The second half of the class was dedicated to getting to know one another. After sharing a bit about himself, Professor Salinger went down his class roster and asked each person to tell the class about themselves. Suggested topics included writing genre preferences, major, hobbies, etc.

Mandy was the first to speak. “My name’s Mandy Thoms, and I’m a Psychology major who wants to explore how creative writing and journaling can help people cope with various difficulties.”

Beauty, brains, AND a heart. Two out of three ain’t bad, Allison thought with a grin, comparing herself with her classmate. She’d surely have to cut Mandy some slack now; she couldn’t be as shallow as Allison thought she was. Not with those kinds of motives for taking the class…

Her partner in crime so-to-speak, Erica, was next. She crossed her legs gracefully, making the already short skirt ride up even farther on her creamy thighs. Erica smiled brilliantly, batting her thick eyelashes all the while. “Hi, I’m Erica Schultz. I love reading romance novels, so I thought I’d give writing one a try.” She giggled with a bubble-headed sweetness that nearly made Allison lose her dinner. Allison rolled her eyes at no one in particular as she rehearsed her little speech in her head. At least now she knew a little more about the girls she’d be riding to class with next week.

Finally, it was Allison’s turn. She cleared her throat nervously before starting to speak. “I’m Allison Delaney, an English major. Let’s see…”she paused, her voice trailing off. “I’m a freshman who decided to get right to work on my goal of becoming a novelist one day.”

The class stared at her, as if asking how a freshman could have gotten in to such an oversubscribed class. Everyone on campus, or at least every female, wanted to have a class with the legendary sex god, Colin Salinger.

“I tested out of Freshman Comp,” she explained, “so my academic advisor helped me submit a writing sample for this class.” Allison was beginning to feel a bit defensive about her place in the course since the rest appeared to be older students who had had great difficulty getting in to the class. But she earned her spot fair and square, and now the rest of the class knew it, too.

Once the introductions were finished, they completed one final writing exercise for the evening. Each student was to develop a central character for a story. They had to map out physical attributes, personality traits, mannerisms, beliefs, interests, and so on. It was quite a challenge, but Allison could see where having all that figured out could make a more believable character when it came time to put together a story. Without even realizing it, Allison created a character that resembled her roommate, Kaija, the free spirit. She’d be a fun character to write about, she thought wistfully.

Everyone worked independently for a good fifteen minutes while the professor made his rounds answering questions and commenting on the various character profiles. After making additions to numerous sections of her profile, Allison finally leaned back in her seat, satisfied.

As Professor Salinger walked by, he glanced down at the page and smiled his approval. Allison’s heart fluttered at the sight of his smile, and for some odd reason, all she could think about was getting back to her dorm room and digging into that juicy romance novel she bought earlier that day at the campus book store. She hoped Kaija was out as usual so she wouldn’t get caught in an embarrassing situation. While it certainly wouldn’t faze her liberal roommate, Allison wasn’t quite ready to be spotted reading such stuff.

“Looking good, guys,” Professor Salinger’s voice yanked Allison and her classmates back to the real world. He clasped his hands and prepared to wind things down for the evening. “What I’d like to do before next week’s class is meet with each of you one-on-one to discuss a direction for your first story based on the character you outlined tonight.” He reached down to the table in front of him and picked up a clipboard. “I’ve got a sign-up sheet right here,” Professor Salinger said. “Before you leave, I want each of you to set up a meeting time that works with your class schedule. In the meantime, have a great week! We’ll see you next week same time at my place.” He tossed the clipboard back onto the table and sat down in the overstuffed chair thumbing through a manila folder of papers.

Allison waited for the crowd around the sign-up sheet to thin out since she knew her schedule would be more flexible than most. One of the few benefits of cramming all of one’s classes into a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, she thought with a grin. Given the day’s events, it was easy to see how intense Wednesdays would be, especially with the evening creative writing class. But Allison relished the thought of having Tuesdays and Thursdays to herself. She loved being able to write in huge blocks of time. It helped her get into the zone, she justified.

Mandy and Erica were the last of the remaining students to sign up for an appointment. Allison smiled to herself as Erica gave the professor a nice view of her cleavage as she bent over the table to fill out the form.

As the pair turned around to leave, they startled at the sight of Allison. Apparently they thought they were all alone with the hunky professor. Mandy recovered from the awkward situation admirably. “Hey, Allison, wanna go to the Student Union with us to get some ice cream?”

While she desperately wanted to get back to her room so she could dig in to that romance novel, Allison thought buying the girls ice cream might be a nice thank you gesture for their offer to drive her to class. “That sounds great,” Allison smiled. “Just give me a sec to sign up for a time,” she said, nodding toward the clipboard, “and we’ll be off.”

Moments later, the trio entered the brightly-lit Creamery. The smell of fresh waffle cones drifted through the air as they made their way to the counter to place an order. Their decision wasn’t as easy as they anticipated. Row after row of colorful ice cream tubs lined the windowed freezers. Maple walnut…crazy vanilla…brownie sundae…lemon freeze… The choices literally made Allison’s mouth water.

“I’m buying,” Allison said, stalling for more time to make her decision.

Mandy quirked an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because you offered to drive me to class,” Allison responded matter-of-factly. “I know it’s not much, but I needed to do something to say thank you.” 

The girls smiled. “That’s really sweet of you,” Mandy returned. Erica, however, seemed unaffected by the gesture.

Allison finally decided to treat herself to something decadent—two scoops of cookies and cream ice cream with crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups on top. Mandy chose a small hot fudge sundae, while Erica predictably ordered a fruity Italian ice. The threesome took their frozen treats to a booth across the room. Alison slid in on one side, while Mandy and Erica sat next to one another across the table from her.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but Allison couldn’t shake an odd feeling she had about the way Mandy and Erica interacted. They looked at each other attentively when the other spoke; and they looked awfully cozy sitting close together in their booth. It wasn’t like they were large women trying to cram themselves in to a small space. Quite the opposite, actually. They were two thin women on a bench made for three to four adults who obviously wanted to sit close together.

Whatever. Allison wasn’t asking any questions. It was their life, and their business. Not hers.

Trying desperately to fit in and get the conversation rolling, Allison remarked with a mouth full of ice cream, “What do you guys think of Professor Salinger? He’s pretty hot, isn’t he?” She raised her eyebrows and added her best bad girl smile for effect. Allison was certain guy talk was the way to get things moving.

Mandy and Erica giggled as they sucked dribbles of ice cream and Italian ice off of their spoons. “He’s not bad if you like that sort of thing,” Erica responded, gazing into Mandy’s eyes with a smile.

Allison shifted in her seat uneasily. Okay, perhaps another topic would be better, she assumed as she stirred the peanut butter cup bits further into the ice cream. “Are you freshmen, too?”

Another giggle. Mandy smiled and patted Erica’s hand. “Nah, we’ve been around for awhile. We just can’t seem to decide what we want to be when we grow up.” She shrugged and smiled into Erica’s eyes. In the meantime, Allison was getting seriously weirded out. She couldn’t quite figure out what was going on with those two, nor was she even sure she wanted to. But the fact remained that Mandy and Erica were nothing but kind to her, so….

“What’s your first story going to be about?” Mandy asked, wiping a dab of hot fudge off her chin with a napkin.

“Not sure,” Allison confided, breathing a sigh of relief at the safe subject. She shrugged. “Since the character I outlined in class is the polar opposite of me, at least I should have some fun with it!” They all laughed. “How about you guys? 

Allison wasn’t surprised in the least to find their dorm room empty when she returned that night. In fact, she appreciated it since it would give her a chance to pour through that romance novel she picked up earlier. Hard to believe, she was a college student and had yet to read her first romance novel! Allison blushed at the thought. But what was even more embarrassing was that she felt she needed to hide the fact she was reading such a book… 

Slipping into her nightshirt and a robe, Allison tucked her toothbrush and toothpaste into the robe’s pocket and headed down the hall to get ready for bed. She washed the day’s worries off her face with warm, soapy water as she anticipated crawling into bed with her book. Allison’s mood was heightened further by the fact that there were no moaning bodies in the shower this time. She grinned at the memory as she squirted the minty paste onto her toothbrush.

The overpowering smell of hot buttered popcorn wafted through the hallway as Allison made her way back to her room. Her mouth watered as she nearly tasted the salty, buttery kernels. God, how pathetic was that? Kaija was probably out “getting some” with a guy, and there was Allison, totally content to throw in a bag of microwave popcorn and crawl between the sheets with none other than a book! She shook her head and smiled. A girl had to start somewhere, she grinned. Besides, she wasn’t quite 18 yet. Soon, though….

“Damn, it smells great in here!” The whispered masculine voice pulled Allison gently out of dreamland. Barclay? She peeked out from under her eyelashes. Yep. Kaija, too. “Do you chicks always eat popcorn?”

Kaija walked up to Barclay and placed a hand on his massive chest. “What’s the matter, big guy, are ya hungry?” She giggled at her teasing question. 

“Like you have to ask…” Barc snorted with a laugh of his own. Allison heard a zipper, and then saw Kaija fall to her knees. “Allison…” he mumbled, jerking his head toward her bed.

“She’ll be fine,” Kaija returned, fiddling with Barclay’s briefs.

In the dark room, Allison couldn’t make out much but their silhouettes backlit by the sliver of light from under the door to the hall. She heard Kaija gasp. Allison squinted to see what was going on. As her eyes adjusted further to the darkness, Allison could just make out the silhouette of Barc’s fully erect penis sticking out in front of him.

Kaija leaned into him, at first just taking the tip of him into her mouth. Barclay moaned softly as he leaned back against the closet door to maintain his balance. Gradually, Kaija took the entire length of him into her mouth. Allison’s mouth fell open in shock that it all fit!

As Kaija bobbed her head up and down the length of him, Barclay grabbed her head and forced himself even further into her mouth. She sucked him enthusiastically, moans of pleasure escaping her lips as she worked. Kaija was picking up speed when Barclay pulled himself out of her eager mouth. She began to protest, but he hushed her with a finger to his lips and a whispered, “Shhhh.”

Barclay backed Kaija up to her desk with a series of hot, steamy kisses, and then gently lifted her up. Sitting on the desk, she parted her legs so Barc could move in closer. Alison could hear the sounds of their hungry lips and labored breathing as they grabbed for each other in the dark.

“My turn,” Barc mumbled breathlessly. He got on his knees and hiked Kaija’s skirt up her thighs. Kaija moaned. “You’re so wet, baby,” he whispered.

“Please don’t stop, Barclay,” Kaija begged, as his head moved in between her legs. She grabbed his head and pushed it into her with a pant.

“So delicious…” Barc panted.

Allison felt a quickening between her legs as she watched. Absently, she moved her hand down to her crotch and discovered she was more than a little wet herself. “Oh my God,” she mouthed to herself in the dark. She yanked her hand away, but couldn’t take her eyes off the two passionate figures on the other side of the room.

Kaija squeaked in between pants, ecstasy building within her. “Barclay…now…please…” He reached up and tweaked a nipple, Kaija’s sharp intake of breath piercing the quiet. “Fuck me now ,” she demanded. Allison winced at the use of the f-word. “Now, dammit, NOW !” Kaija cried out.

“Shhh,” Barclay insisted, raising his hand to cover her mouth. Whimpering as his other hand worked its magic on her pussy, Kaija drew a single finger between her lips. Sucking on something would surely keep her quiet.

But even with Barclay’s finger in her mouth, groans managed to escape from Kaija’s throat. Her body trembled violently as he rose to his feet. “See ya later,” he teased, turning toward the door as Kaija sat on her desk panting, her chest heaving in response.

She grabbed his hand and yanked him back to her. Her fingers burrowed their way into his thick hair as she pulled his head to her face. Their kisses intensified as their hands roamed one another’s bodies. Finally, Barc gently pushed Kaija back so she was lying on the desk, her bare legs hanging over the edge. Kaija wrapped her legs around Barc’s waist as he grabbed his penis and aimed it towards her opening. Allison gasped, partly in shock, partly in intrigue, as she took in the scene.

Barclay pumped away at Kaija, his thrusts punctuated by pants of exertion. As her body quivered, she sat up are wrapped her arms around Barclay and pulled his face to her mouth. Kaija whimpered into his mouth, as if trying to muffle her moans of ecstasy. Tongues wrestled, hands groped…

The next thing Allison knew, Kaija and Barclay were up on her roommate’s bed still going at it. Barc looked like he was in training doing pushups as his body hovered over and then thrust into Kaija’s. It was then that Allison noticed it was starting to get light outside. How long had she been asleep?

She watched the passionate couple through lidded eyes, trying desperately not to be noticed.

Then it happened. Barclay caught Allison looking at them!

He paused mid-thrust, staring into Allison’s eyes with a lazy smile. Fire sizzled through her body as Barclay peered into the depths of her soul. After endless moments of gazing, Barc extended his hand to Allison. “Wanna join us?” he asked matter-of-factly.

Allison’s eyes flew open as did her panicked mouth. She was speechless. Totally speechless! Was it a real invitation, or was he trying to be funny? Either way, Allison was mortified.

Kaija turned her head to face Allison as well. “Come on, Ally,” she coaxed. “Making a Barclay sandwich sounds fun to me!” Her grin was positively evil! How could she want to share her man with someone else?

When Allison didn’t move, Barclay hopped off Kaija’s bed and grabbed the panic-stricken observer’s hand. The naked hunk pulled Allison out of her bed and into his arms. Kaija propped her head up on her bent arm and looked on as Barclay folded her into his embrace.

“It’s okay, Allison,” Barc soothed, smoothing her hair ever so gently. “We won’t hurt you…”

Yeah, she was terrified. There was no denying it. However she’d be lying if she said she weren’t at all curious about what the playful duo had in mind. Allison let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and then nodded her consent.

Barclay tilted her chin up and planted a feather light kiss on her lips. Allison glanced over at Kaija as if to make sure she wasn’t angry with her. Satisfied that all was well, she returned her gaze to Barclay, who had started rubbing her back through the cotton night shirt. With an unnoticeable subtleness, his hands moved to her breasts. A sharp intake of air escaped from Allison’s lips as Barc tweaked a nipple.

“Oh God, Barc,” Kaija moaned from her perch on the bed, “you’re turning me on!”

Feeling encouraged by both women, Barclay began to kiss Allison once more. His tongue darted out to pry her tense lips apart. She willingly gave him access to her warm, moist mouth.

She tasted of butter and salt, Barc noticed as he probed deeper and deeper with his eager tongue.

It wasn’t long before Allison started responding more actively. After a minute of intense kissing, her arms reached up and circled Barc’s neck. He slipped a finger beneath the elastic of one panty leg and found her wetter than he thought possible for someone who was as uptight as she was.

“Mmmm, you’re warming up nicely, Ally,” he mumbled into her mouth as he kneaded her breasts. “Just one more thing and I think you’ll be ready to make that sandwich,” he grinned wickedly in a deep, sexy whisper.

He moved the crotch of her panties aside, and pointed his hardness to her sex. With one fluid motion, he pushed into her. A mixture of intense pain and ecstasy overwhelmed Allison, causing her to release a piercing scream.

Before she knew what hit her, Kaija’s hand was on her shoulder. “Shit, Allison, what’s wrong?”

Allison’s eyes widened as she noticed Kaija sitting on the edge of her bed, a concerned look on her face. She sat up in bed with lightning speed and searched the room frantically with her eyes. When she saw she was alone with her roommate, she fell back onto her pillow and put a hand to her perspiring forehead.

“What’s going on with you?” Kaija cried, gripping her roommate’s shoulders and shaking them lightly.

Kaija looked so worried, yet there was no way in hell Allison was going to tell her what had happened. With a groan, Allison cursed the warm blush that moved up her face. It seemed that she was making a habit out of embarrassing herself. Wishing her bed would open up and swallow her, Allison’s mind scrambled to find a believable explanation for her behavior…

CHAPTER 5