To Love and Obey (3 page)

Zerrin wasn’t what he expected. Truth to be told, he wasn’t sure exactly what he was expecting. His previous TAs had been so serious they barely cracked a smile; Nick honestly thought he was working with mannequins. They were confused by most pop culture references, and Nick cringed each time he let them teach a class.

But with Zerrin in front of him, Nick had a feeling she might be a lot of fun. She had the hipster glasses and long braids, but her attire of a jean skirt and black tights with matching black top and thick high heels told him she was interesting. And attractive as well. Nick admired his new TA. She was a pretty shade of brown, a rich, milk chocolate, and Nick was already beginning to wonder how their bodies would contrast against each other in various positions. She was of average build and curvy in the places that mattered. Her red sweater top was slightly unbuttoned, revealing the delicious swell of her breasts.

Her braids were long and of medium-thickness, half the size of the width of a finger, and they varied in black and brown hues to contrast and compliment her skin. Simply put, Zerrin looked like a goddess to Nick. But he had a personal rule: not to get involved with colleagues or anyone working for him. It always caused headaches and unnecessary bullshit later. He didn’t have time for that.

Nick tried hard not to focus on her full and inviting lips or how warm her brown eyes were. A quick glance at her figure made him wonder why she was hiding her body underneath all that clothing. It wasn’t
that
cold outside.

“Good morning.” Nick held out his hand. “Zerrin, correct?”

“Yes, I am. Professor D’Amato?” she asked.

“Correct,” he smiled, “I’m glad you’re here today. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

Zerrin wondered what Professor D’Amato meant by that. She wished she didn’t pay attention to what the other students told her about him. Looking at the professor, however, it wasn’t hard to figure out why he was so popular. He was strikingly handsome with his sharp blue eyes and muscular build under that sweater vest and jeans. She briefly wondered how dominant he could be in the bedroom.
Shit! Snap out of it, Zerrin!

“Thank you,” she cleared her throat, “I’ve been looking forward meeting you as well.”

“So, let’s cut to the basics,” Nick offered Zerrin a seat before he sat behind his desk. “What is it about you that could possibly piss me off?”

Any sexual thoughts about Nick flew out of Zerrin’s mind with his abrasive question. “I’m sorry?”

“Every TA I’ve had had little things about them that I didn’t care for. Not saying they weren’t good TAs, because they were. But they weren’t perfect.” Nick played with the pencil on his desk. “What is it about you that could possibly get under my skin?”

Nick’s line of questioning reminded Zerrin of job interviews in which one of the first questions they asked was about her bad traits, as if that would somehow factor into their decision to hire her or not. “I’m anal-retentive, and sometimes I take things personally when I shouldn’t.”
Now would be a perfect example of that.

“And what are you doing to work on that?” he asked.

“Leaving the personal stuff at the door and being professional at all times.” Zerrin wasn’t sure if she was interviewing with a mentor or a psychologist.

“What other interests do you have besides English?”

“Well, I have an interest in sexual health and psychology,” she admitted. “Why people act the way they do, why certain things are aphrodisiacs while others aren’t. What is normal and what isn’t.”

“How a playful interest turns into a fetish?” Nick added.

“Yeah!” Zerrin smiled. “That’s exactly it.”

Nick noticed when Zerrin smiled, her whole face lit up. Her eyes sparkled and her mood relaxed. “Why do you want to be my assistant for this term?”

“Well, I’ve been a fan of your teaching style and how you incorporate pop culture to teach Shakespeare. I think it’s crucial for teachers to make sure students understand English in a way that is fun and memorable. I remember when I was undergrad, I used little tricks and what-not to help me remember things.”

“Oh?” Nick was curious. “Such as?”

“Well, for example, when I was studying art history, I had to remember the Pantheon. Well, for the life of me, I couldn’t. Then I remembered the LL Cool J song, “Phenomenon” and it stuck. Something like a Pantheon…” she softly sang.

“Well, that’s the sample LL used,” Nick corrected.

“Yes, I know. ‘White Lines’ by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Rumor has it they were actually high on coke when they recorded that song,” Zerrin shrugged, “which is both funny and sad at the same time.”

It was that moment, Nick would later tell his children, when he fell in love with their mom. “So when can you start?”

“Oh!” Zerrin was pleasantly surprised. “Whenever you want?”

“Today?” Nick offered.

“Sure!” Zerrin smiled big. “Did you want me to meet you at your class?”

“Sure. I need to do a little more wrapping up here, but I’ll meet you there,” Nick smiled.

Zerrin didn’t want to read too much into what transpired. It suddenly felt like there was an undeniable sexual tension between them.
No, it can’t be.
Zerrin brushed it off as just her being overly anxious to start her new position.

****

Zerrin looked down at her notes and wished she weren’t in a rush to scribble them the way she did. Ugh, how she hated how much she procrastinated when she really didn’t want to do something. She wanted to spend a good ten minutes with Professor D’Amato before his next class but she was only going to get just a couple.
Well, a couple is just going have to do
.

Zerrin arrived at the classroom and quickly straightened out her clothing. She popped in a breath mint and glanced at her face again at the mirror. Maybe she shouldn’t have worn that ruby lipstick. Shit, he might think she was a hussy like some of the students he slept with. Damn, there she went with going off rumors instead hearing it from the person himself. She needed to calm down. She was starting to drive herself nuts.

“Welcome,” Nick greeted her with a smile. “Your first big day.”

“It is,” Zerrin tried to tame the growing butterflies in her stomach. It seemed the harder she wrapped her arms around her stomach, the jumpier the feeling became. “But I should be fine.”

“
I’m glad,” Nick smiled. Zerrin had already fallen in love with his charming smile. “I read your bio and I think we’ll get along just fine. We already have a lot in common.”

“We do?” Zerrin hoped her tone didn’t sound too cheerful. It did in her head.

“We do,” Nick noticed a few students entering the class and taking their seats. “We’ll discuss it later.” Nick waited for the students to get settled before he addressed them. “Good morning, students. As you may have noticed, I have a guest with me today. Well, she won’t be a guest much longer. Everyone, this is Zerrin Campbell. She is my TA which stands for Teacher’s Assistant and not Teacher’s Ass for you perverts out there,” Nick said to amused chuckles, “Zerrin is my second set of ears and eyes. If, for whatever reason I’m out, class won’t be canceled; she will just instruct it in my absence. She will also grade papers and tests as well as offer tutoring to those who need it. Please welcome her and don’t be a stranger to her.”

Zerrin quickly scanned the room of the students, who were all looking at her. She immediately noticed two different receptions: the guys were happy because they were hoping she would give the same treatment as Nick gave the female students or that Zerrin would finally level out the playing field for everyone.

The female students, however, were not impressed by Zerrin’s appearance. Some narrowed their eyes at her, sizing her up, while others folded their arms across their chest and licked their lips, wondering how much carpet they would have to eat to get to Nick.
You poor little hoes…

“Now that’s out of the way, please open your book to
A
Midsummer’s Night Dream
starting on page 294. We’ll be discussing this play and then breaking into groups.”

Zerrin carefully watched Nick instruct his class, asking and answering questions. He engaged the students in thought-provoking questions, challenging them on their point of view and wondering why they came to the conclusions they did. He didn’t belittle anyone for their opinion and smiled and laughed often.

Nick was confident, with a touch of swag, often playing up a female’s attraction to him, giving her his undivided attention and making eye contact as if they were the only two in the room. With the male students, he treated them like they were brothers and never dismissed their opinions, no matter how wrong they were. She saw first-hand why Nick was one of the most popular English professors at the university. Sexual reputation aside, he actually knew his stuff.

“Okay, my part is done. Break into groups, a maximum of five people per group and discuss,” Nick instructed. He walked over to Zerrin, who was writing down notes. “Ms. Campbell?”

Zerrin looked up and caught eyes with Nick. She briefly wondered if he was intentionally hiding his stunning blue eyes behind his black hipster frames. “Yes, Professor?”

“I was wondering if you were free, if you wanted to have lunch with me? Since we will be working closely together it would only benefit us if we got to know each other a little bit,” he offered.

“Sure, I would like that, Professor,” Zerrin quickly jotted down her notes and put them away in her messenger bag. “Where would you like to go?”

“There’s a place called Red Farm I like to go to. If you’re watching your weight, they have healthy options available.”

“I’m familiar with Red Farm,” Zerrin smiled. “Did you want me to meet you there?”

“Sure,” Nick looked around and saw half his class was actually discussing Shakespeare, while the other half were bullshitting with each other, “I’ll meet you there in about thirty minutes. I need to stay back in case anyone has any questions.”

Zerrin briefly wondered which student Nick was going to proposition in her absence. She kept her thoughts to herself. “Not a problem. I’ll see you there.”

****

“Sorry about that,” Nick greeted Zerrin at the restaurant, “I had to stay in class.”

“Not a problem.” Zerrin closed her book. “I kept myself busy.”

Nick glanced at Zerrin’s book. It was
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star
by Jenna Jameson. “Interesting choice of book,” he mentioned.

“I was curious,” Zerrin offered. “It’s not a bad read but it’s nothing to write home about.”

Nick’s new assistant didn’t seem like the type to read an autobiography by a former porn star. His mind quickly wondered what else there was to Zerrin. “Oh? Do tell.”

“She talks mostly about her life experiences and maybe some bedroom tips, but it’s not a how-to manual,” she smiled, “but like I said, it’s an interesting read.”

A server came by to take their orders and bring their drinks. “So, let’s break the ice. You can ask me whatever you want. I’m pretty open with most things,” Nick offered.

“
I don’t know where to start, Professor…” Zerrin placed a straw inside her soda and carefully sipped on it.

Nick intently watched how Zerrin’s lips wrapped around the straw. He didn’t realize he could be jealous of an inanimate object. “Please, call me Nick,” he grinned.

Nick’s smile was warm and inviting. “Okay, Nick,” Zerrin corrected.

“So, what can I answer for you? I’m sure you have questions about me, working with me, working for the department?”

Zerrin thought about the earlier conversation she had with Kionna. It was bothering her more than it should that Nick had chosen her and not one of the others to be his teaching assistant. “Why did you choose me?”

“Because I liked you more than the others.” He explained. “I usually don’t choose female assistants.”

The revelation surprised Zerrin. “You don’t?”

“Nothing against females. I just prefer to work with a male.”

So you can compare notes?
“I see.”

“Anything else you want to ask?”

Zerrin hesitated on the next question. She was running the risk of starting off her new position on a very wrong foot, and she knew Nick carried a lot of clout in the department. “I do have one question, and I hope I’m not stepping on any toes with it…”

“Ooh, this sounds like a good question, and not full of that getting-to-know-you bullshit.” Nick’s eyes danced. “Do ask.”

“I heard about your reputation with some of the females around here,” Zerrin treaded carefully. “Is it true?”

“
What have you heard?” he asked.

“That you sleep with all of them,” Zerrin blurted before covering her mouth.

Nick politely smiled. “I sleep with some of them, yes. I’m not breaking any laws if I pursue a sexual relationship with some of them.”

“It’s unethical in some people’s eyes, Nick.”

“Is it unethical because I do it or because the students are willing participants?”