Devon's Discipline (5 page)

Devon shook her head again as she watched her go. She knew her friend had her best interest in mind, but she could not understand her aversion to Matthews. Had Lucy had a class with him when they were under grads? Why did it matter if he paid her attention or not? She sighed and made her way to bed.
Whatever, I’ll talk to her more tomorrow.

* * *

Devon opened her eyes with a start. “Shit!” She popped out of bed. “What time is it?”

The alarm clock blinked eleven minutes past the start time of class.

“Shit, shit, shit!” She ran into the bathroom and swished water around in her mouth. One of her fingers brushed her teeth as she ran her right hand through her long hair tangled with knots from a fitful sleep.

“Shit, shit…” She threw on a pair of worn jeans and a tee-shirt from the hamper next to her over her bra and panties.
At least these are clean.
Her makeup consisted of two strokes of blush and a swipe of gloss as she jumped on one foot, then the other to slide on a pair of flip flops. “Shit.” She dashed into the main room and rummaged for her school books.

“Let’s see how serious he is.” Matthews considered anyone tardy to his class disrespectful. She swung open the front door and slammed it closed as she rushed out.

* * *

Devon stealthily crept into the back of the classroom. She was priding herself in her ninja ways when one single, irritated voice struck her from across the aisle.

“Ms. Dawson, see me in my office after class,” Matthews snipped as she sat down.

What the hell was I thinking? I never should have gone out. If I stayed home I would have been on time! I hope his office is sound proof.

She nodded.

What the hell am I going to tell him?

Her thoughts trailed off into a fantasy. In her daydream Matthews bent her over his desk and told her how naughty and disrespectful she’d acted by showing up late. She then batted her eyelashes up at him and begged for forgiveness, but his reply was a wooden ruler against her bare bottom. The idea of her ass on display with him intently paying attention to it made her wet.

“Ms. Dawson,” Matthews called. His voice snapped her back to reality.

“Can you please repeat the question?”

“Pay attention. You have two strikes now.”
Gods, maybe I do need discipline.
She laid her head back against the seat and struggled to listen to the discussion.

“Each of you has to pick an index card out of the pool. It contains the supernatural creature for your final presentation and whether your side is for or against their plight. You can include examples from any source, including both professional and private sources. You will be split into teams and deliver your material in front of your peers. It should take us an entire month to get through all of the teams and your due date is noted on the bottom of your card. Questions?” Matthews sounded frustrated.

The girl in front of her turned around and handed her a large clear container with index cards inside. Devon said a prayer and reached in. If she picked werewolf, it was in the bag.
Vampire.
She sucked in a breath and turned the card over.
Your team is for their cause.

She handed the jar across the aisle and slouched.
Fabulous, a project I’ll screw up.

Suddenly, the large clock on the wall dinged to signal the end of class.
Did I fall asleep again? Oh, I wish class was longer!

A large pit formed in her stomach as she gathered her books. She felt sweat trickle down her neck and considered the possibility of throwing herself down the stairs.

“You’re stalling.” His arms crossed, Matthews stood at the small side door which led to the hallway.

“I wouldn’t want to lose my balance.” She moved into the aisle, then descended the steps slowly and deliberately.

“I would just catch you again.”

Devon felt a rush of heat come over her as she met him at the doorway and began to follow him through the twists and turns toward his office.

“I came late because I tried to study last night, but I went to the bar.”
I wanted someone to look out for me. What is my problem?

“I don’t want to hear excuses.” He turned down the corner and reached his door. Matthews opened it for her and gestured for her walk inside.

“If you have more important things to do, I can come back,” Devon offered, but he shook his head as he studied her.

“Go bend over the couch.”

“What if I say no?”

“Then leave. You agreed to this so either do what you’re told, or get out.” Matthews left the door open and moved to his desk. He perched on the edge and checked his watch. “Close the door regardless of your choice.”

“I’m trying to tell you what happened.” Devon narrowed her eyes but made her way to the door, clicked the lock shut, and sashayed over to him. “I figured you’d want to know.”

“You’re still standing up.” Matthews raised his eyebrows as she leaned into him.

“If you want me somewhere then put me there.”

“I told you to do it.” He moved to a standing position and put his hands on her waist. “Hurry up.”

Devon looked down at his hands, loving the way he held her but wishing it was for a better reason. She finally pulled away and did what he said as he followed behind her. She kept her legs and arms straight as she leaned down and pushed her butt up.

“Good girl.” His hand rested on her hip and she breathed out as it dipped to caress the lower curve of her ass.

“I’m trying,” she whispered as he smacked each bottom cheek slowly, then increased his speed. Devon groaned as she rose up on her heels, aroused and confused by the sensation. It felt different then the spanking at his house, where she hadn’t known what he was going to do. Five sharper smacks struck each cheek and she gasped.

“You’re not supposed to enjoy this.” Matthews paused and she felt him run his hand up her spine.

“I’m not,” Devon lied. The first time had been embarrassing, but here in his office it felt like the beginning of a naughty movie before the two characters had sex.

“Turn around.”

“I didn’t mean—” Devon gasped as he unbuttoned her jeans and tugged them down and off her feet. He repeated the process with her panties, then moved up to her shirt. Matthews yanked it up and over her head then ran his hands down the straps of the bright pink garment. “Oh no…”

He ignored her protest, unclasped her bra, slipped it down her arms, and removed it—all without breaking eye contact, which made Devon even hotter.

“It’s not much of a punishment if you are soaked from the action.” Matthews took her hand firmly in his and brought her to the corner of the office. “I was going to grade assignments later, but I’ll do them now. Stand here and don’t move until I tell you to.”

“Or?” Devon jumped as he expertly landed two slaps to the soft juncture of her leg and thigh on each side, and she jumped again as several more landed on her bottom cheeks.

“There is no other option.” He stood close enough for her to feel his breath on her ear and his handling of the situation drove her wild. “After you think about your behavior for a while, I’ll spank an apology out of you.”

Devon bit her lip as she heard him move back to his desk and sit down.
How long will he make me stand here?
She stared into the corner and tried to remember if she had been punished this way as a little kid.
Why did he take my clothes off?
Her thoughts drifted to his promise of a spanking. She did get turned on by the thought, though the act left much to be desired.
Why am I standing here? I could just walk away.

The question, of course, had an answer. Matthews swore he would help and guide her, and this response proved it. Devon counted the tiny cracks along the wall and then counted them again. She could hear the rustle of papers behind her as he flipped through them but could not tell how much time had passed.

“You have other classes to get to.” Matthews’ voice came from directly behind her and his hands appeared on her waist.

“My next class got canceled, so I’m good for now.” Devon sucked in a breath as he spun her around and piled her clothes in her arms.

“Get dressed.” He returned to his desk and retrieved a clipboard. “Did you sleep through the exercise where everyone wrote down their group numbers?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Devon shimmed into her bra and shirt, then yanked her panties and pants on quickly. She wondered if he had been looking at her body while she stood naked in the corner.

“You’re in group four.”

“Best. Group. Ever.” Devon put a hooked finger into her mouth and popped it against the inside of her cheek.

“What group would you rather be in?” He scrawled a quick note, then set the board down. Matthews raised an eyebrow as he looked up and she approached.

“I don’t know, but I think Hollywood has killed this assignment no matter what.” She leaned against the desk and gave him an innocent smile. “Those freshman think supernatural creatures are monsters.”

“I’m glad you understand the whole point. That media paints vampires, witches, and werewolves in an awful light.”

“Well, I don’t believe it, obviously. My problem is I can’t go stand in the middle of a dark alley and wait for a vampire to appear out of the shadows.” Devon gulped as his curious gaze quickly turned into a steely glare.
Why is he looking at me like that?

“Is a dark alley a safe place for anyone to be?”

“No, but if we can use personal sources, then I have no other choice then to take out a personal ad. It would read, ‘Hi! I’m looking for a vampire to discuss my school project. I have long dark hair and bright green eyes. I’m extremely naive and love flowers. Fondly yours, B negative.’”

“You’d have better luck painting a bulls-eye on your neck and wearing a shirt that reads, ‘Bite me.’”

“Do you think that would work?”

His eyes roamed down over her neck and back up slowly. The intensity of his stare made her blush.

“Unless you don’t think my neck is attractive enough?”

“I think it would draw some lunatics out.” Matthews shrugged. “Your neck is just fine.”

“Anyway,” Devon smiled, “Hollywood leads you to believe all you have to do is flip your hair around.” She knew nothing about vampires other than the modern sparkly renditions and vague memories of her earlier class in high school. “You must also bat your eyelashes, wear low cut shirts, and talk about how high your iron count is.”

“I think most of Hollywood believes all a woman has to do is smile and act dumb to get the attention of any man, vampire or not.”

“If some lame girl thinks a fanged stalker wants her because of how good she smells despite her total lack of conversation skills then who cares if he looks like a sparkly—” A cool, crisp scent filled the air as he closed the distance between them.
All I can think about is his aftershave. Gods, he smells delicious!

“If you get up in front of the class and say vampires face discrimination because they sparkle, I swear I will fail you. In fact, I will spank you and then fail you.” Matthews narrowed his eyes as she studied him.

“Okay, then I won’t.” Devon inhaled sharply as his hand touched her cheek.
Why does he care about my feelings on vampires?

“You should do your research before letting some indie screenwriter make his opinions yours.”

“I will,” Devon stated firmly but got caught in a mixture of emotions. Part of her wanted to rub against him and promise to do what he asked, while the other wanted to run away.
Stop it! He’s your professor!

“Originally I asked you to come here to schedule the make-up exam.” He ran his fingertips down her neck to rest on her collarbone. “Are you ready to take it tonight?”

“In your office?” Devon placed her hand on top of his and squeezed it. “You should move your hand.”

“Wherever you feel comfortable.” Matthews trailed his fingertips downwards until they rested on her hip.

“Here sounds good. What time should I come back?” She followed the path with her fingers until they intertwined with his. The urge to beg him to go lower teased her thoughts.
What would he do if I did?

“Does seven work? I tutor at six-thirty and won’t get out until then.” He reached his free arm around her waist and tugged her against him.

“Yeah,” Devon muttered unsure of his plans. “Are you going to kiss me?”

“I thought about it.” Matthews pressed his forehead against hers. He sighed softly as she blinked at him. “Then I remembered you have a hell of a lesson coming.”

“Tonight?” Devon matched his sigh.

“Mm-hmm.” Matthews released her from his grip. “It’ll give you something to think about.”

“I already am.” She stepped to the door, then turned and glanced over her shoulder. “If you try to kiss me, I’ll totally let you.”

“That’s the part I’m afraid of.” Matthews swallowed hard as he reached past her to open the door.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m not scared at all.” Devon boldly planted a kiss on his cheek and rushed away. She didn’t want to hear his response and the thought of coming back tonight had her stomach tied in knots of anticipation.

* * *

Devon finished up her classes for the day and returned home. She went inside, grabbed a bottle of water, and retreated to her room. She had enough time to work on her project for Professor Matthews before needing to leave again.

She sat at her desk and opened up her laptop. The project for Professor Matthews involved doing research in order to properly deliver a presentation on vampire discrimination. So far she had made a list of all the incongruities about real vampires versus the pretty Hollywood ones. Each media portrayal had some similarity to real ones, but many—such as poison fangs or daytime aversion—were incorrect.

Some sources mentioned vampires looked like any other human except for their eyes. The only other common ground mentioned drinking blood and bonds forming from that act.