~All Bets are Off~ *Closed Thread*

[Annabelllee2003]

“I bet you.”

“Come on Dana, you’re kidding right?”

“I bet you.”

“Look, he’s at least forty-something and gets offers from students all the time.” Mary Anne thought for a moment. “I don’t screw for grades, so why should I?”

“Because with all his offers, he NEVER takes anyone up on it.”

“Maybe he likes boys.”

“Oh come on Mary Anne, you have to admit he’s hot.”

“So?”

“You won the last bet. This could put you in the lead.”

As they sit an outdoor café in a university town sipping latte, they look like what they are. Students. Mary Anne Thomas and Dana Perkins. Two journalism graduate students that have a very interesting minor. They wager and keep score on sexual conquests.

They have been roommates since the first week of classes when they were both 18. Majored in the same areas, took many of the same classes. Both carried a stunning GPA all through school.

Mary Anne and Dana have refined their game over the years. Easy conquests were shunned. The more unlikely the prospect or the harder to attain, the more points they scored. Currently Mary Anne was trailing a bit, even after racking some big time points with the congressional aide that flew in for a lecture a few months back.

Yes, Professor Allen was good looking. Dark hair, just graying at the temples. Good build, with a very interesting bulge in his jeans. She and 99% of the female student body, and probably quite a few of the males of the softer persuasion, had probably fantasized about him at one time or another. But in the years she’s been on campus, there’s never been a hint of scandal or any gossip regarding the Professor. Professor Ice Man.

“All right. You’re on.” Mary Anne takes the challenge with a flip of her auburn hair. When they pay up and leave the café, she’s already planning on what she can do to win the bet.

 

[cgraven]

Professor Douglas Allen

The beginning of another term and the start of another year. At 45 I was not looking forward to the little fresh faced coeds who wanted to crack “The Ice Man”. Oh I was quite well aware of the nick name they pinned on me, but at least this year I had a graduate class Photo Journalism, and the grad students for the most part where down to business type who did not feel they need to sleep with the professor to pass.

As I walked into the class I counted eight students, well at least no one had dropped the class yet.

“Well Ladies and gentlemen this is a course in Photo Journalism. Yes that right photo, not video but old fashion “still pictures.”

I watched as they exchange questioning glances.

”And Journalism the art of the written word to report the events and facts surrounding a story.. So if any of you think that this course is designed to make you a reader of API and UPI weir stories on the local TV station until the networks discover you are very much mistaken.”

I paused letting my words sink in.

“So If that is what your expecting now is the time for you to find another course.”

A little blond cheerleader type collected her books and walked to the door.

“Name please?

Barbra Winters


“Thank you Miss Winters. …. Anyone else.”

I waited five minutes and when there were no other takers I continued.

“All right This course will consist of two parts, Part one reporting, Part two Photography. You will each have a chance to do both for at mid term you will change roles.. You have a half hour to choose a partner and thanks to Miss Winters one of you will have to put up with me as your partner. I ‘ll be back in a half hour so chose well ”

 

[Annabelllee2003]

You have to be kidding... It can't be this easy?

Midway through the debate that started when Professor Allen left the room I merely state that I will partner with him.

There's no dissention. It's too easy.

As the rest of the class finally pairs and rearranges their seats, I stay where I am in the front row, obviously not paired with another. I hear excited voices begin to sort out who will do what for the first part of the class.

I sit patiently and wait for... well, for the Ice Man to cometh. Covering my mouth to hold in the laughter, I'm still shaking silently when he comes back into the room.

I smile when he looks at me with a little frown between his eyebrows. He really was a nice looking man.

"Professor Allen, I'm Mary Anne Thomas. Your partner."

With his demeanor, he's going to be a hell of a challenge. And worth tons of points. I have got to renegotiate with Dana. I win with him and those points should take me through the rest of the year.

 

[cgraven]

I come back to the class and they are excitedly engaged in a spirited discussion .

“Ok now settle down folks…. So who is the sacrificial lame?”

"Professor Allen, I'm Mary Anne Thomas. Your partner

I am taken a back for a moment and It took a deal of self control to regain my composure. God Claudine was the thought that leaped to my mind, she was Claudine right down to her Auburn hair and I felt a lump in my throat.

“Now before you get to excited this is going to be like out in the real world you will be assigned a story randomly. You’ll have to do your research, get the Photos to bring it home and the two must work in unison bring the story home. The only exception I’ll make is that digital cameras will be used. “

I gave them all the course outline, a camera and their deal line for the first assignment.


I passed the box around so they could draw their assigned story.

“Miss Thomas you’ll draw for us, and you will be the reporter for the first assignment”

God I hoped she would not draw the one on marooned in the woods.


All right Starting with the red team slip you’ll read your assignment Damn let her have drawn any thing other than yellow. Slowly I call off the colors.

“Red….. Blue……Green….. White….orange………..Yellow.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

"Yellow, Professor Allen."

Just what kind of research would we be doing? For all the betting and game playing. I find myself excited at the prospect of this class. He has a good reputation as a teacher.

I love my chosen field and think I'm going to be good at it.

But boy does he looked perplexed. I get the feeling he really would have just about anyone but me as a partner.

That makes me think. He doesn't even know me. There isn't any gossip about our game. We were careful to keep it between us and go afield from students and faculty.

When he's finished the assignments, I wait for him to explain just how this will work.

 

[cgraven]

Yellow

Damn! Oh well it was chance and it had thrown Miss Thomas and I together..

“All right now that you have your assignment, you will find out why the requirement for this course was it was the only one you would have for your fall term. You will actually go out in the field.”

I watched the shocked expressions on their faces,

“ You will file your reports via computer along wit your supporting photos to me. I will act as your editor. I have arranged that each team will have a mentor from one of the wire services as well.”

“Miss Thomas If I could see you in my office I’ll go over assignment………Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the world of Photo Journalism..”

I walked out and left the teams to start work on their assignments..


I sat in my office and waited for miss Thomas. And my mind again drifted back to Claudine.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

No class time. Just real experience. I was all for that. It would make my bet that much easier, well, proximity wise - obviously we were going to have to work together in-depth.

The excitement I feel at the prospect of the assignment is mixing well with the excitement of starting my game. There is something about Prof Allen that is exciting. An undercurrent of tension?

I knock and walk in at his gruff "Enter." He did fit the mold of a grumpy professor all right.

"Sit, Miss Thomas." He points to a chair.

Well. His office is not what I'd come to expect of a university professor. Every office I'd been in was usually cluttered and strewn with books, papers, boxes in abandoned profusion. They seem to embrace chaos almost as though to thumb their noses at convention.

His office was neat, almost steril and he didn't seem to have any kind of personal effects in it.

Sitting, I cross my legs.

"It sounds interesting Professor Allen. I'm looking forward to working with you. You have an excellent reputation."

No, I was not going to flirt. Not my style anyway, although I can be a hell of a flirt when I have to be. I just get the feeling that flirting would be wasted on him, like he'd swat at me like an annoying fly if I did.

This is going to be very interesting...

 

[cgraven]

I am deep in thought memories of Claudine, West Africa, colonial wars, the way she could bring home the horror of war in a single shot, our love, god she was so talented strong, capable yet in our love she was totally submissive. The attack on the village market, the bark of an AK 47, Claudine supple body crumpling to the ground, her blood stained lips, or last kiss, then the nothingness that flood through me as I screamed at the loss of her..


I am brought back to the present by a knock at the door.


“Enter”

Standing ther back lighted as she was my heart skipped a beat she was so like Claudine. Quickly regaining my composure my voice a bit softer, I point to the only chair in the room.

“"Sit, Miss Thomas."

Her movements are smooth, sensual, as she glide to take her seat, Demurely crossing her legs, I had to admit, if only to myself that I found her attractive and quite sensual, and idly wondered what kind of lover would she make.

"It sounds interesting Professor Allen. I'm looking forward to working with you. You have an excellent reputation."

“Thank you Miss Thomas our assignment is to do a story about being marooned in the woods. We will be leaving this afternoon about three o’clock can you be ready and where should I pick you up?”

I paused as I waited for her response.

“Oh you had better let your boyfriend and family know for we will be out of town for about ten days…….Any questions?”

 

[Annabelllee2003]

"Questions?" I sputter, before I can stop myself.

TEN DAYS? In the woods? With him? Of all the things that the assignment conjured up, this wasn't even remotely in the ballpark.

Get a grip, Mary Anne

With a sheepish grin, I shrug slightly, trying to pass off my sputtering and compose my expression before I open my mouth to speak again.

"Professor Allen, I didn't expect quite this assignment...

"What should I take? And I don't have a boyfriend right now, just a roommate. As long as I don't have any strange things to bring I can be ready by three."

Looking steadily into his eyes, I smile and give him my address. As he jots it down, my mind is recovering from the shock of the assignment. Too easy really, too easy to grab the points and flaunt them in Dana's surprised face.

 

[cgraven]

"Professor Allen, I didn't expect quite this assignment.........."What should I take? And I don't have a boyfriend right now, just a roommate. As long as I don't have any strange things to bring I can be ready by three."

Her eyes where steady and clear, her voice alert and inquisitive and a rye smile crossed my face as she scribbled her address down.

“Miss Thomas you’re a reporter now your bureau chief just gave you an assignment so what do you do?”

With out waiting for and answer I stood an opened the door to my office

I’ll see you at three Miss Thomas.”

 

[Annabelllee2003]

'Well that was really helpful,' I think as I walk out.

In my apartment, I scribble a note for Dana to call my mom and tell her I'm on assignment and not to worry. Then worry about what to bring.

Do I bring food? No, this is his show... If we need food and he doens't bring it, then we will have to shop on the way. I gather jeans, sweats, tee shirts, underwear. Shampoo, toothbrush, brush. tooth paste. Deoderant. Hiking boots, sneaks. I deliberatey don't pack makeup, just some lip balm and moisturizer.

Do I have to bring a blanket? Sleeping bag? He could have been a little more helpful. In the end, I borrow Dana's sleeping bag and put it by the door.

I am not a rough and tumble outdoorsey kind of woman like Dana is, although I have hiked a few trails.

I pick up the back pack and stagger at the weight. Damn. Taking out a couple of pairs of sweats, I repack and put the boots on, trading them in the pack for my sneakers. That's better.

I'm ready by three, and very excited. At both prospects...

 

[cgraven]

I made arrangements for al my calls to be forwarded to my cabin upstate, Lap top, digital camera, rucksack, 14 days dehydrated meals, hiking boots, a sweater and rain poncho.

I threw my pack in the back of my old Army Surplus jeep and I was off to pick up Miss Thomas.. I drove up to her place at exactly 3Pm and she much to my surprise was ready.

“Can I give you a hand with your gear”

But before she could answer I picked it up and put it in the back of the jeep. We where off and for the first hour or so we rode in silence I wondered what was on her mind.

“Miss Thomas not quite what you expected is it?”.

We chatted as we drove on it was just at sunset when we turned off the highway and took a dirt track leading up into the hills and deep into the forest. At 8PM we arrived at my cabin.

“Wait here a minute and I’ll get the lights.”

5 minutes later we where standing in the living room .

“Hungry ………….Mary Anne Isn’t it?”

 

[Annabelllee2003]

I nod.

"I will admit to a bit of hunger Professor Allen. What can I do to help?

"You may have told me though there was going to be electricity, I wouldn't have brought 400 pounds of batteries."

I look around at the cabin. My fears of sleeping under a rock were allayed a little, at least for tonight. It was nice.

We continued talking while we fixed something to eat. He built a fire and it wasn't until we were before it that the conversation turned back to the assignment. His face looked softer in firelight and I found myself looking at him in a new way. He isn't acting so aloof. I think of our game and the wisdom of acting on it. Ten days is a hell of a long game.

"Mary Anne?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Professor Allen," I drag myself back into the conversation, "I was drifting. Sorry. You were saying?"

 

[cgraven]

Dinner was simple just a shrimp curry and some red wine. I had set a fire on the hearth its soft light illuminating the room as I brought over our plates and then wine glasses. We had discussed the assignment but that was the furthest thing from my mind. Mary Anne had fallen silent apparently lost in thought.

"Mary Anne?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Professor Allen," I drag myself back into the conversation, "I was drifting. Sorry. You were saying?"

“Dinner is served Me Lady”

I teased her. The plates where on the coffee table and I sat across from Mary Anne on the floor. Form this angle I had a good view of her legs and the soft swell of her breasts. by the time dinner is over we have had several glasses of wine.

“Mary Anne would you care for some coffee and Brandy”

 

[Annabelllee2003]

"Yes, that'd be nice Professor, but I have to warn you, I don't drink that much. I may get out of hand!" I joke.

He smiles as I stand and start stacking dishes. I scrape and rinse while he makes coffee. Making short work of the dishes, I wander back into the main room and look at the photos displayed on the rough hewn mantle.

'Looks like field pictures', I think, then I move one to look at another partially obscured. For a second I freeze. It's me in the picture. Drawing it toward me, I look closer, no, not me. But someone that looks enough like me to be a sister. Surely he's seen the resemblence. In the picture they are arm in arm, eyes squinting into the sun with smiles that are purely happy.

"Mary Anne - coffee's ready, want to give me a hand?"

I set the picture down quickly and go to help. When I come in carrying the brandy glasses and he the coffee, we sit by the fire and my eyes are drawn again to the picture. I'm drying to ask about her.

 

[cgraven]

"Yes, that'd be nice Professor, but I have to warn you, I don't drink that much. I may get out of hand!"

The closeness of her the sweet natural fragrance of her youth and vitality are so intoxicating. The dishes done Mary Ann wanders back to the living room as I get down to snifters and the brandy. I pour fingers worth of brandy into each then another two fingers just for good measure.

“"Mary Anne - coffee's ready, want to give me a hand?"

Soon we are back in the living room and I settle back on the floor.

“I see you have been doing a little snooping Mary Anne.”

I pat the floor beside me. I see her blush and before she can answer ;

“Her name was Claudine Monroe She was the photographer assigned to me in west Africa when I worked for UPI”

I pause and take a healthy sip of brandy.

“And yes we where lovers, a very special kind of love that……………..”

My voice trails off and I stare into the fire.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

I scoot over to sit next to him and draw my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around my legs.

"I didn't mean to snoop, you know. She just, looks... remarkably like me." I reach and take a good mouthful of brandy, it heats my throat all the way down to my stomach, spreading warmth.

I set my glass down and put my hand on his arm.

"You must have loved her dearly." I noticed the 'were' and it's obvious that he was hurt by it.

"What happened? I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry Professor."

For a long time he doesn't speak, he just stares into the flames as though he sees something different. When he speaks, his voice is very low.

 

[cgraven]

"I didn't mean to snoop, you know. She just, looks... remarkably like me." ………………. "You must have loved her dearly." …………………………….."What happened? I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry Professor."

I am lost in thought as I stare into the flickering flames, Mary Anne’s voice playing at the corner of my mind, slowly I become aware of the soft touch of her hand on my arm.

“ It was in Mogadishu……………………we where covering the UN relief effort………………. We where in the central market……………………….Suddenly all hell broke lose…………..She was cut down in a burst of AK 47 fire…………………..Claudine died in my arms.”

My voice was mechanical, far off, slowly I turned my lips where just a breath away from Mary Ann’s.

“Yes you do look very muck like her.”

Then before I knew what I was doing my lips brushed hers and I eased Mary Ann back, my body laying half on hers, as that kissed deepened. Suddenly I sat blot upright.

“Forgive me Miss Thomas ……….I…………..”

My words trailed off and I could feel my cheeks burning.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

What next? My god. I almost fainted when he kissed me. I felt like I was in a trance. When he snapped back up and apologized, all I could do was stare at him.

I gather myself and sit back up.

I almost want to apologize for looking as I do, he's in such distress. But I can't even talk. To hell with the game. I can't begin to imagine telling Dana of this. It seems awful now. Plotting to seduce this man. I can't do it. Not with his pain.

And I certainly don't want to be a substitute for his ex.

"Professor, it's all right. Really." I reach out to touch him and my hand drops in my lap. I don't know what to say.

"If it's too hard to be around me, you know, because I look like her, I can do the assignment on my own, you could advise me by... email."

I suddenly didn't want that at all. But it would be easier for both of us if we just stopped this right now.

I would forfeit the game and anyway, I don't have the stomach for it. It never had been emotional before, personal. I'm quit, Dana wins.

 

[cgraven]

Mary Anne sits back I can see the distress in her eyes the way she avoids mine.

"Professor, it's all right. Really."

Mary Ann’s hand brushes my arm then rest in her lap confusion written on her face as she struggles with some inner conflict.

"If it's too hard to be around me, you know, because I look like her, I can do the assignment on my own, you could advise me by... email."

“Dug”

And then she is in my arms and I am kissing Mary Anne with all the passion I had denied myself for years, for all those long years. My fingers are interlaced with Mary’s and pined above her head as that kiss deepens.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

In an instant he's kissing me again, hard, passionately. My mouth opens and I return his kiss, then my hands are pinned above my head and his body is pressing me down almost painfully.

I feel his prick rise and fill as he presses into me, his hips grinding down on mine. With one hand he holds my wrists, the other snakes up under my shirt to rub and pinch my nipples.

It is so hot and unexpected, I respond before I think, I just feel. But there is a wormy doubt, he's not doing this to me... He's doing his ex.

With I cry I break the kiss and stare up at him. His eyes are so dark and filled with heat. His hands tighten on my wrists. Without really thinking, I lift my lips to his again, my tongue searching out his, my hips start to move against his, and then.. I don't care who he sees when he looks at me.

 

[cgraven]

Mart Anne struggles she breaks the kiss then in utter desperation she surrenders to the passion I feel..

“Mary Anne Strip for me I long to see and feel your supple body dear!”

My voice is choked with passion the need to take her burns in me eyes a wild primeval passion that will not be denied.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

"STRIP?" That is about the equivalent of throwing a bucket of cold water on me.

"Do you think I am some kind of ...stripper?" I don't know if it was the way he said it or the look on his face when he said it. But it made me feel cheap, probably because to win the game... if I were still playing... I would have done just that.

I struggle against him, my face flaming. He moves with me and easily holds me down, then covers my mouth with his again, his tongue between my lips, hot, probing, and searching.

With a moan, I kiss him back, wanting him very badly.

 

[cgraven]

"STRIP?"…………………"Do you think I am some kind of ...stripper?"

There is passion, fire in Mary Anne’s outburst a passion to claim and to tame. She struggles, Mary Anne’s face crimson with her anger, her passion, Then my mouth is ravishing hers and she responds lost in that kiss.

“I think…”

I nibble her lower lip.

“……. Mary Anne that you…”

Kisses follow the line of her jaw.

“…are one of the most…..”

They now follow the curve of Mary Anne’s neck, with gentle tonguing.

“……..sensual women I have ever scene.”

A slow seductive lick up her neck.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

My body shivers with the kisses and nips. Gooseflesh raising every hair on my body.

Sensual woman? I don't think that at all. I enjoy sex but I never would have used the phrase 'sensual woman' to describe myself.

He is maddening holding on to me like this, kissing me. I can't really move to touch him and I want to.

I moan and shiver as my body becomes more and more aware of him and the sensations he's dealing. Professor Allen is making me... very excited.