Page 9 of Snowed in with the Professor

He was sweaty and he smelled like alcohol.

It was nasty and I felt little uncomfortable.

He started grinding up on me and I regretted agreeing to dance with him.

The sensation of his erection pushing against my abdomen, the sensation and scent of his humid, beer- laden breath on my neck had me all but gagging.

This felt so awful.

But he’d seemed kind as he extended his hand out, looked kind of forlorn imploring me for just one dance. I should’ve gone with my hunch and told him no, kept my resolution. But here I was, regretting every bit of it, thinking of how to get out of the situation.

I wasn’t really even dancing and instead grabbed his hands to force them away from my hips. He leaned in and the feel of his hot, wet breath on the side of my neck had me scrunching up my nose.

“I should probably go,” I shouted loud enough for him to hear, all nearly shouting the words.

He didn’t hear me or wasn’t listening. He put pressure to my hips and dragged me closer until I felt how hard he was.

That’s when survival kicked in.

This guy wasn’t going to stop even if I shouted no in his face. He’d either had too much to drink or he was just a disgusting asshole.

I shoved at his shoulders, and he pulled me in tighter, caging his arms about me.

I yelled at him, tried to kick him, dread taking grip.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t get out of his clutches.

The terror was creeping in, and with the music too loud, the booze flowing too strong, and everyone else concentrating on their dance partners, no one realized I needed aid.

“Stop,” I shouted out and shoved at his chest again.

“Calm down,” he moaned against the side of my neck. “This feels good, doesn’t it?”

I shook my head. “Stop. I don’t want to dance anymore.” I tried pushing at his chest, but he was stronger than me and kept his hold ironclad.

I tried looking to where Alexis was, but we’d moved farther away from the table and I couldn’t make her out through the thick throng of people.

He stroked his fingers over my hips and belly, creeping lower. Fear rose even harder in me, and I struggled again.

“I said no,” I yelled loudly enough I knew he’d heard.

In the next second, he was yanked away from me.

I fell back from the unexpected action and felt my eyes widen as I glanced up at Professor Baldwin. I didn’t know why he was at the club, but it wasn’t my main concern at the moment. It was the fact he was currently holding Mr. Groper by the neck.

The grimace on my professor’s face was simply frightening.

He leaned in close to the other man’s ear and murmured something low enough I couldn’t hear.

I watched as my would-be assaulter widened his eyes in apparent horror.

He stared at Professor Baldwin and shook his head wildly, holding up his palms as if to convey he meant no harm.

And then he turned and hauled ass away from us, pushing people out of his path as if the place were on fire and he was frantic to get out to survive.

I glanced at Professor Baldwin for a second, not knowing what the hell was going on but happy he’d been here at the appropriate time.

I felt increasingly light-headed and stumbled back again, but he stretched out and took hold of my upper arm, steadying me. He brought me close to him, and I put my hands on his chest, tilted my head back and looked up at him.

He looked around the room, and I watched as he narrowed his eyes, felt the growl leave him as the sound vibrated underneath my hands, which were still on his chest.

Before I could foresee what was occurring, he grabbed my hand in his and took me out of the club. I peered back over my shoulder, trying to see Alexis, but the crowd was too thick.

Then we were outside, the cool air sweeping over me and sobering me up for only a second, before light-headedness took its place once more.

Professor Baldwin strolled down the parking lot, unlocked the passenger-side door to a sleek black vehicle, and helped me inside. I was too dumbstruck to say anything, to tell him I shouldn’t leave, that my companion was still inside. But any protest lodged in my throat.

When he was in the driver’s side seat, the motor began, and he was moving away from the club, I finally found my voice.

“Alexis is still in there.”

“She’s fine,” he mumbled out.

“I can’t just leave without telling her.” I could hear the slurred tone in my voice, that one drink really hitting my ass.

“You’re in no position to go back in there. You’re intoxicated and it’s not safe.” The way he spoke to me was akin to him scolding a petulant child. “Text her and tell her you’re fine, and you’ll call her in the morning.”

I didn’t move, didn’t say anything for long seconds. But then I found myself doing just that, going into my pocket for my cell, glancing at the screen, and thinking I probably should have told him to let me go back inside the club.

But the truth was, I didn’t want to. That wasn’t my scene, and I felt really uncomfortable being there, even before I’d been touched on the dance floor.

I typed out the text.

Hey. I ended up leaving. Wasn’t feeling the best. Caught an Uber. I’ll call you in the morning. Be safe, please.

I pushed submit and rested my head back on the seat, seeing the streetlights going past in a whirl. I closed my eyes as a headache started to grow behind them, a faint groan departing me.

I felt my cell vibrating and looked down to see a text from Alexis. I was astonished she’d been able to hear anything, what with the deafening loudness of the club.

Alexis: Why didn’t you tell me? I would have ditched Craig and brought you home.

No, it’s okay. You were having a terrific time. That’s not my scene anyway.

I felt out of place lol

I pushed send and saw the three little dots flash up on the screen, letting me know she was replying.

“Get a hold of her?”

I looked at him. “Yeah.” I swallowed, my throat parched from the alcohol and how hot it had been at the club.

Alexis: I wish you would have gotten me. You’re okay though? Safe? Promise to text me when you get home and call me first thing in the morning.

I smiled.

She really was a terrific friend, yet here I was in the car with our professor, having gotten a bit too tipsy, and lying to her about what was actually going on.

I promise.

I didn’t know what was going on, but what I did know was that I was delighted Professor Baldwin had shown there when he did. I thought of what could’ve happened if he hadn’t been there, and it made my stomach twist into knots.

I looked over at him again. His jaw was set hard, almost excessively so. Stubble covered his face, and his gaze was concentrated on the road. He appeared angry, what with his hands securely wrapped over the driving wheel, his torso rigid, tight.

My body heated despite the situation.

I found myself turning and glancing out the passenger-side window, thinking that I should’ve been wise and asked him what he’d been doing there. But all I did, instead, was close my eyes, wanting nothing more than to go to sleep.

All I wanted was for this night to be over with. Then I could figure out with a clear brain what in the hell was actually going on.