mere few feet away from each other.

“For romance,” the professor explained, “there’s got to be a good hook. Something that’ll captivate the reader, which is why they’re reading in the first place. If you want to be an editor for romance, you need an eye for these things. You have to know how to spot strengths and weaknesses. And that takes a lot of instinct as well.”

“I understand what you’re saying. I definitely could have done better. Part of that was — you know — I didn’t want to hand in a dirty paper. You know what I’m trying to say.”

Erin tensed and fidgeted with her fingers expressing that last part.

The professor smiled, “I’m not easily offended. Besides, if I assign something for you, then I want authenticity. Don’t hold back on me. I won’t allow it.”

“Oh really?” Erin replied, jokingly raising an eyebrow.

“Obviously I don’t want a porn script.”

“There goes my re-write then.”

Professor Bell laughed, “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

The professor is laughing and smiling? At my terrible jokes? What’s more amazing was that Erin was looking at this commanding lady as more of a motherly figure. She could feel their guards lowering, almost as if, they were becoming friends? No, maybe not that. But what else? It certainly didn’t feel like any ordinary professor/student relationship. She always kept things far too cordial for that, especially with this mean lady, who apparently is not so mean after all.

“In all seriousness, I do have a plan,” Erin said. “There were a few details and thoughts that I held back. I could add them in and see what you think.”

“Oh, sounds interesting. Do tell.”

Erin involuntarily pursed her lips. “Now? I was going to write about it.”

It was already strange enough having to write out her sexual fantasies and history. But to speak them to the professor? No thanks.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m going to read this anyway, and so are the people at the publisher. It might even be better like this, since I can provide immediate feedback.”

This highly educated teacher had a point. Immediate feedback is always a good thing.

Erin gathered her thoughts and tried not to be embarrassed. “Well, I was thinking of adding more sensory things like touching, kissing, licking. You know, things people do when they’re being intimate.”

There was a slight pause from the college student. What else!? She mentally weighed her options, deciding how much to reveal, and how to delicately phrase things so it wouldn’t sound gratuitous.

“Normal things,” Erin responded. “Like kissing, rubbing each other’s bodies parts with our hands, and doing things with our mouths. Then of course, there’s things like context and where it takes places. Little details, like rolling around in the sheets and things of that sort.”

Professor Bell nodded her approval. “I like it. You’ve already got the story set up. Now you’re thinking like a romance writer with your erotic scenes.”

The look of approval and words of satisfaction from the professor were enough to make Erin beam with pride. But she held it in because she didn’t want to look like a dork.

“I can offer more tips if you’d like.”

Erin leaned in. “Oh yes, anything.”

“This is just my opinion, but I’ve always felt that it’s the littlest details that make an erotic scene feel erotic.”

“Good point. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, take me for instance,” Professor Bell said. “I love the sound of a person’s voice. There’s a lot of eroticism and romance there. You can hear the longings and desires through a person’s voice. And when the person is up close, towards your ear, and you can feel the vibrations of voice, and the tone, there’s nothing hotter.”

Erin couldn’t help but clench a little and press her legs together. There was a particular look in the professor’s eyes, and even a slight smile on her lips too. And the professor’s voice, the way she said that, there was something there. Erin knew it, but what was it?

She could tell that the professor was getting a real kick out of this, both personally and educationally. Erin felt the same way.

“I see exactly what you mean,” Erin agreed.

“Do you? Does a woman your age know anything about passion?”

Erin gulped, questioning herself in the process. “I think so.”

“I don’t fully believe you,” the professor said playfully.

Was this a game or something else? Erin wondered. This all felt so foreign and strange. Whatever it was, Erin liked it. She liked seeing this typically stern woman reveal her true nature as a normal — actually lovable — person.

Erin felt a tingling between her legs and she wondered if the professor could somehow tell.

“I’m always willing to prove myself,” Erin said proudly. “I always do.”

“Lean forward. Bring your ear close to my lips.”

Both of them leaned in. Erin turned her head and brought her ear to the professor, in full anticipation as to whatever may come next.

The professor brought her lips close to Erin’s ear. Erin could feel the professor breathing against her skin. It felt nice. Far too nice.

“This is what passion is,” the professor whispered in a low tone which sent pleasant vibrational waves.

Those waves made the hair on the back of Erin’s neck stand. Her pussy clenched and moistened by that oh-so-seductive voice.

Professor Bell continued whispering, “Both of us in my office. A place of academics. Talking about your sexual past with another student. How forbidden of us. But we like it, don’t we? I know I do. And I can smell the scent between your legs.”

The professor leaned back and sat upright once again. Erin took the cue and did the same, noticing that the professor was all smiles, looking playful and gorgeous in her mature way.

Wait, what? Could the professor really smell the scent between Erin’s legs? Or was that purely an example which happened to be true?

What was this? Was the professor coming on to her? If so, Erin was certainly ready for anything. Erin came to this office for academic and professional support, but she willed her body to be ready for action, should the need arise.

“What did you think?” the professor asked, still smiling.

How on earth was Erin supposed to answer that? She wondered. Was this a seduction or a legitimate question?

“I thought it was nice,” Erin finally said, bringing the exchange to an anti-climactic end.

“It’s those sorts of details which give a story that extra punch, which makes a good story become great. That’s thinking like a writer, or an editor.”

Erin nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Your advice is invaluable. I wish I could be half the writer you are.”

“You’re talented already. You just need to hone your skills.”

“I think we’re done for the morning,” the professor said. “Rework your draft and send it to me when you’re done. I’ll send you back more notes.”

Just an email? Erin wondered. They’ve already come this far, might as well go all the way. Plus she didn’t want to end her secret thrill of being the professor’s favorite student. At least that’s how she viewed herself now: the teacher’s pet. Only she was now wishing she could be more, to take things further with this mature beauty.

Could such a thing even be possible?

“So are we meeting again?” Erin asked. “Or just email?”

“Which do you prefer?”

“Anything is fine, I know you’re busy. Personally, I’d like to meet again. This one-on-one interaction is so helpful to me.”

“I’m glad,” the professor replied. “I like as well. It’s not everyday that I meet a student like you.”

A student like me? Erin wondered if there were any secret undertones to that. Hopefully…

The next few days were filled with analyzing erotic stories online, periodic writing, and lots of masturbation.

She wondered how far things would be pushed, as the line between teacher and student was gradually being blurred- and that made Erin excited.

In between her writings, she played with herself underneath the blanket in her dorm room. All sorts of scenarios were in her mind. All of them leading to sex acts with her professor. Ah, the erotic fantasy. The things they’d do in the office. That private space where the professor does her work and conducts her meetings with students. Or maybe even in the classroom before anyone else was there. All the possibilities.

For each thought, Erin would rub her clitoris fast, or maybe slowly, or sometimes plunge two fingers inside of her pussy. Whatever she was in the mood for.

Each time, she came.

As she continued working on her erotic short story, she questioned herself, wondering if she was putting too many naughty bits, knowing the professor would be reading this. But then again, this seemed like what the professor wanted. It seemed as though the professor wanted her to push the envelope and drift into full blown erotica. Erin never lost sight though. She focused on the romance of it all, but made sure to add enough spice to keep the professor, and the people at the publishing office happy.

When she finally felt she was done, she composed the following email:

Dear Professor Bell,