04

Marie had found the building and room number of Professor Dameron’s office on the class syllabus. It was in the newly renovated psychology building at the heart of campus.

Taking the marble staircase to the second floor, Marie reached room 111 – well, more like suite 111.

The man probably meant a lot to the university. Marie often scoffed at the overly prestigious pedestal Wentworth was placed on. At the end of the day, everyone gets the same thing from college upon completion – a degree. Marie just paid a higher price and was now facing deeper debt. All for essentially more bragging rights. Most of her tuition was probably going to this man’s paycheck.

Nathaniel’s blinds weren’t drawn, allowing Marie to take a look inside inconspicuously. He was too engrossed in reviewing a graduate student’s grant proposal for an upcoming research forum. Marie couldn’t help but stare. Nathaniel was at his grand mahogany desk, his head resting on his hand propped up against the flat surface. His other hand twiddled a pen, the sleeves of his white button-down folded up to expose his forearms. Marie studied his defined features, all tensed up in deep thought and discernment.

Snapping out of it, Marie finally mustered the courage to knock on the door. She was just going to turn this god-damn paper in, turn around, and get shitfaced with her friends.

Nathaniel looked up at the sound of someone at his door, his eyes locking with Marie through the window. He signaled for her to come in with his hand.

Nathaniel didn’t think much of the encounter. He had helped students on his own time before. He was a good professor. Marie just… intrigued him. Nathaniel didn’t want to explain it. He couldn’t.

Nathaniel finally got a full look at Marie as she stepped into his office. He gripped the pen in his left hand to the point that it was almost about to snap. It wasn’t what she was wearing, but why. It was a Friday night and Marie was a young college student at her prime – it would be obtuse to think she wasn’t going to live a weekend night to the fullest. For some reason, the thought angered the professor.

Especially after she dropped her stapled assignment on his desk and had the audacity to turn her back to walk out the door.

Brat.

« Sit. » Nathaniel never asked. He ordered.

Marie stilled. The demanding tone made her thighs press together every so slightly and butterflies in her stomach to somersault. Fuck.

Nathaniel didn’t do brattiness. He didn’t like to be questioned, talked back to, or disrespected – no one dared as the man took consequences seriously. His past parters would attest to that. The fact that Nathaniel was starting to take this situation with Marie as a challenge even scared him. He didn’t know how far he would go…or how far Marie would let him go.

Marie made her way to the seat in front of Nathaniel’s desk, immediately crossing her legs and adjusting her jacket to display some professionalism. Nathaniel was too busy flipping through the pages of Marie’s assignment to notice, periodically underlining and making a note in the margins.

Marie took the time to look around the professor’s place. The overall architecture relied heavily on dark, mahogany wood emphasized by the desk and bookcase behind it. Marie spotted a few authors amongst the otherwise academic books, from Albert Camus to Gabriel García Márquez. Opposite the door were large, paned windows that overlooked other lit-up collegiate buildings. Lastly, there was a small setup of a coffee table and leather chairs towards the end of the room presumably for meetings. Marie would exchange this place for her crappy apartment in a heartbeat.

Nathaniel finally set everything down and clasped his hands in front of him, looking intently at Marie. « I’ll give you a B, we can negotiate a B+. There are typos and run-ons but if you’re willing to converse with me about what you wrote…I’ll overlook it. »

« Ask me anything, » Marie responded, in almost a taunting tone. Nathaniel suppressed a smirk.

He cut right to the chase, catching Marie off guard. « What do you think about BDSM ? »

« You know I could report you ? This is inappropriate, » Marie snapped without hesitation, but obviously just deflecting the question.

Nathaniel rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. « Miss Mor, every instance it has been me who’s filed a report on a student so good luck with that. Additionally, I’m simply discussing matters you wrote in a paper that you submitted to me. »

That shut Marie up.

« Now answer my question. Sexual submission and dominance, why did you write about it ? »

« I… I don’t know, » Marie replied, her initial burst of confidence gone. She felt embarrassment and shame start to creep up on her and Nathaniel could sense it – so he kept pushing.

« It’s just one subsection of deviant behavior, yet you decided to focus entirely on it, » Nathaniel continued, looking down at Marie’s paper again.

« Is there something wrong with that ? » Marie paused. « You do research into it – I’d like to assume that’s only for academic reasons as well ? »

Nathaniel subdued the urge to make Marie finish her sentences off with « sir » and punish the girl for the sharp comment. He had never fantasized about claiming a student. His work, his profession, his status were all deeply important to him. It was his dominant characteristics outside the bedroom as well that had gotten him to where he was.

Not to mention, his students were young with most being in their early 20s while Nathaniel completed his third decade. Real understanding of this topic needed maturity and experience.

Nathaniel hadn’t had an established submissive in over a few years now. For one, his work had started to become more demanding as opportunities rose along with his success. But more substantially, the allure of it had faded. It was fun for the young man in his 20s, but now the professor wanted – needed – something deeper.

Nathaniel had tried love, or at least attempted it. But those attempts quickly realized they could never compete with the professor’s loyalty to his work.

When he looked at Marie, he could see it. Her eyes were dark… brown like a barren forest in a frigid, snowless winter night. Yet amidst the trees was a flame. It was the same spark Marie saw in her professor that now plagued her fantasies. The sin, immorality, corruption of it all…

No. She’s a student.

The relationship between a professor and student should always remain chaste.

Although if we lived in a lawless society, Nathaniel would have Marie’s hands bounded and her ass branded with his belt.

This had to stop – for both of their sake. « Marie, I’m going to be blunt with you. I know why some students take my class. You’re a young, college student. It’s a changing and confusing time. You’re figuring yourself out away from home. BDSM is not – « 

« It’s not about the sex, I know. It’s the relinquishment of power. It’s the trust you give to your partner. It’s an exchange deeper than love. » Marie leaned over, jabbing a finger on her paper on the professor’s desk. They both knew it. The feeling of being worshipped, devoured – it’s a euphoric feeling that one can only feel after crossing a sacrilegious line.

Nathaniel’s thoughts paused. The tension in the room was building into something neither he nor Marie could comprehend. Something confusing, exhilarating, and… arousing.

« I’ll give you an A, » Nathaniel finally spoke, slipping Marie’s paper into a drawer and putting an end to their conversation.

The young student was taken aback at first, almost having forgotten about the paper that prompted an office visit in the first place.

« I… thank you, professor. I really appreciate it. »

« Anything else ? »