His gaze snapped to mine immediately.
"Iris, what a surprise to find you here at such a late hour." He slowed as he neared me, and suddenly I didn't know what to do with my hands or how language was meant to work.
"Professor! I could say the same of you. I'm preparing for one of my mid-year projects; sources to collect and all that," I said with an anxious chuckle.
"Of course! I do hope you are taking some time for yourself to relax, though."
I attempted to look up at him through my lashes; he stood nearly a foot taller than me.
"What sort of relaxation do you recommend, Professor?"
My attempt at flirting must have at least somewhat worked, because Benedict's polite smile fell ever so slightly, and his eyes on me grew heated.
"Something that brings you pleasure," he said simply.
My breath caught at his words, but I forced myself to hold his gaze, to let him see the way his words affected me.
He looked for a moment as if he would say more, but thought better of it.
"What tome are you searching for now, my dear?"
I knew he didn't mean anything by it, but when he called me that, my stomach did an odd little flip.
"It's a work on necrotic alchemy...should be," I turned to scan the shelf, "here." The book was several shelves above my head—high enough that, had I been alone, I would have gone to find oneof the many small ladders and stools that the library had scattered throughout the stacks.
"Allow me."
Before I could register what was happening, Benedict stepped toward me, and I caught the scent of his birchwood cologne. Then, he was there, reaching his lean, strong form over me to collect the book from the top shelf. His closeness flustered me, and instead of stepping away, I turned so that my back pressed into the shelf and looked up at him. His chest was a few mere inches from mine, and I was barely breathing.
He glanced down at me with his arm still outstretched, and the corner of his mouth pulled into a smile. Old gods help me, I was such a mess. I could feel myself getting wet at his closeness. I wanted him to touch me, kiss me, claim me.
After what truly felt like an eternity, he pulled the book down and kept his eyes locked on mine as he handed it to me. I tookit, cradling it in one arm, but he didn't step away.
I realized this was, perhaps, as much of a signal as I would get. I supposed it wasn't every day Professor Excidium was starting some dalliance with a student (though, for all I knew, it might be every day for him), so he might be waiting for me to express my interest more explicitly.
I raised my other hand to rest it on his chest, the crisp fabric of his shirt warm under my hand. I felt his lungs fill and I let my eyes drop to his lips. I could see hints of his skeletal form peeking through; usually it seemed only a trick of the light, but this close I could tell it was real. The strangeness only heightened his beauty. His jaw was cut so elegantly, and a perfect cupid's bow adorned his lips.
"Professor, I…" I trailed off.
"Benedict, please," he answered gently.
"Benedict, would you…like to kiss me?" He paused a moment, as if he was letting my words sink in.
"Yes, Iris, I would like to kiss you very much, indeed."
I thought my heart would beat straight out of my chest. He leaned toward me, his hand coming up to cradle the back of my head as our lips met.
The kiss was tentative at first, and Benedict's other hand cupped my cheek tenderly. I wanted more, though; my whole body was alight with sensations. I brushed my tongue against his lips in question, and I couldn't help the moan that escaped my lips when he opened for me and met me stroke for stroke.
He pressed closer to me, then, and I felt his hard length pressing into the softness of my stomach. He truly wanted me too.
Without breaking the kiss, I slid the book I still held onto the edge of the shelf behind me. With both hands now free, I ran one down the length of his torso and brushed lightly against where his cock strained.
He gasped, pulling back slightly, and the look on his face was a combination of raw lust and surprise.
"Iris, you must forgive me, I've gotten quite carried away. I've never…you must know I do not make a habit of…accosting my students." His brows tilted together slightly in an expression of guilt.
I crooked my finger at him to come closer, and he leaned down to offer me his ear.
