The Ivy League (9 page)

“Sara,” he said, his voice
dipping low.  He pulled his arm back from her.  “I can’t…”

“Look,” she said, “I need to pass this class…”

Her words trailed off, but he saw the fear in her eyes.  She was on the brink of tears, fearful of loosing the most important thing in her life.

“I can’t give you any preferential treatment…”

“I kn
ow,” Sara said, hope rising in her voice.  “I just want you to tutor me.  Help me get some of the concepts I’m missing. I need to do good on this next test.”

He
knew this was going to be a very bad idea, bit he had a duty as a teacher to help her.  He couldn’t let his personal hang ups get in the way of being a good teacher.  This was his passion in life, and he simply didn’t have it in him to turn away a student asking for help. 

“Come to my office this
evening,” he said, “I can make some time to see you.  Have a list of questions prepared.  I take most of my questions from the end of the chapters.”

“I can’t tonight
,” Sara said sheepishly.  She felt bad being such an inconvenience to him.  He was clearly far busier than her, and if he was willing to schedule some time for her, she should be able to take it.  But she had already made a commitment, and she couldn’t break it.

“A night class?” he asked, his brow arched in curiosity. 

“No,” Sara said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.  “It’s um…well, I have a date.”

The words hit him in the chest like a jackhammer.  The thought never would have crossed his mind, but she was a very beautiful woman and he shouldn’t be surprised that she would have guys after her. 

“A date,” he said, trying his hardest to sound nonchalant.  He knew he shouldn’t say anything, should just drop it, but he just couldn’t help himself.  “With who?”

“Yes, a date,” she said.  She hoped that he wouldn’t notice the red hot stain that was stuck on her cheeks.  “I don’t believe it is any of your business with who.  I can come tomorrow evening if that will be ok.”

“Of cou
rse,” he said, “I didn’t mean…tomorrow night will be fine.”

Sara fumed with herself as she dug her knife into the thick steak on her plate.  Against her better judgment, she had spoken to Madame Gwen.  She wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened, but the woman had talked her into taking another job.  This was not the road she wanted to go down.  But what could she do?  She needed the money, and it was so hard to decline it when it came so easy.

“I think it’s only fair,” Sara said, looking up at Dan only briefly, “that you know,
I won’t ever be doing this again.  So don’t ask for me anymore.”

“Oh?” Dan said, an arch in his
perfectly groomed eyebrow.  He so enjoyed a good challenge.  Madame Gwen told him she wasn’t very interested.  In fact, it was one of the things that made Sara so irresistible to him.  She gave him a chase, something that other girls never did.  Given enough time, and Dan was sure he could win her over.  She would be his newest trophy in a line of conquests between him and Banks. 

“Why
?” Sara asked, setting her fork and knife down.  She rested her hands in her lap as she stared back at him.  “I’m sure you could have any woman you want.  So, why do you want to pay to see me?”

“Why not
?” he said, with a smile.  He was very handsome, and terribly charming.  Sara found it hard not to fall for him. 

“Are you going to give me a real
answer?” Sara said with a smirk.

“I will,” Dan said.  He wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin before setting it on the table next to his plate.
“I will be very blunt with you.  There comes a point when a man of my means must settle down.”

He had been
planning this for the end of dinner, but since she had brought it up, he may as well just do it now.  He stood from his seat, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box.  He knelt down before Sara, opening the box and looking up at her.  Sara nearly choked on her own saliva when she saw the massive blue diamond staring back at her.

“I picked this out to match your eyes,” he said.
  “I know we have only had one date, and I realize how unconventional this is.  But I want you to marry me Sara.  Accept my proposal, and I promise you will want for nothing.”

Sara simply had no words
to answer him.  She couldn’t really believe this was happening.  But as she stared down at the dime-sized diamond, sparkling against the black velvet of the ring box, Dan’s words began to sink in.  She would never want for anything.  Perhaps she was overwhelmed by everything that had happened recently, or perhaps she was swayed by his argument. Whatever the reason, she found her mouth saying yes before she had enough time to really think about it.

Sara stared at the ring on her finger as she rode the elevator up to Mr. Banks’ top floor office.  She had never seen a diamond so big in all her life, and there it was on her finger.  There was a sinking feeling in her stomach, knowing that Mr. Banks would see the ring.  She had gone back and forth on whether to wear it or not.  She decided it was best to wear it and hope it would dispel some of the feelings that had developed.

The elevator came to a stop and opened with a cheerful ding that made it somehow even harder for
Sara to step out.  Her legs were heavy, rooting her to the marble floor just outside the door to his office.  She raised her balled fist to knock on the door when it suddenly swung open, Banks standing there.

“Ms. Weiss,” he said, gesturing with his hand for her to enter, “come in.  Have a seat.”

As soon as Sara entered the room a flood of memories hit her, and she knew coming here was a mistake.  If she had trouble concentrating in class, she was never going to be able to concentrate alone in this room with him.

Banks had spent the entire day distracted
with thoughts of Sara.  He hadn’t gotten a single piece of work done.  He tried to tell himself that it would be alright, that he could control himself, but as he followed her over to the seating area of his office, the only thing he could concentrate on was the swell of her perfectly round bottom as it bounced gently while she walked.  His fingers twitched as he recalled the way it felt in his hands, soft, yet still pliable.  He suppressed a groan, and the growing pressure in his pants.

“I don’t have much time for you, I’m afraid,” he said, trying to
be as professional as possible, “I hope you have some questions prepared.”

“I understand
,” Sara said, as she took a seat on the leather couch that she was all too familiar with.  She plopped the backpack she was carrying on the floor in front of her.  Her fingers reached for the zipper to grab out her notebook with the questions she had prepared.  “I’m having trouble understanding…”

“What is that?” Banks interrupted
her.  She followed the line of his gaze to her hand.  Sara was expecting him to ask about it, but she wasn’t expecting the rage that she heard in his voice when he did. His eyes were even colder than normal.

“It’s…
” Sara looked down at the ring.  The words she wanted to speak were stuck in her throat.

“I’m eng
aged,” she said finally, glancing up at him.  She went back to taking out her notebook, hoping that would be the end of the discussion.  She knew that was a fantasy though.

“Engaged?” he asked, his eyebrows
pulling over his eyes, turning them darker.  He grabbed her wrist, twisting it roughly so he could inspect the ring. It was massive, and Banks knew there were few people that could afford such a thing. A sick feeling washed over him, quickly followed by anger.

“To who?” he asked,
the muscle of his jaw ticked.  He knew the answer before she even said it.  There was only one person it could be.

“His name is Daniel,” Sara said, pulling her hand back from him.  “Not that it’s any of your business.”

He needed a drink.  He stormed to the wet bar, his anger slowly building with each measured stride.  He pulled a glass from the cabinet, setting it on the counter a bit harder than he had meant to.  He filled his glass with a shot of whiskey, downed it, and refilled his glass again.

“Is that who your date was?” he
asked.  He knew he was crossing a line here, but at this point he no longer cared.

“I didn’t come to talk about my personal life
,” Sara said, standing from the couch and following him over to the wet bar.

“Fuck the school work,” Banks suddenly erupted
.  He threw the whiskey filled glass against the wall.  It shattered, sending shards of glass and drops of whiskey flying.  Sara jumped at the violent reaction.  She tried to find words, but none came.  Her breathing had stalled.

“You cannot
marry him,” Banks said, as he leaned over the bar, his shoulders hunched.  He did his best to gather his composure.  He hadn’t meant to loose his temper, but he couldn’t stand the thought of Sara with anyone, much less with Dan.   

“It’s non
e of your business,” Sara said.  Her face was twisted as she tried to suppress her tears.  His anger had frightened her.

“Sara,” he said, coming out from around the bar.  He reached out for her, but she pulled away.

“I know Daniel,” he said, shaking his head.  “You cannot marry him.  He is not the person you think he is.”

“Why does it matter to you?”
Sara said, her voice shrill as she fought for her composure.  His presence had a way of fraying her every single nerve.

“Because,” Banks said
, reaching for her again.  She allowed him to wrap his arm around her, and he pulled her into him.  His hand found the curve of her cheek and she was lost in his caress.  Her body heated at his touch, and all logic left her.  His lips captured hers for just a moment before he pulled back to look down at her.  Their eyes met, the haze of desire clouding them both.

“That is why,” he said,
his voice a hoarse whisper. 

“That’s not a reason,” Sara said struggling to take each breath as she regained her thoughts. 

“No?” he said,
cocking an eyebrow.  His lips covered hers again, and his tongue forced past her lips.  She put up little resistance, letting him lead the kiss as she leaned into him.  He finally pulled away from her, and the disappointment at the end of the kiss was apparent on her face.

“I
want you, Sara,” he said.  “I want you like I’ve never wanted anything in my life.”

Sara opened her mouth to respond,
but she had no idea what to say.  It didn’t matter, though.  His lips blocked any response with another kiss.  His hands felt her body, coming to the curve of her bottom.  He lifted her easily and she wrapped her legs around his slender hips. 

Banks
carried her to the single bed in his office nap room.  He was looking forward to a chance to make up his inequities, determined to give her more pleasure than pain this time.  It was only her second time, and she would likely still be uncomfortable with the feeling of him inside of her.  He would take his time and show her all the pleasures that could be had from a lover’s bed. 

He laid her gently on the bed, com
ing to rest on top of her.  He unbuttoned her blouse, as well as his shirt while he distracted her with a kiss.  Sara was too far gone with the pounding desire in her abdomen to make any protest to his actions.  She couldn’t deny her feelings for him, nor the way he made her body feel, and she only wanted more of the delicious pleasure that his touch so easily invoked.

His lips ghosted over her heated flesh, kissing and suckling as his hand slid under the yellow lace
bra she was wearing.  Sara moaned wantonly as his hand wrapped around the flesh of her breast and massaged it gently.  His thumb found her nipple and he flicked at it from beneath the confines of her underclothing.  He pulled away, and she whimpered at the loss of his touch.  A smirk curled the corner of his lips, his male pride swelling with the simple gesture.  His lips caught hers once more as his hands tucked under her to unhook her bra. 

The
tension in his pants grew to near painful proportions as his eyes fell on the creamy skin of her exposed breasts.  He licked his lips in anticipation as his hand massaged his constricted erection.  He had to remind himself that this evening was about Sara, and her pleasure, and his needs would be satisfied second. 

Sara felt
the waves of hot desire washing through her as he looked down at her with hooded grey eyes.  She watched him, his desire mirrored in her own eyes, as he latched onto an already perky nipple.  Her back arched into him, the sensitivity of the nub sending intense waves of pleasure crashing through her. 

Banks swirled his tongue around the appendage he was so engrossed with, enjoying the way Sara squirmed and moaned beneath him.  He kissed around the swell of h
er breast, nibbling lightly in random places for added sensation.