Teaching Cherise

[Untamed_Heart]

Closed for Cg and Untamed, read along and enjoy

Cherise Matheson was 23, just starting her freshman year in college. Yes, this was a little old for someone to be just starting out, but life had placed itself in the way, preventing her from going to school any earlier. Her father had left her family when she was six, making her mother the sole provider of the household.

When she was 16, her mother had fallen ill. They had thought it was just a bug, one that would go away, but after it had lingered for months, slowly becoming worse, her mother had gone to the doctor and been told it was cancer. Untreatable. Her mother hung on to see her daughter graduate from school, but then her care and other bills had forced Cherise to forgo schooling for work. But now her mom was gone, and she was determined to get on with her life, pursuing the career she had always dreamed of-becoming a teacher.

Three months into her first term, Cherise knew she was in trouble. She glanced up from her textbooks at her flat mate and groaned with frustration. “Damn it Charlie! I might as well drop out now and go back to stocking shelves! I should have pursued a career in medicine! I am almost positive it would have been easier than English…”

Her roommate smiled at the girls exasperation as she fumed and dragged her fingers through her short spiky blond hair. On anyone else, this style would have looked dykish, but Cherise somehow made it look extraordinarily feminine. Though…the conservative style of dress she was never far from seemed to detract from this, making her look like a 30ish spinster going through a rebellious midlife crisis.

Softly, Charlie said, “Well…have you ever thought of hiring a tutor? Most English majors come into it right after high school, meaning they haven’t forgotten much. You have been out of it for almost 5 years. Perhaps a bit of a brush-up will help you. I had a tutor…” She trailed off as she jumped from her chair and rooted through a binder “Ahh, there it is! Here, try this guy-he’s very good, I used him earlier and picked myself up from barely passing to mostly a’s-its worth a try right?”

Cherise hesitantly took the paper, then with a shrug as if to say ‘I have nothing to loose’ She dialed the number. She stared at the paper as the phone rang, noting with dismay there was no name written down. Her green eyes flashed at her roommate as the other end was picked up, affording her no time to ask what it was.

This left her stammering uncertainly, “Hi, umm…a friend of mine gave me your number as a tutor?” The brief silence on the other end made her wonder and she asked cautiously, “I did dial the right number didn’t I?”

 

[cgraven]

Mark Nicolas had had spent his youth on fishing boats in Nova Scotia, a product of tradition, his family had been fishermen as long as anyone could remember, yet Ottawa kept putting more and more restrictions on the industry till there was no room for a younger generation. So it was off to college, then university in Montréal. His career had stretched over the years, till he had his doctorate. There where several teaching positions at various colleges and universities. Till he at fifty decided to try his hand at writing. With a small pension from his last post he settled down to the life of an author.

Mark had met with critical acclaim but commercial success eluded him and after several years he found it necessary to work part time as a tutor. The work was rewarding for the most part as he saw his pupils blossom.


“Hello”

“Hi, umm…a friend of mine gave me your number as a tutor?..........I did dial the right number didn’t I?”


The voice on the other end stammered, it was soft and definitely feminine.

“Yes how may I help you?”

 

[Untamed_Heart]

“Yes how may I help you?”

Ok…Charlie was mouthing his name at her now, but not being a lip reader, Cherise could only shake her head until Charlie sighed and held up a piece of paper with the name scrawled in black felt marker. Squinting at the chicken scratch, Cherise said, “Hi Mr. Nickles,” She paused at Charlie’s vehement head shake and corrected herself, “Err Mr. Nicolas, sorry, my friend, Charlie McAllister hired you as a tutor in English and gave me your number.”

She paused then, feeling the familiar slow burn of embarrassment that having to ask for help always inspired in her. She knew it was silly, but a strong independent streak such as she had made it hard sometimes.

“Umm, I am having a lot of problems with my classes, I am just above failing in most, actually failing in some and am quite frankly thinking of giving up. Charlie gave me your number sort of as a last ditch effort to save rent costs.” She laughed a little, but it tapered off quickly, for it had been a bit of a lame joke and she knew it. “I was thinking, if you might be willing, we could possibly meet to see if there is anyway you can help…”

 

[cgraven]

“Hi Mr. Nickles,” She paused at Charlie’s vehement head shake and corrected herself, “Err Mr. Nicolas, sorry, my friend, Charlie McAllister hired you as a tutor in English and gave me your number.”

Mark listened calmly as the young woman spoke telling him of her dilemma.. he let out a small sigh, yet another aspiring student that was here more for the college life than for serious study.

“And your name would be?”

It was a strait forward question a minor detail that the young woman had seem ed to over look.

“If you are serious about your studies I will be willing to meet with you”

Mark paused as he checked his desk calendar.

“Would Tuesday evening seven o’clock be suitable I could meet you at the student Union and we can take it from there.”

 

[Untamed_Heart]

“And your name would be? If you are serious about your studies I will be willing to meet with you”

Cherise blushed as she gave him her name, feeling rather foolish that she had omitted that detail. She saw Charlie biting back her laughter and simply glared at the other girl. When she was off the phone would be ample time to deal with that redhead!

“Would Tuesday evening seven o’clock be suitable I could meet you at the student Union and we can take it from there.”

Cherise smiled with a relief that showed in her voice as she said, “Tuesday would be great, thank you in advance for taking the time to meet with me. Oh, and Mr. Nicolas, I am very serious about my studies; I am just a little overwhelmed at the moment. I am not some silly little thing bent on parties and boys, if that was what you are thinking.”

She knew that had to be the reason for the slight sigh she had heard; he thought she was some young punk kid that didn’t want to be in school, was just there so Mommy and Daddy would continue to pay her way and that was it. She ended the call, determined to show him the difference.

Tuesday couldn’t come soon enough. She dressed that evening in a plain black pant suit, one that was severe, but managed to accent her charms in a way that appealed. She arrived 15 minutes early for her appointment, realizing that she had very little idea of what this man looked like; the only thing Charlie had told her was that he was a little older than most of the guys that came to the Student Union. She nervously shifted the books she had brought with her to the side, and sipped her coffee. She had brought the books as a reference point if he had any specific questions, rather than as an expectation that they would be starting right off.

 

[cgraven]

Mark Nicolas dressed in a casual pair of slack, a button down shirt, and a light cardigan. He tried to remember the reference that Miss Matheson had given him…….Ah yes Charlie McAllister ……A serious student but very much a practical joker at times that sorely tested his patient if this was one of her jokes he would have a serious talk with the Dean.

Mark Nicolas at 53 was not your typical post grade student picking up some side cash by tutoring. He was a fit man full believing if you don’t use it, it will rust away. The gym never held an attraction for Mark it was too cramped, to confining, and to damn boring. His youth on the Outer Banks had given him a love for the wild places of nature be it the sea, or the mountains. The hike to and from his cabin was enough to keep him fit and term.

He ran his hand over his bald head as he looked over the crowd of jostling students in the Union. Checked his watch again 7:10 Damn he muttered. if this is one of Charlie McAllister jokes I’ll wring her neck It was then that he spotted a rather bewilder looking young lady in a rather sever plain black pant suit, her manner of dress and her short spiky blond hair. The two seemed so at odds with each other.

Cherise Matheson?

 

[Untamed_Heart]

Cherise Matheson?

Cherise looked up at the voice, startled as she had almost decided that he wasn’t coming. Her eyes took in the figure of the man in front of her and had the insane urge to wolf whistle. For an older man, he seemed to be in great shape.

She smiled tentatively and nodded. She said, “Mr. Nicolas I presume? I appreciate you coming down here to meet with me, though I wonder at the overall wisdom of it.” She half yelled this over her shoulder to be heard over the babble of other voices.

She led the way back to her table, at which point her femininity became a little more apparent from the subtle sway of her hips.

She sat and set a hand on her textbook, wondering if she was supposed to dive in and start in with her problems or wait. She decided to take her cues from him

 

[cgraven]

“Mr. Nicolas I presume? I appreciate you coming down here to meet with me, though I wonder at the overall wisdom of it.” She half yelled this over her shoulder to be heard over the babble of other voices.

OH God a bull dyke the thought ran through Mark’s mid at her bode greeting, yet the way she moved the sway of her hips as she led him back to her table was decidedly feminine. Her hand lay on her text books a shy perplexed expression on her face as if she was not quite sure of what to do next. Mark took a seat opposite her and extended his hand

“Mark Nicolas and I presume you are Cherise Matheson How may I be of assistance to you”

Mark saw that lost look of What do I do Next.

“Miss Matheson what subject do you need help in.”

 

[Untamed_Heart]

“Mark Nicolas and I presume you are Cherise Matheson How may I be of assistance to you”

Cherise was a little lost…how was she going to explain her problems better than she already had? He saved her though, asking a more direct question, one that cleared up some of the confusion.

With a smile, she said, “First of all, why don’t you call me Cherise-all my friends do, though don’t call me Cherry, or I might have to be upset.” She smiled once more to show that she was mostly kidding and continued, “Mostly, my problems stem from the fact I haven’t been in school for five years and I have forgotten much of my high school English classes. So I am slowly slipping behind on anything that has to do with English, with no hope of a quick recovery. Perhaps I need a brush up on the basics, then a crash course through everything else…I have wanted to pursue a teaching career, as an English teacher in fact, but the way it’s going right now, I don’t have a hope” With the end of that little speech, Cherise leaned back in her chair, fully expecting him to tell her to go to hell and she wouldn’t blame him in the least.

 

[cgraven]

“First of all, why don’t you call me Cherise-all my friends do, though don’t call me Cherry, or I might have to be upset.”

Her little smile warmed Mark for some strange reason. He listened as Cherise poured out her academic woes, the young woman seemed to speak in short rapid burst full of emotion hardly drawing a breath till she had finished her thought. Mark soon realized that Cherise’s problem was not so much English but the difference between the spoken language and the archaic rules of grammar which always lagged behind the spoken language.

“Miss Matheson, Cherise…”

He immediately corrected himself, for it was important that his pupils feel relaxed in his company if he was to help them, and as a tutor the strict formalities of the class room would be more of a hindrance that a help.

“Cherise I think I can help you. It is obvious that you have a desire to learn to succeed in you academic career. If I did not think so I would not waste your time or my own.”

Mark saw the little blondes eyes lighten and a small excited smile cresses her lips.

“ I charge $20.00 an hour.”

Suddenly the happiness that Mark saw drained from Cherise’s face.

“Is there a problem Cherise?”

 

[Untamed_Heart]

“Cherise I think I can help you. It is obvious that you have a desire to learn to succeed in you academic career. If I did not think so I would not waste your time or my own.”

Cherise felt a burst of sheer relief, a hope that blossomed deep in her breast, and spread outward. She hadn’t truly wanted to quit school, but funds were tight enough that she had been prepared to do so if there was no other option. She was wise enough to realize throwing good money after bad was futile, but now it seemed there was a way out.

Of course, life couldn’t go easy on her though, for her face paled and her lips parted slightly as he named his fee. 20.00 An hour…she couldn’t afford half of that! Her look of panic must have been obvious as he asked her if there was a problem.

Swallowing nervously, she said, “Perhaps then we are wasting our time anyway, for though I do have the desire to succeed, I possess neither the means nor the time to acquire the price you ask. You see, I am not like so many other girls here, I have no parents footing the bill for my schooling, or housing. In fact, I have no parents at all, I have a small inheritance that has paid my fees, and there is enough left to pay my rent, but only if I don’t splurge. To meet your price, I would have to give up my residence, and somehow I don’t believe that living on the street would help my schooling either.” She paused then, and continued more slowly, ”Unless you have an idea perhaps that I haven’t thought of, I think it might be best that we call this a bad idea and leave it at that. Or rather, a good idea, just unworkable.”

 

[cgraven]

”Unless you have an idea perhaps that I haven’t thought of, I think it might be best that we call this a bad idea and leave it at that. Or rather, a good idea, just unworkable.”

There was a deep sadness in the girl’s eyes as she spoke. It seemed that all her hope for the future vanished. Mark saw how desperately Cherise wanted to succeed in her studies. They sat there in awkward silence for several moments.

“Cherise If you are willing to barter for my services there may be away.”

The deep blush and the way the young woman’s eyes grew wide in disbelief shocked Mark. It was apparent that Cherise thought he was offering her to trade sexual favors for his services.

“Oh no nothing like that Miss Matheson. I simply mean that I am a writer and I need someone to type my notes. Cherise I didn’t mean…”


Mark’s voice trailed off in acute embarssment.

 

[Untamed_Heart]

“Cherise If you are willing to barter for my services there may be away.”

Cherise couldn’t help it…she blushed deeply. She had heard rumors of older men who took advantage of the young girls that went to school here, trading them small favors in exchange for some of the basest acts imaginable. But this man hadn’t seemed to be the type to do such a thing. It seemed to prove her naivety; apparently she wasn’t such a good judge of character at all! Suddenly, unbidden, the image of the two of them entwined on rumpled sheets crept into her mind and she blushed harder, even as she wondered what on earth that thought had popped up for.

Mark had noted her blush, and jumped to the obvious conclusion her mind had decided on and his own cheeks took on a brief ruddy hue. “Oh no nothing like that Miss Matheson. I simply mean that I am a writer and I need someone to type my notes. Cherise I didn’t mean…”

Cherise blushed even more as she realized the error of her thoughts and she looked at him sitting across from her, both of them caught in the trap of embarrassment. She took a deep breath and leaned across the table, her hand touching his to gain his full attention. A spark seemed to shoot from the back of his hand to her fingertips, making her rub her fingers together to dispel the oddly pleasant tingling sensation. What she didn’t realize however, was that when she leaned forward, her deep cleavage showed in the briefly gaped material of her top. She sat back to quickly for more than just a glimpse, if anyone had been looking.

“Mr. Nicolas…I apologize for the way I jumped to conclusions, I tend to do that more than I might otherwise want. I have heard stories around campus of that sort of thing, and I feared momentarily that you were the same. I find your offer more than acceptable, I would be glad to type your notes, though I am not sure its an equal service to offer…” She paused as a new thought occurred, “Unless of course, you write with a doctors hand, in which case you might be getting the better bargain.” She smiled to show she was joking.

 

[cgraven]

When she leaned forward, her deep cleavage showed in the briefly gaped material of her top, the touch of her hand so intimate. Then Cherise blushed deeply as she quickly sat back up.

Mark was only human and for a moment he regretted not having asked more of this shy young beauty. The way she moved the contradictions in her dress and hair style gave him the distinct impression that despite her age Cherise was terribly naïve.

I would be glad to type your notes, though I am not sure its an equal service to offer…” She paused as a new thought occurred, “Unless of course, you write with a doctors hand, in which case you might be getting the better bargain.”

A shy smile bowed her full ripe lips.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The bargain was struck and the next three months settled down into a routine of tutoring, and typing. Mark cut Cherise no slack he had her nose buried in Hardbridge’s Rules of English Grammar till she mastered the fundamentals of comas, semi colons, and punctuation. He challenged her in her written assignment pulling them apart for the smallest mistake. Yes Mark Nicolas was a hard task master. But when Cherise got it right he was lavish with his praise and support of her efforts.

Like wise Cherise found that there where a mountain of notes for Mark’s unpublished book. It took her nearly a month just to get through the first of five chapters.

 

[Untamed_Heart]

Three months passed in a blur of books, study and more study. Cherise learned rapidly under Mark’s tutelage, buried memories of past lessons surfaced with each of the things he taught her. Towards the end, Cherise was grasping some of the concepts completely, to the point one of her professors had commented on it.

When she wasn’t studying, she spent her time going through the copious notes he had for his book. Notes that taught her some of the depths of this man’s intelligence. She thoroughly enjoyed doing this work, watching as it took shape. Each day she learned more of the man, and she found herself looking forward to the end of each of her classes so she could rush to her other work, eager to dive in once more.

One day she received a test back from one of her professors, one whose habit it was to instruct his students to leave their returned tests face down as he distributed them. Then he would break down the marks in percentage, how many in the class got what etc. The professor turned to the class after he was done, and started, Cherise was sure she would be in the 60’s and tuned him out. He said “And I am pleased to announce there is one person in the class who has shown tremendous improvement over the last three months, a student who is now at the top of the class for this test. Miss Matheson, would you please turn your paper over and read out the grade at the top?”

Cherise’ face pinked as she turned over the paper in huge red marker was her mark and her jaw gaped “Err…96%” She stammered, hardly able to speak due to her surprise. The class applauded.

After school was out for the day, she fairly flew to meet with Mark, her feet barely touched the ground in her excitement. Bursting through the door, she called out, looking for him. She danced into the room and threw her arms around him crying happily, “Thank you, thank you! Look at the mark you helped me get! It was the highest in the class too!” Suddenly she touched her mouth to his cheek, giving him a kiss of gratitude, but then she jerked back, face flaming as she realized how inappropriate that must have been.

 

[cgraven]

Bursting through the door, she called out, looking for him. She danced into the room and threw her arms around him crying happily, “Thank you, thank you! Look at the mark you helped me get! It was the highest in the class too!” Suddenly she touched her mouth to his cheek, giving him a kiss of gratitude, but then she jerked back, face flaming as she realized how inappropriate that must have been.

The sheer power of Cherise’s embrace caught Mark by surprise, never mind the kiss she pressed to his cheek. Before she stood there a deep crimson flush to her cheeks. Mark did not rebuke the young coed but smiled I am glad you are doing so well.

As Cherise worked away typing the latest set of notes for mark’s book he could not shake the feeling of the girl’s embrace, how her supple young body had pressed to his, the way the brush of her lips stirred feelings Mark had not felt for a long time. He pushed these thoughts from his mind as he worked.

That evening when it was time for he young coed to leave Mark called out to her as her hand was on the doorknob.

“Cherise next week is Thanksgiving break and if you have no plans would you like to spend it here?”

He lowered his eyes afraid of the laughter he would see in hers at such an outrageous invitation.

“If you have other plans I understand.

He quickly added to give them both a convenient way out of an embarrassing situation.

 

[Untamed_Heart]

Cherise was happy that Mark said nothing about the impromptu kiss she had given him, the inner tension she had felt at that moment slowly drained away as she delved into her work. Oddly though, even as she worked, her mind returned to the feel of his body pressed against her own, however briefly it had been. She shoved the thought away each time it cropped up, trying to concentrate.

When the evening’s work ended, she packed up her things and prepared to head for home, bidding Mark goodnight. Her hand was on the knob, actually turning it when he spoke and his words froze her in her tracks. Thanksgiving break? With him? There was a flutter in her belly at that thought, instant excitement.

She turned to look at him, just in time to see him drop his gaze to the floor and add what seemed to be a hasty excuse to save embarrassment should she find his idea ridiculous. She realized in that moment, she was a little shy, just like herself and careful of not getting himself into a situation that might be embarrassing. There was a slight smile on her face, but it wasn’t due to ridicule. She was oddly touched by this man, and that was the reason.

She stepped forward a single pace and offered quietly, “Mark, I would love to spend the break with you. I don’t have any family to go to, Charlie is spending her time with her latest boyfriend and I don’t really relish the thought of being alone. If we spent it together, it might be a lot of fun…as long as you don’t make me write essays and other stuff too.” She smiled then, realizing privately that the reasons she gave, though true, weren’t the whole picture. She wanted to spend time with him, as a person and a friend. But she wasn’t about to admit to that, just in case he got other ideas and changed his mind. She wasn’t quite willing to admit to herself the depth of her interest in him. She also totally missed the fact this was the first time she had called him by his first name.

The beginning of the next week found her knocking on Mark’s door, overnight case in hand, tiny bubbles of excitement in her tummy. She somehow had the feeling this week was going to change her, she just wasn’t sure how or why.

 

[cgraven]

“Mark, I would love to spend the break with you. I don’t have any family to go to, Charlie is spending her time………………..

The rest of what Cherise had to say trailed off as suddenly Mark felt a warm glow spreading throw him god he hoped he wasn’t blushing like a school boy. he was far to old for such nonsense..

“I’ll see you then mind you Cherise it will be a rather simple dinner. So don’t except to much.”

Thought he saw her as usual they said nothing more about the upcoming vacation break.

Mark found himself quite on edge until the bell rang and he saw Cherise standing there her overnight case in hand.

“Come in I’ll show you to the spare room. I am afraid that bachelors are not very good house keepers, but of course you already know that.”

The spare room a joined a bathroom that was shared by Mark’s he showed her where the towels where and all the other little things that you do with an overnight guest.

“I’ll leave you to freshen up. Steak ok for dinner tonight?”

 

[Untamed_Heart]

Cherise smiled as she followed him into the back of the house, noting everything he showed her, filing it in the back of her mind so she wouldn’t forget. She nodded as he asked her about steak, her mouth watering already she asked for medium rare and then as he turned to leave, closed the bathroom door.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she undressed swiftly, she didn’t know how long he thought she would be, but she didn’t want to keep him waiting. She needed a shower though, so she jumped in. Making it as quick as she could, it was still ten minutes before she stepped back out and vigorously toweled herself dry. She stepped into the spare room and flicked open the latches of her case.

She swallowed convulsively as she drew the outfit off the very top, one she had packed with care that morning not wanting it to wrinkle badly before she wished to wear it. She had shopped for this, spending time choosing the perfect outfit, one that was very different from her usual attire. She did this due to a desire to impress Mark, to show him that she was pretty and feminine, though she wasn’t sure her reason.

It was a burgundy dress, made of soft clingy wool that hugged her curves and showed them to perfection. She added a pair of stay up stockings and scanty panties that made her feel scandalously decadent. She didn’t really intend to let Mark see these, but she had bought them for her own pleasure. Her breasts were unfettered under the dress, swaying gently with her movements. She had no shoes to go with the outfit, but since she was inside a house, she didn’t think it was a big deal.

She threw on a tiny dab of softly scented perfume behind each ear, a hint of gloss on her lips and went in search of Mark and the smells of supper cooking.

 

[cgraven]

Mark was not prepared in the least for the vision he saw when Cherise came padding barefooted into the kitchen. He had become use to the young lady’s conservative dress that though stylish tended to give the impression of a rather tight laced spinster. Yet as Cherise stood there in that burgundy dress with the soft wool hugging her curves, Mark saw how pretty and feminine she really was and it took his breath away.

“Cherise you look stunning.”

A shy rather embarrassed smile caressed his face and Mark felt decidedly underdressed in his slacks and buttoned-down blue shirt. Collecting his wits his smile broadened to a natural ease.

“Steak and salad Cherise nothing fancy I hope it will do?”

He showed the young beauty to the dinning room and pulled out her chair for her. The tempting fragrance of her perfume was maddeningly tempting as Mark suddenly had the desire to kiss the nape of her neck, and it took all his will power not to. After all Cherise was his pupil and his literary assistant, further more she was his guest and trusted him.

“Cherise would you care for some wine?”

The table was set but with a simply elegance. The dinner conversation was light and friendly for over their time together a certain relaxed familiarity had grown between the two. The young beauty had offered to help clear the table and do the dishes but Mark had steadfastly refused on the grounds that Cherise was his guest and he would not hear of it. Though he had tried to banish her to the living room she had elected to take her wine and chat with Mark as he did the dishes.

Mark found the feelings that Cherise’s outfit evoked in him rather unsettling, her short blonde hair that had always appeared in the past to be spiky, he now saw as rather impish, her soft tawny golden hair falling in a short sensual wave that highlighted her sweet innocent face, and Mark found himself steal glances of her as he did the dishes setting them in the rack to dry.

“Cherise would you like to put some music on, I have a rather varied collection, a little bit of everything.”

He set a fire on the living room hearth as Cherise made her selection and he hoped that she could find something that she liked. As he poured himself an after dinner brandy her turned to her.

“Care for a Brandy?”

 

[Untamed_Heart]

“Cherise you look stunning.”

That simple statement made the time she had spent shopping for her dress well worth it. Suddenly Cherise felt like a million bucks, better than ever before. She admired Marks dress silently, deciding he looked damn good too, though the shy smile he gave made her wonder if he felt inadequately dressed for the occasion. She gave a happy nod as he listed the menu-it had been to long since she had enjoyed a salad and steak, she was looking forward to it.

They settled down to dinner, a time she immensely enjoyed as the conversation matched the company; pleasant, intelligent and down to earth. She was almost sorry to finish the meal, which was a portion of why she refused Marks offer of relaxing in the living room while he tidied up. Instead she sat and watched him work, still chatting while she drank her wine. She wondered a little at the occasional glimpse she got of him looking at her, she wondered if perhaps he was finding her as interesting as she was him.

Cherise followed Mark into the living room and looked through his music collection as he laid the fire. Choosing finally, she straightened and said, “Hard decision, you have to much good stuff!” She was smiling as she said this, and then walked to the sound system. Shortly, the mellow sound of blues filled the room and Cherise smiled once more, relaxing totally now.

“Care for a Brandy?”

She simply nodded, and smiled a thank you as she was wrapped up in the music. She sipped her brandy, enjoying the slow heat of it sliding down to her stomach. At the end of the second song, she seemed to come out of the space she had gone to, her attention returning to Mark. With a smile, she set down her drink and stood up, walking over to stand in front of him.

“Dance with me?” Her voice was quiet, a little shy as she wondered if she was overstepping an invisible boundary, but not really caring. She added, “I should warn you though, I sometimes have two left feet, so you can turn me down if you want to save your toes…” As Mark had done so many times before, she offered him an easy way out if she was doing this wrong.

 

[cgraven]

Mark was pleasantly surprised at Cherise’s choice of Blues. He had found that the majority of the University students leaned more to contemporary groups and music. The way that Cherise body gently swayed to the soft melody strains showed how much she really enjoyed the music and that it was not something she thought he would like and that she in turn could tolerate. Mark found that he was almost mesmerized by the subtitle sensual sway of Cherise body as she surrendered to the music lost in it.

“Dance with me?”

Her voice was quiet, a little shy and it took Mark a moment to realized that she had actually asked him to dance. The rest of what Cherise said was lost in a flood of conflicting emotions, some of desire to hold this charming young beauty in his arms, others questioning the wisdom of taking her in his arms.

…………………………………. two left feet, so you can turn me down if you want to save your toes…”

That seemed to snap Mark from his confused pondering as he found himself standing and the words out of his mouth before he realized he had even spoken.

“I’d love to Cherise.”

As he took her into his arms he wondered why he had not made some excuse that would let Cherise reconsider her offer, but as he felt the warmth of her body against his, the sensual way this young beauty moved in his arms as they danced he was glad that he didn’t. Slowly the music, Cherise’s closeness, seemed to make time stand still, there was only the music and Cherise and suddenly nothing else mattered.

As the strains of the music slowly faded Mark found himself looking down into Cherise’s soft eyes, slowly his lips brushed hers as his tongue slide over her full ripe lower lip.

 

[Untamed_Heart]

There were a few moments of trepidation while she waited for Mark to accept or reject her offer of the dance, but her wait was worth it as he suddenly seemed to spring from his chair. “I’d love to Cherise.” It was amazing how four words could make her so happy. She smiled contentedly as he took her into his arms and they began to move to the music.

They fit so well together, Cherise gave lie to her earlier statement of two left feet-she didn’t step on Marks toes once, but instead moved with him like a willow that sways gently in the breeze; graceful and flowing. The world faded, all that was left was the music, the heat and masculine scent that Mark exuded, a scent she found herself discretely sniffing, unable to stop herself.

As the music faded, Cherise was looking up at him, lost in the depths of his gaze when his head moved and his lips touched hers. She was fine with that; the slow sweep of his tongue across her lip was another matter. She gasped and drew back slightly in surprise.

Instantly, she felt Mark tense in her arms and knew he was a split second from pulling away in embarrassment. She tightened her grip slightly, making him pause and she took advantage of the reprieve, moving her body closer to his. Urged by feelings she barely understood, she lifted a hand to the back of his neck and pulled his head down to hers. Her lips met his, hesitantly at first, then with more confidence. She returned the favor he had granted her previously, slipping her tongue across his lip slowly and to her surprise, his mouth opened. Tentatively, her tongue slipped inside, exploring the heat of his mouth for a bare second before darting shyly away. When the kiss ended, her cheeks were flushed slightly and her chest rose and fell rapidly. Wordlessly, in wonder, she stared at Mark, a million questions in her eyes.

 

[cgraven]

Cherise gasped and drew back slightly in surprise at the intimacy of Mark’s kiss. He flushed with embarrassment the moment had taken him by surprise, her eyes had seem ed so inviting. His body stiffened as he realized that he had stepped over a line that had defined their relationship. The quite unexpectedly Cherise tightened her grip slightly, making him moving her body closer to his. Her lips met his, hesitantly at first, then with more confidence, her slipping her tongue across his lip slowly and to her surprise, his mouth opened. Tentatively, her tongue slipped inside, exploring the heat of his mouth for a bare second before darting shyly away. When the kiss ended, her cheeks were flushed slightly and her chest rose and fell rapidly. Wordlessly, in wonder, she stared at Mark, a million questions in her eyes.

What could he say, how could he possibly explain his actions or how her kiss made him feel. The fires it ignited in him, the desire so long forgotten suddenly alive. God he was old enough to be her father, old enough to be her…………. His mind refused to finish that though..

“Cherise I fear that I am very attracted to you, not as a pupil but as a woman.”

The words seemed to have come to him unbidden, as if for the first time he was finally facing feelings he had to long tried to deny. Mark steeled himself for Cherise’s rejection, for her laughter , at such an outrageous statement, and yet she had kissed him in return, a desperate flicker of hope burned within him..

 

[Untamed_Heart]

Cherise looked at Mark then, her expression intent, very serious. Laughter was the furthest thing from her mind at that moment. She had spent the last three months in the company of this man, almost every night. She had liked him for almost as long, but had never done or said anything that might give those feelings away to him. She knew he was old enough to be her father, but in matters of the heart, it didn’t matter.

She also knew that she had to tread very carefully right now, the wrong thing said, and she would hurt Mark, even though her intention was exactly the opposite. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she began to speak, her eyes meeting his so he could read the depths of her sincerity.

“Mark…every night I come here, we spend sometimes up to four hours in each others company each night. Along with doing our work, we have talked, gotten to know each other a little bit better. Along the way, I discovered that I liked you very much as well. As a man, not just a teacher and friend. I have kept this knowledge to myself, for fear that you would think me young and impetuous. To realize that you share some of the same feelings, is quite a rush. I may not be terribly experienced in the ways of men and women, but I know I want to find out-with you. All I can ask, is go slow, new things make me nervous and All of this is new to me.” She was trying to tell him that she had no experience whatsoever, but to say it so bluntly was a thing she couldn’t do either and she only hoped that he picked up her cue, and it didn’t make him rethink.