Sexuality in Ancient Rome (closed)

[VixenEV]

Elizabeth Renton, Liz to her friends, sat in the front row of Dr. Robert Miller's class on Ancient Rome. She always sat in the front row. Not only because she was a stellar student, but in this case because she was nursing a serious crush on the professor.

She twirled a lock of long brown hair around her finger as she took notes. Dr. Miller paced as he spoke, making it even easier to fantasize about what he might be packing in those professionally appropriate trousers. The thought brought a blush to her cheeks: not only was he her teacher, but he was a married man. The attraction she felt carried no small amount of shame.

She crossed her legs, tight in her jeans. At 30, she was older than most of the other students, but her looks were still the same as they had been in her 20s. Her ample chest stretched her t-shirt, a cardigan tastefully concealing it. Her mind had wandered. What was he talking about? Foucault, it seemed.

Sex. She watched his mouth form the words, lips that she had imagined everywhere on her when she had masturbated the night before. Sexuality in Ancient Rome, he repeated. He brought up a slide of a painting, a threesome it seemed. Some less mature members of the class giggled. Liz sat up straighter.

The painting depicted a woman in the middle, her mouth on one man and another plastered to her, probably fucking her from behind. Not something Liz wanted to see in her state of heightened arousal. She tapped her pen, urging herself to concentrate. She wrote "dirty painting" in her notebook, just to write something.

When she looked up, Dr. Miller was looking directly at her. His blue eyes were intense and she tried not to read into the look too much. She froze, biting her lip, hoping he had not asked her a question. She felt wetness in her panties and squirmed. After a moment, he returned to the lecture.

He dismissed class in his dreadfully sexy baritone and she started packing up slowly. The rest of the students filtered out and she approached his desk, book clutched against her chest.

"Dr. Miller? Do you have a moment?"

 

[MidnightWalk]

Professor Miller paced back and forth, watching the students' eyes glaze over. That wasn't unusual. This was an upper level course, so everyone who was here supposedly wanted to be here. Ancient Rome always seemed interesting to these kids in the abstract. It was only in the details that it got boring. If it wasn't Christians being eaten in the Colosseum or Caligula's orgies, they just tended to mark time. And he didn't mind that, so long as they didn't disrupt class for those who wanted to learn and so long as they did the work as assigned. If they didn't, well, a "D" or "F" usually snapped their attention right back to class.

He had something to wake the class up. "And this is an example of early frescoes in Pompeii." Robert clicked the projector, throwing onto the screen the wall painting of a Roman trio in sexual congress. That did elicit the expected giggles and titters. He explained that this was a common form of art in the early Imperial period.

Robert didn't have to worry about all of them, of course. Some of them were very good students. He looked at the pleasantly stacked brunette in the front row, playing with her hair. Elizabeth was a very good student. And she should have been an example to the others...an older student who focused on class and kept an "A" average. Though he knew most of the youngsters were jealous of her grades, and resented her work ethic. He smiled as he lectured.

Eventually, time ran short and he cut things off. "All right, make sure you've covered Chapter 6 for Thursday. I'll see you then."

As he tucked his papers away, Robert heard Elizabeth behind him, asking for some of his time. Turning toward her, he smiled, eyes flicking over her rounded sweater, before locking onto her brown eyes. "Certainly Elizabeth, what can I do for you? Provided you don't mind talking as we walk back to my office? I'm waiting on a call this afternoon and need to get back there." He shoved the last of his notes into his satchel, indicating the classroom's door.

 

[VixenEV]

"Sure," she agreed. For a moment, she swore that he had checked her out. But it couldn't be, she knew. She pushed down the feeling and followed him out of the classroom.

Dr. Miller was a brisk walker. Her legs were a good deal shorter, so she nearly skipped to keep up with him, her voice a bit breathless. From nerves, mostly.

"Well, I was just thinking...I need a thesis advisor and I'm thinking about doing something focused on erotica through early civilizations. Odd, because we talked about that today."

She laughed nervously. For god's sake, she felt like a silly schoolgirl, and she was far past that.

"I was wondering if you might have time to be that advisor. I totally understand if you can't squeeze it in, but I really hope you can, because you're perfect."

She was talking too much. And idiotically.

"I mean, you'll be perfect. For this."

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert shook his head. Elizabeth was a good student, but she had a tendency to babble like an 18 year old freshman sometimes. He did cock an eye at her as they walked when she mentioned 'erotica'. Unlocking the door to his office, he entered, gesturing for her to follow.

The office contained several fully loaded bookshelves and was decorated with a variety of historical artifacts, ranging from reproduction Roman centurion helmet, to a small case of rocks from various historical sites, to a poster sized reproduction of an Egyptian noble family scene, complete with the traditional transparent linen gowns for the females of the family.

Pointing to a comfortable chair in front of his desk, "Please, have a seat, Elizabeth." He himself sat behind his desk, swiveling the chair slightly, looking at the young brunette. He admired how the cardigan she wore hugged her curves, just like those skintight jeans. It would never do to be that unprofessional though.

Smiling slightly, he gestured to her again. "So, tell me what you're thinking. What aspects of early civilization erotica are you thinking of exploring? And in what context? I would like to hear your thoughts before I agree to advise you, though if I think you're on a good track, I'm sure I can offer you some insights."

 

[VixenEV]

Liz unbuttoned her cardigan before she sat down, slipping it off and slinging it over the chair. She hadn't meant it to be provocative, but she realized too late that she had worn a black bra and a threadbare white t-shirt. In all honesty, she had gotten dressed in the dark that morning.

She pushed down her embarrassment.

"Well, I'm only just developing my ideas. But I want to connect erotica through the ages. Early dirty stories to romance novels. Paintings like Pompeii to porn today."

She paused swept her hair over her shoulder. Jesus, it was hot in his office.

"But, of course, I would need a strong research base and a knowledgeable advisor. I read your paper on mores in Egyptian art and I know you would be a vast help. I think we may share research interests."

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert listened, nodding. His eyes narrowed a bit as she shrugged off the cardigan...that black lace bra showed clearly through her white shirt...this was the first time she'd bee anything less than conservative in his presence...and those breasts were certainly as large as he'd expected. Smiling, he made approving noises to keep her talking.

As she wound down...."That's nice of you to say, Elizabeth. Just at first blush, I'd say your thesis is a bit too broad. Trying to cover literature and visual arts...that's even more than a dissertation could cover." He turned his chair to more appropriate face his student. "You may want to pick one or the other and select a more narrow time-frame. If you want my advice, I'd go with visual arts in the ancient period, or the Middle Ages, or any of the 17th, 18th, 29th, or 20th Centuries. I think you'd find those more manageable. Of course, I could help you best in the earlier periods of time, but I'm sure I could offer something useful no matter what."

 

[VixenEV]

She smiled. A bit sexily, she had to admit. His eyes were definitely approving and she didn't think it was just because of her thesis. Nothing could come of it, but it was a nice fantasy to think he might look at her with any sort of lust.

"So...are you saying you'll be my advisor? It would be...a commitment."

She leaned forward just a bit, the sunlight through his windows shining on her. She knew it was probably making the shirt more see-through. A little thrill ran up her spine. Liz never thought she'd like being watched, but his blue eyes were keen.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert shook his head. "I didn't say that. I said you needed to narrow your focus. If you want my help, you will need to write up an abstract of what you're thinking to do, a brief outline at the very least and then we can discuss how feasible it would be. I would like to work with you, but I have to know that you're going to be able to do the work and stay focused."

He smiled. "You're a very good student, but this course of research you're proposing is not for the faint of heart, and you've always seems so...conservative. I'm frankly surprised that you suggested it. I'd be very interested to know why you suggested it. It seems out of character."

Robert leaned back in his chair. "Enlighten me and I'll consider advising you."

 

[VixenEV]

His words stopped Liz in her tracks. Was she conservative? She didn't realize she was seen so by anyone. He had used the word conservative but to her ears, it sounded like prude. She spoke carefully, measured.

"Well. I...that's honestly a bit personal."

Liz sat back again, out of the sunlight, and crossed her legs.

"This isn't something I would tell a thesis board, of course. But I initially got interested in the subject because I've been...um. Not obsessed. Intrigued. By porn, or if we want to be academic, pornography. The way women relate to it, the way men do, the way sex and love are subjects that every living human has tried to figure out but failed."

This was far more candid than she would be with anyone, normally, but something about Dr. Miller made her think it was okay. In any case, once her mouth got started, it would not stop.

"Frankly, it was because my libido is far higher than my boyfriend's, so I had to find some way to supplement and still be monogamous. So, I just started looking at things, writing things."

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert watched her silently. Inwardly he nodded. She was sounding much older, more focused and together than she had a moment ago. Sometimes if you tweaked some people just right, you could get them to come to the core of the matter. And that's just what Elizabeth had done. She'd exposed the reason for her interest in that topic, and offered a keystone for the research she'd proposed.

Listening to her talk, he watched her lean back. Now that her shirt was no longer lit up like a fluorescent light, he could almost swear, despite the warmth of his office, that he could see her nipples poking through her bra and tshirt. That's not the kind of thoughts you should be having, Robert, he chided himself. She may be a very attractive, sexy student, but she's still your student.

He did focus a bit harder when she mentioned her boyfriend, and their divergent libidos. That was an interesting bit of information.

As she wound down, he continued to regard her, silently. He let the silence drag on a few minutes.

The he smiled.

"Very good. I heard two things in there that I liked." Actually more, but now's not the time. "I heard the persona reason for the interest in this research and I heard passion. Both of those are necessary for a thesis of this sort. It'll be hard to find professors to hear your thesis defense who will keep an open mind, so you'll need that focus and passion to get you through."

Robert swiveled his chair a bit. "I'll take you on as a thesis student, provided you can give me a clean and concise plan of action for your research and paper." He held up his hand. "Not at this moment, of course. Let's say a week from tomorrow? That should give you time to figure out what you want to look at, what hypothesis you want to explore, and get to how you can support your findings, yeah?"

"And you are correct, I do have access to a great deal of material that my help you, both ancient and modern." He smiled. "This will be an interesting collaborative effort, don't you think?"

Robert half stood, leaning across the desk, offering Elizabeth his hand.

 

[VixenEV]

Liz couldn't believe it. He was agreeing. She listened as he asked for a research plan, staring at his forearms, the sinewy muscles moving in them as he swiveled the chair. It was only then that she realized how much time they would be spending together, how long she would have to withstand the unreasonable attraction she felt to him.

While talking about sex a lot.

She stood to meet him halfway on the handshake, his palm warm, his long fingers curling all the way around her tiny hand. Her nipples had gone so hard, little points against the lace of her bra. In the warm office, she was entirely sure it wasn't the temperature...she had felt them puckering while listening to his even, caressing voice.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Miller. I promise I'll make it worth your while."

Odd phrasing, she realized after she closed her mouth. She pulled her hand away, nodded another quick thanks, and made a hasty exit.

An abstract and research plan in a little over a week. That, she could do.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert shook his head, smiling. That girl had a ton of energy and the smarts to ace any project that she took on, but she could be a bit...scattered. He'd have to ride herd on her to keep her focused on this thesis, though that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Thursday's class came and went. It was fuller than normal. Apparently word had gotten around about his impromptu art presentation and many of the students who typically skipped class were in their seats, most paying attention. As a reward to those who attended, Robert showed a few more of the Pompeii frescoes, drawn specifically from a known brothel, discussing the use of art in such a place of business, along with the Roman acceptance of promiscuity, at least among the upper classes...a theme that never seems to change.

After class, he had more students than normal wanting to ask further questions, most of a puerile or flippant nature, but he did ask Elizabeth to stay for a moment. When the class finally cleared out, he smiled at his star student.

"So, have you made any progress on your thesis outline?" He held up a hand. "I'm not asking for what you've accomplished, just making sure that you're on it. You'll find me a strict taskmaster." He smiled at the non-traditional student.

 

[VixenEV]

Liz waited while the professor fielded questions from the other students. She was fond of the way he parried silly statements and gave concise answers.

When they were alone, she leaned against her desk in the first row, her legs crossed at the ankle. Usual tight jeans, but no cardigan this time. She had taken it off during class, when the discussion made her a bit flushed. The promiscuity angle seemed very relevant to her research.

She smiled at him, tilting her head in amusement.

"I'm on it, I'm on it. I think I'd like to focus on cultures that are sex-positive and contrast them with societies that are repressive."

Under the cardigan, she'd worn a tank top, something that she had not worn out in awhile. Ever since Ben and she had been together, she saw no point in revealing her body. It didn't make him run any faster to bed; he just kept playing video games most of the time.

But it had burned her that Dr. Miller thought her conservative. So, she decided to give him a pretty full view of the goods. A necklace traced a silver trail that disappeared in her cleavage.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert nodded, eyes on the 30-something student. Today she had apparently decided that showing off her cleavage was a good thing. He concurred. "That sounds like a good start. I would suggest you do so from a visual point of view. How each of those societies deal with sexualized images. That's likely to be your best angle of attack, as it were."

He gathered up his papers, glancing again across Elizabeth's ample chest. One thing about teaching coeds, at least 50 percent were women and many of those were easy on the eyes. Elizabeth was no exception, and this newfound interest in showing off her bosom...not a bad thing at all.

"Just remember, I expect a typed outline on my desk next Tuesday. Then we can discuss the details. Right?"

 

[VixenEV]

"I'll be ready. Thanks again."

Liz swept her hair over her shoulder, nodding her goodbye.

She spent the remaining days refining her research and poring through paintings and sculpture. She started to worry about what she had gotten herself into, as she was in a near constant state of arousal. Sometimes she had to stop writing and sneak off, closing the door while Ben was only a room away. No vibrator, he would hear. Just her fingers, and her thoughts.

As far her thesis, she was beginning to think Victorian attitudes had ruined it for everyone, and the world never quite recovered. Erotic depictions had gone from normalized to outsider art.

Tuesday came. She'd finished the abstract the day before, but she didn't wish to seem too eager. She did, however, want to wear the tight skirt and heels that she pulled on before going to the university that day. The crowning achievement of the outfit was back-seam stockings.

File in hand, she rapped on Dr. Miller's closed office door.

 

[MidnightWalk]

"Come."

Robert sat at his desk, working on some papers. He looked up to see Elizabeth entering. "Please, have a seat."

Piled on the desk are several books of erotic art, ranging from ancient studies to more modern works. On top of it all was an iPad. Robert smiled at Elizabeth. "I'm glad to see you on time, Elizabeth. Shows focus."

He looked at her expectantly. "So, let's see what you have today." As he said so, his eyes trailed over her in an unintentional double entendre.

 

[VixenEV]

She walked in. She didn't mean to swing her hips, but the heels did it for her. She set the file folder, labeled, on his desk.

"You can call me Liz, you know."

The shirt she had chosen was a demure blouse on first look, but further inspection revealed a deeply plunged neckline. It covered and revealed, depending on how she moved.

"I hope you'll like the work. I really feel like I fleshed out my ideas."

 

[MidnightWalk]

He looked her over, seeing the short skirt, the stockings and the peekabooo blouse. She'd really changed her style in the last week. He fully approved.

Picking up the folder, he began to look through it. "I could call you Liz, but now is not the right time. So, since you're going to be defending this thing orally, give me a break down of what is in here."

Flipping through the neatly typed pages, Robert glanced up at Elizabeth from time to time, getting different views of her bosom as she shifted and spoke.

 

[VixenEV]

Liz took the refusal to use her shortened name as a kind of a rebuff. In fact, she was sure that it was. He was definitely keeping her at arm's length. Of course he was, she couldn't blame him.

"As you'll read in the abstract, I've come to the realization that we have imposed modern repressive ideas onto the art of the ancient world.

My favorite example is the liberal depiction of threesomes. Often, artists rendered a woman in ecstasy between two men. Our modern world might call her a slut. I propose that the ancient world would have called her a goddess."

 

[MidnightWalk]

"Interesting. I look forward to assertions like that and your defense. Of course, in that particular example, there is plenty of modern pornography were such a threesome occurs and the woman is literally being called a slut during the action. And for better or worse, there are no videos of ancient peoples having their menage a troi and being able to hear what they're saying to each other, what they actually think of each other. It's all static and immutable in the past." Robert smiled. "That's the kind of thing that you're going to have to think about and address, particularly if you're going to mix media. It's not like you can ask one of those participants how they felt about the act, how they were being treated, not like being able to ask someone who's experienced it today."

He leaned back, studying the young woman, admiring her form, wondering idly what made her choose a threesome out of all the possible examples. Considering how she'd referenced her libido in their last meeting, was this an unconscious description of what Elizabeth thought she needed to be satisfied? Robert shook that thought off. He was an historian, not a psychologist. He had to understand psychology to understand his societies of interest, but he wasn't going to go all Freudian on her. Besides, no matter her motivation and reasoning, her recent change in clothing styles could only benefit him. She was an attractive, well-built woman, who was much more mature than the coeds around her.

"One significant problem is that a lot of the still photography that you'll find currently is based on videotaped activity. So it'll be very difficult to find something that's not got that core of filmed activity to it. If you follow my meaning."

He continued leafing through the outline, nodding. "This looks good. I'll want to have a meeting on this in another week, to formally discuss your research plans and to try and bring them into tighter focus. However, next Tuesday I have departmental meetings all afternoon. Would you be available to meet here say at 8 pm?"

 

[VixenEV]

Liz nodded, not betraying the way his choice of an evening time made her feel. Which was silly, of course--just because it was past dinner, didn't make it an "after hours" visit. She imagined that he often worked well into the night.

But later, she would pretend that he had meant something by it, when she needed a fantasy.

That's what it was, though: a fantasy. His expression never changed when he looked at her. Sure, flickers of interest. But nothing out of the ordinary. Just like her boyfriend, she thought dismally.

"Sure, of course." She forced her voice to polite casualness. "I'll see you then."

She didn't know why, but she fled. Picked up her purse, gave an odd, stilted wave, and booked it out of the room.

 

[MidnightWalk]

The week passed in its usual leisurely fashion. Robert had plenty to do, with his 4 courses to teach and grade. One class had exams and those needed to be graded, which took a significant amount of free time. When opportunity allowed, he reviewed Elizabeth's thesis proposal, considering ways that he could assist, directions he could suggest, materials he could offer.

He noticed in class that she was more attentive than ever, if that was possible, hanging on his every word, taking copious notes in her notebook. Robert thoroughly approved of the fact that her new fashion direction continued...with short skirts and revealing tops. Made it that much easier to focus on her while lecturing. In a class full of 18-20 year old young woman, Elizabeth held her own quite handily. He even noticed a few of his other students casting even more envious or jealous glances at her during class.

When Tuesday rolled around, Robert got through his classes and then attended his departmental meeting. During a break in the discussions, he ran out to dinner with one of his colleagues, a leggy blonde specializing in Native American history. Making their way back to the meeting, he stoically toughed it out. Afterward, he returned to his office, taking off his jacket and tie, tossing them onto the sofa and unbuttoning his shirt a bit before dropping into his chair behind his desk, idly flipping through a book of erotic art from ancient Rome as he waited for Elizabeth to arrive.

 

[VixenEV]

Liz felt great over the next week, throwing herself into her studies. She kept her boyfriend at a distance, only answering his texts when she had a moment. He didn't comment on her change of style except to wonder how much money she had spent and idly ask if they were still going to take that beach trip at the end of the month.

Still, if he didn't appreciate the new clothes, other men definitely did. Store clerks, men on the street, her neighbor. She was getting more lingering looks and a lot of flirting.

It made it easier to forget the crush on Dr. Miller, except when she was in his class. Liz had made a promise to herself to try to get over the feeling, but he was definitely looking her way a lot. She laughed inwardly at the observation--silly girl, of course he was, he's your thesis advisor now. Professional interest.

When the time came for their meeting, she put on a mini-skirt, tighter than she would ever wear to school. Her top hugged her breasts, but didn't reveal them. Pretty deliberate. Let him wonder, if he wanted.

She was just glad to feel powerful again. Sexy. And if Ben wasn't going to make her feel that way, she'd do it herself.

 

[MidnightWalk]

Robert propped his feet up on his desk, paging through the book. It had been a long day, but Elizabeth's enthusiasm should keep him focused. He looked at the various erotic depictions of Roman life and mythology. It occurred to him while this book might put him in the right frame of mind, it might not put him in the 'best' frame of mine.

While looking through a section of 'woman on top' wall depictions, Robert found himself picturing Elizabeth as the woman in the various representations. Shaking his head, he laughed, standing to move across the room to grab another cup of coffee before returning to his desk and propping his feet up again. Idly, he checked his watch, then picked the book up again. So many of the illustrations appeared modern in nature. That should help Elizabeth's thesis.

 

[VixenEV]

Liz knocked on Dr. Miller's door. His voice, as always, deep and sonorous, commanded her to "Come." It sounded provocative to her, being where her mind was lately. She laughed inwardly, feeling ridiculous for a moment, and entered his office.

He had shed his blazer and tie, his collar open. The effect the image had on her was immediate. She smiled, hoping to cover up her appraisal of him.

"Hi, Dr. Miller. I hope you're not too tired."