I caught her arm. "I had to talk to Lois," I said, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her arm. "It was important and I can't explain why. But I never saw her except in the Dugout, I never went out with her, I never made a pass at her."
Laurie's face was still aloof, indifferent. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?"
"Yes!"
"What do I do now—start to melt?"
"Are you trying to tell me that what happened last night meant nothing to you? Just another lark?"
She wrenched free. "What did you expect? You didn't really believe that bit about the student having a crush on teacher, did you? I was having some fun, Professor. And tonight I'm having it with someone else!"
I almost hit her. Rage rocketed through me with an explosiveness that was so shockingly violent I barely held the arm drawn back for the blow. And in the next instant I had pinned her against the wall and my arms were tightening around her, my mouth imprisoning hers in a brutal, angry kiss that brought the taste of blood to my lips. I wasn't even aware whether or not she was struggling. I knew only that she was intensely, excitingly desirable and that the full warm length of her was pressed against me.
I stepped back, breathing hard and quick. There was a frozen moment of time suspended while I waited for her to explode.
Laurie laughed. "My God, Professor, you certainly do keep surprising me!"
She tossed the coat she had been holding in the direction of the chair. It missed and tumbled onto the floor. Ignoring it, she was already moving back into my arms.